Rosaura Revueltas (1908-1996) She is more than just an actress and cultural promoter, since her figure represents the struggle of women and workers. For that reason, her life and work deserve to be rescued from oblivion.
said producer Saudhi Batalla.
In interview with The Conferencealso a documentary filmmaker and doctor in history and ethnohistory, pointed out that the artist, recognized as one of the most outstanding figures of the 20th century
not only stood out in cinema, theater and dance, but also played a crucial role in the dissemination of the work of his brothers: Silvestre, Fermín and José Revueltas.
Her commitment to justice and equality led her to face significant challenges
including censorship and deportation, especially after his participation in the American film The salt of the earthreleased 70 years ago.
To celebrate the anniversary, a group of specialists and friends close to Rosaura Revueltas will offer a series of conversations today and on June 27 in the José Vasconcelos main hall, of the National Center for the Arts (Cenart), in order to share details of the American film, as well as the actress from the municipality of Lerdo, Durango.
“This initiative was consolidated when Miriam Káiser and I had the opportunity to once again explore the historical and visual archive of Revueltas Sánchez. In this new stage we managed to organize boxes that contained more than 800 documents, including photographs, posters, diaries, newspaper archives, as well as correspondence with people such as Efraín Huerta, Rubén Darío, Nicolás Guillén and Pablo Neruda.
“Part of these unpublished materials were used in the simultaneous exhibition The force of creation: Rosaura Revueltas –curated by Kaiser and I–, which is housed in the Jesús Reyes Heroles Culture House, where it will remain open until July 7.
“In that same exhibition, five films in which he participated are shown: The Marias Islands, Girls in uniform, one day of life, The shawl of loneliness y The closed room. However, the tape The salt of the earthdirected by Herbert Biberman and starring Rosaura Revueltas, is the origin of this tribute.”
▲ The life and work of the actress, cultural promoter and social activist will be addressed in a series of conversations at the Cenart.Photo courtesy of the Archive
Historical and Visual by Rosaura Revueltas
The plot is based on a real event that occurred in 1951 in an American mine, where Mexican workers received lower salaries than their colleagues of Anglo-Saxon origin, which caused a long and tumultuous strike.
Despite the opposition of the dissatisfied miners, their wives have a greater participation in the strike, while Rosaura Revueltas (Esperanza Quintero) becomes one of the leaders of the women’s movement.
Rosaura danced in a dance group led by choreographer Waldeen von Falkenstein Broke; Shortly after she is introduced to Biberman, who invites her to star in her story, although her husband Frederick Bodenstedt and José Revueltas tell her that, if she does it, she will practically bury her career.
added Saudhi Batalla.
“Anyway she accepts, but once the film was released it was poorly received; The artist traveled to Germany and collaborated with the formidable Bertolt Brecht, German poet and playwright, and was successful in that country. However, when she returned to Mexico she went unnoticed.
“Then she started working as a tiple dancer at the Esperanza Iris Theater, where she even defended her colleagues because they had terrible working conditions. This action led to her dismissal.
It is only part of her story, but the most significant thing is that she was a woman ahead of her time; She opened a gap among women, in her participation in the vote, coupled with the fact that she never stopped raising her voice for those most in need. She always had a very present personality in the cultural field despite the implicit contradiction of the Revueltas, who were relegated a long time later.
The first day of activities of the cycle 70th anniversary. Salt of the Earth (1954), by Herbert Biberman. Rosaura Revueltas in cinema: Life and work starts today from 5 to 8 p.m.; Meanwhile, on the 27th of the same month, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the axis of the dialogue table will revolve around the historical and visual archive of the multifaceted artist.
Both activities will take place in the José Vasconcelos del Cenart lecture theater (Río Churubusco 79, Country Club Churubusco neighborhood). Admission is free.