The Mexican is a film about a pistol named “The Mexican”. The pistol, which is believed to have a curse, is highly sought out on the black market. Throughout the film, many locals recognize the pistol and each one recalls a different story behind it. Although they are different, they all possess similar themes. Ultimately, it is revealed that a poor gunsmith, made the pistol. It was supposed to be a wedding gift for a nobleman who sought to marry the gunsmith’s daughter. The protagonist, Jerry Welbach who played by Brad Pitt, is assigned to acquire the pistol for his employer Margolese, Gene Hackman. Months before, Welbach crashed into Margolese while he had a person tied up in the trunk. Since Margolese went to jail and it was technically Welbach’s fault, Margolese forced Welbach into a life crime. The film follows Welbach’s journey as he attempts to acquire the pistol. For the purpose of this blog, it is important to recognize the portrayal of Americans in a Mexican setting as well as the roles of Mexicans and Mexico.

When Jerry Welbach arrives in Mexico, he waits to receive his rental car. He is given a Chrysler but Welbach insist on renting something a “little more Mexican”. The customer service agent proceeds to speak in Spanish telling Welbach that he knows nothing about Mexico and Mexican culture except Speedy Gonzalez. He then gives Welbach an El Camino and warns him in Spanish that he going to get himself into a lot trouble in Mexico. Later when Welbach friend goes to Mexico to aid him, he also asks the customer service agent for something more Mexican. This film does a great job at identifying the notions that Americans have towards Mexicans and Mexico. Mexican and Mexican culture has hardly had its spotlight in American media. Speedy Gonzalez is perhaps the only icons that every American can identify to Mexicans.

The primary settings of the film take place in some of the most dilapidated parts of Mexico. These destitute settings not only make one impose characteristics on the characters living there, but it also reinforces the idea of widespread poverty in Mexico. Media has a compulsive tendency to portray Mexicans as violent criminals uneducated, drug dealers or extremely poor. Since the characters against Welbach possess some of these attributes, it is extremely easy to believe they are the bad guys and cannot be trusted. When one first views this film, it is inevitable to assume that the groups of Mexican locals trying to retrieve the gun are criminals. However, in the climax of the film, it is revealed that the group of men was actually doing it for an honorable purpose.

In one particular scene, a corrupt officer puts Welbach in jail after seeing blood on his passenger seat. The officer later releases Welbach but keeps the pistol. This perhaps is another highly believed stereotype. Although his actions were indeed corrupt, this is a reoccurring theme in films involving Mexican officers. Later, the cop sells the pistol the pistol to a local merchant for an undisclosed amount. Then Welbach and his assailant, Ted, try to retrieve the pistol. Upon entering, Ted immediately draws his weapon and proclaims “I no f*** around. Comprende? Gun. Gun. Loaded. Bang. Bang. You dead.” The merchant responds with disdain “Do you have a speech impediment?” There is a common idea to believe that Mexicans and Mexican Americans are incapable of speaking proper English. Again, these ideas are highly formulated through the Mexican representation in media.

(Sorry for the blurry video it was the only one I could find) This is the official story behind the curse of “The Mexican”.