Mahatma, Life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Monday, September 11, noon, Teatro Santa Ana, Insurgentes 25, 50 pesos

In 1906, the Transvaal government promulgated a new act compelling registration of the colony’s Indian population. At a mass protest meeting held in Johannesburg that September, Gandhi adopted his methodology of satyagraha (devotion to the truth), or nonviolent protest, for the first time, calling on his fellow Indians to defy the new law and suffer the punishments for doing so, rather than resist through violent means. This plan was adopted, leading to a seven-year struggle in which thousands of Indians were jailed (including Gandhi himself on many occasions), flogged, or even shot, for striking, refusing to register, burning their registration cards or engaging in other forms of nonviolent resistance. While the government was successful in repressing the Indian protesters, the public outcry stemming from the harsh methods employed by the South African government in the face of peaceful Indian protesters finally forced South African General Jan Christiaan Smuts to negotiate a compromise with Gandhi. In May 1915, Gandhi founded an ashram on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, and called it Satyagrah Ashram (also known as Sabarmati Ashram). There, 25 men and women took vows of truth, celibacy, ahimsa, nonpossession, control of the palate and service to the Indian people. To celebrate Gandhi’s devotion to the truth and peace on the 100th anniversary of his first nonviolent protest, Teatro Santa Ana shows the film Mahatma, Life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (127 minutes). Tickets are available at the door.

Gandhi on nonviolent action & civil disobedience

Civil disobedience becomes a sacred duty when the state has become lawless or corrupt. And a citizen who barters with such a state shares in its corruption and lawlessness. Every citizen is responsible for every act of his government.

There is only one sovereign remedy, namely, nonviolent non-cooperation. Whether we advertise the fact or not, the moment we cease to support the government it dies a natural death.

My method is conversion, not coercion, it is self-suffering, not the suffering of the tyrant

I hope the real Swaraj (self-rule) will come not by the acquisition of authority by the few but by the acquisition by all of the courage to resist authority when abused. In other words, Swaraj is to be attained by educating the masses to a sense of their capacity to regulate and control authority.

Civil disobedience is the assertion of a right which law should give but which it denies.

Civil disobedience presupposes willing obedience of our self-imposed rules, and without it civil disobedience would be a cruel joke.

Civil disobedience means capacity for unlimited suffering without the intoxicating excitement of killing.

Disobedience to be civil has to be open and nonviolent.

Disobedience to be civil implies discipline, thought, care, attention.

Disobedience that is wholly civil should never provoke retaliation.

Non-cooperation and civil disobedience are different but [are] branches of the same tree called Satyagraha (truth-force).

Coercion cannot but result in chaos in the end.

One who uses coercion is guilty of deliberate violence. Coercion is inhuman.

Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as cooperation with good.

Nonviolent action without the cooperation of the heart and the head cannot produce the intended result.

All through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall, always.

Cinemateca 

José Luis’s Picks and Tips: 

The picks:

Special Independence Program

Searching for the Maya

For all our friends visiting Mexico, or anyone interested in our ancient cultures, this movie is a must. Deep in the rainforest are the lost Mayan cities of Chichén Itzá and Palenque. Discover their magic and learn about the Mayan culture while exploring some of the region's most exquisite examples of pre-Hispanic architecture. Searching for the Maya is part of the award-winning Ancient Mexico series, acclaimed at the Cannes Film Festival and winner of the National Cable Award.

The Cities of Ancient Mexico

This documentary on the cities of ancient Mexico such as Teotihuacán, Monte Alban, Palenque, Yaxchilan and Bonampack has superb cinematography, and you will see sites that are no longer open to the public.

The tips:

Please note that in order to provide the best viewing experience, the show times for some movies may be adjusted to accommodate their length. So double-check the times in your schedule. Also, please remember our new ticket price is 50 pesos. 

Discount cards are 400 pesos for 10 shows.  

On Monday after 4pm, buy your tickets for any selection of the week. Don’t take the risk of being locked out! Nos vemos en el Cine….

The Syrian Bride (2004)

Friday, September 8, 6pm
Monday, September 11, 5pm
Tuesday, September 12, 6pm
Hebrew with English subtitles, 97 minutes
Director: Eran Riklis

Eran Riklis's film digs into the Middle East conflict with the tale of a Druze woman who lives with her family in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Her family makes plans for her to marry a Syrian television star from Damascus, but the wedding must take place at the border. But once she marries and crosses into Syria she'll never be able to return home.

My Name Is Bill W. (1989)

Tuesday, September 12, noon
English with Spanish subtitles, 100 minutes
A discussion follows the movie; donation requested.
This film runs every Tuesday at noon until October 3
Director: Daniel Petrie

Based on the inspiring true story of the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, this moving drama stars James Woods in an Emmy-winning performance as Bill Wilson, a successful stockbroker who loses everything in the 1929 stock market crash. After succumbing to depression and drink, he eventually sobers up with the help of fellow recovering alcoholic Dr. Bob (James Garner). With new found hope for the future, the two create the now-famous support group.

The Last Zapatistas, Forgotten Heroes
(Mexico, 2001)

Tuesday, September 12, 4pm
Spanish with English subtitles, 70 minutes

In 2000, the Mexican film director Francesco Taboada Tabone began his search for the last of the soldiers who fought beside General Emiliano Zapata in the 1910 Revolution. Almost 100 years after that Revolution, the survivors of the legendary Liberation Army of the South reveal truths not to be found in any book. Men and women who today raise their voices for the last time leave an invaluable testament for Mexico and the world in this award-winning documentary film. These men and women are chapters of unjust history, abandoned wisdom and banners for Mexico's underprivileged.

Searching for the Maya
From the series "Ancient Mexico"

Wednesday, September 13, 3pm
English with Spanish subtitles, 60 minutes

Deep in the rainforest are the lost Mayan cities of Chichén Itzá and Palenque. Discover their magic and learn about the Mayan culture while exploring some of the region's most exquisite examples of pre-Hispanic architecture.

Viva Zapata! (United States, 1952)

Wednesday, September 13, 5pm
English with Spanish subtitles, 112 minutes
Director: Elia Kazan

Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata (Marlon Brando), an illiterate peasant, rallies the countryside against the government and eventually assumes the role of president of the country. A rare Western role for Brando, the movie earned five Academy Award nominations. (Anthony Quinn won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his fiery performance.) John Steinbeck wrote the screenplay.

Knowing Mexico Special Double Feature
Benito Juárez Biography & The Cities of Ancient Mexico

Thursday, September 14, 4pm
English and English subtitles,
28 minutes and 60 minutes

Benito Juárez was born to an indigenous family in San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca, in 1806. During most of his childhood, he only spoke Zapotec. He became a member of the Oaxaca Town Council in 1831 and a local congressional representative in 1833. He worked as a lawyer, defending indigenous communities, and later became president of Mexico, changing the whole nation. After the short film on Juarez, you’ll see a documentary on the cities of ancient Mexico such as Teotihuacán, Monte Alban, Palenque, Yaxchilan and Bonampack.

Kids' cartoons and video-opera programs on September 16 are cancelled due to national holidays