Based on a true story, this movie shows the great differences within Mexico rural and urban areas. Modernity could not be accepted in the rural areas, basically because the ignorant peasants were dominated by certain groups, including, like in this movie, the Catholic Church. Let's remember that the students massacres that had happened in 1968 and 1972 were still fresh in the minds of many Mexicans. Those students had been accused by the Government,of being Comunists. In this particular movie 5 young students of the Capital's State University decide to climb a volcano. Because of bad weather they have to stay overnight in a little village besides the Volcano. The local Priest assumes that they are Communists coming to agitate in his territory and accuses them with the people of trying to close the Church. The mob tries to lynch them. The beauty of this film resides in the fact that fanaticism is shown at its maximum level so as to make us think where this can lead us in our lives. This is true of the corrupt authorities, the Priest that uses Religion to maintain his privileges, the village people that mix Religion and fanaticism, etc. It is a great sociological study of the consequences of these extreme attitudes.
14 Reviews
Terrifying.. Because it's real
csarcarranza_112 December 2008
Warning: Spoilers
A person is able to change its judgment, a mob is already executing the sentence. In this movie, innocent people were judged as guilty of communism, which in certain places, is almost a declaration of allegiance to the devil. And the sentence was carried..
There are no surprises on this film. From the first moment you saw the cover, you knew there was going to be murder. The main point of the movie is the way the murders occur, and for what reasons.
You can see ignorance and fear at its peak here. At the front you will notice the liquor bottles in the hands of the killers. You will see the crowd with no mind of its own, but blindly charging against those the priest accuses.
I personally find the scene where the mob enters Lucas's house the most terrifying. Several people start beating the young men, while their partners, who'll soon be victims, look at them, evidently terrified, noticing that they won't be able to do anything against the insane rage the villagers carry.
They are dragged like animals, and then beaten by the entire crowd, who humiliates them, all the while yelling "Communists!" at them.
This movie is sickening, but a must-see. It shows, very clearly- perhaps too clearly- the terrible dangers of fanatism, fear, and above all, ignorance.
There are no surprises on this film. From the first moment you saw the cover, you knew there was going to be murder. The main point of the movie is the way the murders occur, and for what reasons.
You can see ignorance and fear at its peak here. At the front you will notice the liquor bottles in the hands of the killers. You will see the crowd with no mind of its own, but blindly charging against those the priest accuses.
I personally find the scene where the mob enters Lucas's house the most terrifying. Several people start beating the young men, while their partners, who'll soon be victims, look at them, evidently terrified, noticing that they won't be able to do anything against the insane rage the villagers carry.
They are dragged like animals, and then beaten by the entire crowd, who humiliates them, all the while yelling "Communists!" at them.
This movie is sickening, but a must-see. It shows, very clearly- perhaps too clearly- the terrible dangers of fanatism, fear, and above all, ignorance.
Prejudices don't kill people, people with prejudices do.
Kerosene1 July 1999
This film is part of the beginning of the New Mexican Cinema, based in a true story and made like an example of the uncertain time in Mexico after 1968 and how can be influenced a entire town against a group of people whom their only sin was; be a student.
Paranoia leads to tragedy. Mexico in 1968
jlms25 August 2002
This movie is based in a real life story in which a group of students and university workers go on holiday and finish in a small town (Canoa) in the Mexican countryside. They look for a place to spend the night without being aware of what his happening around them until it is too late.
The political climate is volatile: Mexico, 1968, leftist students have been protesting all around the country and the local priest is a megalomaniac afraid to loose his little power and completely paranoid about communism.
What follows is the mob taking over under the directions of the local priest, with funest consequences for the unfortunate students.
Very explicit violence, Disturbing scenes.
Highly recommended.
The political climate is volatile: Mexico, 1968, leftist students have been protesting all around the country and the local priest is a megalomaniac afraid to loose his little power and completely paranoid about communism.
What follows is the mob taking over under the directions of the local priest, with funest consequences for the unfortunate students.
Very explicit violence, Disturbing scenes.
Highly recommended.
prophetic
sivilcavage5 March 2005
Warning: Spoilers
i picked up this film at random after being hooked by the cover art. like the hikers in the film, i had no idea what i was getting myself into. while not a particularly "polished" or grand film it was still very chilling. it's always the smaller things that make the biggest impact. i think this is because prior to this film i had never really seen the kind of paranoia on display here, seen the foundations laid so meticulously, except in an overly "preachy" way in American cinema (Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" for example). this was different however, and i think that it has a lot to do with the social climate and history of Mexico and above all, the talent of the director.
all the same, being a native New Mexican and in close proximity to such a vivid heritage, i think that this film has a very valid message about the madness of crowds and the unthinking, unfeeling, unaccountable and exploitative aspects of organized religion. i was raised without religion so my biases are limited (though some would say invalidated, ipso facto). i can't recall any film that i've seen, except "La Mala Educación" by Almodóvar (also an excellent film) that almost literally equates organized religion with organized crime. that may not have been the director's aim, but that's certainly what i got from it. but, it's not religion that's attacked here, it's the hypocrisy and manipulativeness of (exactly as a previous poster identified the priest) megalomaniacs (just like the jealous priest in "La Mala Educación"). while some people would jump to the conclusion that it's religion and the Catholic church or the ignorance of the indigenous peoples that are emphasized here, they're missing the point entirely. it reminded me much of the style of Buñuel who its possible Cazals was influenced by. like Buñuel, he employs these symbols and signs of the time, they help tell the story, but they do not distract nor are they the focus of the examinations in this film. the overtones are more social than they are religious, the questions it raises are more intellectual than theological.
one of the closest examples i can think of pertaining to this concept was actually contained in a line by a character in (ironically) a big-budget Hollywood film: "Men In Black". the line: "A person is smart. people are panicky, dumb, dangerous animals and you know it." this almost sums up "Canoa". this is what makes it unnerving. it catches you off guard. the smallest word (within the film literally amplified by the use of the loudspeakers) makes such a difference in the course of action that the characters in this film take. the entire town is itself a character. a big paranoid, schizophrenic, suspicious, and vindictive character. it also made me think of the biblical account of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. except in this instance the city is not destroyed but instead allowed to get away with its crimes...
it's not morbid, and not exploitative or cheap in its depiction of violence but contextualizes violence VERY effectively and this also adds to the overall tone. bouncing back and forth between the straightforward plot-driven scenes and the documentary-style interviews with the village people (also a device that brought to mind a Greek chorus), going between the crowds and the individual, seeing one person alone and then lost in a crowd is very disorienting but gives the film its power. the scenes where the most ordinary conversations seem out of place amidst the chaos of a riot give the film almost a postmodern quality that we see in the films of Tarantino and other younger directors (who seem to utilize this gimmick solely for its vulgar qualities). but of course, "Canoa" predates such films by over 20 years, is more serious in its tone, and is quantums more profound. this is definitely a film ahead of its time. what people see in American cinema today is actually pretty cheap if you ask me, when compared to a film such as "Canoa".
this is a powerful film.
i feel better having spent $1 to rent this than spending $10 to watch a movie at the cineplex... the smallest things can make the biggest difference.
see this film. it is excellent.
all the same, being a native New Mexican and in close proximity to such a vivid heritage, i think that this film has a very valid message about the madness of crowds and the unthinking, unfeeling, unaccountable and exploitative aspects of organized religion. i was raised without religion so my biases are limited (though some would say invalidated, ipso facto). i can't recall any film that i've seen, except "La Mala Educación" by Almodóvar (also an excellent film) that almost literally equates organized religion with organized crime. that may not have been the director's aim, but that's certainly what i got from it. but, it's not religion that's attacked here, it's the hypocrisy and manipulativeness of (exactly as a previous poster identified the priest) megalomaniacs (just like the jealous priest in "La Mala Educación"). while some people would jump to the conclusion that it's religion and the Catholic church or the ignorance of the indigenous peoples that are emphasized here, they're missing the point entirely. it reminded me much of the style of Buñuel who its possible Cazals was influenced by. like Buñuel, he employs these symbols and signs of the time, they help tell the story, but they do not distract nor are they the focus of the examinations in this film. the overtones are more social than they are religious, the questions it raises are more intellectual than theological.
one of the closest examples i can think of pertaining to this concept was actually contained in a line by a character in (ironically) a big-budget Hollywood film: "Men In Black". the line: "A person is smart. people are panicky, dumb, dangerous animals and you know it." this almost sums up "Canoa". this is what makes it unnerving. it catches you off guard. the smallest word (within the film literally amplified by the use of the loudspeakers) makes such a difference in the course of action that the characters in this film take. the entire town is itself a character. a big paranoid, schizophrenic, suspicious, and vindictive character. it also made me think of the biblical account of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. except in this instance the city is not destroyed but instead allowed to get away with its crimes...
it's not morbid, and not exploitative or cheap in its depiction of violence but contextualizes violence VERY effectively and this also adds to the overall tone. bouncing back and forth between the straightforward plot-driven scenes and the documentary-style interviews with the village people (also a device that brought to mind a Greek chorus), going between the crowds and the individual, seeing one person alone and then lost in a crowd is very disorienting but gives the film its power. the scenes where the most ordinary conversations seem out of place amidst the chaos of a riot give the film almost a postmodern quality that we see in the films of Tarantino and other younger directors (who seem to utilize this gimmick solely for its vulgar qualities). but of course, "Canoa" predates such films by over 20 years, is more serious in its tone, and is quantums more profound. this is definitely a film ahead of its time. what people see in American cinema today is actually pretty cheap if you ask me, when compared to a film such as "Canoa".
this is a powerful film.
i feel better having spent $1 to rent this than spending $10 to watch a movie at the cineplex... the smallest things can make the biggest difference.
see this film. it is excellent.
Canoa : This classic by Mexican director Felipe Cazals is as relevant now as it was in 1976.
FilmCriticLalitRao5 October 2014
For a knowledgeable viewer, there is no doubt that "Canoa" has become a major classic film due to various artistic as well as political reasons. It was one of the first films in the history of Mexican cinema to show that even history especially historical events can be given a fictional form. While watching "Canoa" one can easily understand how Christian religion especially catholic church was unjustly misused for one's personal gains.The use of a local character to narrate important facts and story works very well for "Canoa". A viewer is able to get detailed visual information of events which were responsible for horrible lynching of some youngsters by an irate mob. Authenticity seems to be this film's hallmark as viewers are likely to feel as if tragic events had taken place in their midst. For this reason, Felipe Cazals chose to depict important events through a time prism. Lastly, there are moments when a human body can withstand any amount of blows. One such moment was shown in Canoa when a doctor is utterly surprised to find a victim of violence in good shape. Director Felipe Cazals has always made films which have cast a poignant look at negative aspects of Mexican nation. His films need to be discovered by viewers if they wish to learn more about Mexican society. Hence, for this reason any effort to appreciate Canoa can be called a good start.
canoa
mossgrymk21 November 2023
This is a very hard hitting examination of mob violence and, in my opinion, the best study of a corrupt small town ever put on celluloid. In the perceptive, emotionally wrenching hands of director Felipe Cazals the poor, prejudiced, ignorant, hostile, theocratic village of Canoa makes the town in "Fury", as well as the desert hamlet of Black Rock, look like gated communities in comparison. Particularly in the film's second half, as a Carmelite sister blares anti communist propaganda into a loudspeaker and a very ugly crowd starts to form and an awareness among the five victims of their danger grows, the viewer begins to feel as scared and helpless as they. And the orgy of murder and torture that results is as realistic a look at the effects of crowd hysteria as I have seen on the screen.
After stating the above, any criticisms I may have would be on the captious side. Still, I would have liked the first half to move at a more rapid clip with fewer scenes of the five university workers hanging out together and joking. One such scene would have made the point that these young people are innocents being led to the slaughter. Also, I found the talking head/interview device both intrusive and un necessary, especially the last head, a cynical peasant who I'm sure Cazals intended to be an effective counter weight to the unenlightened citizens of Canoa but who comes across, to me at least, as more of a wise ass, know it all. A minus.
PS...To Alicia Malone: Can we please have more great films from Mexico on TCM Imports? I cannot recall when the last one before this was shown.
After stating the above, any criticisms I may have would be on the captious side. Still, I would have liked the first half to move at a more rapid clip with fewer scenes of the five university workers hanging out together and joking. One such scene would have made the point that these young people are innocents being led to the slaughter. Also, I found the talking head/interview device both intrusive and un necessary, especially the last head, a cynical peasant who I'm sure Cazals intended to be an effective counter weight to the unenlightened citizens of Canoa but who comes across, to me at least, as more of a wise ass, know it all. A minus.
PS...To Alicia Malone: Can we please have more great films from Mexico on TCM Imports? I cannot recall when the last one before this was shown.
Great Film
boblipton6 November 2023
In 1968, four employees of the University of Puebla decided to go mountain climbing near Puebla, a small, very poor village near the town. A lynch mob attacked them, killing two.
Those are the bare facts behind this movie, which paints a picture of a town dominated by a well-connected priest who incited his parishioners with tales of communist agitators coming to steal their animals, kill him, and raise red-and-black flags and take away G*d. It seems absurd to phrase it that way, but that seems to be what happened. Enrique Lucero portrays the priest and a monster, something that would have been unthinkable in Mexican cinema before then. Director Felipe Cazals offers a sequence of the growing hysteria and eventual violence that is absolutely unnerving, and breaks the fourth wall freely to give the audience background information. As film-making, it's brilliant. As a depiction of what actually happened.....
Those are the bare facts behind this movie, which paints a picture of a town dominated by a well-connected priest who incited his parishioners with tales of communist agitators coming to steal their animals, kill him, and raise red-and-black flags and take away G*d. It seems absurd to phrase it that way, but that seems to be what happened. Enrique Lucero portrays the priest and a monster, something that would have been unthinkable in Mexican cinema before then. Director Felipe Cazals offers a sequence of the growing hysteria and eventual violence that is absolutely unnerving, and breaks the fourth wall freely to give the audience background information. As film-making, it's brilliant. As a depiction of what actually happened.....
Not that good film at all!
alfonsoteja30 September 2008
Reading so much praise to this movie makes me feel that I'm in the late 60's or the early 70's again. Director Cazals has done some good movies, but no master piece at all. So Canoa's not what many of you say it is.
First of all, remember that this picture was produced by Conacine, with money from the Government. It was not censored. Never. And tough it has some brilliant achievements (like Salvador Sanchez' as the narrator), the true is that the Mexican government used some historical events in a very tricky way to present the army as the savior of the remaining students that were not killed by the mob. Of course the catholic priest that appears in the movie is hateful, despite the wonderful job of actor Enrique Lucero. But the movie's big point was to distract people from the social reality that politically speaking was very explosive at that time. So the soldiers make the good ones, when the people was hurt by the recent genocide in Tlaltelolco's ground. And Cazals knew it all the time. Not a bad movie, but you have to consider this, as it is presented as "a part of history", but it has other sides to it.
First of all, remember that this picture was produced by Conacine, with money from the Government. It was not censored. Never. And tough it has some brilliant achievements (like Salvador Sanchez' as the narrator), the true is that the Mexican government used some historical events in a very tricky way to present the army as the savior of the remaining students that were not killed by the mob. Of course the catholic priest that appears in the movie is hateful, despite the wonderful job of actor Enrique Lucero. But the movie's big point was to distract people from the social reality that politically speaking was very explosive at that time. So the soldiers make the good ones, when the people was hurt by the recent genocide in Tlaltelolco's ground. And Cazals knew it all the time. Not a bad movie, but you have to consider this, as it is presented as "a part of history", but it has other sides to it.
The mob mentality is reminiscent of what happened on Jan 6, 2022
jordondave-280856 November 2023
(1976) Canoa:: A Shameful Memory/ Canoa: memoria de un hecho vergonzoso
(In Spanish with English subtitles)
DOCU-DRAMA
Depicting an actual event called the "San Miguel Canoa Massacre" but more of an reenactment of the events that led up to that particular mob mentality escalated by a priest, El señor cura (Enrique Lucero). When five students of Ramón Calvario Gutiérrez (Arturo Alegro), Julián González Baez (Roberto Sosa), Roberto Rojano Aguirre (Jaime Garza), Miguel Flores Cruz (Carlos Chávez), and Jesús Carrillo Sánchez (Gerardo Vigil) stopping by the village, San Miguel Canoa after a hiking expedition. Only to confront the villagers accusation of being Communist revolutionaries accused by a radical, right wing extremist priest, to be used as scapegoats after the government's spending on the Summer Olympics that happened in 1968.
The tone is similar to the movie "Reds" in which it dwells on interviews from some of the villagers who were actually there. I just did not appreciate the aftermath regarding the priest, El señor cura himself, who ignited the riots.
Depicting an actual event called the "San Miguel Canoa Massacre" but more of an reenactment of the events that led up to that particular mob mentality escalated by a priest, El señor cura (Enrique Lucero). When five students of Ramón Calvario Gutiérrez (Arturo Alegro), Julián González Baez (Roberto Sosa), Roberto Rojano Aguirre (Jaime Garza), Miguel Flores Cruz (Carlos Chávez), and Jesús Carrillo Sánchez (Gerardo Vigil) stopping by the village, San Miguel Canoa after a hiking expedition. Only to confront the villagers accusation of being Communist revolutionaries accused by a radical, right wing extremist priest, to be used as scapegoats after the government's spending on the Summer Olympics that happened in 1968.
The tone is similar to the movie "Reds" in which it dwells on interviews from some of the villagers who were actually there. I just did not appreciate the aftermath regarding the priest, El señor cura himself, who ignited the riots.
A great hard to watch movie
WilliamDavid9716 February 2021
This was a hard film to watch .. not because it was a bad movie or something but because the story it was telling .. and what made it even harder is the fact that it was based on a true story .. a great movie that will leave you shocked, angry and vindictive but as a viewer satisfied.
A Powerful Film
el_master17 April 2004
This Film takes no concessions, it is certainly one of the most powerful films in cinematographic language, I've ever seen.
Felipe Cazals has done an extraordinary job, previously to Canoa, he did a great documentary about the feelings of the mexicans regarding the foreigners but especially those who were involved in the Mexican life in one way or another.
Cazals maybe tried to input that same kind of documentary-style to Canoa which makes the film more special since it doesn't follow the traditional standards on editing and screenplay.
Highly recommended film that is not for those of weak guts, it has some violent scenes but it don't fall onto morbid stuff.
Also, I highly recommend Felipe Cazals' films (except those of Rigo Tovar ones). it is certainly one of the greatest mexican filmmakers ever.
Felipe Cazals has done an extraordinary job, previously to Canoa, he did a great documentary about the feelings of the mexicans regarding the foreigners but especially those who were involved in the Mexican life in one way or another.
Cazals maybe tried to input that same kind of documentary-style to Canoa which makes the film more special since it doesn't follow the traditional standards on editing and screenplay.
Highly recommended film that is not for those of weak guts, it has some violent scenes but it don't fall onto morbid stuff.
Also, I highly recommend Felipe Cazals' films (except those of Rigo Tovar ones). it is certainly one of the greatest mexican filmmakers ever.
One of the best Mexican films ever
mariodelagarzag8 January 2007
I watched Canoa when it first came out to the movie theaters; I was around 15 and I had lived the 1968's student movement. Tlatelolco massacre was fresh in our minds and hearts and while not referring directly to it, Canoa catches that feeling with honesty and courage. This two qualities are always present in Cazal's work, but this film is his master piece.
We have also tho see Cazal's films in the context of the Mexican cinema of the moment, along with the work of Arturo Ripstein, Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, Jorge Fons and many other talented filmmakers. In Mexico their work tend to be overlooked mostly for political reasons.
Mario de la Garza
We have also tho see Cazal's films in the context of the Mexican cinema of the moment, along with the work of Arturo Ripstein, Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, Jorge Fons and many other talented filmmakers. In Mexico their work tend to be overlooked mostly for political reasons.
Mario de la Garza
great!!!!!!!
alex-9127 September 1998
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