The Shadow of the Strongman (1960)
Post-revolucionary Mexico. War secretary Hilario Jiménez is chosen as the candidate for presidency, but he isn't so sure about it, because he knows that his boss and current president, El Caudillo, has chosen a second one.
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Fantastic!
Absolutely Fantastic
I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.
A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
In Mexico, "La sombra del caudillo" was a prohibited film by government of PRI during decades. It is clearly identify with political corruption under PRI government, specially with the facts of Plutarco Elias Calles presidential period, around 1920s. PRI was the only party in power for seven decades and "La sombra del caudillo" reflects the way they always work.Fidelity, traitors and of course, the hand of the President, called "el Caudillo", were the forces reigning the political destiny of a nation. Being against "el Caudillo", even in a supposedly clean election, was a risk, no matter how important the person were. "El Caudillo" was over everyone. Here, two Military Generals have the chance to be the next president, but "el Caudillo", not the population will decide.Julio Bracho, the director, paints the politics world so cruel. For example, the only person capable of loving is destined to died in hands of their traitor friends. But no one is saved. At the end, it is not a classical fight of the good versus the bad candidate. It is simply a fight of two forces, of two generals coming from the same place, they both are the same thing, but (we never know why) one of them will be blessed with the favor of el Caudillo, and the other not.Acting is great, but the main character, played by Tito Junco, the opposing General, has the majority of the scenes. So, great actors as Ignacio Lopez Tarso or Carlos Lopez Moctezuma are barely notable, and some others, like Roberto Canedo, Noe Nurayama or Antonio Aguilar have almost incidental parts. All of them with important careers in Mexican cinema. The ephemeral presence of el Caudillo is so sordid, and his powerful personality can be fill in the few moments appearing on screen, looking almost omnipotent. We can see him in intimate talks, alone with the opposite General, and still fill his strength.