LACMA, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, has announced its upcoming presentation of film programs that further explore the 50-year career of revered Mexican cinematographer, Gabriel Figueroa. His trajectory is on detail through the exhibition, Under the Mexican Sky: Gabriel Figueroa through film clips, paintings, photographs, posters and documents, many from Figueroa's archive.
The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema is a complimentary series which focuses on Figueroa's hand in shaping what he referred to as una imágen méxican, or a Mexican image and what is largely considered an essential part of Mexican visual identity and culture.
Described as a master of light and contrast and influences based on friendships with muralists such as José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, an apprenticeship with cinematographer Gregg Toland, are all vividly stylized and encompassed through each film in this series. Co-presented with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, many of the films included are from key collaborations with director Emilio Fernández and which often cemented the careers of Mexican icons.
The program will show the 1944 film María Candelaria (pictured right),which introduced the Golden Age of Mexican cinema to the world and won two prizes at the Cannes Film Festival. It will also present Enamorada, also directed once again by Emilio Fernández, stars María Félix as Peñafiel who is pursued by charmer General Reyes, played by Pedro Armendáriz. Further collaborations with Fernández include La perla / The Pearl adapted with author John Steinbeck's blessing an participation, Sálon México, their first collaborationamong others.
Upcoming film series will focus on Figueroa's work with surrealist Luis Buñuel, working in Hollywood with directors such as John Ford and John Huston, and contemporary filmmakers who have been influenced by his work.
The film series takes place at LACMA from September 20th through October 11th. The exhibition will be held from September 22 through February 2nd, 2014.
