Sergio Arau and Yareli Arizmendi, creators of A Day Without Mexicans (2004), will now bring The MeXican Files to the big screen. It was 1992 when Pete Wilson was running for his second term as governor. His campaign rhetoric, Proposition 187, blamed undocumented workers for all the problems of the world’s fifth largest economy, California. A “be careful what you wish for” fable, A Day Without Mexicans, first the short film (1998) and the feature film (2004), sought to explore what would happen if all Latinos disappeared from the state. Today, 20 years later, the same toxic rhetoric has spread nationally. It is time to show the country what it would be like to lose its 38.5 million Mexicans.
The contributions of Mexicans and Latinos to the entire economy and social fabric of the nation are enormous. Imagine, 12% of the population is of Mexican origin. States like California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico would lose their largest number of consumers and workers if we were to disappear. 7 out of 10 farm workers in the U.S. are of Mexican origin. What would we eat, Teslas,” said Yareli Arizmendi.
The Arau-Arizmendi team began production on May 5, a symbolic date when everyone in the United States and Mexico remembers and celebrates being Mexican. The creative team will travel light across the country to find untold stories and explanations that illustrate the long and misunderstood history between the two nations and their peoples. It’s time to set the record straight. The documentary-comedy is projected for release later this year.
Sergio Arau and Yareli Arizmendi will be available for interviews starting May 5. Connect with them before they disappear! And don’t miss The MeXican Files, because the answer you’re looking for could be there.