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MUXES; Autenticas Intrepidas, buscadoras
de peligro
de Alejandra Islas
El Nacional fuente
MUXES - Authentic, Intrepid Seekers of Danger (105 min) 'A
lively and surprising portrait of a group of homosexuals, who defend their
sexual diversity while preserving their identity as Zapotec Indians in the
"queer paradise" of Juchitan, Mexico. Winner of the Audience
Award at the Morelia International Film Festival, MUXES (pronounced 'mooshays')
examines transgressive boundary-pushing within an indigenous culture that
has historically embraced this "third gender."
On the sun-baked Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico lies the
town of Juchitan, whose population of indigenous Zapotecs have for
centuries warded off numerous invasions to preserve their identity. Today,
Juchitan has an additional, more notorious, identity, as a "queer
paradise" famous for its Muxes, effeminate homosexual men whose
socially defined role within the Zapotec culture pre-dates the advent of
gay liberation. In this society, Muxes have traditionally filled the roles
of sewing, cooking, preparation of celebrations and providing lifetime
care for their parents. Likewise, the men we meet here are chefs,
salon-owners, housekeepers and teachers, in addition to being inveterate
fun-lovers and an acknowledged "outlet" for straight men in a
culture that still values virginity in brides. However, all is not perfect
in paradise, as director Alejandra Islas occasionally suggests in a
frequently amusing way just how low the glass ceiling of acceptance might
be for those who push too hard.
The Muxes of Juchitan are proud of their identity, enjoy
their lives, laugh at themselves as well as at "straight"
society, and admit their own foibles freely. They call themselves
"Authentic, Intrepid Seekers of Danger", and have banded
together to lead the fight against AIDS in Oaxaca. They talk frankly about
their experiences of acceptance and rejection, and their successes in
finding freedom, love and delight in their special identity
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Los
Martes de Enkidu
