Miguel Rodarte Urges Mexicans to Value Their Own Culture

Actor Miguel Rodarte is calling on Mexicans to overcome a historical tendency to undervalue their own cultural productions, urging them to recognize the quality and global appeal of Mexican cinema and television. "What do they see in us that we are not capable of seeing?" Rodarte questioned, highlighting how Mexican content has often been overlooked, not by international audiences, but by Mexicans who doubt that national productions can meet the highest quality standards.

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The audience was not accustomed to seeing quality products on screen, in their own language, with their own idiosyncrasies and humor. Foreign content was prevalent, but this has evolved enormously. Now, there are hundreds of Mexican films that have been extremely successful at the box office here in Mexico.

Rodarte, who has been instrumental in promoting Mexican productions on international platforms like Apple TV with the series "Las Azules," recalled the different landscape when he began his career in 2002. "The audience was not accustomed to seeing quality products on screen, in their own language, with their own idiosyncrasies and humor. Foreign content was prevalent, but this has evolved enormously. Now, there are hundreds of Mexican films that have been extremely successful at the box office here in Mexico," he told EL UNIVERSAL.

He believes both the industry and viewers now understand that Mexican productions can compete effectively with major Hollywood productions. Rodarte points to Apple TV, a platform known for its curated, high-standard catalog, including Fernando Rovzar's series, as evidence. "The fact that a platform like Apple TV also wants to feature Mexican stories indicates there is a value that perhaps we are rediscovering and have been unable to see," he stated.

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The fact that a platform like Apple TV also wants to feature Mexican stories indicates there is a value that perhaps we are rediscovering and have been unable to see.

Rodarte attributes this self-deprecation to a historical legacy, suggesting that Mexican value has been perceived as less significant than that of past Spanish conquistadors or contemporary inhabitants of major cities like New York. "This view of ourselves, that we are not enough, or that what is Mexican is poorly made, we have to break it. The World Cup proved to us that foreigners are fascinated by us. We should look at ourselves and say: What do they see in us that we don't see?"

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This view of ourselves, that we are not enough, or that what is Mexican is poorly made, we have to break it. The World Cup proved to us that foreigners are fascinated by us. We should look at ourselves and say: What do they see in us that we don't see?

He encourages a belief in Mexico's potential as a global leader not only in content and entertainment but also in sports, culture, food, and music. "We can be true world leaders. The world is looking at us in these areas, and that has great merit. It's time we also give ourselves that value," Rodarte concluded. He emphasizes that Mexican film and television should leverage projects like "La captura de Chava Cartas" or "Las Azules," which aimed for high standards from story creation, delving into historical research beyond official narratives, such as the 1971 massacre that is central to the series.

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We can be true world leaders. The world is looking at us in these areas, and that has great merit. It's time we also give ourselves that value.