Mel Gibson's Apocalypto
As fellow gringos, we are more than a little abashed by Mel Gibson’s latest film, Apocalypto. We have spent the last few years studying Mayan and Mexican history (perhaps more than most gringos study their own history), but it would have taken Mel’s people only a few days to learn that his movie’s portrayal of 16th century Yucatan Mayan culture is, frankly, stupid.
Let’s say the Mexican film industry, which has produced a large and interesting filmography over the years, occasionally released a period drama depicting historic events in the United States with the same cavalier approach. Let’s say the Mexicans didn’t give a tapir’s ass how they portrayed U.S. history as long as the film “stayed true to their vision” and made a buck.
They could do an American Revolution film. The main character, of course, would be George Washington, a swashbuckling Scott with a thick accent who leads the rebellious Swedes to defend Minneapolis against an oppressive society of Quakers. Side plots would include the invention of braille by a blind Thomas Jefferson and the development of a secret nuclear weapon by a bohemian Benjamin Franklin whose preference for absinth leads him to write Song of Myself, the new National Anthem.
We have a feeling that most U.S. citizens might be a tad put out, perhaps even miffed. Heck, there would probably be disparaging editorials in all the major papers and a congressman or two calling for trade sanctions. Certainly, Bill O’Reilly would have something insightful to say about it.
Meanwhile, here in Yucatan, there is a teenage Mayan girl who will not speak the Yucatec Mayan language with her parents because it makes her feel like a hick. When Apocalypto is released, she will see it at the mall with all of her friends, who feel the same way. They will witness the “evil” culture of their ancestors on the big screen for the first time. How will that make them feel, we wonder? Ignorant? Confused?
Ashamed?
Dios bo’otik, Mr. Gibson.
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For further reading:
Apocalypto Tortures the Facts, Expert Say – National Geographic
Passion of the Maya – Times Union
Apocalypto Does Disservice to its Subject – San Francisco Chronicle
Is Apocalypto Pornography? – Archaeology Institute of America
Maya in the Thunderdome – Salon.com
Whose Apocalypto? – New America Media
Apocalypto is Upon Us – Indian Country Today
Comments
Khaki Scott 18 years ago
I think I'll keep my money in my pocket on this one. Getting kinda tired of "made for the movies" history. I am a French Creole from Louisiana and not a week goes by that I don't have to explain, regardless of what someone has seen in the movies, why I am not a Cajun and that there are over 50 different categories of Creoles in our state. I'm tired of "made for the movies" history.
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Tim 18 years ago
Kind of like the Tailor of Panama?
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cathy cunningham 18 years ago
We went to see the movie today & were not disappointed: at least in the WG's review, & your comparison to a movie about the US w/ totally inaccurate history. We had been interested in the movie ever since we heard it was being made, but as we read more & more thoughtful & well-considered reviews (in addition to the WG's), our interest became more that of seeing exactly how far wrong Mel Gibson had gone:
Very Very Far, was our conclusion. There didn't seem to be one accurate depiction of the Mayan civilization, judging by all the study we've done of the ancient Mayans.
Not as bloody as some have described it (in comparison to many other movies), & excellent as far as frenetic action fictions go, but a sad & sorry failure as a representation of one of the highest of ancient civilizations. Bah!
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Merrill 18 years ago
What I would like to know is how many Mayan actors did Mr. Gibson employ for this film? Also, how extensive was his research? Let's not forget that he was in Disney's Pocahontas. Another movie about native people that included a talking raccoon and hummingbird... "Oh how historical, Mr. Gibson!"
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Carlos Daniel Gallegos 18 years ago
I sort of knew the movie was a bunch of hogwash. I've not seen the movie yet. The movie is in Mayan? I understand that The Mayan Language differs in dialects. The Maya spoken in Yucatan is different than Maya in Chiapas or Guatemala? So, which dialect of Mayan is spoken in the movie? I know the Mayan Empire streched into Guatemala and El Salvador. I didn't know it went into Vera Cruz. I know the 5 Mayan States of Mexico is: Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Campeche, Chiapas, and Tabasco, according to my wife. Mel Gibson said on Jay Leno that the movie was shot in Veracruz. That's like the movie Dallas being shot in Montana. How stupid is that? Movies are what they are: entertainment fiction. I don't rely on movies for Historical Facts.
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CasiYucateco 18 years ago
You Working Gringos crack me up!
I went to see Apocalypto on the opening night. Wow. (that's not necessarily a good "wow")
1) It was packed. Newspaper articles since have said there was a big "curiousity factor" (due to Mel's recent controversial issues) and that the biggest demographic was middle aged women. Huh? So they went because Mel is a hunk, not because they cared about the Maya?
2) It was bloody. Not just a little blood, but bloody and ghastly nearly throughout. Rivers of blood, spots of blood, gushes of blood, beating hearts held high. Even the happy scenes include things like the chewing of raw tapir testicles. Ugh. Thank you for ~that,~ Mr. Controversy.
There's a hilarious Saturday Night Live send-up of the film (now remember, this isn't a serious piece) posted on YouTube. I cannot find the link, but I suppose if you search YouTube for "Apocalypto" it could be found.
For the most part, it is a Hollywood chase film. If you want to know about the factual discrepancies, the Austin newspaper has a great review: (free subscription required)
http://www.austin360.com/movies/content/shared/movies/stories/2006/12/history.html
I would love to see a "children's cut" of the film so I could hear the actual Maya spoken, see the various sites, even if historically inaccurate, and avoid the bloody excess. I don't think I'll sit through the gore again. This director certainly has issues.
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