The beginnings of cinema in Mexico

The cinematograph reached Mexico in 1896, a few months after its Paris premiere, brought by Gabriel Veyre and Claude Ferdinand Bon Bernard, envoys of the Lumière brothers. Their first “views” were short scenes of real life; the first one filmed in Mexico shows President Porfirio Díaz riding on horseback in Chapultepec Park.

Mexican sound cinema truly began with Santa (1932), based on Federico Gamboa’s novel: it was the first Mexican feature film with synchronized optical sound. Its success opened the way to the Golden Age.