NEW Golden Age of Mexican Cinema
BY CYNDI GREENING, PHOENIX, USA — The NEW Golden Age of Mexican Cinema has dawned and the key players are filmmakers Alfonso Cuaron (CHILDREN OF MEN), Guillermo del Toro (PAN'S LABYRINTH), and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (BABEL). 
They have formed Cha cha cha, a production partnership debuting with Universal Pictures and its Focus Features International unit for financing, international sales and distribution on an upcoming slate of five films. The new projects include directorial efforts for all three men, as well as new films from writer/directors Carlos Cuaron (Alfonso's brother, co-author of Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN) and Rodrigo Garcia (NINE LIVES). Garcia also directed five episodes of SIX FEET UNDER and six episodes of CARNIVALE. Unfortunately, GABRIEL GARCIA BERNAL and DIEGO LUNA aren't in the partnership. The new golden age of Mexican cinema also boasts a couple of incredible acting talents.
The thing I love most about these filmmakers is the raw energy and pure passion of their films. A few years ago, I spent a summer in Guadalajara, Mexico, studying language and literature. Inarritu's AMORES PERROS was just coming out and it was the talk of the city. It was a harsh film. At points during the film, I kept thinking, "What is the big deal about this film?" And then, the story came full circle and paid off in a powerful conclusion that had me thinking about it for days. It reminded me of the Macedonian film BEFORE THE RAIN. A non-linear story that hung with me for a very long time. A week later, we saw Cuaron's Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN. I don't know if my experience was altered because I saw those films with Mexican audiences; I only know that I was greatly affected by them. Checking IMDB Pro, I'm looking forward to their upcoming films. Andele!
