Leticia Neria PhD thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText ...

Chapter 4
Laughter and reflection, coming soon to a cinema near you: analysis of four films
El humor es la gran coraza
con la que uno se defiende
de este valle de lágrimas.
Camilo José Cela
In the previous chapter I discussed the use of humour in comic narratives to indict the
failings of the authorities. We recognised those humorous expressions related to
political issues and considered the rationale (and benefit) for using humour to criticise.
However, we also saw that humour was used to highlight social tensions – flaws which
should be corrected – which indicates that at least a part of society was aware of their
role in making Mexico a better country. I will undertake a similar analysis in this
chapter, but focusing instead on films.
I will begin by outlining briefly the state of Mexican cinema from 1969 to 1976.
Although it is tempting to explore the history of film and filmmakers in Mexico more
broadly, I will confine this discussion to the general circumstances of Mexican cinema
immediately prior to Luis Echeverría’s time in office, focussing on how his policies
influenced filmmakers, and the changes that were experienced in the film industry
during his presidential term. The intention is to illustrate why certain topics –such as
Mexican politics, society, sexuality, among others- were discussed in some films during
this period when they had not been widely discussed before.
Interest in the cinema began early, when the invention of the cinematographer
was presented to the President Porfirio Díaz. A few years later the first Mexican
filmmakers appeared, but, according to Andrea Noble, it was not until the 1930s that the