Expresión en Corto honors national treasures of cinema
By Atención staff July 4, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Only two weeks away, the eleventh edition of the Expresión en Corto International Film Festival, Mexico’s largest and the most prestigious of its kind in Latin America, kicks off on Friday, July 18 in San Miguel de Allende.

Each year Expresión en Corto pays tribute to the men and women who have given their lives to film, an homage which demonstrates the festival’s immense respect, admiration and gratitude for their work. The festival has bestowed this recognition upon both national and international filmmakers, including Tim Burton, Oliver Stone, Kenneth Anger, Irvin Kershner, Gaspar Noé, Felipe Cazals, Josefina Echanove, Patricia Reyes Espinola, Diana Bracho, María Rojo, Miguel Zacarías, Rafael Inclán, Julio Alemán, Don Manuel Esperón and Marga López.

On Friday, July 18, during the inauguration ceremony at Teatro Ángela Peralta, Expresión en Corto pays tribute to one of the stars of Mexican cinema, Yolanda Ivonne Montes Farrington, better known to audiences as “Tongolele.” She was born on January 3, 1932, in Spokane, Washington, to an English/French mother and a Spanish/Swedish father.

(She also had a grandmother of Tahitian decent.) She made her Mexican debut in the summer of 1947, at the precocious age of 15, as an exotic cabaret dancer at the legendary Tivoli Theater in Mexico City. She was an immediate sensation and it was said that her hips had received the blessing of a tropical breeze. She quickly earned the nicknames La diosa pantera (The Panther Goddess), La mujer de fuego (The Fire Lady) and La reina de las danzas tahitianas (The Queen of Tahitian Dances). Women in the streets attempted to mimic her trademark style—a bright white streak of hair that deeply contrasts with her dark black mane. In her era, her suggestive and sensual dancing style was considered scandalous and was accused of corrupting the younger generation. But since her cinematographic debut in Nocturno amor (1948), Tongoele quickly won the hearts of the audience as the rumors of the scandal only helped strengthen her image. Along with fellow stars of the silver screen such as María Félix, Miroslava Stern and Dolores Del Río, Tongolele dominated the billboards during the forties and fifties with films such as Mátenme porque me muero (1951), Chucho el remendado (1952), Han matado a Tongolele (1948) and El misterio del carro express (1953).

Expresión en Corto invites the entire community to come and celebrate Tongolele’s tribute with a parade in her honor that departs from calle Umarán at 7:30pm, passing and then circling the Jardín, finally arriving at Teatro Ángela Peralta at 8pm, where the ceremony begins. Tongolele gives a Master’s Class the following day on Saturday, July 19, from 1–3pm at Bellas Artes.

Book-ending the festival will be Expresión en Corto’s second tribute to a Mexican star of the screen, Joaquín Cordero, during the festival’s closing ceremonies in Auditorio del Estado in Guanajuato on Saturday, July 26. Cordero was born in the city of Puebla in 1922 and after moving to Mexico City with his family, the young Cordero began studying in seminary school, but decided to study law instead.

After three years of law school, he decided to change careers once again and this time opted for acting. His film acting debut came in El corsario negro (1944) and by 1951 he was already holding in his hands his first Ariel (the Mexican equivalent of the Oscar) for Best Actor, thanks to his performance in the film Las dos huerfanitas (1950). He went on to participate in more than 130 films. Among his career highlights were: Los tres calaveras (1965), Yo maté a Juan Charrasqueado (1949), Pepe El Toro (1953), Santo contra el cebero del mal (1961), El tesoro de Chucho El Roto (1960) and Juventud sin dios (1962). He m
ade his television debut in 1960 and has since starred in dozens of soap operas and theatrical plays. He has received the Diosa de Plata from the Mexican Association of Film Journalists (PECIME) for a career that has spanned over 60 years. Joaquín Cordero gives a Master’s Class on Saturday, July 26, from 6–8pm, in Auditorio Chico, next to Auditorio del Estado in Guanajuato.

Expresión en Corto, in association with Women in Film and Television International, celebrates cinema’s most accomplished women who have infused life into the medium and have exported the Mexican feminine image beyond our borders. This yearly reunion salutes the individuals whose invaluable work supports the dignity of women worldwide and their contribution to cinematography. Past honorees have included Brigitte Broch, Kathy Jurado, Angélica Aragón, Gloria Schoemann, Carmen Montejo, Silvia Pinal, Ana Ofelia Murguía, Ofelia Medina, Carla Estrada and Maria Elena Velasco. This year’s WIF honorees will include Mexican screenwriter and director Marcela Fernández Violante and Mexican actress Adriana Barraza. The WIF ceremony and luncheon is held on Friday, July 25 in Guanajuato.

Expresión en Corto is a state-sponsored, nonprofit cultural event that does not charge admission. Seating is first-come, first-serve, so it’s best to arrive 30 minutes early for the inauguration and tributes, and 15 minutes early for most screenings. For complete information on events, activities and programming, consult the official festival website after July 8, www.expresionencorto.com.

Expresión en Corto

Fri, July 18, Teatro Ángela Peralta
Opening ceremonies with a tribute to Yolanda Ivonnes Montes Farrington “Tongolele”
Parade begins at 7:30pm, Tribute begins at 8pm


Sat, July 19, 1–3pm, Bellas Artes
Master class with “Tongolele”

Sat, July 26, Auditorio del Estado, Guanajuato
Tribute to Joaquín Cordero

Sat, July 26, 6–8pm, Auditorio Chico, Guanajuato
Master class with Joaquín Cordero

Cinemateca, July 7–13, 2008

José Luis Pick’n’tip

Molière

Molière is a thoroughly engaging film, yet you will find yourselves laughing out loud many times. It also has the cynicism of Ridicule. This is a beautiful movie. The settings and scenery approach that of Barry Lyndon. Molière is only the second film effort of Laurant Tirard and he takes an inventive approach utilizing a play within a film to tell his story. He has weaved characters from Molière’s imagination into his script including the playwright himself. At one point, Molière calls himself “Tartuffe"”and his foil, “Jourdain,” is based upon the “Bourgeois Gentilhomme.” Romaine Duris, who appears to be a French Johnny Depp, plays Molière with room for improvement, but his performance improved along the way. The great Fabricio Luchino is a delight as Jourdain, while Ludivine Sagnier is the object of his desire. Edouard Baer plays the villain Dorante and looks like a member of Tony Soprano’s crew. Laurant Morante plays Jourdain’s wife. She combines the classy beauty of Audrey Hepburn with more sex appeal and 
she alone is worth it to see.



The Tip Important: In order to provide the best viewing experience, the show times for some movies may be adjusted to accommodate their length. Be sure to check the schedule carefully. I also want to remind you of our new ticket price: 50 pesos and discount cards buy 12 shows for 450 pesos. Starting Monday, after 11am, buy your tickets in advance for any movie or show of the week. If you have a discount card, collect your pass to secure a seat; don’t take the risk of being locked out. Would you like to receive this info by email? Write to José Luis at alephamour@hotmail.com. Thank you.

The Movies


Winner of Best Documentary in the Boston Film Festival 
Lost and Found in Mexico
Monday, July 7 at 5pm
Documentary, English, 53 minutes
Writer/director/producer: Caren Cross

Lost and Found in Mexico explores the question: What lies on the other side of the American dream? This quirky documentary explores the lives of Americans who chose to leave their hard-working, successful, and fast-paced lives to live in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where leisurely conversations take place in the main square, burros walk the streets, and people find their hearts engaged in living once again. While many Mexicans are leaving families behind and risking their lives to cross the border to a better life, this film focuses on the Americans who have decided to cross in the other direction—for a simpler life. Questions and Answers with the filmmaker following the show. All proceeds benefit the Mexican kids’ scholarships.

Molière (2007)
Wednesday, July 9 at 5pm
Friday, July 11 at 3:15pm 
France, French with English subtitles, 121 minutes
Director: Laurent Tirard
Cast: Romain Duris, Fabrice Luchini, Laura Morante, Edouard 

Released from prison, French actor-playwright Molière (Romain Duris) learns his freedom was secured by the wealthy but talentless Jourdain (Fabrice Luchini), who wants his help in putting on a play to seduce a comely young widow. Molière agrees but must pose as a priest to hide his benefactor’s secret motives from the household females—including Jourdain’s beautiful wife. Laura Morante co-stars in this period comedy set in seventeenth-century Paris.

The Glory of Spain: Music & Masterpieces from Madrid’s El Prado Museum (1967) 
Monday, July 7 at 6pm 
Art & Music, English, 54 minutes
Cast: Andrés Segovia, Alicia de garrocha, Victoria De Los Ángeles 

Madrid’s El Prado Museum was the setting for this evening celebrating art, highlighted by a performance from a talented classical music trio that included guitarist Andrés Segovia, pianist Alicia de Larrocha and soprano Victoria De Los Angeles. Complementing the beautiful music were the equally stunning works of art from the magnificent collection at El Prado, Spain’s biggest and most well-known museum.

The Shadow Circus: The CIA in Tibet (1998)
Thursday, July 10 at 5:30pm
Documentary, English, 49 minutes
Directors: Ritu Sarin & Tenzing Sonam 

This documentary reveals a little-known aspect of Tibet’s recent history: the country’s armed struggle against the invading forces of Communist China. Contrary to the generally held preconception of a deeply religious and peace-loving people, the Tibetans fought a long and bloody—though ultimately, unsuccessful—guerrilla campaign. They were aided in their efforts by an unlikely ally, the CIA. The project, code-named ST Circus, was one of the longest-running covert operations in support of the American government’s primary objective of destabilizing Communist China’s regime. The CIA’s involvement produced Tibetan resistance fighters trained in guerrilla warfare. These soldiers were instrumental in assisting the Dalai Lama flee to India.

Mexican Fantasy (Mexikanskaya Fantasiya 1930/1998)
Friday, July 11 at 5:15pm 
Visual documentary, 98 minutes
Directors: Sergei Eisenstein, Oleg Kovalov

This film is an attempt to use the thousands of feet of footage shot by Eisenstein and Eduard Tisse for the unfinished film Que Viva Mexico. Eisenstein had begun by trying to make a film about the myths, art, religion, social struggle and history of the Mexican people. However, the project became too personal and his financiers backed out. This is not an attempt to recreate what Eisenstein planned, but rather a meditation on unfinished films, and on the conflicts and mysteries of Mexico. 



Kids Movies: Cartoons
Saturday, July 12 at noon