10 · 07 · 07

Yesterday the emotional remembrance of the 70 years after the arrival of the morelian children was celebrated at Cinépolis Centro. 08.10.07

Doris Morales/Translated by Vicente Castañar

In 1937 General Lázaro Cárdenas, president of México, after being petitioned by a group of ladies, negotiates with Spain the possibility of granting safe haven to Spanish children in order to protect them form the Spanish Civil War. War that began by the fascist movement against the Spanish Republic government. In June 1937, a group of 500 children arrived to Mexico, this protected group of children was to be known as the Niños de Morelia.

This important event, that made Mexico be known for its camaraderie, was commemorated at the 5th Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia. Together with the Filmoteca de la UNAM (UNAM’s film library) various documentaries about this incident were presented. This event was introduced by Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Batel, vice-president of this festival. He mentioned that the Morelia children are a symbol of dignity and camaraderie, and also an example of a way of life. He also mentioned that this was the perfect timing to raise one’s voice against all wars, we should continue to have a peace promoting country and we must continue to have an open mind to do whatever needs to be done in peace’s favor. He also thanked Antonio Aranda, now 80 years old, for being present, he was one of those kids that arrived so long ago to our country, he is a niño de Morelia.

This event showed the following documentaries: Los niños de Morelia. Llegada a la ciudad de México, de 1937. Niños españoles en México II, de 1939, previously unreleased material donated by the Aranda family to the Filmoteca de la UNAM.

Finally Los niños de Morelia- Horizontes reencontrados, a 2007 documentary by Carmen Té, an Italian journalist, was presented. This film includes four testimonies by the now adults niños de Morelia. This film features material provided by the Aranda family, who owns a large collection of films and photographs.

At the end of this event Mr. Antonio Aranda deeply thanked General Cárdenas and México for all the support he and his fellow citizens received in order to quit their nation which was at war. He also thanked doña Amalia Solórzano, (General Cárdenas’ wife) and he didn’t forget to said out loud: ¡Viva México!