The Vertical Border

The Meeting of President Taft and President Díaz at El Paso, Texas(es)

The first meeting of a U.S. president and a Mexican president took place when William Howard Taft met Porfirio Díaz on 16 October 1909, in El Paso. The meeting was celebrated in both El Paso and Juárez with parades, elaborate receptions, lavish gifts and large crowds. Shot by the pioneers of Mexican Cinema the brothers Alva. This is a typical example of newsreel material prior to the Mexican revolution. By hemerographical references we know that this footage was presented to the then president of Mexico General Porfirio Díaz in the Castle of Chapultepec, then residence of the president.

Migrant Mother(en)

Migranta tells the stories of Vicky, Betty and Lety, (three mothers who have come to Canada from Mexico as part of the federal government’s Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program) as they face calculated risks, difficult choices and harsh realities while navigating, work and life in Canada while being separated from families and communities they support.

Lila Downs - Balas y Chocolate(es)

Little Birds(es)

Through dances and games, migrant boys and girls who live in a shelter in Reynosa, on the US-Mexico border, shared their dreams and stories of hope with us.

Utopia of Death(en)

This short film focuses on the mysterious and legendary Seri Indians who live in a utopian colony off the west coast of Mexico.

The Man Who Saw Too Much(es)

A film about fragility; about a man obsessed with photographing the accident who discovered that the fate of others was his way of connecting to life. When does the image of the accident become the object of desire? Following the footsteps of Metinides and the work of contemporary tabloid photographers, we discover Mexico City through a narrative of crime scenes and accidents; rubbernecking though Metinides’ Gaze.

Dark Suns(es)

An epic investigation into countless murders in Mexico. Presented in chapters, the film unfolds methodically through unsettling testimonials, sketching a portrait of an entire country transformed into a gigantic mass grave thanks to a climate of impunity established by both criminal gangs and state authorities.

Mexican Moods(en)

This 1942 travelogue film, directed by Aldo Ermini and sponsored by the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, showcases Mexican culture during World War II, focusing on various cultural activities and popular entertainers of the time. The film features notable figures like Puerto Rican actress and singer Mapy Cortés, Mexican comedian Cantinflas, and a re-enactment of Aztec traditions.

Hugo Sánchez : Sueños de Gol(es)

A retrospective of the career of Hugo Sanchez at Real Madrid.

43(es)

43 young male students were abducted from a Mexican college on September 26, 2014. They have yet to resurface. This documentary probes the disturbing event, how it shook a community, and the troubling search for the missing students.

Los Jaguares del Manglar(es)

Through the planet, explore the home and habitat of the mangrove jaguars on the banks of the Santiago River, where its current meets the sea on the coast of Nayarit, an area that has become a natural refuge for cats.

Pre-escolar(es)

PETer Plastik(es)

A guy named Peter learns several facts about plastic's impact on the environment.

Whores' Glory(de)

In Bangkok, Thailand, women punch a clock and wait for clients in a brightly lit glass box; in the red-light district of Faridpur, Bangladesh, a madam haggles over the price of a teenage girl; and in the border town of Reynosa, Mexico, crack-addicted women pray to a deity named Lady Death.

Skate Territory(es)

After a long and successful career as a skater, Veronica has stepped away from competing, but continues her legacy by organizing skateboarding workshops to teach young girls from indigenous communities to skate, and to push them to fight back for the public spaces that have been occupied by men and to practice a sport that also belongs to women.

Me cuesta tanto olvidarte(es)

México, México: Mexique en mouvement(fr)

"Mexico begins where the roads end ”. Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes tells us about the history of Mexico: its invasions, its revolutions, its sacred lands, its forgotten legends, its religious rituals and this frightening misery. François Reichenbach and his camera sink into the dust, on this sacred land, where "the land never ends."

The Thought Of Art(es)

Research and dissemination documentary-film about contemporary art in which more than 30 staff members of museums and galleries, visual and sound artists, collectors, art critics and curators share their knowledge and give an account of their experiences and anecdotes.

Rural Mexico(en)

A Traveltalks visit to some small towns in Mexico. In Mazatlán, away from the tourist spots, we see a small village where fishing, growing coconuts, and gathering large sea turtles are the main pursuits. We then visit Toluca on market day, where people sell produce and pottery. The last stop is Taxco, where the Castilian influence of the Spanish conquerors is still prevalent.

Visiting Vera Cruz(en)

This Traveltalk series short looks at the people, customs, and landmarks in Vera Cruz, the main port city of Mexico.