“I think cinema, movies, and magic have always been closely associated. The very earliest people who made film were magicians.”

Francis Ford Coppola

I have been an avid moviegoer since I rode the 24 Sherbrooke bus to downtown Montreal, by myself, at the tender age of seven to see a Sunday matinee. You may think I am exaggerating, after all what seven-year old is allowed to ride downtown by herself? Well, me.

Sunday was my Dad’s day (this was the standard arrangement of 80s divorced parents) and while we often went to museums or out for lunch some days I just wanted to be on my own and my dad thought nothing of slipping me a 10 dollar bill and telling me to be careful. I actually didn’t think too much of it as I was in good company, if what I saw onscreen were to believed.

Pippi Longstocking lived without parents in Villa Villekula with her horse and monkey. Annie navigated her way through NYC without a hitch and in the creepy adaptation of the French film, Le Jouet (The Toy), Richard Pryor pseudo-babysits spoiled rich kid Eric Bates. I also saw a few films that I probably wouldn’t have if there were more parental control. Things like Tootsie and The French Lieutenant’s Woman, which when I saw again years later were layered with more meaning than my seven-year old mind could comprehend.

Even with online streaming and an overabundance of things to watch, I still love the experience of going to the movie theater – the smell of popcorn and the click-click-click of the projector. If you are going to the movies in Mexico be sure to treat yourself to the VIP experience with oversized reclining seats, table and bar service – it is a throwback to a time when going to the movies was an event.

Watching Mexican cinema has been a huge part of my education about this amazing and magical country. If you love Mexico, and I am assuming you are if you are reading this, then you are missing out if you have not explored its cinema. With technology it has never been easier.

This month our writer’s explore contemporary cinema. For history and suggestions on the golden age of Mexican cinema I suggest you check out our issue from January 2014:

https://theeyehuatulco.com/2014/01/02/january-2014/

See you in November,

Jane