"FOR A MEXICAN INDIAN," "KEEPING THE VOW TO A SAINT IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH." "COLLOQUIUM DANCES ARE A THEOLOGICAL MANIFESTATION" "THAT SERVE AS A LINK BETWEEN THE GODS AND MEN." "THEY ARE SACRED, HOLY..." "TLAYECTILI." "INDIGENOUS CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF THE CHILD CHRIST" "Náhuatl Theater Group" "SAINT LUCIFER A film by Miguel Sabido" "Great Lords, what does this mean?" "What king are you talking about?" "I am the King of the Jews." "What do you mean, a baby king is to be born?" "Do you think I'm dead?" "You think the Great King Herod is dead?" "HEROD'S PALACE" "My children..." "My children." "We see the fury of King Herod represented by our friend," "Melchior Cuicatl." "My name is Melchior Cuauhtli, not "Cuicatl. "" "You just called me "Melchior Shit. "" "Sorry, my child." "Sorry." "That's what happens when I speak the Náhuatl language." "This year the colloquium was more beautiful than ever." "That's true." "We just painted a new curtain." "And I put precious stones on the crown." "Let's go to my place." "We'll drink, chat and dance." "Yes, let's go before your granny spanks you." "Good evening, my son Melchior." "Yes." "We've come from the town of Yohualichan to ask you for a great favor." "Go ahead." "My father, Facundo Perez, always organized the Colloquium of Saint Michael Archangel until he died five years ago." "Since then, it hasn't been held." "Why not?" "Because all our efforts have failed and brought about many misfortunes." "This man lost his son." "This one's wife sticks to him like a shadow." "And this one, the church keeper, is going crazy just as Father Leopoldo Santos Higerada says." "And for me, Delfino, the municipal president, is stealing my land." "Things get worse and worse." "But why do you come to me?" "I only know how to keep my vow to my patron saint, Melchior." "You're famous for holding the Colloquium of the Wise Men for so many years." "Twenty-two!" "That's why I've asked my godchildren to come with me to ask for help in holding this Colloquium." "Holy Saint Michael's been following him all day long insulting and cursing him." "He appears to me in my dreams and if I turn quickly" "I can almost see him behind me, trying to grab my arm." "That's why I came to Cuetzalan to seek help." "Yes, that can happen when a patron saint gets furious." "But I'm sorry." "I don't know how to do anything for another saint." "So you have to excuse me." "Get your stuff." "We're expected at home." "May God grant you a good night." "I hope Father Julio can help you." "He's a good man and speaks some of our language." "Good night." "Melchior Shit!" "Granny." "You're too old to keep clowning around as Herod." "But I'm the majordomo of the Colloquium." "Play the role of King Melchior." "But I don't want to be wise like you, Granny..." "I want to be Herod, even if I'm too old." "You are already too old and won't be wise." "Who are those men?" "Who?" "Those outside by the fence..." "who look so sad." "Nobody." "People from the party." "Go to the door and ask them in to say hello." "No, no, I can't do it, even if you pay me." "How can I take money to hold a Colloquium?" " Why do you do it?" " It's been my vow since I was born." "My dad would say the same." "So I must do it, I promised him." "Otherwise, I will go to hell." "Do you have the book?" "So you have what it takes." "The book." "But I don't read Náhuatl." "We need someone like you to organize us." "My godchildren can be the Michaels, there are three Saint Michaels, and a Lucifer and four small virgins, and the little Saint Michaels." "The more the better." "I used to see how my dad did it." "Why didn't he teach you?" "I was a bad son." "No matter how much he insisted, I didn't pay attention." "I'm so sorry now." "Whoever makes a commitment to be a majordomo goes deep into debt:" "He has to pay for the music, the fireworks, the flowers, the candles, help others with the costumes, then the booze, the food, and hound everyone to practice and learn the words and the steps," "get permits and get someone from Huamantla to make the sawdust carpet and on and on and on..." "The Colloquium of the sacred saints" "Michael and Lucifer..." "Fuck!" "No way!" "I'm not going to get mixed up in it, and even less with that name." "See, Granny..." "I didn't even enjoy the party because of them." " I didn't even enjoy getting drunk." " You get drunk enough all year long." "What happened to these men?" "They're gone..." "None of them wants to take on the responsibility." "Besides, I can't believe they'd do it with that name." "I don't know how they used to do it, but I don't think anyone would let them now." "I bet they won't." "YOHUALICHAN NÁHUATL-SPEAKING COMMUNITY" "No, Godfather." "Please..." "Godson Emeterio." "Please." "Did you sleep well?" " Fine, thank you." " Fine." "Good morning, Sacred Heart of Jesus." "Did you sleep well?" "Good morning, Immaculate Conception." "Good morning, Saint Frankie." "I don't care what you think." "I hate you more than anybody, you fucking Chaste Joseph!" "I've told you, no praying to the saints here." "Next time I'll beat you till you bleed." "It's about time you got home!" "You said you were going to Cuetzalan with Olegario and would be back right away!" "Where did you spend the night?" "That'll be the day, when I have to report where I spend the night." "And go fix some coffee." "I have to go to the corn field." "I'm asleep." "What are you doing with the landmarks?" "I'm fed up with you moving them to steal my land." "I haven't stolen anything from you." "It was you who moved them first, and I had to move them back." "Land is sacred and God is listening to your lies, you thief!" "Fucking barefooted Indian you can't even speak like a rational person." "I may not know how to speak, but I do know how far the land that God gave me goes." "And you are stealing it from me..." "from God!" "I'm going to complain to the authorities." "You fucking Indian asshole, I am the authority!" "Since you are the authority you should stand up for me and not rob me." "Shut up if you don't want me to smash your snout." "Kill me if you want to." "But stop stealing my land." "You don't talk back to rational people." "What rational people?" "Primitivo, your father, was as Indian as me..." " What?" " Your father was as Indian as me." "I won't let you insult me, motherfucker." "Let him have it!" "Let him go." "What are you drinking, Agustín?" "I haven't got money to drink, I came to ask you a big favor." "So, what is it?" "A TV set." "You see, the saints were so bored." "It's been three months since the Holy Father came for mass, so I had to go ask Amalia for her TV, so they wouldn't be so bored." "Now, you're right!" "Except you, Chaste Joseph." "Why can't Joseph the Chaste watch TV?" "Don't fight with the saints, Agustín." "What happened?" "The cops went down to the bar to pee." "They will take me to jail." "What happened?" "What was bound to happen for not keeping my vow to Saint Michael:" "I'm doomed." "I had it with Delfino Gonzalez stealing my land and I hit Heriberto, his bodyguard, 32 times with my machete, once for each of the 32 meters he stole last time." "It was about honor." "I won't be able to hold the Colloquium in September." "I don't know how long I will be locked up." "I asked my godson to keep my vow." "You will do it, godson, won't you?" "I won't have to worry about it?" "We should help Emeterio hold the Colloquium." "The saints are up in arms." "Why don't you run away?" "I promised the cops I'd wait here." "Let's go." "You will do me that great favor, right?" "Say it clearly so I can leave in peace!" "Come on!" "That's what a godson is for!" "I don't want to go to hell!" "Please, Don Melchior..." "Go to Yohualichan." "Help, Emeterio!" "Please!" "I told you so, Melchior..." "I told you so." "I've put up with your madness since we met." "You can't deny that you would lie to make your existence worthwhile/e." "Why don't speak with the truth?" "Because every word / utter would be like a dagger." "You just love melodrama!" "For God's sake, life has been kind to you!" "You can't complain!" "You have money, good children." " Agustín!" " Yes, Holy Father?" "What's this?" " A TV set, Holy Father." " And what is a TV, with a soap on doing in the middle of my church?" "The church belongs to the saints." "I turned it on so they don't get bored." "You haven't come in three months and they are bored to tears." "Who are you to reproach me if I'm coming or not?" " I don't quite understand." " Yes... half-breed!" "That's what you all say when you don't like it:" ""I don't quite understand. "" "I'm not a half-breed, Holy Father." "I'm not ashamed of speaking Náhuatl." "What's that got to do with it?" "Well, so that you understand me well, and stop clowning about and blaspheming... because this is a blasphemy!" "It's idolatrous, pagan..." "You pagan!" "Idolater!" "Now I'm lost in my debt to Doña Amalia..." "Clean that up and get it out of the church!" "I do not allow blasphemies or idolatries..." "I am not Father Julio." "Idolater!" "What now?" "The Holy Father got mad and smashed it against the floor." "That Father hates us." "Who's going to pay for it?" "Well, I don't know." "Come on, Agustín, it's getting late!" "You've got to help me say mass." "Emeterio wants to confess, Mr. Holy Father." "There's no time for confessions today." "And I've told you not to make fun of me by calling me "Holy Father. "" "Isn't his name "Father Leopoldo Santos", like Holy?" "Why does he get mad if you call him that?" "I want to confess." "I must confess that I won't keep the promise I made to my godfather Olegario." "Why not?" "I have no money!" "I can't believe it." "You broke my TV." "Who's going to pay for my TV?" "Because..." "Because nothing!" "You are so dumb, good-for-nothing!" "No wonder you can't find a woman, stupid." "Pay me for my TV." "Let's see you come by later to act out my soap." "You idiot!" "Get out of here!" "I have to confess that..." "I won't keep my promise to my godfather Olegario." "Speak in Christian Spanish." "I don't understand you." "Poor Olegario is going to hell." "Didn't you hear what Melchior said?" "You need money for fireworks, music, flowers and costumes." "You know my wife Patrocinio." "She's a real stingy bitch." "I'd have to sell my turkey, my pig, and even my land to pay for everything!" "Well, we'll see if Saint Michael doesn't punish you." "He just screwed me over!" "Gin... a big gin." "Another one." "It's you, the so-called defenders of the Indians, who are to blame." "You're guilty from the very beginning." "476 years of guilt." "Since Father Las Casas." "Don't laugh." "They're idolaters, pagans." "They're not real Catholics." "Don't tell me you want to go back to the argument of whether they have souls." "Isabel, the Catholic, approved it 500 years ago." "You're making fun of me just like that Agustín, who calls me "Holy Father"" "as if I were the Pope." "He's not making fun." "He calls you by your name." "But I am not the Pope!" "But your name is "Leopoldo Santos. "" "In Náhuatl, words are put together as you speak them." ""Teocali," God-home:" "Home of the gods." "He doesn't know the difference between "Father Santos" and "Saint Father. "" "Father, tell me something." "Haven't you thought of going back to a church in the city?" "Are you trying to take my parish away from me, so they can do as they please, as they've done for five centuries?" "They need discipline instead!" "Stop following me, Saint Michael." "I haven't done anything to make you follow me this way night and day, when I'm asleep..." "Stop chasing me, stop following me." "Stop it!" "I can't hold your Colloquium." "I don't know how." "You are not my patron." "Stop chasing me." "Stop chasing me." "If you can get drunk all by yourself, you can undress by yourself too." "I don't want to dream of you anymore!" "I don't want to dream of you!" " A picture, please." " No picture." "No picture." "Don't worry." "Your soul, inside of you." "Money." "Money. 10 pesos per picture." "Hope your soul doesn't disappear for letting them take your photo." "Don't worry..." "I went to Doña Eulalia for protection, do you think I'm that stupid?" "What do you do with all the money you make?" "You think my husband would buy these earrings for me?" "It must be scary, compadre." "Tonight." "I'm going to go into the church and I will ask him man to man what he wants." "You already know:" "His Colloquium." "I can't commit myself." "I don't have money for that." "I can't make a commitment." "Patrocinio is a bitch and won't help me." "Leave me alone..." "Leave me." "Let's go, Sebodeo." "Let's go." "Please, you've got to help me." "You've got to." "No Colloquium can be held without a majordomo, and the man who was responsible is no longer with us." "I accept the responsibility." "I agree to be the majordomo." "Just remember that a majordomo has to hold the Colloquium even if he dies, or has to kill to hold it." "Are you going to commit yourself?" "Are you going to commit yourself?" "Yes!" "It was about time." "A Colloquium book is sacred." "It's not ours, it's the saints'." "It was bequeathed by our forefathers to know how to pray to our saints so that they wouldn't get mad at us." "It is as if one was the saint and saint was one..." "They are really ill-tempered and if nobody comes to pray to them, they get fucking mad and look grumpy all day." "That's why the Colloquiums are held and dances are danced." "It's like a huge prayer stronger than one thousand people praying together." "It's like they devour prayers, candles and flowers, and they are bloated and content." "Otherwise, they are itchy and spelling evil on people." "The book says that this Colloquium has three Michaels." "Why?" "Because when God made the world Lucifer confronted him." "So God sent the first Michael to fight him, but Lucifer... won." "Then God sent a second Michael, who was defeated also then a third Michael, who was a mean motherfucker and beat the shit out of Lucifer." "That's what the Colloquium narrates." "How Lucifer is haughty and boisterously yelling against the three Michaels." "If you want me to I can play Lucifer." "I love being haughty." "If Emeterio approves..." "Well, I'd say that if Emeterio is going to be majordomo, he's got to be the third Michael, the chief Michael." "Why me?" "I was born on March 3rd." "That's not Saint Michael's day." "But you are the one responsible, right?" "Cirilo, you will play the first Saint Michael and..." "Not me!" "I went to Cuetzalan because Emeterio is my compadre of the cross and Olegario's godson." "It was my duty." "I'm helping Emeterio as much as I can, but I don't like the saints." "I won't do anything to please them." "I don't like them!" "He doesn't like the saints." "Poor man." "May God bless you, Melchior." "Don't fight with the saint." "Go see him, see what he wants." "...I hope everything will work out fine." "I'm doing all I can." "And now you'll be up here." "No way!" "That's the last thing I'd have expected, Saint Michael at the very top." "And why not?" "Because in this house he is no one's patron saint and the Colloquium you're holding was Olegario's responsibility, not yours." "He wasn't my patron saint." "Because I didn't have one." "But now, who knows?" "They are like the stars." "With Saint Michael, the sun and Lucifer, the moon." "Mother, what do Saint Michael and Lucifer have to do with all of this?" "All the universe intertwines." "I feel very good when I'm dancing, ma'am." "Is that allowed?" "That's what we live for." "Not you, Agustín!" "You're the moon, can't you see?" "You can't do our steps, we're the sun." "I'm... what?" "Wasn't I Lucifer?" "When did you change me?" "Moon." "Sun." " How do I get back to Cuetzalan?" " Let them carry you." "I feel like Saint Michael without his cape." "You sound like Agustín." "What's the matter, compadre?" "Let's go." "Why were you dancing by yourself?" "You think the saints thank you for it?" ""Lord Saint Anthony. "" ""Lord Saint Anthony. "" ""You're so miraculous, you're so powerful. "" ""You stop the insidious winds, the envious ones. "" ""The most vicious dogs protect my child that's sick. "" "Now you, my mother, our mother," "I ask you to make this evil go away, make the sickness go away." "Holy Saint Michael Archangel," "I offer you these prayers for the child to rise, you can see I want him healthy and alive." "Cirilo..." "He's dead." "He's dead." "You'll be damned, Cirilo!" "Will he be damned for not believing in saints?" "Yes." "What do you recommend for costumes?" "Well, for the three Michaels, just copy the costume of Holy Saint Michael." "But I think that the cape of the main one should be different." "Right, Granny?" "Sure, he is the meanest." "And Lucifer?" "Black, but with a red cape." "Like the jaguar?" "Like night time?" "I have to buy the fabric for the costumes." "Since I have no money I'm going to sell my turkey." "That turkey is for Genoveva's wedding." "She's 14 already." "For the pants of the first one..." "The size of a long shawl..." "The blouse..." "Two for the sleeves..." "This is for the second, and this part for the third..." "The stars." "How many children are we going to have?" "Well, two of Amalia's, three of Anastasio's... there'll be about ten children, and Homobono's." "Saint Michael's children should number 13..." "I wish there could be 400." "It'd be better to have 400 children." "What do you mean, 400?" "What do you want so much yellow fabric for?" "Are you going to make a yellow parachute?" "Goodness..." "You can't even take a joke." "Emma, give me two meters of wide lace." " imp/ore you, / beg you" "Saint Michael, Saint Michael" "P/ease, protect me with your sword" "Oh, great Lord..." "What are you doing?" "I'm asking, what are you doing?" "We're training." "Training?" "What for?" "Sewing races or singing contests?" "We'd rather say that we're practicing our chants while they sew their costumes for the Colloquium, Father." "What Colloquium?" "The dance to be held on September 29th for the Holy Saint Michael Archangel." ""Holy" and "Saint" are redundant." "And may I ask you, who authorized you to hold this Colloquium?" "With all due respect, Father, we didn't believe we needed a permit to hold it." "You need a permit from me to dance in my church." "The church belongs to the saints." "What are you saying?" "Speak Spanish!" "I'm sorry." "Since Agustín is the deputy, he thinks..." "What nonsense is that?" "What do you mean, deputy?" "What party would dare to appoint a cuckoo that plays soap operas to wooden images?" " He is the church deputy." " No way!" "No!" "Stop!" "Stop!" "Where did this Colloquium come from?" "We used to hold it with Father Ruiz." "It's written in the book of Olegario's grandfather." "It's all in there:" "The chants, what the first Saint Michael would say, the second, and the third." "The first Saint Michael?" "The second?" "And the third?" "Yes." "Melchior reads Náhuatl fluently." "He reads out loud and we learn our lines." "Lazaro will be the first Saint Michael, Faustino the second, and I the third." "Agustín will play Lucifer, and we're gathering children for the little Saint Michaels." "What a pile of rubbish am I listening to?" "What foolishness is this about the first and second Saint Michaels, and the third one, and the little Saint Michaels?" "Saint Michael is one that one over there." "One and only one!" "It is ridiculous for grown men like you to come to church and sit down to chant and sew as if this were a girls' club." "Give me that book." "It is Olegario's." "Give me that book right away!" "Don't give it to him." "Don't." "What are you going to tell Olegario if he rips it up?" "Give me that book!" "No." "Colloquiums and dances have been authorized for 400 years, sir." "The Holy Inquisition banned them, sir." "Fortunately, the Inquisition disappeared centuries ago, sir." "No, Father Julio." "It does exist:" "In Rome." "It's a small entity, almost bureaucratic, but it still exists." "It's called "Ufficio dell'Inquisizione della Fede. "" " Good afternoon." " Good afternoon." "May I see your book?" "No one but you should touch it." "Yes, yes." "Yes..." "What is it?" "Nothing, Father." "It is a book from the late 19th century, handwritten in Náhuatl and in Spanish." "How beautiful." "Saint Michael, Lucifer, Tlayectiltlahtocatzintzin Colloquium." "So there is no problem?" "Apparently not." "You know, I'd like to read it." "Ceremonial Náhuatl, how beautiful." "But there's no problem." "Are you going to let them do it in your church?" "If I don't, you'd let them do it in yours, right?" "Very well, you have permission." "You'd let me make a copy, right?" "It's beautiful." "I'm sorry, Father Julio, it belongs to Olegario." "You'll have to ask him instead." "Let's go." "So, it seems they don't even trust you, Father." "And why would they trust me, sir?" "They didn't realize what the name of the Colloquium was!" "They didn't realize what the name of the Colloquium was..." "Take it." "Where did you get it?" "My father used it when he danced Lucifer, you idiot." "My God, this place is... a theology." "Aren't you ashamed?" "What?" "Dressed as a clown for the tourists to see if they'll give you some coins." "I'm dressed as Lucifer for the Colloquium." "You stupid asshole Indian." "That Colloquium is bullshit." "Antonio, wait!" "A French man was left here." "They forgot Delfino, the gringo." "I don't speak Náhuatl, for I am French." "I'm not Indian!" "I'm white." "I've got blue eyes like the saints." "I'm going to do you in!" "That Colloquium is bullshit, you son of a..." "That Colloquium is a fake!" "Stupid Indians, you're animals." "What are you looking at?" "What?" "I need to fulfill my commitment." "I have to pay for the masks, the music and the dance ornaments." "I know I can't count on you." "I had to sell the turkey that was for my daughter's wedding." "Now I have to sell my land." "Each time I talk to you you pretend to be asleep." "Now that I've learned to dance to Saint Michael I've noticed many things, and one of them is that it's true you're asleep." " imp/ore you, / beg you" "Saint Michael, Saint Michael" "To protect me..." "Get them out of the church." "Remember that Father Ruiz banned it." "Why so?" "Because it's called "Tlayectiltlahtocatzintzin. "" " Tlayectill..." " "Sacred. "" "Or "Saint," as you wish." "Oh, fuck!" ""Tlayectiltlahtocatzinzin Colloquium. "" "What does that mean?" "Father, don't you understand Náhuatl?" "No!" "What does it mean?" "Well, something like "Colloquium of the Great and Holy Lords," "Saint Michael and Lucifer. "" "What?" "Saint Lucifer?" "Yes, Father." "That's why they wanted to prohibit it for a long time." "Saint Lucifer!" "Yes, Father." "You lied to me!" "To my face, you lied." "You knew perfectly well what blasphemy was written in that book and you lied to me." "What are you talking about, Father?" "You know perfectly well." "About that disgusting dance." "You said there was no problem." "There isn't one." "It's an old dialog between Saint Michael and Lucifer." "Maybe too solemn for our time..." "It's blasphemous." "It's a demonic spell." "That's what it is." "Why?" "Because it makes Saint Michael equal to Lucifer." "Because it's called "Colloquium for the Holy Lords Saint Michael and Lucifer. "" "Saint Lucifer!" "I'm going to turn you in." "Do whatever you want!" "But understand that for them, Saint Michael and Lucifer both belong to metaphysics." "So they both are sacred!" ""Tlayectiltlahtocatzintzin" is a reverential expression!" "Their way of approaching the Catholic religion is different, but respectful!" "That's it, excuse them." "But I give you my word that the blasphemy and idolatry that you are covering up, will not take place." "Come on, come on!" "Let's practice." "Kids, it's already September 27th, two days to the great party." "Come on, come on!" "Now, Lazaro and Emeterio, get over there." "Hurry up." "Line up, it's late." "Thank God we're all here." "Don't cry." "Calm down." "OK." "Change." "Heathen!" "Stop, in the Holy name of God Almighty!" "You thought you'd fool me, like you've been doing it all along with poor Father Ruiz?" "You thought I wasn't going to find out about your idolatry?" "Pagans!" "Heretics!" "Heathens!" "It's over." "The four of you would be better off if you tore up those wings and dresses since you won't use them." "I want no explanation and much less from you, the main instigator of all this." "Besides, you don't even live in this town." "I'm the majordomo, I'm responsible, sir." "That's not true." "The majordomo is a chief servant who gives orders to the other servants." "That's right, sir." "I'm the chief servant." " Whose servant?" "Whose?" " Saint Michael's." "No, no!" "Saint Michael does not need servants." "Saint Michael needs devotion, prayers, introspection, respect." "That's what we are doing, so that he's satisfied." "Not true." "What you're doing is idolatry." "To you, Saint Michael is not Saint Michael, but a repulsive and unknown god." "It's not true!" "It is!" "And the same for Lucifer." "How can he be a holy and sacred lord when we all know he's a diabolic being?" "Father Julio said..." "Father Julio has no authority in this church!" "This is my church!" "And Agustín is going to hand me the key right now." "Give me the key." "And the saints?" "What will they eat?" "Saints don't eat!" "Give me the key to my church!" "And all of you, go away." "Go, get out." "Go." "Go." "Go." " Are you all right?" " No." "But leave me alone." " Wouldn't you like some water?" " No, leave me alone!" "I'm right, aren't I?" "Isn't it true that I'm right?" "This church is closed until further notice." "It is absolutely forbidden to go in until I speak with the Bishop." "But September 29th is only two days away, sir!" "It doesn't matter." "If you want to pray to Saint Michael, you can go to Cuetzalan or pray at home." "And the saints?" "What will they eat?" "What can I tell you, son?" "Father Santos has every right to close the church." "It's the saints'." "I know you believe the church belongs to the saints." "If not, whose is it?" "They'll excommunicate me because of you." "I think they're right." " Saints are not gods, Melchior." " If not, what are they?" "Saints." "God is one alone." "Why even discuss it?" "You don't believe it yourself." "What are we going to do, Father?" "Why don't you call the Pope and ask his permission to hold the Colloquium?" "Not the Pope but maybe the Bishop." "I understand your petition, Father Julio." "If you'd called me before the fight there'd be no problem." "But Father Santos Higareda was just here asking for support and I gave it to him." "The problem, sir, of closing the church is very serious to all the parishioners." "I'm very sorry, Father." "I think Olegario has already died in jail." "Every time an Indian is taken to jail... he dies." "Or he's killed, because he's Indian." "As Delfino said, "fucking barefooted Indian. "" "God's will must be done." "Now what?" "Are we going to leave it like that as usual?" "Sit on our butts when the day after tomorrow is Saint Michael's day?" "Are we going to let them insult us, humiliate us and screw us as usual?" "I've had it!" "Let's go in, you chickens." "It's our church!" "Before we lock ourselves in, let's get the costumes." "Murdered." "We don't know who did it." "Apparent/y persona/ vengeance." " want your authorization to send the corpse to Cuetzalan." "He was Indian, sir." "For them the ritual is important." "With what money?" "'m sorry." "Bury him in the common grave." "You asshole." "You can't let them do this." "Emeterio will take your job." "He's doing it on purpose." "You can't let them do it." "Tell them to open the door!" "We know they're in there." "What are you doing in there?" "Come out!" "Come out!" "Emeterio!" "Come out." "Didn't you hear?" "Come out!" "What the hell are you doing in there?" "Delfino, what a question!" "They are waiting for dawn to dance their Colloquium in there, as it should be." "Oh, really?" "They are going to dance all right, but another dance like the one Olegario danced." "Let's go!" "Emeterio." "Don't they know they're in danger?" "If you want to go..." "A group of Indians of Yohualichan have occupied the church since last night." "Indians occupying a church is a very serious matter." "Ask Father Santos to give his approval to burn the church door down and force them out, that's all." "Word is out that they have several boys and girls as hostages." "They're disguising the uprising as a dance." "They are occupying a Catholic church, Bishop, and, as usual, led by a Catholic priest." "Who is behind them?" "Who?" "The liberation theology?" "The protestants?" "Which political party is manipulating them?" "Who'll benefit from a slaughter in Yohualichan?" "Emeterio." "Here are some tacos to fight off hunger." "Thank you, but get away from here." "They challenge the authorities and the Church." "This uprising is unacceptable, Father." "They are turning an act of faith and love into something political." "Knives and hostages, though they a/so say they've got rifles and machine guns." "Tell me, Father, is that an act of love?" "Melchior I'm going to ask you for a favor:" "When they kill us, will you be our cross godfather, our death godfather?" "Promise you'll make the crosses for the five of us." "Yes." "If they kill you," "I'll make your crosses and put them up at the cemetery." "Open the door!" "It's Delfino's people, Father." "Emeterio!" "Pay attention!" "Open the door!" "I'm here with the police!" "Open up or I'll burn the door down!" "Just watch if Delfino dares to come in and be disrespectful to Saint Michael!" "Open the door!" "Emeterio!" "Then, bring the kerosene and burn the door down." "Pour it up high so it burns brightly." "What right do they have to burn down the door of our church?" "Don't let them do it!" "Delfino, get out of here." "Watch the kerosene!" "Watch the door!" "I'm the authority, and I said I was going to burn the door down to get the rioters out." "I have the approval of Father Santos Higareda and the authorities, and if anyone interferes, we'll kill them in self-defense." " Good evening." " Good evening." "Delfino, good evening." "Delfino..." "Do you realize that if you burn the door down, it can turn into a slaughter?" "Can't you see the children, Delfino?" "Aren't you afraid they'll be killed?" "No, Father." "Indians have to learn who's the boss:" "People like you or me." "Not them." "And if that is what it takes, I'll kill them." "That's why I'm the authority." "Please..." "This can turn into a slaughter." "There have been so many." "Over a lousy old door." "Yes, it's an old door but sacred, Delfino." "Here, people live and die for sacred matters." "Melchior!" "Emeterio!" "Open up, please." "I'm Julio." "But you alone, Father." "Yes, just me alone." "Please..." "We are in the house of God." "You can't bear arms." "We are going to stay here, Father." "I promised Olegario we'd hold the Colloquium and they support me." "We can't let Olegario go to hell for not fulfilling his vow, even if they kill us." "We're soldiers of the chief soldier, Saint Michael, and we won't let Delfino be disrespectful by burning the door down, even if we have to kill him!" "It's just a little longer." "At dawn they dance the Colloquium, and that's it..." "Even without the little Michaels or the virgins." "Holy Saint Michael will understand." "Even if they kill us, Father." "I can't let Olegario go to hell because of me, or let them offend Saint Michael." "If you don't come out," "Delfino will have an excuse to burn the door down, and if he does it, you and all the people will try to kill him." "They have guns, there'll be a slaughter." "Another one, Father." "Doesn't matter." "So, Indians are always killed and nobody says a word." "It doesn't matter if they have been killing us for so many years and they haven't been able to finish us off." "They've killed Olegario for sure." "What does it matter that they kill us?" "They call us animals." "No, don't say that." "Please!" "You are people." "We're fucking Indians, that's all." "You understand that they have to dance their Colloquium in a moment." "They all promised to Mr. Olegario, who must be dead by now." "You understand that the Colloquium is danced in here because it is a sacred place, right?" "Sacred." "You want to dance your Colloquium here because it's a temple." "The house of God, your patron saint." "But this house is not even yours." "It belongs to Father Santos, and he has the right to prohibit the dance." "But you can also dance the Saint Michael Colloquium in another sacred place that belongs to you..." "A place nobody can take away from you." "Where, Father?" "Everywhere they throw us out." "I'm sure to get expelled for this." "But I'm right, aren't I, Lord?" "Am I right?" "With all the respect in the world, my sons, go up to the altar and bring down the image of the holy saints fighting." "That's right." "Let's go." "Let Father Santos keep his church and Delfino his town." "Not me." "You too." "You too." "Forgive me." "Forgive me." "Forgive me for everything I've said to you..." "Forgive me." "Forgive me." "They're coming out." "Remember, when the rioters come out, we shoot in self-defense." "They are coming out, Father." "What shall we do?" "What shall we do, Father?" "Nothing." "Leave them alone." "Let's go." "I'm going to learn, Granny." "Amen." ""IT'S NOT THE END, IT'S THE BEGINNING."" "This film is dedicated to" "Teopixque Herminio Lopez and the town of Yohualichan"