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.

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

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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

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Roberto Gavaldón

Director

Ignacio López Tarso

Macario

Pina Pellicer

Macario's Wife

Enrique Lucero

Death

José Gálvez

The Devil

José Luis Jiménez

God

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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