Compadre Mendoza

85 minutes

Director: Fernando De Fuentes

Country: Mexico

Year: 1993

Language: Spanish (English subtitles)

Overview:

This film exemplifies classic Mexican cinema while examining the corrupted ideals of the Revolution in the story of an opportunistic landowner who faces the choice of remaining loyal to a general in Zapata’s army and being financially ruined, or saving his own skin. The character of the general is clearly modeled on Zapata himself.

Previewing Activities

• What are some of the more famous revolutions?
• What kind of people led these revolutions?
• Is a revolution always a bad thing?
• Is it possible to have a beneficial revolution?

Post-viewing Activities

• Was Don Rosalio a good father?
• Do you think Felipe would have rather had General Nieto as a father?
• How did Don Rosalio manage to be friends with generals on both sides of the fighting?
• What choice would you have made if you were Don Rosalio at the end of the movie?

Class Projects

• Do research on Zapata and his revolution and write and essay arguing with or against Zapata’s ideals and actions.

How to Borrow this Video:

The videos owned by the UNC-Duke Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies are housed in the Outreach Office of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  They are lent free of charge.  For information on films and reservations, please visit http://isa.unc.edu/film/films_main.asp.

Suggested Readings:

• Womack Jr., John. Zapata and the Mexican Revolution. Vintage, 1970.