por Alejandro Santillán
Cinema has given many of us fortunate ones valuable experiences, yet the seventh art is not universally accessible. In Durango, México considered ‘the land of Mexican cinema,’ this is particularly embarrassing.
With 70 years of history as a pioneer and reference in the western genre, Durango has been nothing more than a stopover for major studios, a one-night romance that, at dawn, is abandoned to its fate, under the promise that some other Hollywood giant will come to visit. The sweet taste of this masquerade has become bitter over time, turning a cultural legacy into an obsolete lie that convinces neither foreigners nor the people of Durango.
However, under the shadows, an army has begun to form. A generation of emerging filmmakers who have taken on the commitment to redefine the heritage of their land’s already outdated name, to reclaim cinema, transform it, and make it as communal as it always should have been. Through their unique vision and talent, a movement has emerged in the heart of Mexico that has spread to neighboring states, seeking to take the stories of northern Mexican culture to new horizons.
The very specific social issues of their town and the conditions that embrace it have begun to have a face through its people and traveled to unimaginable corners thanks to the big screen and the new formats of today’s cinema.
But not only that. The hunger to reclaim the title of the land of cinema is such that these young people now lead social projects like ‘Cine Nómada,’ which takes knowledge to rural communities in the state to dignify the stories that happen every day, make them visible, and thus begin to awaken a new feeling, one that promises to bring progress to towns that have remained hidden for a long time.
While the potential of the people of Durango is admirable, to transform their reality, more people need to join, beyond its residents. Our greatest contribution will be to become ambassadors of the movement, give them a voice from where we are, and share their cause with the world.
For me, that is the mission. I will continue writing until my words find eyes eager to discover a new adventure that will elevate the lifestyle of people in vulnerable situations through the nobility of culture. Do you accept the challenge?
Alejandro Santillán is an independent writer, convinced that culture is a path to the progress of communities. Currently, he works as a coordinator and communication strategist within the government of the State of Durango. Through his work, he brings visibility to the diverse culture that the northern territory of Mexico possesses, highlighting its needs.