VICTIMS OF SIN

(Emilio Fernández, Mexico, 1951, 84 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)

Rarely screened in the United States and long due for rediscovery, Victims of Sin is famed Mexican director Emilio Fernández’s unique blend of film noir, melodrama, and musical. Cuban-born acting-dancing sensation Ninón Sevilla plays Violeta, a cabaret performer who adopts the abandoned child of Rita (Rita Montaner) and Rodolfo (Rodolfo Acosta), her murderous pimp. Motherhood forces Violeta to give up her career, but the kindhearted club owner Santiago (Tito Junco) saves her from a life of poverty and prostitution—until Rodolfo, freed from prison, seeks to reclaim his son. Best known for the award-winning María Calendaria (1944) and The Pearl (1947), Fernández infuses Victims with impassioned songs and performances by Sevilla, an icon of Mexican cinema and a purveyor of African, Caribbean, and Cuban dance styles.

Victims of Sin was fully restored in 4K from the original 35mm nitrate camera negative, which had been damaged from mishandling over the decades, by Peter Conheim (Cinema Preservation Alliance/USA) and Viviana Garcia-Besné (Permanencia Voluntaria/Mexico). Permanencia Voluntaria and Cinema Preservation Alliance co-produced the preservation effort with further assistance from IMCINE and the Academy Film Archive, bringing Victims of Sin back to the screen with a clarity and depth not seen since its original release.

Wednesday, March 27, 7pm*

*Q&A with archivist Viviana García-Besné

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VÍCTIMAS DEL PECADO

(Emilio Fernández, México, 1951, 84 min. En español con subtítulos en inglés)

Rara vez proyectada en los Estados Unidos y siendo su redescubrimiento algo esperado por mucho tiempo, Víctimas del pecado es una combinación única de cine noir, melodrama y música del afamado director mexicano Emilio Fernández. La diva del baile y la actuación nacida en Cuba, Ninón Sevilla, interpreta a Violeta, una artista de cabaret que adopta al hijo abandonado de Rita (Rita Montaner) y Rodolfo (Rodolfo Acosta), su padrote asesino. La maternidad obliga a Violeta a abandonar su carrera, pero el bondadoso dueño del club Santiago (Tito Junco) la salva de una vida de pobreza y prostitución, hasta que Rodolfo, liberado de prisión, busca recuperar a su hijo. El director de María Calendaria y La perla infunde a Víctmas del pecado con apasionadas canciones y los bailes de Sevilla, un ícono del cine mexicano y proveedora de estilos de danza africana, caribeña y cubana.

Víctimas del pecado fue completamente restaurado en 4K a partir del negativo original de la cámara de nitrato de 35 mm, deteriorado durante décadas, por Peter Conheim (Cinema Preservation Alliance/EE.UU.) y Viviana García-Besné (Permanencia Voluntaria/México). Permanencia Voluntaria y Cinema Preservation Alliance coprodujeron el esfuerzo de preservación con la ayuda adicional de IMCINE y Academy Film Archive, trayendo Víctimas del pecado de regreso a la pantalla con una claridad y profundidad no vistas desde su lanzamiento original.

Miércoles, 27 de marzo, 7pm*   

*Con la presencia de la archivista Viviana García Besné

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The Fox Tucson Theatre is proud to partner with Cinema Tropical and the UA Center for Latin American Studies to present the Cinema Tucson series, featuring some of the most exciting, celebrated, cutting edge, and record-breaking, contemporary pieces of film from Mexico.  This nearly monthly presentation of works is guaranteed to be a rewarding and memorable experience, unprecedented and unduplicated anywhere within our region.  Many screenings feature conversations and Q&A’s from the directors or other members of the creative team.  Regardless of the title, these opportunities are not to be missed. Tickets are only $10!