To mark the 70th anniversary of Juan Rulfo’s literary masterpiece Pedro Páramo, the Embassy of Mexico in the Philippines, in collaboration with Instituto Cervantes de Manila, will screen the 2024 film adaptation, directed by Rodrigo Prieto.
The screening will be hosted by Filipina writer Jessica Zafra and professor Marlon James Sales, who will discuss the Mexican classic and its reception in the Philippines. It takes place at the Intramuros branch of Instituto Cervantes on Monday, November 24, at 5:00 p.m.
First published in 1955, Pedro Páramo is a cornerstone of modern Latin American literature. Set in the ghost town of Comala, the novel follows Juan Preciado’s search for his father, the local chieftain Pedro Páramo, in a world where the living and the dead coexist, echoing with haunting memories and unfulfilled dreams.
Seventy years later, Mexican filmmaker Rodrigo Prieto brings the story to life on screen, with a screenplay by Mateo Gil. Manuel García-Rulfo stars as Pedro Páramo, while Tenoch Huerta plays Juan Preciado. The film preserves the novel’s magical realism and moral depth, transporting audiences to 1940s Mexico while retaining the visual and emotional impact of Rulfo’s work.
Following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film has renewed global interest in Rulfo’s work, boosting sales of Pedro Páramo in both Spanish and English worldwide.
The screening will be in Spanish with English subtitles. Admission is free, but prior reservation is required: https://cultura.cervantes.es/manila/en/Pedro-P%C3%A1ramo/185091.
Location: Instituto Cervantes Manila, 855 Calle Real, San Luis Complex, Intramuros, Manila. For more information, visit www.manila.cervantes.es or follow Instituto Cervantes Manila on Facebook.