LA SOMBRA DEL CAUDILLO

Martin Luis Guzman’s novel, which was the object of strict censorship for thirty years, is the basis of our story, which takes place in post-revolutionary Mexico. No doubt the film was blacklisted due to its raw, incriminating content, which perfectly showcased the dirty political dealings of those times. The film was banned from Mexican theaters and there were claims that the negative and all its copies had been destroyed. However, poor quality, pirated renderings of the film have been being circulated surreptitiously since, with it now being looked upon as a cult classic.  The film was finally released and shown in 1990 by director, Julio Bracho’s, family. At some point, the film was finally recognized by The Cineteca Nacional De Mexico as a vital piece Mexico’s cinematic history and undoubtably because of its artistic allure, so in their endeavor to preserve Mexican Cinema, the film was finally restored. In our story, conflicting political aims and views and the universal lust for power, have the characters finding themselves in a dangerous climate where it’s dog-eat-dog and where corruption abounds. So, when candidates are being chosen for the new term for the presidency, they find themselves at the mercy of their current president, El Caudillo, who will resort to anything to have his will be done, even kidnapping, betrayal, and murder.

A Special Video Featurette by Dr. David Wilt, Writer, Film Historian and Expert on the Mexican Film Industry Bonus Trailers