MEXICO’S GOLDEN AGE OF CINEMA
Mexico’s film industry had its peak in production and worldwide fame for about 30 years. Between the early 1930s and until the 70s, filmmakers were constantly shooting. The Golden Age of Cinema put the country on the movie-making map. And production services in Mexico truly boomed during these decades.
The Era Of Expansion For Production Services in Mexico
Production services in Mexico had their period of glory too. The film culture here gathered under its wing an impressive diversity of movies. By the 1940s, only a few other cultures were as potent.
The Golden Age in Mexican Cinema started with the film Let’s Go with Pancho Villa (1935). directed by Fernando de Fuentes. Filmmaking rocketed after the arrival of the talkies, which brought emancipation from Hollywood. And also offered broader access for the Latin public to quality films. Governmental support also had a say. Lázaro Cardenas nationalization of the arts involved projects focused on indigenous traditions. Various films focused on the contribution the natives brought to Mexico’s national aesthetic.
Soon, Mexican cinema became a global sensation, gaining awards at major film festivals. María Candelaria (1944) got the Golden Palm in the 1946 Cannes Film Festival. The Pearl (1947) was the first Spanish film to win the Golden Globe of the American film industry.
Golden Age Cinematography left no genre unexplored. Production services in Mexico diversified to cover any filming opportunity. Romance, slapstick comedy, or musicals (ranchero or rumbera), all were now given a try. Horror films, like The Amazing Beast (1952) paved the way for the genre’s growing popularity.
Some call it luck, while others know the amount of work put in. As the US and Europe had a war on their hands, Latin America had opportunities. Instead of war films, Mexico focused on commercial films. So they conquered the public far beyond the Spanish-speaking markets.
Contemporary Mexican Cinematography
Mexican film industry enjoyed almost three decades of glory. Currently, it’s giving signs of wanting a major comeback. However, it looks like making a stand in the contemporary wave of movies is easier said than done. That does not mean Mexican filmmakers are giving up or withdrawing in a corner.
In the last decade, Mexican cinema has taken steps toward a fragile renaissance. Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo Arriaga, or Alejandro Iňárritu are some of the most remarkable names in the field. These directors and screenwriters made the headlines with major international productions.
The country has competent technicians and state-of-the-art studios, attracting numerous foreign filmmakers. The high-quality production services in Mexico are widely recognized. The cinema infrastructure here is among the most developed in the world. But Mexican movies still face some setbacks when they get poor market access. Their economic value gets diminished when they have to compete against massive projects. Plus, piracy threatens to discourage local filmmakers. To fight against it, the government tried stimulating the local film sector with a tax rebate.
The film industry growth depends on financial support and effective copyright protection. Creating a safe environment for local and foreign filmmakers to work in is essential.