# ¡Que viva México! (2023 film)

¡Que viva México! (lit. 'Long live Mexico!') is a 2023 Mexican black comedy political satire film directed by Luis Estrada and written by Estrada and Jaime Sampietro. Starring Alfonso Herrera, Damián Alcázar, Joaquín Cosío and Ana de la Reguera. The film opened to mixed reviews.
The film was released on March 23, 2023, in Mexico and on May 11 on Netflix.

## Synopsis

Pancho Reyes, a middle class family man who strives to support his wife Mari and their two children, receives a call from his father that his grandfather died and needs to be present at the reading of the will. Pancho does not want to know anything about his poor family, whom he abandoned in search of a better future, but his wife encourages him to go to find out if he left them an inheritance, without knowing that this will drastically change their lives.

## Cast

Source:
* Alfonso Herrera as Pancho Francisco Reyes
* Damián Alcázar as Rosendo / Regino / Ambrósio
* Joaquín Cosió as Rosendito / Reginito / Grandfather
* Ana de la Reguera as Maria "Mari" Elena Reyes
* Ana Martín as Dolores
* Angelina Peláez as Grandmother
* Mayra Hermosillo as Gloria
* Fermín Martínez as "El Lupe"
* Luis Fernando Peña as Hilario
* Cuauhtli Jiménez as Jacinta
* Adriana Louvier as Normita
* Edwarda Gurrola as Florencia
* Leticia Huijara as Regino secretary
* Vico Escorcia as Bartola
* Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez as Socorro
* Sonia Couoh as Lupita
* Silverio Palacios as "El mapache"
* Enrique Arreola as Cruz
* Salvador Sánchez as Notary
* Álex Perea as Rufino
* Ariane Pellicer as The Catrina
* José Sefami as Jaime Sampaolo
* José Manuel Poncelis as Don Pancracio
* Natalia Quiroz as Pánfila
* Amaury Reyes as Ryan
* Mayte Fernández as Cati
* Raphael Camarena as Tony
* Marius Biegai as "Gringo 1"
* Daniel Raymont as "Gringo" 2

## Production

Principal photography for the film began on August 30, 2021 and ended in October of the same year in the Pueblo Mágico de Real de Catorce in northern San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

## Release

Originally scheduled for a limited theatrical release on November 3, 2022 followed by a worldwide release on November 16, 2022 on Netflix, the film's release was postponed as negotiations between Netflix and director Luis Estrada to have a wider theatrical release (much like Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths did) broke down. Estrada then bought back theatrical rights to the film, seeking another distributor. In February 2023, Estrada announced that he had reached a deal with Sony Pictures for a wide theatrical release. The film was released on March 23, 2023, in Mexico, United States and other countries, followed by a streaming release on May 11 on Netflix.

## Reception
### Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 29% of 7 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.9/10.

### Controversy

When the film was released, it divided the public and critics in its native Mexico, being criticized for "denigrating the country". Among his critics are Mexican television producer Juan Osorio Ortiz, and president of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the latter who called the film's director a "progressive virtual signaller", classist and racist. Following López Obrador's criticism, director Luis Estrada responded by saying that the president, instead of worrying about a movie he hasn't even seen, should focus on issues that are more relevant to the country.

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2023 | 19th Canacine Awards | Best Film | ¡Que viva México! | Nominated |
| 2023 | 19th Canacine Awards | Best Director | Luis Estrada | Nominated |
| 2023 | 19th Canacine Awards | Best Actor | Alfonso Herrera | Nominated |
| 2023 | 19th Canacine Awards | Best Actor | Damián Alcázar | Nominated |
| 2023 | 19th Canacine Awards | Best Promotional Campaign | Sony Pictures Releasing International | Nominated |