María Novaro

The most successful woman director of Mexican cinema studied Sociology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and Film Production at the University Center of Film Studies (CUEC) in Mexico City. She began her career as assistant director of Alberto Cortés in Amor a la vuelta de la esquina (1984). After some live-action shorts made in Super 8 and 16 mm., Novaro made Azul celeste (1988), a short about a pregnant woman looking for her husband in Mexico City. This short was an episode of a feature film called Historias de la ciudad (1988). Lola (1989) was her first feature film, followed by Danzón (1991), the short Otoñal (1992) and Jardín del edén, El (1994). Novaro has been considered an expressionist director because of the importance of colors in her films. Her work has been praised in Europe, specially in Spain, France and the United Kingdom. In Mexico she's considered a pioneer in an industry mostly dominated by men. Danzon was an instant hit in Mexico and was well received overseas.