The Lost Cinema of Mexico is one of the most outstanding volumes about Mexican cinema to appear in recent years. This comprehensive, insightful, and meticulously researched book delves into the rich and diverse world of Mexican cinema from right after the golden age to the present day, with a focus on lesser-known films and filmmakers who have greatly contributed to the tapestry of the country’s cinematic heritage. Thus, it focuses on analyzing the genres that have been understudied due to a prestige deficit, vis-à-vis art films, such as those of Arturo Ripstein or Carlos Reygadas. The churros (low-prestige films, in Mexican slang) that the contributing authors write about often might have been much more influential than art house cinema and deserve critical attention on their own merit.
In the first section, about postclassical Mexican film—in the chapter titled “I Know It’s Only Rock and Roll but I Like It” (34–61)—Brian...
University of California Press