Monday, December 15, 2008

Latino film tells of life after the Spanish conquest

The Other Conquest On DVD
The Other Conquest is a powerful movie that was released in 2000 and became the highest grossing movie in Mexico until that time. It took seven years to make the film and now it is being released on DVD
Adrian Perez, Latino Journal/Vida de Oro

Hollywood, CA – School civics books tell of European nations conquering the Americas. But, none have ever written about the unrest and uprisings by the conquered civilizations until now. The release of “The Other Conquest” (La Otra Conquista) on DVD tackles the other story from the side of the Aztecs.

“The way many of us have been taught is that Tenochtitlan falls on August 13 of 1521 and that was that,” says The Other Conquest movie director Salvador Carrasco. “Then the next chapter talks about the Viceroy and the Colonia…what happened the morning after? These are consolidated civilizations, complex, hugely evolved with a history for themselves”

In The Other Conquest, Carrasco tells a story of resistance without the use of arms, and depicting an historical aspect that has been ignored by modern civics books. Taking seven years to complete, The Other Conquest was released in Mexico in 2000, becoming the highest grossing film until that time. It took Carrasco another 7 years to watch its release on DVD.

“They thought no one would go see a movie with an Indian protagonist,” Carrasco says. “People thought it wasn’t commercial…all kinds of things. Then, of course, the movie comes out and it became the highest grossing movie in Mexico at the time.”

The Other Conquest (La Otra Conquista) is a movie about Topiltzin, a survivor of the Spanish conquest led by Don Fernando Cortez, representing King Charles V of Spain. He and all other Aztec survivors were forced to accept the Spanish language, customs and religious beliefs. Topiltzin is helped by Cortez’ concubine, who is alleged to be the daughter of Aztec King Cuactemoc. In their struggles, they find ways to integrate their new language and beliefs with those of their indigenous past.

“I didn’t want this film to leave people feel luke warm,” Carrasco adds, “I wanted people to absolutely love it or hate it, but it does strike a cord.”

Carrasco says he would like for the movie to be shown in High Schools and Colleges so everyone can see the rich culture that existed in the Americas. It was screened in Poland and India where audiences connected with film’s depiction of what it is like to be conquered. You can see the entire interview with Salvador Carrasco on www.calmagazine.com, Channel 4.

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