Tina, A Girl Of Mexico (1946, sound)

to the different levels in Mexico the people often carry heavy loads and these shortcuts are a great help otherwise they would have to go the longer way around through the winding cobblestone streets Burrows are still the main method of transporting things as they cost little to feed and work well on the Steep roads in the warm climate near the crest of the Hill Pablo Navaro and his family live on buav Vista court six small houses are built around the court Pablo married his young wife Rosita when she was 18 years of age now they have two children Tina and Juan Tina's real name is Christina but they call her Tina for short like Mexican girls Tina takes good care of her baby brother one wears clothes just like an American baby in Mexico the babies go everywhere with their families their mothers carry them in their Shaws and the baby's soft black eyes seem to take in all that goes around them now overalls of the latest sports model Rosita washes the breakfast dishes she scrubs hard with soap and lots of clean water because they these Earth and we blackens them the pots are made in many beautiful shapes and Designs while R scers the dishes Tina is busy sweeping the court courts are swept often and are clean even though the pigs and chickens do wander through them K Gomez also lives on the court and this is her day at the washtub each woman on the court has a certain day to do her washing however it doesn't take all day and then the other women can use the tub they are lucky to have a tank of water and a place to wash at home the families on buav Vista cour are neither rich nor poor they cannot afford servants but have plenty of food and clothes and lead a comfortable life Tina and her mother have a few errands to do the streets in tusco are bordered by solid walls but hidden away Behind These Walls each home has its Charming patio with plants and flowers they stop to talk with their friends at the public washing fountain in Mexico all towns have Community washing places the women never seem to finish their washing for the men wear light colored clothes even while working in the fields and they look very clean this clean pool is arranged so that many women can work at the same time Tina and her mother continue on their way and come to Tina school it is a fine modern school like many others in Mexico they stop to rest on the wide cool Veranda now it is vacation time and Tina enjoys being with her mother back at bu aista Court seor gomez plays with his son Ramon seor Gomez is a silver smith look out whoop oh well accidents will happen and Mexican fathers are very sweet with their children and help take care of them when Raman is older he can play games with the older children Tonio is dealer and tries to match his cards with the pictures on the board Pebbles are used for counters these boys are not always this quiet often they explore the Steep Mountain Ravines and play bandits in the Hills soon they will be old enough to start odd jobs in the village the people love their church that Towers above giving them a feeling of strength and security no one needs a watch for the clock and church bells tell them the correct time in the shadow of the church the Town Market is in full swing many shop early in the morning but all day long it is a scene of great activity the farmers from miles around bring their fresh fruits and vegetables to the market some arrive the night before to set up their stalls and be ready for the first customers today Tina and her father Pablo are going shopping he has time in the day to help his family with the shopping and other chores because he works at night he is a musician and plays in the hotel Orchestra during the evening they stop first at a stall where peanuts and sugar cane are sold the storekeeper has his we spread on a grass mat Pablo barens until he thinks he has brought the price down as far as possible both Pablo and the storekeeper enjoy arguing over the price for this is the way people buy things in Mexico Pablo buys sugar cane and two boxes of peanuts they love to chew the sugar cane and also like sweet cakes and Candy yes the market is a lively social place where the people pass many a happy hour today Rosita asked Pablo to buy corn for the tortillas Pablo looks carefully to see if the corn is good and again he Bargains skillfully he talks in a polite low voice Mexican people have a quiet charm even in conducting the simplest business and always have a ready smile they buy enough corn for several days Tina feels very important being the lady of the house and loves to go shopping with her father next Pablo buys some onions this woman sells herbs Mexicans like to flavor their food with herbs and also to use them in medicines or there are many good doctors in Mexico but the people still make many of their simple remedies blankets like this worn by the men are called zapis they've been worn for hundreds of years and the style has changed little since the days of the ancient Aztecs another very old which the women wear over their heads it is called the Rosa and here is a store that sells tortillas in Mexico people buy tortillas just like we buy hamburgers in the United States they sell hot roast pork slices to eat with the tortillas Pablo asks for chili sauce and hot peppers with his pork in Mexico people like highly seasoned Foods this is true of the people in most warm climates public fountains are centrally placed in parts of the town since many homes do not have running water sometimes small children act as water carriers and for a few coins Supply several homes with water each day Mexico is a country of contrasts most Tasco homes have electricity back at Buist cour the women are busy as usual Rosita is making her daily supply of tortillas the corn has been washed several times and then soaked in boiling water with a little lime this makes it salt so that the Skins will drop off Rosita works the corn back and forth on a stone slab called a Matti she uses a stone rolling pin she adds water until the dough is the right mixture then the dough is kneaded and rolled into a ball she tosses it skillfully and swiftly from Palm to Palm and then Pats it thin in Mexico a housewife is judged by her ability to make light tortillas the mothers have handed this knowledge down to their daughters for Generations or even before the Spaniards came to America corn was the main source of food the Navaros eat tortillas with their breakfast at 9:00 this is a Hardy meal for they've been up since 6 then again at 3:00 tortillas are served with their main dinner with meat and vegetables night about 8 they have a light supper of coffee and bread sometimes Rosita takes the corn to the store in the village where a machine does the tedious work of grinding the corn into the soft damp cornmeal Polly sings softly to as she works well Polly want a tortilla grandfather Garcia often tells the children stories of his travels when he drove a pack train through the country he TS of beautiful lake pataro with its famous island of Hano on its Summit a monument has been erected to the memory of their great leader of the people Morelos here the people continue many of the old Customs they fish from canoes dug out of law logs similar to those used hundreds of years ago some of these canoes are 40 ft long perhaps the children like to hear best about the beautiful Coast cities where the ships dock with their magic cargos from the Orient and where Fearless swimmers dive from the mountain Cliffs over 100 ft High into deep Rocky pools a number of men have lost their lives in this daring feet they hold their breaths there he goes grandfather points to these far off places and the children listen Spellbound and so time passes pleasantly among these kindly people [Music] [Music] grandfather is not well enough to work but he still manages the court he drives the pigs into the Barnyard below the house but they will soon sneak back they will wander out on the village streets but find their way home at night he tells Pablo what he wants him to feed the Burrows Dominico and Angelita sometimes Mexicans keep the hay on the barn roof where the animals cannot reach it the Burrows have such funny faces one never knows what they are thinking well at least they like eating the Barnyard is large often Travelers Park their horses or Burrows here here while they shop or visit the town it is like an auto park and the visitors pay a small fee for each animal after they have finished their shopping they return for their animals and once again start on their way today is a fiesta day t has many fiestas and Tina thinks it's great fun to go especially with her father this Fiesta is in honor of the St St Prisa yesterday the bishop came and blessed the new seats in the cathedral this beautiful church was given to Tasco by a Frenchman Don Jose De laora he came to Mexico in an early day and discovered silver in the mountains he became rich and wanted to share his riches with the people so he gave them the church tus was still a mining Center every month three tons of silver from here are used to make the beautiful Mexican jewelry that is famous all over the world many of the quaint shops along this street make and sell silver articles the fiesta takes place in the Town Square or Plaza in front of the great church which looks down on their gayy the church fathers encourage the good times because they know these hardworking people need to relax and have fun [Music] well what shall we do [Music] first aha Tina wants to ride the whirly gate the attendant passes and she's all ready to be on her way off they go [Music] [Applause] [Music] he that was fun well the ride is over and Pablo unfastens her belt and now where shall we go well how about a cool drink M good Tina meets her friend Dolores Pablo gives them money to play the games just as fathers do all over the world next how about a game of [Music] Hoops yes sir Tina would like to win one of those funny little dogs [Music] throw and not a Miss few strikes but not enough to win well let's have some Mexican candy huh I think I'll take uh one of those one of those and one of those next he and Dolores walk around the plaza when they are about 16 they will follow the Mexican custom of walking around the square in the evening girls do this in the smaller towns of Mexico and this is where they meet the boys and get to know them often they dance in the square and have band concerts Mexican girls are carefully Sheron so they work and play Under the kindly guidance of the church the bells ring and Tina and her father wish to give thanks for their many blessings Tina puts on her veil and they enter the quiet church and we will leave them here a good people Charming happy artistic and skilled and always they have a kindly feeling other toward the world [Music]