The Mexican Film Bulletin Special Issue: Summer 2020
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THE MEXICAN FILM BULLETIN SUMMER 2020 ISSUE TThhee MMeexxiiccaann FF iillmm BBuulllleettiinn SSppeecciiaall IIssssuuee:: SS uummmmeerr 22002200 We're Back! (Sort Of) years of age. Óscar Chávez Fernández was born in Although at this point we're not ready to resume March 1935 in Mexico City. Chávez became "regular" publication, there will hopefully be two interested in acting, studying with Seki Sano and at the special issues of MFB in 2020, one in the summer and Instituto de Bellas Artes school. He also worked in our annual "Halloween Issue" at the end of October. radio, sang, and directed plays before making his Sadly, a number of film personnel have passed screen debut in Los away since our last issue (December 2019) and so we caifanes (1966). have a lot of obituaries this time. A number of these Chávez subsequently individuals are from a certain "generation" who began appeared in a number their film work in the 1960s or early 1970s-- Jaime of popular films, Humberto Hermosillo, Gabriel Retes, Pilar Pellicer, including the remake Aarón Hernán, Óscar Chávez, Héctor Ortega--and thus of Santa, but spent made films that are particularly well-remembered by much of his time on those of a certain age (like yours truly). [It also means music, along with that two or more of these people often worked on the political and social same film, as some of the reviews in this issue activism. In the mid- illustrate.] 1970s he was among The COVID-19 pandemic has strongly affected film the actors who formed the Sindicato de Actores and other entertainment industries. Normally the Independientes to challenge the established ANDA summer issue of MFB would cover the Ariel Awards, union. As a result, Chávez only appeared in a handful but this year's ceremony has been postponed to an as- of films after the early 1970s--his last film credit was yet undetermined future date. on 2000's Piedras verdes, in which he acted and In any case, we're back with articles and film received a shared Ariel nomination for Best Music reviews to help get you through the next phase of the Score. Chávez had a long and outstanding career as a pandemic: hopefully all our readers are safe and singer-songwriter, both as a recording artist & live watching lots of films while "locked down." performer. Óscar Chávez is survived by his wife Raquel Vázquez. Obituaries Alejandro Algara Chamín Correa Singer and composer Alejandro Algara died on 18 Musician Chamín Correa passed away on 14 April 2020; he was 92 years old. Alejandro Aurelio January 2020; he was 90 years old. Benjamín Correa Algara de Carlos y Menéndez was born in Mexico City in was born in Mexico City in February 1929. With January 1928. He became a Roberto Cantoral and professional singer in 1950 and Leonel Gálvez, Correa had a long career singing formed the trio Los Tres romantic boleros, especially Caballeros in the early as the work of Agustín Lara. guitarrist and backup Algara appeared in a number vocalist. Correa had a of films from the early 1950s successful career with that into the 1970s, including group, as a session musician Música de siempre, Una canción para recordar, and and soloist, and as a producer and arranger for other Nosotros los jóvenes. He also dubbed the voice of the artists. Prince in the Spanish-language version of Walt Los Tres Caballeros appeared in a number of Disney's Sleeping Beauty. Algara was married to Mexican films, including Pecado mortal, Sucedió en actress Mónica Prado. México, Se los chupó la bruja, and Bolero inmortal. Óscar Chávez Gonzalo Curiel Singer-actor Óscar Chávez died of complications Voice actor Gonzalo Curiel died on 29 March 2020; from the COVID-19 virus on 30 April 2020; he was 85 he was 81 years of age. Gonzalo Curiel Larráinzar was 1 THE MEXICAN FILM BULLETIN SUMMER 2020 ISSUE born in January 1939, the son of composer Gonzalo also worked extensively with various recording artists Curiel. He worked steadily in dubbing as a producer, arranger, and musical director). Among international films and television the films he worked on were La guerrera vengadora, programs, and was also a dubbing Al filo del terror, Juan Nadie, and Keiko en peligro. director and radio announcer. Among the characters he played were Kent Brockman on "The Simpsons" and Jaime Humberto Hermosillo Director Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, one of the Tom Selleck as "Magnum P.I." 3 of most prominent Mexican film directors of the 1970s Curiel's children also became actors, although two of and beyond, passed away on 13 January 2020; he was them pre-deceased him. 77 years old. Hermosillo was born in Aguascalientes in January 1942. He attended the CUEC film school in Rosita Fornés Mexico City, where he made his first long-form film, Actress, singer and dancer Rosita Fornés died of the medium-length Los nuestros, in 1969. Hermosillo respiratory problems in a Miami hospital on 10 June went on to write and direct more than 3 dozen feature 2020; she was 97 years films over the next five decades, many of them dealing of age. Rosalía Lourdes with topics rarely touched upon in Mexican cinema Elisa Palet Bonavia prior to that point, especially sexual and interpersonal was born in New York issues, including same-sex relationships. He also in February 1923; her experimented with different aspects of film form, parents were from including a film which took place in real time without Spain but emigrated to cuts, and shooting in Cuba (they later digital formats. returned to Spain and He was honoured then moved back to with numerous Arieles: Cuba during the Best Picture, Best Spanish Civil War). Director, Best Screen Fornés made her Story for La pasión performing debut in the según Berenice, Best late 1930s and moved Film (a tie), Best to Mexico in the 1940s Director, Best where she appeared in Screenplay for Naufragio, Best Screenplay for Las a number of films, both apariencias engañan, and Best Screenplay for De musical and dramatic. She married comic actor noche vienes, Esmeralda. Hermosillo was also Manuel Medel in December 1947. After her marriage nominated for 10 additional Arieles, and performers broke up in the early 1950s, Fornés returned to Cuba, and technicians in his films won nearly a dozen although she spent some time in Spain with her second Arieles. husband, actor Armando Bianchi. Fornés worked in Cuba even during the Castro administration, transcending politics. Later in life, she Aarón Hernán Actor Aarón Hernán died on 26 April 2020; he was lived in both Havana and Miami. 88 years old. Aarón Hernández Rodríguez was born in Fornés' Mexican films included Me gustan todas, El the state of Chihuahua in mariachi desconocido, and No me olvides nunca--all of November 1931. Although he which were shot in Cuba--as well as Cara sucia (with knew from an early age that he Medel) and La carne manda. In 1987 she appeared wanted to be an actor, Hernán with Ninón Sevilla in Hoy como ayer, a Cuban- became an accountant to support Mexican co-production about musician Benny Moré. himself and his wife. He moved to Mexico City and attended the Tino Geiser ANDA acting school run by The death of composer Tino Andrés Soler, making his Geiser in Querétaro was announced professional debut on the stage in the 1950s. Hernán on 16 May 2020; no cause of death moved into television and then film in the 1960s, was given. Agustín Sexto Fagiolani working steadily in both mediums until well into the Geiser was born in Argentina in 2010s. Often cast as stern authority figures, sometimes November 1944. It's unclear when villains, Hernán usually played supporting roles but Geiser emigrated to Mexico, but he would occasionally take a lead, as in Llovizna (1978). began scoring telenovelas and He was nominated for an Ariel for his role in Kino motion pictures in the 1980s (he (1991). 2 THE MEXICAN FILM BULLETIN SUMMER 2020 ISSUE appear in films, on television and on the stage into the 2010s. Héctor Ortega Pilar Pellicer was married to James Metcalf; their Héctor Ortega, actor, writer and director, died on 3 daughter is actress Ariane Pellicer (who produced and June 2020. Héctor Ortega Gómez was born in Mexico starred in Marea suave, in which her mother had a City in January 1939 (other sources give July 1936). role). Pina Pellicer, Pilar's sister, was a popular actress He enrolled at UNAM to study architecture, but before committing suicide in 1964. decided to make acting his career. Ortega made his film debut in Alberto Isaac's En este pueblo no hay ladrones in 1964, and would go on to appear in a Nelson Pérez Pasillas number of other films directed Nelson Pérez Pasillas, a by Isaac, as well as working circus performer known as the for Alejandro Jodorowsky, "Bullet Man," died on 20 May Luis Alcoriza, Felipe Cazals 2020 after a motorcycle and others. In the 1970s accident; he was 40 years old. Ortega was one of a group of Pérez Pasillas, a member of actors who formed the the Odisseis Circus, appeared Sindicato de Actores in one scene in Alfonso Independientes, a short-lived Cuarón’s film Roma, being shot from a cannon into a attempt to provide an net. alternative to ANDA. Ortega won 3 Arieles during his career: Best Story Michel Piccoli Veteran French actor Michel Piccoli died on 12 and Best Screenplay for El May 2020 after suffering a stroke; he was 94 years old. Águila descalza (shared), and Best Supporting Actor Piccoli was born in Paris in December 1925; he made for Mariana, Mariana.