This week we’re going to take a break from politics and discuss a more entertaining topic (literally). Unbeknownst to some in the United States, Mexico has a long history of film production, with a Golden Age of Cinema that occurred around the same time as ours did, from the 1930s to the 1950s. Today, in preparation for next week’s post (what will it be?!), we will be taking a look at this era in film in order to understand more about the major themes and players.

Most sources agree that the “Golden Age” began in 1936 with the release of the film Vámonos con Pancho Villa, directed by Fernándo de Fuentes. This film was based on the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) and depicted the cruelty of it and of its leader in the north, Pancho Villa. While this angle was unusual for films about the Revolution, which usually portrayed its…