Elena Poniatowska

Acting

Elena Poniatowska

Born 1932-05-19 · France

Hélène Elizabeth Louise Amélie Paula Dolores Poniatowska Amor (born May 19, 1932), known professionally as Elena Poniatowska is a French-born Mexican journalist and author, specializing in works on social and political issues focused on those considered to be disenfranchised especially women and the poor. She was born in Paris to upper-class parents, including her mother whose family fled Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. She left France for Mexico when she was ten to escape the Second World War. When she was eighteen and without a university education, she began writing for the newspaper Excélsior, doing interviews and society columns. Despite the lack of opportunity for women from the 1950s to the 1970s, she wrote about social and political issues in newspapers, books in both fiction and nonfiction form. Her best known work is La noche de Tlatelolco (The night of Tlatelolco, the English translation was entitled "Massacre in Mexico") about the repression of the 1968 student protests in Mexico City. Due to her leftwing views, she has been nicknamed "the Red Princess". She is considered to be "Mexico's grande dame of letters" and is still an active writer.

Acting credits

Xico's Journey poster
6.6

The peace of a small town is endangered when a corporation wants to destroy the mountain that protects them. A girl named Copi and her best friend Xico, a Xoloitzcuintle dog, will go into the mountains to try to save the town.

Xico's Journey

2020

Ana poster
10.0

Stela, a young Brazilian actress, decides to make a work on the letters exchanged between Latin American plastic artists in the 70s and 80s. She travels to Cuba, Mexico, Argentina and Chile looking for her works and testimonies about the reality they lived during the dictatorships that most of these countries faced at the time. In the midst of the investigation, Stela discovers the existence of Ana, a young Brazilian artist who was part of this world, but disappeared. Ana went from southern Brazil, from a small town in the interior to Buenos Aires. Obsessed by the character, Stela decides to find her and find out what happened to her.

Ana

2020

Leonora Carrington: The Lost Surrealist poster
7.9

British surrealist Leonora Carrington was a key part of the surrealist movement during its heyday in Paris and yet, until recently, remained a virtual unknown in the country of her birth. This film explores her dramatic evolution from British debutante to artist in exile, living out her days in Mexico City, and takes us on a journey into her darkly strange and cinematic world.

Leonora Carrington: The Lost Surrealist

2017

Pedro poster
5.7

'Pedro', Liora Spilk's debut feature, paints a humorous and emotional portrait of Pedro Friedeberg, a Mexican plastic artist who became famous in the sixties for the creation of the hand chair. Between grumblings, ironies, reflections on art and disagreements, 'Pedro' achieves an endearing portrait of Friedeberg, and at the same time presents a tribute to friendship and creation.

Pedro

2022

Alaide Foppa Falla, The Unfortunate One poster
NR

In the course of Alaide Foppa's life, she became a precursor of feminism in Mexico. She was an immigrant who, in her own way, tried to break the molds established by her upper-class upbringing. Her sensitivity and intellectual development made her question matters of social injustice, educational and gender inequalities, the importance of socially-committed art forms and the vindication of democracy throughout Latin America. Her tragic end reveals much about the history of Guatemala.

Alaide Foppa Falla, The Unfortunate One

2014

El Santos vs la Tetona Mendoza poster
6.6

Santos, an overweight pacheco fighter suffers from his recent divorce with La Tetona Mendoza, a voluptuous and wild female fighter. To get out of his depression, Santos begins a campaign to help Sahuayo Zombies. However, his philanthropic campaign soon becomes a very profitable business that leverages Santos for their benefit. The population becomes a zombie plague and Santos threatens to dispose of them. However, the Peyote Murderer gets rid of the zombies. But the world without zombies turns out to be worse than anyone could have imagined and the only choice to save the nation is for Santos and Peyote to work together to repopulate the world.

El Santos vs la Tetona Mendoza

2012

Juan Gabriel: Mi Primer Bellas Artes poster
NR

Mexico’s most iconic concert comes to U.S. theaters on September 15th, celebrating Mexican Independence Day and commemorating the 10th anniversary of Juan Gabriel’s passing. Experience his legendary first performance at Mexico City’s “Palacio de Bellas Artes” in 1990—a landmark event that forever transformed Mexican music. More than three decades later, this historic concert returns in a special theatrical release with newly restored picture and sound, plus an exclusive new opening featuring never-before-seen rehearsal footage from Juan Gabriel’s personal archive that offers a unique glimpse into the making of this unforgettable night. Every song, every standing ovation, and every iconic moment has been revitalized, allowing longtime fans and new audiences to experience this extraordinary performance like never before. Celebrate the timeless legacy of Juan Gabriel on the big screen in this once-in-a-generation cinematic event.

Juan Gabriel: Mi Primer Bellas Artes

2026

Tina Modotti: Dogma and Passion poster
NR

Tina Modotti was the most important photographer of the twenties from last century in Mexico. Born in Udine in northeastern Italy, at age 16 emigrated, like millions of Italians to America. Ther she worked as a model and actress, but when renowned photographer Edward Weston chose Mexico as his home, Tina learned from him the craft and it was here where she made his photographic work. The crosslinking of art, activism, love and tragedy in her life, are the subjects of this documentary.

Tina Modotti: Dogma and Passion

2013

Leonora Carrington - The Surrealist Game poster
10.0

Biographical account of the brilliant painter, featuring talks with Leonora Carrington during the later stage of her life in her home in Mexico.

Leonora Carrington - The Surrealist Game

2012

José Emilio Pacheco: me llamo Nadie poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

José Emilio Pacheco: me llamo Nadie

2009

The Busty Doll poster
6.6

In a photograph among journalists, writers, academics and artists was a controversial president of Mexico and the unusual guest who owes the name of this story.

The Busty Doll

2017

Asaltar los cielos poster
7.0

Documentary about the killer of Trotsky

Asaltar los cielos

1996

Made in Mexico poster
6.2

From Diego Luna and Alejandro Fernandez, to Carla Morrison and Chavela Vargas, Duncan Bridgeman weaves a cinematic tapestry composed of original songs and insights from the most iconic artists and performers of contemporary Mexico. With striking visuals, the movie captures the rich diversity of Mexican geography, art, music, and culture. It is a rare look at the country's real identity, and an unparalleled celebration of what it truly means to be "Hecho en Mexico."

Made in Mexico

2012

Memoria de Los Olvidados poster
NR

Javier Espada's documentary about the making of Bunuel's masterpiece "Los Olvidados".

Memoria de Los Olvidados

2025

One Hundred Years with Juan Rulfo poster
NR

This documentary explores key moments in the life of writer Juan Rulfo, with artists such as Werner Herzog and Eduardo Galeano reflecting on his work.

One Hundred Years with Juan Rulfo

2017

Chaos and Order: Manuel Felguérez and His Abstract Work poster
NR

Documentary about the life and work of abstract artist Manuel Felguérez; one of the most important Mexican painters and sculptors of the 20th century, and a benchmark of the Generación de la Ruptura (Breakaway Generation). At 87 years-old, Felguérez is a consecrated master who creates by starting from chaos, generating random shapes and spots, to later give them order and finally turn them into art.

Chaos and Order: Manuel Felguérez and His Abstract Work

2016

No artwork available
3.0

An account of the relationship of brotherhood between Cuba and Mexico led by an unprecedented interview with Eliseo Alberto Diego, Lichi that weaves together history, music, cinema, literature, and the character of both nations. Its also presents testimonies of diplomats, intellectuals, artists, athletes, educators and townspeople, who speak of this cultural fraternity.

Between Cuba and Mexico, Everything is Bonito & Sabroso

2016

No artwork available
8.5

The Storm That Swept Mexico tells the gripping story of the Mexican Revolution of 1910, the first major political and social revolution of the 20th century. The revolution not only changed the course of Mexican history, transforming economic and political power within the nation, but also profoundly impacted the relationships between Mexico, the U.S. and the rest of the world.

The Storm That Swept Mexico

2011

Behind the camera