El mito reformado: la oblicua visión oficialista en el filme mexicano Miguel Hidalgo: la historia jamás contada

Abstract

2010 was the year that Mexico made particular contact with its history, commemorating the most heroic episodes of the nation. Promoted by the government, the Bicentennial of the Independence of Mexico was a series of planned celebrations held throughout the country to commemorate the two centuries that followed upon the armed struggle for Independence in 1810. These celebrations also were paired with those of the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution, whose origin dates back to 1910.As part of this extended patriotic holiday, the government funded films on nationalist themes. One of these is Hidalgo: the Untold Story (Antonio Serrano, 2010), which offers an unusual perspective on the insurgent hero Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla’s life. This article puts forth the thesis that films of this sort were funded with the intention of (re)assessing historical symbols in light of the crisis of identity, values and national security afflicting the country. In the case of Hidalgo... this consists of an attempt to reinvigorate a mythical figure that to help heighten the ideal of the Mexican essence.