GodAwful patreon

GAM225 Santa Claus

🕑 Added 2019-12-10 04:15:51 +0000 UTC

Comments

Simon Templar

OK, I actually saw this movie in the theater when I was about 7 years old I think - maybe 8. That would have been in 1968 or 69. A year or two of snooping Christmas presents in mom's closet as well as an older sister had pretty much done in my belief in Santa Claus, so I remember seeing this movie as an exceedingly weird take on the whole Santa myth. The only thing I really remember about the movie was the whole 'mechanical wind-up reindeer' thing. I think what struck me about it at that age was the damage it did to the whole Rudolf story. I have no idea why my mother took us to see it. I suspect it would qualify as child abuse these days.

JacM

I would like to say it is, but I think it has more to do with fear of the poor. Every war fought within the country has been won by the side that convinced the poor they were on their side. I never really noticed the message until I was away for a few years and then tried to go back to watch these movies and programs. Things have changed in Mexican cinema recently, but until the 80’s the overall messages were poor people have humble but fulfilling lives while rich people live in soap opera level dysfunction.

Markus D

Is that a Catholic influence?

JacM

I grew up watching these things. There’s something everyone seems to be missing. For the longest time, Mexican cinema had one overriding theme: get the poor to be satisfied with their lot in life. There is a TV show I grew up watching called El Chavo del 8. It’s about a homeless kid who lives in a poor neighborhood. He spends most shows dreaming of a ham sandwich. This was a family comedy.