Pedro Páramo, a film based on the iconic novel by Juan Rulfo, has arrived on Netflix.
Based on Juan Rulfo’s literary masterpiece, the film narrates the illusion-laden journey of Juan Preciado (Tenoch Huerta) in search of the wealth of a father he never knew. But upon arriving in Comala, the place where he was told he lived, he finds only the atrocious memories of a town subjugated for decades by that man, Pedro Páramo (Manuel García-Rulfo), condemned for his violent crusade for power and for the fury aroused in him by his frustrated love for Susana San Juan (Ilse Salas). So much so that Juan begins to wonder if its inhabitants might not be alive at all.
The film is Rodrigo Prieto’s directorial debut, made with a team of Mexican artists and technicians of the highest level and prestige. The production stands out for the work carried out “behind the scenes”, as each sequence reflects the efforts of numerous extras, artisans, decorators, costume designers, and set builders, who made Comala a reality in its two periods: the heyday and the devastating fall.
The significant economic spillover caused by Pedro Páramo once again proves the enormous power of the cultural industries. According to Netflix data, the film brought in more than $375 million pesos to Mexico’s economy. This is a measure of impact on GDP, which includes both direct spending on production, as well as spending throughout the supply chain.
The production team was made up of more than 550 technicians and artists. And in San Luis Potosí alone, there were more than 2,500 workers. As an example, this resulted in more than 14,900 hotel nights booked in the state and more than 900 extras who participated in the filming in San Luis Potosí.
The costume design department collaborated with artisans and tailors from various states around the country, and produced, among others, huaraches from Comala, Colima; sarapes from Contla, Tlaxcala; charro tailors from Aguascalientes, and rebozos from Tenancingo de Degollado, in the State of Mexico. In total, more than 5,000 garments were designed and manufactured for use during filming.
As for the music, the soundtrack was performed by more than 30 traditional musicians from different states, including Jalisco, Michoacán, San Luis Potosí, Puebla, Chiapas, and Mexico City.
Pedro Páramo is now available to stream on Netflix.