Canoa: A Shameful Memory (1976)

In the heart of 1968, a chilling tale of mob violence and rural poverty unfolds in the quaint town of San Miguel de Canoa. Canoa: A Shameful Memory, directed by Felipe Cazals, is a haunting retelling of a real-life tragedy that transpired in a climate of political turmoil and fear. Four unsuspecting employees from the University of Puebla, embarking on a seemingly innocent mountain climbing expedition, find themselves in the crosshairs of a small town's hostility, incited by the potent influence of a local priest. Through the lens of a faux documentary, the narrative unravels the horrifying events. The priest, consumed by paranoia, convinces the townspeople that the visitors are communist agitators on the run from an army crackdown against student protests in Mexico City. This alarming accusation triggers a wave of violence, leading to a brutal attack that results in the deaths of two individuals. Cazals, crafting his film in 1975, uses the tragic incident as a metaphor for another massacre, whose truth remains shrouded in mystery—the student massacre at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in the Tlatelolco district of Mexico City. This cinematic journey through a landscape of fear and power will grip viewers as it explores the depths of human fear and the consequences of unchecked authority.

Canoa: A Shameful Memory is a crime movie featuring Ernesto Gómez Cruz and directed by Felipe Cazals.

Canoa: A Shameful Memory is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy Canoa: A Shameful Memory on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.