El niño y la niebla

It comes as no surprise to learn that this psychological drama depicting a woman's descent into madness has been adapted from a stage play and anyone familiar with the films of Roberto Gavaldón will know this intense material to be right up his street whilst Mexico's finest cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa provides striking Expressionist touches. Both men were awarded Ariels as was Gloria Schoemann for her exemplary editing and Maurice Fontanels for Production Design. In the role of Marta who 'works in silence like a spider', Dolores del Rio received her third Ariel whilst Alejandro Ciangherotti who hailed from the Soler acting family, was recognised as best child actor.

The undisputed Prima Donna of Mexico's Golden Age, del Rio is almost imperceptibly graduating to maturer roles and in the 1960's would play the mother of Elvis Presley, Sal Mineo and Omar Sharif. Here, as a very well-preserved forty-nine year old she convinces as a woman who can still arouse the desire of two men, her long-suffering husband and her former love who comes back into her life in a way only possible in the world of film melodrama.

She and Gavaldón enjoyed a fruitful collaboration and under his direction she gives a mesmering performance which is by turns disturbing and sympathetic. The climactic scene in which she sits and knits having sent out her somnambulist son to kill her inconvenient spouse lingers long in the memory. Yes, the plot is far-fetched and the film very much of its time but can still be appreciated for both its conception and execution.

Had this film been given a Hollywood makeover one can of course think of certain actresses who would have given their eye-teeth to play Mad Marta.