The resistance of cinema “Mexico” in Milan between memory and future

The resistance of cinema "Mexico" in Milan between memory and future

The documentary Mexico! Un cinema alla riscossa by Michele Rho since May 4 in cinemas

An interesting documentary that brings to the forefront the history of cinema Mexico, which, inaugurated in 1933, is one of the last mono-screen cinemas left in Milan.

A story intimately tied to that of Antonio Sancassani who has been running it for thirty years independently and freely. One of the few cases in Italy, if not the only one, where the manager of a mono-screen cinema decides what must be screened on his screen.

The history of Mexico, in the documentary, is related to the mono-screen cinemas' crisis.

In Milan and the province once there were 200 cinemas. The vast majority have been closed. Important and evocative names such as the President, Cavour, Corallo, Astra and Pasquarolo are no longer there. But Mexico resists! "It is a form of political, moral, and cultural resistance to hold such a cinema open".

To tell Mexico, to help us understand the originality and significance of this experience are many in the documentary: from photography director Luca Bigazzi to Moni Ovadia, Claudio Bisio and director Giorgio Diritti, former Mayor of Milan Giuliano Pisapia and actress Isabella Ragonese. All for different reasons, linked to this cinema.

Memories and successes related to Mexico cinema are so many. Many independent films, feature films, original language movies, documentaries, forgotten or burned films by the great distributions have passed in this cinema.

Among the many two underlining.

For 36 years on Friday night The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the music of Jim Sharman, has a dedicated evening. Live shows and animations overlap the screening of the movie. Claudio Bisio began his career here as a young student at the Paolo Grassi theater school.

The movie The Wind makes his turn by Giorgio Diritti. The self-produced film and shot in Val Maira, snubbed by the Italian distribution system, on June 1, 2007 appeared on the screen of Mexico and was showing for almost two years.

To achieve these results, Sancassani's role is crucial: a constant search, deepening, and scouting work.

But, beyond the amarcord, the documentary highlights a very serious problem that risks becoming a culprit for the new quality productions of Italian cinema. Sancassani explains it well. "If your movie is not part of a production / distribution group, no one will program you because the artist is tied to the contract that does not include that movie." The growing interweaving between production, distribution and sometimes salt properties keeps out of the market entire production segments.

Hence the importance of cinema like Mexico. Spaces where to decide the success of a movie is the public and not a preventive exclusion from distribution channels.

An important documentary. Looking at memory, to the present, but together to the future of Italian cinema