Mexican films earn reputation for quality

With 16 Oscar nominations for "Babel" (directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu), "Pan's Labyrinth" (directed and written by Guillermo Del Toro) and "Children of Men" (directed and co-written by Alfonso Cuarón), Hollywood unofficially declared 2007 the Year of the Mexican Filmmaker. With impressive storytelling and powerful use of cinematography, set design and locations, the films showed a striking new era of artistic maturity and ambition.

These filmmakers were not only good friends but collaborators, helping each other launch new projects and build new systems of production in Mexico through a five-film, $100 million deal with Universal Pictures. The label "Made in Mexico" promises to be a hallmark of quality.

In conjunction with its Frida Kahlo exhibit, Walker Art Center presents the Cinemateca series. The program opens Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m. with "La Ofrenda: The Days of the Dead," a nonfiction examination of Day of the Dead festivities. The film traces the holiday's origins before the arrival of Hispanic settlers, and shows contemporary celebrations in the United States and Oaxaca.

Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. features the dark comedy "Never on a Sunday" ("Morirse en Domingo"), about a young man's bizarre mishaps as he tries to arrange for his uncle's cremation on a holiday. "Saint Death" ("La Santa Muerte") follows on Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Gael Garcia Bernal narrates this documentary about followers of "Saint Death," a skeletal grim reaper regarded by many as the patron saint of the disadvantaged.

"Drama/Mex" is featured Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. The multi-character drama features a sexually charged love triangle, and a precocious runaway teen who crosses paths with a despondent executive on an Acapulco beach at nighttime. (The film also will be shown at the Parkway Theater Nov. 2-8.) "Born Without Sin" ("Nacido Sin") screens Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The subject of this documentary is a street musician who supports a large family despite having been born without arms. The series concludes with "The Violin" Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. The wartime drama concerns a seemingly innocuous fiddle player who wins the confidence of an army captain battling local guerrillas.

The claymation short "Down to the Bones" ("Hasta Loe Huesos") will play continuously in the U.S. Bank Observation Lounge. All films are in Spanish with English subtitles.

Colin Covert • 612-673-7186

When: Nov. 1-16. • By COLIN COVERT ccovert@startribune.com