Ánimas Trujano (El hombre importante) [The Important Man] (Ismael Rodríguez, 1961)

Underdog Ánimas Trujano is dead set on becoming his town's next mayordomio, the wealthy, respected man in charge of funding one of Oaxaca's major religious festivals. He does find a way, a terrible one, and does get the respect and riches he wishes for. But even with all the money and praise in the world, Ánimas' continuous down his well-trodden path of gambling away the riches bestowed, and cheating on his long-suffering wife.

It may take a moment to get comfortable with casting Japanese movie legend Toshirō Mifune as the titular important man, but from that moment on, Ánimas Trujano feels as universal as any great cinematic experience should be.

#Bales2023FilmChallenge #IsmaelRodríguez #RogelioBarrigaRivas #ToshirōMifune #ColumbaDomínguez #GabrielFigueroa #BookAdaptation #Mexico #Oaxaca #drama #1960s ★★★★½

Salón México (Emilio Fernández, 1949)

#FilmDinner #EmilioFernández #MargaLópez #MiguelInclán #GabrielFigueroa #drama #melodrama #crime #FilmNoir #romance #dance #cabaretera #Mexico #1940s ★★★½

El ángel exterminador [The Exterminating Angel] (Luis Buñuel, 1962)

Everything was perfect, Lucía, despite – at this hour even lipstick begins to fade.

As part of a witty surprise, Lucía Nóbile (Lucy Gallardo) arranged a #bear and three #sheep for the lavish dinner party she's thrown for her fellow #opera-loving guests. However, the joke is not appreciated and in the cause of the evening – and a ruined dinner when the staff decides to go even before serving any of the #food – the company find that they cannot leave the salon. While the #animals roam the house, the elite are faced with hunger, primal urges, and no motivation to leave.

#Bales2023FilmChallenge #LuisBuñuel #LuisAlcoriza #SilviaPinal #LucyGallardo #GabrielFigueroa #Mexico #surrealism #outbreak #Ballardian #1960s ★★★★★

Simón del desierto aka San Simeón del desierto [Simon of the Desert] (Luis Buñuel, 1965)

Come down off that column. Taste earthly pleasures till you've had your fill. Till the very word pleasure fills you with nausea.

Simón is a stylite – an ascetic Christian who frees himself from worldly sin to reach a religious goal. He lives in the Syrian #desert on top of a pillar, close to God, #praying. People gather and pray to him, Simón. Simón prays for the people, the animals, himself. As with anyone who believes in the concept of #sin, or desires to be free of sin, sin comes to Simón.

#Bales2023FilmChallenge ##LuisBuñuel #ClaudioBrook #SilviaPinal #RaúlLavista #GabrielFigueroa #Mexico #drama #comedy #religion #1960s ★★★★½