María Félix smolders while colonialism crumbles. Mexico's golden age cinema at its most gorgeous and unsubtle.
On a small Mexican island dwells a group of Indians who live in the traditional manner and who disdain outsiders. The beautiful Maclovia and the poverty-stricken Jose Maria are in love, but her father refuses to allow their marriage, or even any communication between them, due to Jose Maria's lack of means.
Cinematography
Gabriel Figueroa's shadows could make a tax form look mythic.
Acting
Félix and Armendáriz invented smoldering. Everyone else is just renting.
Production
Janitzio Island location shooting: propaganda never looked this expensive.
Director
Emilio Fernández
María Félix
Maclovia
Pedro Armendáriz
José María
Carlos López Moctezuma
Sgt. Genovevo de la Garza
Columba Domínguez
Sara
Arturo Soto Rangel
Don Justo
Miguel Inclán
Tata Macario
Eduardo Arozamena
Cabo Mendoza
Roberto Cañedo
Teniente Ocampo
Manuel Dondé
Comisario (uncredited)
Ismael Pérez 'Poncianito'
Ponciano (uncredited)
José Torvay
Don Generoso (uncredited)
Carlos Múzquiz
(uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Commissioned by Mexico's ruling party to celebrate the 1940s 'Indianist' policy, the film paradoxically uses stunning visuals to sell assimilation as preservation.
Félix allegedly refused to learn the Purépecha language lines, forcing dubbing that Fernández hated—her silence becomes its own rebellion.
MX
