Viva Zapata! (1952)

In the tumultuous year of 1909, Mexico is a land teetering on the edge of rebellion. The southern state of Morelos, a patchwork of arable land and barren hills, is home to Emiliano Zapata, a Mexican Mestizo of noble birth but slender means. When the fertile lands of his people are unjustly enclosed, Zapata journeys to Mexico City, voicing his discontent to the iron-fisted President Diaz. His bold defiance places him in the crosshairs of danger, transforming him into a fugitive after a daring rescue of a prisoner from the local militia. Guided by Fernando, a roving intellectual, Zapata aligns himself with the exiled Don Francisco Madero, opposing the dictatorial Diaz. As the southern leader of Madero's forces, mirroring Francisco 'Pancho' Villa in the North, Zapata becomes a beacon of hope for the oppressed. Their combined might sends Diaz into exile, with Madero stepping into the vacant presidency. But power corrupts, and Madero becomes a puppet of the military leader Huerta, meeting his end when he attempts to stand with those who fought for him. Refusing to stand by, Zapata and Villa resurrect their rebellion, their victory paving the way for a new leader. Reluctantly, Zapata assumes the mantle, but the intoxicating allure of power chips away at his ideals. His own villagers' pleas for justice echo those he once made, and in a moment of profound realization, Zapata abandons his position, returning to Morelos to confront their grievances against his own brother, Eufemio. As new leaders ascend to power, stirred by the ever-present Fernando, they perceive Zapata as a threat to their reign. Drawn into the heart of a civil war where lines blur between friends and foes, Zapata, the once simple peasant-farmer, finds himself enmeshed in a struggle not just for justice, but for the very soul of Mexico.

Viva Zapata! is a history movie featuring Marlon Brando and directed by Elia Kazan.

It is possible to buy Viva Zapata! on AMC on Demand, Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.