1938: When Mexico Recovered Its Oil
| 1938: When Mexico Recovered Its Oil | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Sergio Olhovich |
| Written by | Sergio Olhovich Carlos Montemayor |
| Produced by | Javier Colinas Roberto Fiesco Mario Guerrero García Sergio Olhovich Iliana Reyes Eckehardt Von Damm |
| Starring | Ianis Guerrero |
| Cinematography | Arturo de la Rosa |
| Music by | Tomás Barreiro |
Production companies | Corazón Films Katarsis Cooperativa de Comunicación |
Release dates |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | Mexico |
| Languages | Spanish English |
1938: When Mexico Recovered Its Oil (Spanish: 1938: Cuando el petróleo fue nuestro, lit. '1938: When the oil was ours') is a 2025 Mexican historical drama film co-written, co-produced and directed by Sergio Olhovich.[1] It stars Ianis Guerrero as President Lázaro Cárdenas, who faces the decision to expropriate the oil industry while powerful foreign companies try to prevent it.[2]
Synopsis
In 1938, President Lázaro Cárdenas faced the most difficult decision of his term: to expropriate the oil industry. Powerful foreign companies were unwilling to allow this; the decision also required compensating them to avoid a major international conflict. It was at this point that the Mexican people united to contribute whatever they could to ensure the return of oil to the nation.[3]
Cast
The actors participating in this film are:[4]
- Ianis Guerrero as Lázaro Cárdenas
- Ofelia Medina as Amalia Solórzano
- Karen Martí as Young Amalia Solórzano
- Baltimore Beltrán as Francisco José Múgica
- Roberto Beck as Raúl Castellanos Jiménez
- Julian Sedgwick as Josephus Daniels
- Jon Roberts as August Armstrong
- María Penella Gómez as Rosaura
- Viridiana Robles as Alicia Cárdenas
- Salvador Sánchez as Peasant
- Esteban Soberanes as Engineer Rojas
- Raúl Briones as Vicente Lombardo Toledano
- Fermín Martínez as Benito Juárez
- Mauro González as Gardener
- Dave Collins as Anderson
- Israel Almanza as Radio technician
- Salvador Alvarez as Announcer
- Irving Aranda as Photographer
- Raúl Barranco as Simón
- Steven Destello as Williams
- Nelly González as Frida
- Héctor Holten as Valente
- Elena Gore as Bride
Production
The film took 20 years to produce.[5] Sergio Olhovich and Carlos Montemayor wrote a 300-page script, which was cut to 120 pages by Olhovich alone after Montemayor's death.[6] Principal photography began in October 2021 at Mexico's National Palace and ended in May 2022.[7][8]
Release
The film had its world premiere on March 18, 2025, at the Cineteca Nacional,[9] followed by a wide national theatrical release on March 20.[10] It was subsequently screened on April 18, 2025, at the 47th Moscow International Film Festival.[11]
References
- ^ "Sergio Olhovich ante la lente de la historia: entre Llovizna y 1938: Cuando el petróleo fue nuestro". Retina Latina (in Spanish). 2025-03-12. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
- ^ Castellón, Mónica (2025-03-24). "Cuando el petróleo fue nuestro: un relato histórico imperdible". Fuera de Foco (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-18.
- ^ Acosta, Por Gabriela (2025-03-18). "'1938, cuando el petróleo fue nuestro': lo que revela la cinta y por qué verla". Publimetro México (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-18.
- ^ Suárez, Marlem (2023-03-19). "AMLO verá primero que nadie la película "1938, cuando el petróleo fue nuestro"". Infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-18.
- ^ Calderón, Lucero (2025-03-11). "1938. Cuando el petróleo fue nuestro; filme defiende la soberanía de un país". Excélsior (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-18.
- ^ "'1938, cuando el petróleo fue nuestro', de Sergio Olhovich: la última épica de la revolución". IMCINE. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
- ^ "En Palacio Nacional se filma '1938, el día que el petróleo fue nuestro' de Sergio Olhovich". IMCINE. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
- ^ ""1938, cuando el petróleo fue nuestro", la película que busca explotar la "soberanía"". Proceso (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-18.
- ^ Gómez, Iván (2025-04-20). ""1938. Cuando el petróleo fue nuestro", visión cinematográfica de una hazaña soberana". Polemón (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-18.
- ^ "Estrenan en la Cineteca Nacional 1938: Cuando el petróleo fue nuestro". Revista Zócalo (in Spanish). 2025-03-18. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
- ^ "1938: When Mexico Recovered Its Oil". Moscow International Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-09-18.