1957 film by Miguel Morayta

1957 film by Gilberto Martínez Solares

The Dressel family owns a prosperous hardware store in the city. The business is managed by Mrs. Dressel, a strict widow who has two sons: Federico and Rodolfo. Federico falls in love with the singer Magdalena and marries her against Frau Dressel’s wishes, as she wants her heir to marry a German woman. The young couple must face constant harassment from Frau Dressel and an accusation of adultery.

Personal dramas among the residents of an apartment house.

Bernardo is in love with Adela and although she does not belong, he has always helped her family although they only care about money and not the virtues of man.

The Mexican Revolution is on its way when six brave peasants, known as "Los Leones de San Pablo", decide to join Pancho Villa's army and help end the suffering in their community by assisting in the struggle. After several battles and valiant heroics, the original group is eventually reduced to the leader Tiburcio Maya (Frausto) and young Becerrillo (Vallarino). When Becerrillo is infected by smallpox, Villa orders Tiburcio to kill him and burn the corpse. After reluctantly doing his duty, Tiburcio is ordered to leave the army, and returns home.

I have just seen this movie for the 12-15th time and I still find something extraordinarily fascinating every time I watch it. This movie is based on a novel by Venezuela's Romulo Gallegos one of Latin America best writer. The movie is so profound, because you can see so many aspects of the human being in it. You can find hate, witchcraft, religion, love, impotency and repentance, mainly because of the ignorance of people. This movie develops in the great Venezuela Savannahs, where the law of the stronger prevailed. The dialogs, so strong and captivating, are possible due to Gallegos very strong command of the Spanish Language and the slang of the peasants of that region. As I have mentioned before for a couple of other movies, this one is best appreciated if you understand Spanish. I may see it again another dozen times, and I am sure I would still enjoy it, as I hope you may too. This movie is officially rated as the 75th in importance in the Mexican Cinematography, to which I TOTALLY DISAGREE.