México 2010: Cine, historia (y para las mujeres), nada que celebrar

Abstract: This article frames the use of historical fiction in Mexican cinema, exploring the ways it has reified gendered stereotypes of the nation, and specific cases in which these stereotypes have been challenged by women filmmakers vis-à-vis films of the Mexican Revolution such as La negra Angustias (Matilde Landeta, 1950). Further, it addresses the purported revisioning of national history present in a corpus of five films produced with government funds in 2010 as part of the celebrations of the bicentennial of Mexican Independence and the centennial of the Mexican Revolution: Hidalgo: La historia jamás contada (Antonio Serrano), El atentado (Jorge Fons), Chicogrande (Felipe Cazals), El baile de San Juan (Francisco Athié) and El infierno (Luis Estrada). The article offers a critique of persistent gender stereotypes in the Mexican film industry and national imaginary, and it traces how star-studded casts and well-known directors add legitimacy to a vision that excludes women from any meaningful reimagining of national history.