MEXICO: Director Mel Gibson in Mexico for a private screening of his film "Apocalypto"
Record ID:
1531336
MEXICO: Director Mel Gibson in Mexico for a private screening of his film "Apocalypto"
- Title: MEXICO: Director Mel Gibson in Mexico for a private screening of his film "Apocalypto"
- Date: 17th January 2007
- Summary: ACTRESS DALIA HERNANDEZ POSING PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ACTRESS DALIA HERNANDEZ, SAYING: "At the end, the Mayan culture was more violent, like a culture in decadence, and I think he (Gibson) puts it in a realist fashion." FILM CREW HUGGING GIBSON LEAVING SCREENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEL GIBSON, SAYING: "He didn't criticise the film like the others - in the way the other people are criticised the film - he criticised it positively and constructively and I worked with him and he knows what's between us so don't you try and to get in the middle of it. You are a troublemaker my friend." 'Reporter asking': Would you like to do other films in Mexico? 'Gibson saying': "I would love to."
- Embargoed: 2nd February 2007 08:10
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Film
- Reuters ID: LVA7LO995ZD1CTJFJEM747O1OVXE
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Controversial actor and producer Mel Gibson was in Mexico City on Monday (January 15) to answer critics at a private screening of his new movie, the hyper-violent Mayan epic "Apocalypto".
Much like his bloody epic about the death of Christ, the recent production by Gibson about the collapse of the Mayan civilization has angered members of the culture it depicts.
Mayan critics of the movie say scenes of scary-looking Indians with bone piercings and scarred faces hurling spears and sacrificing humans promote stereotypes about their culture.
On hand at the screening with cast and crew, the embattled Gibson struck back at those claiming his film misrepresents Mayan Indians as savages.
"Those who criticise the movie should do their homework - I did," Gibson told reporters at the screening of the film in Mexico City.
Actress Mayra Servolo, one of the many actors of Mayan descent who worked in the film, said the movie did not intend to recreate a particular historical moment or figure Mayan society.
"It comes close to the history of my indigenous roots and of course it doesn't intend to represent at any time any historical personality or any historical phase of the Mayan," Servolo said.
"At the end, the Mayan culture was more violent, like a culture in decadence, and I think he puts it in a realist fashion," said Dalia Hernandez, another actress in the film.
Archeologist and Mayan-specialist Richard Hansen, whom Gibson consulted on making the film, says the director took pains to ensure authenticity and historical accuracy, but also expressed concern as to how the Mayan people would receive the film.
"He didn't criticise the film like the others - in the way the other people are criticised the film - he criticised it positively and constructively," Gibson said of Hansen's comments.
The movie is yet to open in Mexico and Guatemala, but pirated DVDs are available on the streets.
Spoken entirely in the Yucatec Mayan language, "Apocalypto" led the North American box office with three-day ticket sales of $14.2 million in its first weekend in December. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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