Indigenous Mexicans Were Able To Watch A Special Screening Of “Roma” In Their Native Language Of Nahuatl
The official countdown for the Oscars is long over, but there are still some that have yet to see “Roma” — which received the most nominations of any other film. While the general public has either seen “Roma” in the theater, the majority have watched it on Netflix. Yet still, the streaming service is a privilege, and many understand that, which is why some have made it possible for a marginalized community to see the movie that is in large part about them.
Ecocinema, an organization which aims to bring cultural movies to underserved communities had a screening of “Roma” for indigenous Mexicans in Cuentepec, Morelos.
To celebrate Día De La Lengua Materna — Day of the Mother Language — Ecocinema had a screening of “Roma” to a small community in Cuentepec, which is about a two-hour drive south from Mexico City.
The population there is roughly 4,000 people and they speak the indigenous language of Nahuatl. That meant organizers had to translate the movie.
Ecocinema worked alongside with the people of Cuentepec to make sure they had the translation down correctly. “Roma” director, Alfonso Cuarón, has aired his grievances about the discrepancies in which his film was translated incorrectly to audiences in Spain.
From the looks of it, audiences in Cuentepec certainly enjoyed the movie.
We love that this community was able to enjoy this incredible film, and understand how rare it is to see the representation of themselves on the big screen.
We love this close up of a little boy who looks completely mesmerized by the movie.
It almost appears as if he is crying.
Here’s another beautiful image of women captiavated by the film.
We can only imagine what they must be thinking while watching an actress who looks so much like they do.
Actress Yalitza Aparicio also shared her adoration for this screening and the recognition of embracing indigenous languages.
“Our mother tongues is a sign of our cultural richness and diversity,” she said on Instagram.
Aparicio, who is from the town of Tlaxiaco in the state of Oaxaca, has been praised by her indigenous community for excelling in her role and bringing much-needed representation to the film industry.
“Yalitza from Tlaxiaco in Hollywood, that’s just wow! She’s such an inspiration to me,” Arleth Velasco, a 16-year-old from Tlaxiaco, told The Guardian. The community there is planning to watch the Oscar award show outdoors in their main plaza on Sunday.
“The film shows everyday life of our community, it is a reality that Mexicans who criticize Roma don’t want to accept,” Velasco told the publication, and was referencing, the disparaging remark that a Mexican telenovela actor said about Aparicio. “Yalitza’s triumph shows that people like me with few resources, us ‘indios,’ can be someone.”
READ: White Mexicans Are Despicably Targeting Yalitza Aparicio, But She Is Standing Proud Of Her Indigenous Background
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