Mexican actor calls for cinema to empower, not portray victimhood

Actor Silverio Palacios asserts that Mexican cinema must evolve from depicting the nation as a perpetual victim to crafting narratives that empower its citizens as protagonists. This philosophy is central to his role in "Loco México mágico," a film directed by Carlos Santos.

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We need to see the film to realize that we have the capacity to compete with other stories because those do not concern us, this one does, broadly. We are a diversified culture for many reasons, but also polychromatic and enriched because we are backed by an extraordinary history.

In the movie, Palacios portrays Benito, the municipal president of Alvarado, Veracruz. Benito is determined to allocate his administration's resources to produce a film aimed at promoting his town and, incidentally, launching his son into stardom. The inherent challenge lies in the town's collective lack of filmmaking experience and resources, forcing its inhabitants to rely on improvisation and collaborative effort.

Palacios emphasized in an interview with EL UNIVERSAL that the film demonstrates Mexico's capacity to compete with other stories, particularly those that do not resonate with the nation's own experiences. He highlighted Mexico's diverse and enriched culture, backed by an extraordinary history, suggesting a need to move beyond easily marketable, stereotypical images.

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We were once charros, singers, lovers, charming, witty, and cinema sponsored those images. We need to vindicate ourselves.

"We were once charros, singers, lovers, charming, witty, and cinema sponsored those images. We need to vindicate ourselves," Palacios stated, referencing past cinematic representations. He noted a shift towards narratives focused on drug trafficking, crime, and corruption, warning against the risk of losing national identity as ethnic groups and criteria become mere consumer products.

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Mexico, like many countries, surrendered to the inertia of super-development, and there is a risk of losing identity. And when ethnicities and criteria become a product of consumption, that is where identity gets lost.

"Loco México mágico" also serves, according to Palacios, as an illustration of the Mexican spirit in adversity. "That's where the true nature of the Mexican is detonated. We see it in earthquakes; solidarity, kindness, and generosity emerge that are simply impressive." He believes that artistic proposals must be vibrant and varied, acting as a "refreshment for the soul," especially in a country facing violence and crime, suggesting that art plays a crucial role in fostering better social coexistence.

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That's where the true nature of the Mexican is detonated. We see it in earthquakes; solidarity, kindness, and generosity emerge that are simply impressive.