Calzonzin Inspector
| Calzonzin Inspector | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Alfonso Arau |
| Written by | Alfonso Arau |
| Starring | Virma González |
| Cinematography | Jorge Stahl Jr. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Mexico |
| Language | Spanish |
Calzonzin Inspector is a 1974 Mexican comedy film and live action comic adaptation directed and starred by Alfonso Arau.[1] It was selected as the Mexican entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 47th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[2]
Background
The film is based on the titular character from the famous Mexican comic book Los Supermachos created and drawn by Mexican cartoonist Rius, who co-wrote the screenplay.[3] "Cazonci" or "Caltzontzin" was the term used in the Purépecha culture, to name their emperors. The film, which is influenced by Nikolai Gogol's The Government Inspector, centers around two poor Mexicans who are mistaken for government inspectors from Mexico City by the corrupt mayor of a small town. It is a humorous political critique, aimed squarely at the then ruling party Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) and its paramilitary caciques, at a time when freedom of speech in politics was highly restricted. There are at least two versions of the film, with one having some scenes deleted by State censors, the most notable of which depicts the killing of a renegade farmer by a police officer, who shoots the farmer in the back.
Plot
When the major of a fictional town in rural Mexico learns that an incognito inspector is sent by the Government to supervise him, he tries in all the ways to intercept him in order to avoid him discovering his corrupt ways. Almost at the same time a poor Mexican guy, called Caltzontzin that looks like a beggar with a Mexican sarape, arrives to town and soon is confused with the forementioned inspector.
Then the Major does all he can to try to show Caltzontzin that the town is running fine, since closing the local bar and putting in jail all his patrons, and using them to play a soccer game in the local park, making the students of a closed school to go back to attend classes, make a goofy representation of Adam and Eve in Paradise and making them to sing in front of the Inspector, through this backfires to the wife of the Major when she realizes that the pianist of the cantina made the children to sing "Aventurera" (a bolero song over a prostitute).
Soon, the other unhabitants of the town do whatever they can to get the attention of Caltzontzin as long as they demand some help from him to put down the Major, making a colorful parade in front of his hotel.
However, soon the truth is discovered and Caltzontzin is condemned to be killed by a bull during the town's bulls parade. However his best friend manages to free him and using bullfighting tools manages to make a goofy but effective bullfigting game to keep them alive, until, when trying to kill the bull with the estoque they unexpectedly touch a dinamite detonator making the arena to blow in pieces, while Caltzontzin leaves the town literally flying, the Inspector arrives to town to encounter a dismayed and shocked Major pledging for help.
Cast
- Alfonso Arau as Caltzontzin
- Arturo Alegro as Caltzonzin's friend
- Pancho Córdoba as The Major
- Virma González as Enedina
- Héctor Ortega as Periodista
- Carmen Salinas as Doña Eme
- Carolina Barret as Doña Pomposa
- Mario García 'Harapos' as Lechuzo
- Lina Montes
- Carlos Jordán
- Arturo G. Ramirez
- Giovanni Korporaal
- Hugo González Guzmán
See also
- List of submissions to the 47th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Mexican submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
- Comics in Mexico
References
- ^ "Calzonzin Inspector". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
- ^ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- ^ Calzónzin Inspector at IMDB.com