Tehuantepec
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Year Published: 1940s
Format: 16mm
Description: "Tehuantepec" is a 1940s color tourism film presented by the Tourist Department of the Mexican Government and the Mexican Tourist Association. Tehuantepec is located in southeastern Mexico in Oaxaca. Actress Linda Darnell provides the film’s narration and describes the tropical setting of Tehuantepec (similar, she says to a South Seas island with sugar cane and golden pineapples) and we see palm trees swaying in the breeze at mark 01:00. The warm sun and idyllic condition encourages residents to take it easy, Darnell says, as two oxen lazily pull a cart down the street at mark 01:22 as a boy stops to chat with a young lady in town (with women outnumber the men 5-to-1 it is said). The women are also taller than average, the result of straight spines after having balanced containers of water on their heads for most of their lives (mark 02:00), "giving them a free regal carriage which should be envied by the women of the United States." A matriarchal society, the men work in the fields while the women are responsible for "all commercial enterprise" as well as "a fine amount of gossip." After watching the action in a marketplace, the film shows us traditional fiesta costumes (mark 03:43) and explains women’s fondness for heavy gold jewelry, as girls model some of the accessories (some with gold coins) at mark 04:15. Mark 05:10 introduces some of the elaborate headdresses worn by female residents, which tradition dictates originated when residents found a collection of baby clothes in a shipwreck and mistook it for headdresses. At mark 05:50 the film celebrates the pageantry of a local wedding and at mark 06:45 takes the viewer to an annual fruit festival — an elaborate affair involving the most fanciful attire — and tradition dictates that resident gather in town square and catch fruit thrown to them from balconies. "This is a symbol of sharing nature’s beauty with your neighbor," Darnell explains at mark 09:00.
Complete Record:
Transcription
[Music] la [Music] Mexico City may have taught you that Mexico isn't merely Mexico all the same and covered with cactus but if you still haven't learned this fact you'd better travel South to the ismos of tant the state of Waka is also Mexico but what a different one this is the Tierra Cente the tropics more like a Sea Island that any you ever dreamed of seen a land of sugar cane and golden pineapples wild orchids and parrot l in cool fetched and tile [Music] houses the sun is warm so animals and people are inclined to take things easy only the vegetation is violent look at this flame tree tanek has nearly five times more women than men so this Shy Boy is about to be captured doesn't seem to mind it at [Music] all women are really amazing and love they're taller than most most Mexican and have all carried burdens on their heads so long that it has straightened their backs and given them a free Regal Carriage which should be envied by the women of the United States who think a 2 O hat is heavy [Music] if you notice the scarcity of men here in the market it is because women in the United States might also Envy the tanas the custom of sending their men into the fields to do all the hard work while they reserve for themselves the sole right to all commercial Enterprise and naturally the fine amount of Gossip which accompanies any buying and selling [Music] theas are also amazing because nearly all of them are beautiful what a list of Virtues shrewd and capable business women with a positive genius for adorning themselves graceful and beautiful and numerous then add all this the virtues of skill and Industry well it's hard to believe but it's true everyday clothes in tanek can certainly not be called drabs but their fiesta costumes are especially brilliant as a fashion note these skirts are built like Melee and burmes song a quick twist and tucked in at the top and that waste of fair is called an EP in in case you're thinking of running one up some afternoon just ask any department store for the pattern the tanas have still another odd custom probably inherited by a Spain from moish ancestors they are greatly addicted to heavy gold jewelry usually in the form of ornamented coins held in place by filigree Works they save every penny gained in commercial Enterprise until a gold gold bble or small gold coin can be purchased then a Brisk trade commences and the coins are traded bought and sold until a fine large piece can be obtained if the owner is finally satisfied with the size of the coin she has it set like a jewel and guards it from then on this 1880 American gold piece is probably the Envy of the whole neighborhood [Music] [Music] there is a story about these headdresses which is probably true about a century ago a European ship founded on the coast of tanek and in the cargo was a shipment of very expensive baby clothes not imagining such rich and frilly gments could be anything but headdresses they Tan's put them on and have worn them as such ever [Music] since weddings are exciting to the people of sanek for a number of reasons first because it's a wedding second because it means that some woman has been lucky enough to find an eligible man and still more important the man has probably come from some neighboring state to find his bride and that is very [Music] flattering and of course after a wedding there's always a reception the marimba is native to this lovely place also and the attractive dance lunga is usually inspired by but the weddings are serious so today the dancing is more [Music] formal once a year on a date determined by the condition of the cross the casting of the fruit takes place for this Fiesta green things and flowers are fastened upon anything that will support [Music] them the most colorful garments are carefully taken out of wardrobes each pleat and what you call it is carefully arranged and pressed every piece of jewelry is put on then the lovely tijuas go out into the country to find the most perfect blossoms and the most beautiful fruit [Music] the longest earrings and the heaviest jewelry definitely on display everyone starts for the Central Plaza [Music] the whole town is attracted but who is ever failed to be attracted by parades in beautiful girls who will toss fruit to you from the balconies this part of the fruit Fiesta has always been a mystery to people who do not believe in Santa Claus and who are inclined to sniff at ceremony and ritual why asks the cynic should the inhabitants of tanek Scramble for fruit thrown from balconies when the markets are full of it to be had for a few pennies and the whole Countryside is Rich with it to be had only for the picking but you who understand know that this is a symbol of sharing Nature's Beauty with your neighbors and you will probably promise yourself to come back to tanek as soon as you possibly can [Music]
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