La otra conquista (1998)

Director:

Salvador Carrasco

Writer:

Salvador Carrasco (written by)

Release Date:

1 April 1999 (Mexico)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

The spirit of a people can never be conquered.

Plot:

It is May 1520 in the vast Aztec Empire one year after the Spanish Conqueror Hernán Cortés' arrival in Mexico...

Plot Keywords:

Historical | Female Nudity | Religion | Sex | Pagan

Awards:

2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Damián Delgado	...	Topiltzin / Tomás
José Carlos Rodríguez	...	Fray Diego de La Coruña
Elpidia Carrillo	...	Tecuichpo / Doña Isabel
Iñaki Aierra	...	Hernando Cortés
Honorato Magaloni	...	Capitán Cristóbal Quijano
Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez	...	Beata Conversa
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carlos Álvarez
Luisa Ávila
Ramon Barragan
Alejandro Bracho
Diana Bracho	...	Doña Juana
Juan-Salvador Carrasco	...	Baby Jesus
Josefina Echánove
Rufino Echegoyen
Nicolás Jasso	...	Guerrero Dual
Guillermo Ríos
Lourdes Villareal
Maya Zapata	...	Xochiquetzal

Also Known As:

La visión absuelta (Mexico) (working title)
The Other Conquest

MPAA:

Rated R for scenes of violence and some strong sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

USA:105 min | Argentina:106 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

USA:R | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Convento de Acolman, Estado de México, Mexico

Company:

ADO Entertainment

Quotes:

[first lines]
Topiltzin: [in Nahuatl] Mother!

A very poignant critique of religion

This film explores the relationships between politics, religion, spirituality, and culture, focusing on some true and some fabricated events of the Spanish invasion of the Aztecs. Biting, the film charges with the idea that the nature of culture and the strength of a highly traditional belief system is not conquerable. Stressing the strength and perseverance of the human will, the film yields unforgettable images, some that stress the deep connection between humanity and religion. One immortal image is of a statue of the Virgin Mary being carefully supported down from a high place with ropes. In this image, the true condition of organized religion is viewed; one that is undeniably buttressed by the will of the people.

With this powerful look at cross-cultural interactions and the strong statements about the role of the missionary, the movie grips its audience, leaving us with a feeling that all human beliefs are related and filtered by our very similar eyes. The message that this movie sends about religious disputes is one of great importance and even greater shrewdness on the part of the movie's creators.