“Muxes were born biologically men, but they adopt women’s roles, because they like it, but they are not in competition with other women.” This is stated in a 2019 publication from the Ciencia UNAM portal.
It is to this group that the film director Ernesto Contreras approaches through the series The secret of the riveravailable on Netflix, which stars actor Diego Calva and transgender model Trinidad González.
It was an invitation from Netflix about a story of friendship between two boys in the context of the isthmus of Tehuantepec. I loved it, because my paternal grandparents were from there, my grandfather from Juchitán and my grandmother from Tehuantepec. So it was like ‘of course I want to go back to that place.’ I was born in Veracruz and then… long story.
What we wanted was how, through a story of friendship, we can understand or know this very particular context, this world of muxeidad that is so special and little known and little understood. From that, I created a story that was a thriller, drama, friendship, but that also had this other part to do with identities.
There are several themes and angles, there was a long investigation with the screenwriter Alberto Barrera to create the possible story, then we went there to understand, meet and talk a lot with mux men and women, so that they could explain to us about their culture and vision of the world. It was a long journey from that construction of history to designing the series,” said Ernesto Contreras, winner of the Ariel in 2008 for Best First Feature for blue eyelids.
The eight-episode series features scenes with muxes, who are not dedicated to acting.
They were very generous, although it must be said that in the world of muxeidad there are muxe men and women. Men are those who live their daily lives as men and, on some occasions, when there are candles or town festivals, they dress and become these Tehuanas. There are those who were biologically born men who assume the feminine identity, who live 24 hours a day as muxes. That’s why I say them and them.
The idea is that they were part of the project, because there was generosity on their part when we were preparing (the series) to tell us absolutely everything. So, there is an important participation of several of them. I also have to say that there were several trans actresses who play several of the muxes in the story,” she revealed.
The secret of the river addresses what happens when a boy arrives in a small Mexican town, where a friendship blossoms with a local boy and a dark secret seals their bond forever.
Diego Calva and Trinidad González were chosen to star in the series, who collaborate in this story.
I had never met either of them before. Diego read the material, we talked and there was a good connection. Then, in a very extensive casting, Trinidad appeared, who was dedicated to modeling and had never acted.
It was like saying that in these months of preparation we can achieve a character like the one we need for Sicarú and Trinidad gave herself body and soul to work with a voice and acting coach and prepare as much as possible. “They both did incredible and there is a very nice chemistry between them,” said Contreras.
The series rescues Zapotec, which is a form of everyday communication in the place where it takes place, so the cast had a coach in this regard, to take care of the pronunciation and intention in the dialogues.
It was done with respect and a lot of love, because it is something so much ours that it is worth sharing it with the world, with the 190 countries that will see the project, so that they know that it is a very important part of our country, of that deep Mexico of the that it is not talked about as much,” he highlighted.
OF THE CAST AND IDENTITY
Diego Calva, nominated for the 2023 Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for the film Babylon in which he shared credits with Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, revealed to Excelsior the topics that you are interested in talking about today The secret of the river and, recently, the series midnight family.
What I look for in stories are many components, such as characters, thinking about how it is going to be filmed, making it a challenge, when they are stories that I can film in my country, which seems like a privilege and something very important to me. I look for stories that tell something, that teach me something and that I feel proud to present them.
In the end I dedicate myself to something that borders on the art of cinema and entertainment, such as the message and the industry. They are two forces that when you can see that they are going to coexist in the best way, it is the purest cinema or, in this case, a series or an audiovisual project: it is about truly giving the message and being able to ask a question in an entertaining way. . Laughter is sometimes the best way, suspense or fear.
So when Ernesto approached me with this story it was a resounding yes, because it has heart, soul, reflection and people are going to be very entertained. It is a series that you are going to eat in one bite,” said Calva.
For the actor, this project “raises many questions into the river” so that those who observe it can see themselves reflected.
It is a series that talks about reunion, friendship, passion, identity. It is very Mexican, it was recorded in Juchitán, on the isthmus of Oaxaca, and it dares to ask questions. I was very educated in this series with Trini, with Nova Coronel, with Ernesto Contreras, because many people do not know what muxes are and invite you to ask and come to hear an answer, because we do not know everything,” he said.
Diego Calva’s father, although born in Mexico City, was raised in Huatulco, and had a store in Juchitán, so the muxe world was not unknown in his family.
About the impact of the series, I think a lot about the Mexican audience, about how forbidden or little known the muxe is in our history.
I think it is a series that will impact internationally, because it shows you a real Mexico; It is a series that talks a lot about friendship and the search and struggle for identity, openness and that leaves many questions. I like that, when a project continues generating things in my head days or months later and The secret of the river “It has those elements, there are many questions,” he noted.
Trinidad González, who was first a transgender model and today ventures into this project as an actress, confessed that the story moved her a lot, since it is similar to hers in terms of her character’s search for identity, Sicarú.
The preparation with my teacher Nova Coronel, also a trans actress, was like reliving this part of my childhood and touching on topics that I thought had been forgotten. I experienced conversion therapy, which is something that is almost untouched there, but, thank the universe, is no longer allowed here in Mexico.
So, meeting the muxes was a pleasant surprise, that they welcomed me with open arms and told me their stories; Being able to be part of their group at that moment and being told to tell this story, because they needed to be heard, seen and respected, that was something that gave me that courage and power to bring out the character of Sicarú. I want people to connect with her, empathize, reflect and move things,” said Trinidad González.
Her character, who throughout the plot decides to transform her personality, also made her reflect on the moment in which she found the freedom to express herself and be who she is today.
This connection that I have with the feminine was since I was little… Manuel, this boy, causes me a lot of tenderness because he sees openness and freedom in the muxes and the women in his family are his inspiration. That moved me,” concluded González, who hopes to continue modeling and acting at the same time.
WE RECOMMEND YOU: 3 Korean k-dramas on Netflix where the “determination” of the protagonists invites you to challenge life
cva
Related News :