The coastal Oaxacan town of Collantes, Mexico is home to roughly 2,400 people, a small population, yet within this region live some of the most passionate and inspired musicians. The story of this rural Afro-Mexican community dates back to 1820 when a ship carrying enslaved Africans landed on this coast. Over 200 hundred years later, this documentary follows a few farmers from the region, who work the papaya, sugarcane and cotton fields and when given the chance, play music. This is just the way of life for most of these villagers including Marino Mariano. For 68 years of his life he’s worked, and composed his own music without being able to record a single song.
Amongst these farmers it’s not uncommon that some are illiterate. Being forced to work from a young age takes priority in lives where money is scarce. Even while balancing working in the fields farming, Marino has still composed nearly 46 songs himself but with no way to write them down he’s left to play them only when given the opportunity. His dreams are not without effort, as he recounts putting up some of his hard earned money for a band that fell apart without ever recording. Something he holds on to throughout the film.
The music Los Auténticos perform is described as Un Corrido del Campesino (the Peasant’s Corrido) or Africana Rustica, featuring harmonica, charrasca, and the tigrera. The charrasca (or quijada) and tigrera (or bote) are regional instruments with origins as traditional African instruments. Given the history of Collantes, that checks out. A charrasca is the jaw of a donkey, dried to the bone to be a percussive instrument. A tigerera is the topic of folklore in the film, probably passed down for generations with a song accompanying its ‘first’ use. This instrument is a drum with a stick poked through the hide, leaving a full bouncy reverb that acts as a bass but resembles a roar. These instruments are essential to performing the Dance of the Devils at local festivals and around the villages, music that is part of the cultural identity of Collantes.
Marino y Los Auténticos honors a traditional style of music that has grown naturally and uniquely from the land. The lessons on how to play have been handed down through the community, specifically to preserve the cultural heritage of music and life. Cristóbal Jasso (the director) and his crew aim to shed light on this area, capturing the essence of these local celebrities in a way that no one else has. The joy music brings is the purpose of this story and how a community can find solace in this, even through life's hardships. Highly recommended.
What are good educational programs to tie-in with Marino and the Authentics?
This documentary serves to educate those on a traditional style of music that many haven’t heard. Marino Mariano and Rolando Guzmán, two of the subjects of the film, recount the experience of being taught how to perform songs for the traditional folklore dances. Another tie-in could be with a musical program that explores traditional Oaxacan style bands, regional instruments and the documentation of Mexican music history.
Which library audiences should watch Marino and the Authentics?
Patrons who have any ties to the Oaxacan region of Mexico would very much enjoy seeing the beauty of this tropical jungle village on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Besides regional ties, the film captures the spirit of musicians who are happiest when playing together, teaching one another songs they have ‘written’ via sound. Any patrons who are music lovers would benefit from viewing this documentary, and even supporting this niche genre of music, which is available on all streaming platforms under the band name Los Auténticos de la Costa Chica.
Enjoyed this review? Subscribe to Video Librarian today for access to over 40,000 pages of film resources tailored for librarians, educators, and non-theatrical audiences.