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Macario

Released Sep 27, 1961 1h 30m Fantasy List
100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Three mysterious deities visit impoverished peasant Macario (Ignacio López Tarso) when his wife (Pina Pellicer) prepares for him his favorite meal, a whole turkey. After withholding the succulent bird from both God (José Luis Jiménez) and the Devil (José Gálvez), Macario finally offers half to Death (Enrique Lucero), hoping the gesture will stave off his own demise. As a reward, Death offers Macario healing water that will work only at the discretion of Death himself.

Critics Reviews

View All (6) Critics Reviews
Andrea Gronvall Chicago Reader Roberto Galvadon's 1959 rags-to-riches fable combines magical realism and folkloric elements of Mexico's Indianist movement with results that are alternately comic and poignant. Apr 20, 2020 Full Review TIME Staff TIME Magazine The legend has been transformed by two gifted Mexicans, Director Roberto Gavaldon and Cameraman Gabriel Figueroa, into a fragile but profound little picture that abounds and delights in the black-and-white magic of the magic lantern. Apr 20, 2020 Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times The charm of it is in the felicity with which it flows from a solemn, sad account of misery and futility into a bubbling comedy, spiced with morbid witticisms, and then into a drollish horror tale. Apr 20, 2020 Full Review Wael Khairy The Cinephile Fix I was immersed in the beauty of Mexican tradition and culture. It also happens to have one of the greatest “last shot” twist endings ever committed to film. Oct 22, 2023 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Gabriel Figueroa's cinematography is the best element of this Mexican folk tale, which was the country's first nominee for Foreign Language Oscar. Rated: B+ Jun 17, 2011 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews First Mexican production to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film. Rated: A May 25, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (37) audience reviews
Enrique M Una carta de amor al cine mexicano con buenas actuaciones. Con ese tono místico y nostálgico característico de muchas películas de la época, que toca un tema bastante polémico y que se ve reflejada en una de las mas bellas tradiciones que tiene México. Super recomendado, se ha convertido en un clásico y en una pieza de historia del cine mexicano así como del país mismo. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/18/23 Full Review Lipi O Surreal! Beautiful imagery and wonderful story. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/07/22 Full Review Tony S A somber fable with a beautiful soundtrack and a great cast about the deal with Death that made a simple and virtuous man with a simple dream turn the most valuable gift of life into a money-making venture. Or so it seems, until it turns out it never happened. This is my main gripe with the film. Even if you assume that it was done to relieve his family from bearing guilt or shame for him (and if you read the story it's pretty much said so), it still feels like a cop out. The theme of fleeting life that can be snuffed out at any moment is brutal and hits hard because of how ruthless Macario's situation ends up being. Overall, a very touching and poignant picture. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/03/22 Full Review Audience Member relly love the moovie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member The "Seventh Seal" of Mexican movies Critiques religion institutions but supports Christian morality, stuff for analysis. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member An excellent traslation to the short novbel of Bruno Traven Macario tells the story with one dream:eat an entire turkey.this adaption its even better than the book . Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Macario

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Three mysterious deities visit impoverished peasant Macario (Ignacio López Tarso) when his wife (Pina Pellicer) prepares for him his favorite meal, a whole turkey. After withholding the succulent bird from both God (José Luis Jiménez) and the Devil (José Gálvez), Macario finally offers half to Death (Enrique Lucero), hoping the gesture will stave off his own demise. As a reward, Death offers Macario healing water that will work only at the discretion of Death himself.
Director
Roberto Gavaldón
Distributor
Azteca Films Inc.
Genre
Fantasy
Original Language
Spanish
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 27, 1961, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Dec 16, 2003
Runtime
1h 30m