Author Archives: Stephen Woodman
‘I rode “The Beast” as research for my film’
Diego Quemada-Díez as told to Stephen Woodman Back in 2002, I was living by the railroad tracks in Mazatlán on the Pacific coast of Mexico. I started talking to migrants who were passing through town and I was deeply moved … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews
Tagged Diego Quemada-Díez, La Jaula de Oro, Mexico, migrants, migration, The Beast, The Golden Dream
Leave a comment
New tequila and mezcal regulations upset local producers
For under 200 pesos ($10), visitors to the picturesque Mexican town of Tequila can purchase a fitting souvenir from the hawker stalls lining the roads: a three-litre wooden barrel labelled as tequila. Yet the drink inside is not Mexico’s national … Continue reading
Magic and melancholy in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Macondo
From the moment my bus rumbles to a stop outside Aracataca station, I have the sense that an entire sleeping village is rising from my memory. The scorched streets, rusted tin roofs and dusty almond trees—I instantly recognise it all … Continue reading
The women transforming Mexican cinema
Women directors are still a rarity in Hollywood. A new investigation by film industry site the Wrap discovered that two of Hollywood’s major studios, 20th Century Fox and Paramount, have no films by female directors scheduled to come out between … Continue reading
As Catholic priests are killed in Mexico, questions and tensions rise
GUADALAJARA, Mexico (RNS) Even in a rural Mexican community that has grown accustomed to the news of brutal killings, the abduction and murder of a popular Catholic priest has triggered profound shock and outrage. The bullet-ridden body of the Rev. … Continue reading
A beginner’s guide to Mexican folk saints
“Anyone who has visited a Mexican botánica, or spiritual store, can confirm that the country doesn’t lack for saints or spiritual iconography. A wide variety of religious statues are typically on offer, along with an eclectic array of potions, herbs … Continue reading
Posted in Spirituality
Tagged Jesus Malverde, Juan Soldado, Niño Fidencio, Santa Muerte, Virgen de la Bala
Leave a comment
Filmmakers set focus on the US-Mexico border
Alondra Hidalgo sees her first lead role in a feature film as a political project as much as a personal one. The Mexican actress stars alongside Gael García Bernal, one of Mexico’s most recognisable faces, in Desierto, a thriller about … Continue reading
Posted in Arts
Tagged Alondra Hidalgo, Border, Desierto, Donald Trump, Eugenio Derbez, Gael García Bernal, Marc Silver, Mexico, Rafi Pitts
Leave a comment
‘I organized Canelo’s first-ever fight’
Rigoberto Alvarez, the brother of Tapatio boxing world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, as told to Stephen Woodman. I was born in Guadalajara in 1978, but we didn’t stay long. My family would travel from town to town as my father … Continue reading
Mexican police turn blind eye to murders of transgender women, say activists
MEXICO CITY, August 22 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Betzy Ballesteros’ brush with death came on a windy night in December, when a man in a black Chevy Suburban pulled up to the street corner in the Mexican city of Guadalajara … Continue reading
The five best Mexican documentaries on Netflix
Mexico is something of a documentary filmmaker’s paradise. The country’s incredible wealth and crushing poverty, its rich indigenous heritage and its lively contemporary arts scene provide ample space for inspiration. Here are some must-see documentaries on Mexican subjects, all available … Continue reading
The Mexican Labyrinth 