Mexican National Cinema

Mexican National Cinemaoffers an account of the development of Mexican cinema from the intense cultural nationalism of the Mexican Revolution, through the "Golden Age" of the 1940s and theNuevo Cineof the 1960s, to the renaissance in Mexican cinema in the 1990s. The book moves from broad historical and theoretical context, particularly theories of nation, emergent discourses of "mexicanidad" and the establishment and development of the Mexican industry, towards readings of key film texts and genres. Individual chapters discuss the relationship between Hollywood cinema and Mexican cinema, the stars of the "Golden Age," the role of foreign auteurs in the founding of Mexican cinema, tensions in the industry in the 1960s, and the national and international reception of contemporary films and film-makers. The author then examines the portrayal of Mexican nationhood through critical analysis of film genres including Revolutionary films, machismo and "mexicanidad," the prostitute, and the workof female auteurs.

Andrea Noble is reader in Latin American Visual Studies at the University of Durham