646f9e108c La Soldadera (the female soldier), focuses upon Lázara a simple country girl who is caught up in the Mexican Revolution. At the beginning of the film she is a newlywed whose husband, Juan, is forced to join the federal army during the Mexican Revolution. Lázara chooses to follow Juan, but unfortunately, he is soon killed in battle. One of the Villista soldiers (supporters of Pancho Villa), Nicolsá, takes Lzáara to be his woman and so she becomes part of their band. Lzáara has to walk alongside Nicolsá's horse whilst carrying his rifle and gun belt as they travel. One of the older "soldaderas" put the gun belt on Lzáara and shows her how to shoot. Although Lzáara does not fight she is present during moments of conflict and is involved in the looting of a town. But Lzáara wish for nothing more than a home.
Back in the 30's, famed Russian film maker Sergei Eisenstein came to the U.S.A. to make movies at Paramount. One of his first projects was "Que Viva Mexico!". He filmed three fourths of the movie, but Paramount abandoned the project, and was never completed. Nevertheless, the film has squeaked out in various forms. The part that was unfinished was Soldadera, the story of the Woman Soldiers of the Mexican Revolution. It has been rumoured that THIS movie, "La Soldladera", is based on the script and editing notes by Eisenstein for HIS Soldadera portion of "Que Viva Mexico!" One only has to watch it to see the Eisenstein touches, and further inflame the imagination to wonder how it would have looked IF Eisenstein had completed the picture. <br/><br/>Silvia Pinal is the star. She has very little dialogue. She NEEDS no dialogue. Her eyes and face and body language speak PAGES of dialogue. She is STILL a great star and has given many WONDERFUL performances in Spanish and Mexican films. Check out "Shark!" starring Burt Reynolds, and you'll get a good English language film of hers to appreciate her talents. Some nice person out there in film land should do English subtitles for this. <br/><br/>One of the more fantastic scenes in this movie is when, having raided a landowners home and ransacked it, destroyed it, the women are all dressed up, with gaudy make-up, and sit down in the town square to watch a silent movie. Truly one of the great all-time scenes in the history of film. Watch it, and if you don't know Spansih, have a friend who DOES nearby to translate. But you really don't need it. This movie gets the message through in ANY language.
La Soldadera is driven by the compelling performance given by Silvia Pinal, (Lázara.) Moving, authentic and heart-breaking, the viewer is drawn into her world which we witness to be collapsing all around her. With very little dialogue, the film is readily accessible to a wider audience than the majority of foreign language films. The emphasis on Pinal's expressions provides the non-Spanish speaking viewer with all that is needed to understand the pain and desperation behind her character. As with any film based upon the daily routines and danger facing individuals in war times, it is by no means a jovial or easy film. However, Pinal finely executes a lighter, rather comical portrayal on occasions. The circularity of the final scene of the train disappearing into the distance nicely links the beginning and end of the film whilst highlighting Lázara's uncertain and dismal future. This film is sure to surprise the least expecting viewer.