When Death Was Away on Business
"Macario", the first Mexican film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, had an interesting story behind it. Moviegoers back home didn't like it, as they thought that director Roberto Gavaldón made it for foreign viewers. They were right, as the screenplay was based from B. Traven's "The Third Guest". The movie, which was entered into the 1960 Cannes Film Festival, was about man's morbid fascination with death.
The titular character was a peasant who was asked to share his turkey. Macario turned down God's request because he thought He was unfair to the likes of him. He didn't have second thoughts about the Devil's request because he couldn't be trusted. But not the Grim Reaper.
B. Traven, who lived most of his life in Mexico, was inspired by the Day of the Dead (DÃa de Muertos). Although this was observed in other parts in the world, it was only in Mexico where this event was colorful. Those who read Malcolm Lowry's "Under the Volcano" would agree. Even Paul Leduc's biofilm on Frida Kahlo revealed the painter's obsession with the after life. Nothing new about it, as this would go back to the dawn of civilization.
One of the most unforgettable tales in Greek mythology was how Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, was kidnapped by Hades and took her to his kingdom. The crops withered, the world became bleak. So a compromise was made between the goddess of the harvest and the god of the underworld. In Babylonian mythology, Ishtar, who was the counterpart of Aphrodite, descended into the Underworld and demanded entrance. She passed through the seven gates, but each piece of her clothing was removed after each gate. She was naked when she met Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Underworld. The latter unleashed sixty diseases upon the former. All sexual activity ceased on Earth. Then let's not forget the Bible.
Death took on human form
Alberto Casella's "Death Takes a Holiday" recounted the Grim Reaper's decision to take human form. He wondered why the human race was afraid of him, so he thought of mingling with them to find the answers. He ended up with a dilemma, which was his own happiness or someone else's.
As for Traven, his novel was based from an earlier work. The Brothers Grimm's "Grandfather Death" didn't differ much from Traven's, except it revealed Traven's origins. (His nationality had been a mystery, but his novel would give readers a hint.) Fans of the siblings wouldn't be disappointed, as this fairy tale was about man's insatiable greed. In Traven's case, it was gluttony that did it. A capital sin.
These authors tried to make a morbid story entertaining to readers, and they somehow succeeded. But the subject would make anyone serious. And vulnerable. Even scared.
