Concrete Playground

¡Hola! May be the extent of many Australians’ Spanish capabilities, but the Hola Mexico Film Festival would like us to learn another word: revalucion!

Yes la revolucion is coming, with the festival looking to commemorate 99 years since the Mexican Revolution by screening one of the country’s most expensive films ever made: Tear this Heart Out (Arrancame la vida). Based on a beloved novel, it is the story of a young beauty who marries a much older General, with both becoming embroiled in the political machinations of post-revolutionary Mexico. Director Roberto Sneider will be on hand introduce the film in a special event to benefit Movember.

Also showing as part of a Tribute to Mexico are five films from the masterful Julio Bracho. As a glimpse into the golden age of Mexican film, Bracho’s features will be available to view at complimentary screenings. 

From old to new, Mexico’s latest hit, Sin Nombre, is taking opening night honours in this year’s festival. Produced by Mexican superstars Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal, Cary Fukunaga’s film took out best director and cinematography at Sundance this year. A Latin American odyssey from Honduras to the promised land of the United States, Sin Nombre has been delighting festival audiences worldwide.

Making up the thirty plus films programmed in the festival’s fourth year are shorts, documentaries and a couple of sex comedies (evidently a Mexican film staple), as well as Q&A screening with Amar a Morir director Fernando Lebrija. This stylish film about a banking heir escaping to a beach community even stars our one and only Craig Maclachlan.


The Dendy Newtown and Opera Quays will be hosting the festival, so rock on over and say ¡Hola!