10 · 21 · 23 The Essence of Yucatecan Cinema: LA INVENCIÓN ICONOGRÁFICA by Maricruz Castro Ricalde Share with twitter Share with facebook Share with mail Copy to clipboard Said García Yucatecan writer and doctor Maricruz Castro Ricalde presented her most recent publication, La invención iconográfica: Identidades regionales y nación en el cine mexicano de la edad oro (Iconographic Invention: Regional Identities and Nation in Mexican Cinema of the Golden Age), at the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM). Specializing in 20th-century Mexican and Latin American literature and cinema, Dr. Castro Ricalde was inspired by her homeland, analyzing iconographic elements (scripts, film posters, photographs) to capture the essence of Yucatecan cinema. Tania Ruiz Ojeda, History PhD and researcher at UNAM, also participated in the presentation and said: "It is good that the festival continues to emphasize academic events". She went on to emphasize that the Yucatecan identity can be understood through the views of those who live there and those who see it from the outside. The author mentioned that the subtitle of the book is an "excuse" to better distribute it to the public since the idea of pinpointing her area of interest would reduce the impact on readers outside the Yucatán region. That is why she decided not only to distribute the book in print but to make it available to the public through an online download. Castro Ricalde said that among the Yucatecan film classics that inspired the book were La noche de los mayas (dir. Chano Urueta, 1939), La selva de fuego (dir. Fernando de Fuentes, 1945) and Deseada (dir. Roberto Gavaldón, 1951). The presentation concluded with heartfelt thanks and remarks that praised the book's subject matter for being a precursor to showing cinema beyond the capital city.
