Return to Aztlán

Set in pre-Hispanic Mexico with dialogue spoken entirely in Nahuatl, the native language still used throughout the country, Return to Aztlán tells the story of Aztec Emperor Moctezuma I and his efforts to end a four-year drought by sending emissaries to Aztlán, the mythical home of the Aztec people, to plead for mercy from the goddess Cōātlīcue. Audience members will get the rare opportunity to experience a film with a script solely in Nahuatl and to see carefully realized and authentic depictions of everyday Aztec life, including religious ceremonies, farming techniques, dress, and more. Return to Aztlán is a key title in the New Mexican Cinema movement, which began in the early 1990s. In Nahuatl with English subtitles. (95 mins., DCP)

Return to Aztlán is screened in conjunction with Harold Mendez: one way to transform and two and three, on view in our galleries through December 30, 2023. Visit the exhibition in person to explore the references to Mesoamerican civilizations and this film that Mendez incorporated into his work.