Mexican stereotypes are depicted throughout the film. Hundreds of years ago conquistadors from Spain came and conquered the New World for their homeland. The idea of a macho ruler has carried over into today’s society, and is often seen as the drug lords and gangs of Mexico.
Both Azul and Moco are the ruthless gang lords. They worked together at one time, but have turned on each other for their own personal gain. Azul has revenge in mind for not getting his share. You can see even the guys who are under them are willing to sacrifice their partners if it will save their own necks. In the end the new boss lights his match on his old boss’s dead chin.
This violence is very prevalent in today’s Mexican culture. I personally am acquainted with missionaries in Mexico. In the past year one of them was shot and killed while riding in a car, simply because they did not stop when asked to. They did not stop because they were afraid.
The Mariachi lives to sing. His whole purpose in life is to entertain through singing. This is passed from generation to generation. The Mariachi is not concerned with money and worldly possessions so much as he is to sing his message to audiences. In this film the Mariachi does not want to be caught up in the violence but is forced into it by being mistaken as the bad guy. He ends up killing people in self defense when all he really wanted was to “be a Mariachi”.
Music plays a huge part of this film. Soft love songs are sung by the Mariachi. More sinister songs are in the background during the scarier parts of the film. When the Mariachi loses his guitar he will do anything to have it back including risking his life. Music is his life. In the end he kills the man who shoots his hand.
I too have friends who visit Mexico recently. That is sad to woory about the safety of your friends as missionaries.I thought there was alot of violence in this movie, even exagerated. Men running through the streets with guns. The drug lords and gang members would kill off anyone else to save their own hide. The traggic part of this movie is the Mariachi, who justs wants to sing, gets caught up in this mistaken identity and his life is forever changed as his hand will be dismembered for the rest of his life.I think this was a good example of how scary things could be if you got involved with the drug cartel, but the Mariachi was so innocent and became a killer to defend himself.
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