Originally released in 2015, the Mexican film Epitáfio has had an interesting journey from cult to classic. The movie had limited exposure in the United States. It was nominated unsuccessfully as Mexico’s official entry for the American Academy Awards as Best Foreign Language Film.
The movie hardly reached wide audiences either in the U.S. or in its native Mexico, despite its vigorous celebration of God and Country. But the epitaph for Epitáfio was premature; the film has been given new life! It has now been re-released on The ROKU Channel as well as other streaming platforms.
This second coming is due to a reconsideration of its ostensible message. A more astute audience could not help but see how this historical drama about exploration was actually a powerful critique. Rather than a paean to the costs of settlement, it serves as a cautionary against colonization, a sad reminder of the human costs of such exploitation.
In 1519, the Conquistador Hernán Cortés set out to conquer Mexico for the Spanish Emperor…and God. Epitáfio, written and directed by Rubén Imaz and Yulene Olaizola, is the story of part of this expedition.
Cortes planned to bring the Aztec country under his control by seizing the capital, Tenochtitlan. Toward this end he dispatched the battle-tested commander Diego de Ordaz (Xabier Coronado) to Pococatépetl, Mexico’s second highest volcano, to locate and collect sulphur for making gunpowder. Ordaz is accompanied by Gonzalo de Monovar (Xabier Coronado) and Perdito (Carlos Trivino).
The three Spanish soldiers start their journey in a brief meeting with local “Indians.” The cultural disconnect is jarring; Ordaz cannot understand what the natives want from them. The Spanish ignore their warnings and advice on which trails to take.
Their self-proclaimed cultural superiority tells them it’s possible to find their own better route. “We should not trust their myths and superstitions,” Ordaz further decides, instead opting for their own superstitions: “Our Lord God kept us safe and protected us. We hope he will continue. We did what God wanted. We have done only his will.” He explains that “as for the natives, we have always striven to have them destroy their idols.”
The film goes further, as along their journey the Conquistadors recount how they overpowered and brutally slaughtered the natives. Perdito laments the hardships and loss of life. Nevertheless, Captain Ordaz dismisses talk of harshness and inhumanity inflicted on the Aztecs. Any difficulties the Spanish themselves encounter are attributed to their deity’s will.
As they approach their goal, Ordaz vainly attempts to characterize the bloodshed as heaven-ordained carnage. His speech, though limited, has become so hyperbolic that it can only be taken as the ravings of a lunatic. There could hardly be a better indictment of colonization than how the Spanish themselves described their bloody folly as great accomplishment.
The film itself is sparse in dialogue. The natural beauty of the landscape and exquisite score by Pascual Reyes and Alejandro Otaola contrasts well with the ugliness of the colonial mission. Character development is overshadowed by the intensity of the political message.
In an age where economic as well as geographic empire is still actively sought, the message of Epitáfio would be well-considered.
Epitáfio is now available on Prime, The Roku Channel, Tubi TV, VIX, and Runtime.
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