Films depict the cultures from which they have come. To talk about Mexican culture in film, Ignacio Sánchez Prado, author, professor and film researcher, will visit Grand Valley State University to give a public lecture.

The event, “Contemporary Mexican Cinema: Romantic Comedies, Democracy, Border Crossings and the Crisis of National Identities,” will take place Thursday, March 30, in Room 2215/2216 of the Kirkhof Center from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

“Romantic comedies usually portray middle-class people and professional people, giving access to American culture,” said Mayra Fortes, associate professor of Spanish at GVSU. “The more international culture people see, the more people aspire to be like these professionals.”

Fortes stressed the impact film can have on depicting cultures and how that impact affects the audience. Certain ideas come down through film, like what it is like to be a Mexican or what it is like to be a young professional, Fortes said.

Fortes cautions film viewers to be wary of this phenomenon because the cultures depicted in film typically only show one type of class. In reality, Fortes explained, it is just a part of that world.

For example, films set in Mexico commonly show Mexico City. They might highlight the architecture, upper-class citizens or the robust life of the city. Fortes said the different and lower classes of people are oftentimes briefly panned over. Likewise, in Mexico, she said, indigenous peoples’ cultures are vastly different and rarely covered.

Fortes said film is important because it lets people see a different reality, environment and comfort zone, and Mexico produces cultural products that impact Latin America. She said Mexican actors and filmmakers are making an impact in Hollywood and are able to highlight the roles of Mexican culture.

“I remember growing up with films that came from Mexico,” said Médar Serrata, associate professor of Spanish at GVSU. “Mexican film is a big part of Latin American culture, just like music and dance.”

Roughly 100 to 120 people are expected to attend the event. This is the first year Prado has decided to host a film talk at GVSU. He is a professor of Spanish and Latin American studies at Washington University in St. Louis. Prado is also an author of several books and has been researching Mexican culture and film for years.

Prado intends to give a speech for the first part of his lecture. Following this, a Q&A segment will take place.

Attending this talk will give students and other participants a greater understanding and appreciation of Mexican cinema, Serrata said. He also pointed out that Mexico has at least three great international filmmakers who have won awards recently.

The talk is in preparation for the Grand Rapids Latin American Film Festival, which will take place from Friday, March 31, to Sunday, April 2. The Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids plans to host the event free of charge.

For more information on these events, contact GVSU’s Area and Global Studies department at (616) 331-8110 or [email protected]