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The History in the Gaze

Name: The History in the Gaze
Director: José Ramón Mikelajáuregui
Released: 2011
Duration: 78 min

Representation Score

3.8/10

Limited

2011

Director

José Ramón Mikelajáuregui

Runtime

78 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film succeeds as a reconstructive documentary that disrupts sanitized, top-down historical narratives. By utilizing archival footage from the Alva brothers, it shifts the focus from institutional stability to the friction of grassroots movements. Its strength lies in its class-conscious perspective, which elevates the ability to act of the Mexican working class. This approach challenges traditional hierarchies and provides a more authentic view of the revolution, though it remains male-dominated. However, the documentary's scope is strictly socio-political and historical. This narrow focus results in a lack of representation for LGBTQ+ identities and disability, which are not addressed within the archival material.

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Category Breakdown

Does The History in the Gaze have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on the macro-political movements of the Mexican Revolution. It does not include specific LGBTQ+ character arcs or narratives that code queerness.

How does The History in the Gaze portray gender?

Fair

The narrative is dominated by male historical figures such as Villa and Zapata. While it emphasizes the working class, it lacks specific evidence showing women taking a leading role in the story.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The History in the Gaze?

Excellent

The film elevates the ability to act of the Mexican working class by centering their experiences. It portrays revolutionary figures of color as the primary drivers of historical change.

How does The History in the Gaze represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The documentary engages deeply with anti-establishment themes and social volatility. It prioritizes a subjective, non-Westernized historical truth through the eyes of the people.

Does The History in the Gaze include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no documented evidence regarding the portrayal of disability within this archival documentary context.

Present on Screen

Centers the ability to act of the Mexican working class and revolutionary figures.
Challenges elite-driven history by focusing on social volatility and grassroots movements.
Utilizes rare archival footage to provide a subjective, non-Westernized historical perspective.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of women's ability to drive the story within the historical narrative.
Provides no visibility for LGBTQ+ identities or narratives that code queerness.
Does not address or include perspectives regarding disability.

Official Synopsis

The film portraits the stage previous to the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution, from the end of Porfirio Díaz´ government, the social volatility, the ephemeral government of Madero and the presence of the working class in the figures of Villa and Zapata, until the signing if the Constitution of 1917. All of this through moving images, filmed during those events mainly by the Alva brothers, filmmakers of that time. Those images let us perceive the contradictory and shuddered glance of the people of that period.

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