La otra conquista is culturally and historically steeped in the conflict between Spain and the indigenous Aztec population of present day Mexico in the sixteenth century subjugation of the New World by Europe. Taking place in and around Tenochtitlan in the year 1520, the film portrays the illegitimate son of Emperor Moctezuma, Topiltzin, as he resists the Spaniards' religious institutionalization that seeks to replace the Aztec pantheon—particularly the Mother Goddess to whom Topiltzin is a scribe and ardent devotee—with the recognition of Christianity, chiefly through coercing the natives to worship depictions of the Virgin Mary.While this sets up distinct religious persecution, the movie also has much to say about cultural intolerance and the irreconcilability of different peoples who cannot respect or coexist with one another. Despite being forced to speak Spanish at a mission, Topiltzin speaks with his sister, Tecuichpo, in native Mexican when not monitored; despite being forced to live among Spaniards, Topiltzin remains loyal to his own people and culture; and despite being forced to worship a foreign idol, Topiltzin does not accept the Virgin Mary, but rather he returns to his pre-conquest self and embraces a statue of her as another culture's depiction of his own Mother Goddess. Though religion is the film's focus, Topiltzin resists his new life in every way he can, and to parallel how the Spanish destroy the 'fetishes' of his culture in belief that Christianity and Europeanism are superior, he secretly maintains the Aztec way of life and only comes to terms with his obsession over the Virgin Mary when understanding it as a spiritually-lesser people's interpretation and attempt to represent the Mother Goddess. The Spanish have failed at assimilating Topiltzin, and in doing so proved that mutually opposed ideologies and cultures cannot be combined or exchanged the way personalities can.Though bursting with symbolism and meaning, the film is an aesthetic vacuum with only the first and last scenes (the Alpha and the Omega) being artistically memorable.

The Other Conquest is a Mexican masterpiece by the director Salvador Carrasco, who I had the pleasure to take film classes from. It was the first Mexican film to be released by an American film company being this one Fox 21st century. Despite all the difficulties to make the movie and the strong opposition by the government-sponsored film institute in Mexico the film was well made and for the surprise of everyone it broke box office records. The story is set in 1520 when the Spaniards, under the command of Hernando Cortes, arrive in the Aztec Empire to conquer. As Carrasco wrote in a essay called The Invisible Sight: "It was my hope in making 'The Other Conquest' to do just that: To shed new light on old events, which have come to seem so familiar that we are deceived into mistaking familiarity for clarity."The only survivor of the Great Temple massacre, which is the opening scene of the film, is Topiltzin, son of the Emperor Monctezuma, who, as the story goes by, is tried to be converted to Spanish Christianism by a Franciscan Priest, Friar Diego de La Coruna. His life is only spared because his sister, Tecuichpo, is serving as interpreter and mistress of Cortes. He has his name changed from Topiltzin to Tomas and is brought to the Franciscan Monestary of Our Lady of Light to try to be converted, a term known in psychology by a type of coercion called brainwashing: forced attitude change with the victim being kept captive. When Topiltzin sees his mother dead on the beginning of the film, it is kind of a metaphor for orphanage: he only not just loose his mother, but his culture, language and beliefs. The Virgin Mary being represented as a statue instead of a flat is a creative adaptation to make her more like a character. There are two moments in the movie that some filmmakers and critics understand as magical realism, one of them is when the statue of Virgin Mary drops a tear when Topitlzin is being whipped. However, no character reacts to it so it is more like a commentary to suggests what she feels about what they are doing on her name. Based on the fact that the image of the Virgin Mary in Mexico is the dark skin Virgin Guadalupe and the image brought from Europe by Hernando Cortes was the blonde Virgin of Rosario sets the title of the film showing us that the Aztecs did not disappear and raise the question "Who is conquering who?"The direction, production design and the performance of the actors are amazing. It do not let you take your eyes away from the screen even for one second.

In the film "the other conquest , we can clearly understood what is love and what is belief. Also this film can let you understood the history of North American. Most people may consider that this film is talking about religion, but I don't think that is the subject of this film. I think the Virgin's of Gualalupe is just a symbol, she doesn't belong to any religion, When the main character loves the photo, that show us that the main character not feel along , because the photo is his belief---- about his family and his home town.Also this movie described lot of bloody scenes, such as, at the beginning of this open sense is the great temple Massacre Introduces the protagonist in 1520 the extinction of aggression that Spanish Empire did to Mexico, then Mexico was conquered by Spanish. I am a international student, this film can make me understand North American history . I will bring this film to china , to let more people to know it .

First off, I have never been a huge fan of historical films. Not to say I don't appreciate history or the facts which bring us to present day, it's just rare that a storyline of one combined with the film itself are as intriguing and captivating as they are enlightening. After watching "La Otra Conquista", I have changed my opinion entirely. As a courageous endeavor to share the true story of the Aztec peoples, this film is one that touches the heart and mind equally. Being raised in a Mexican family, I am ashamed to say I never knew the history of the Aztec people. What they are unwilling to teach you in school is exactly what this film exposes, and what makes it so triumphant. The lead character, Tomas, played by Damien Domingo, is not only captivating, but so truthful in emotion and dialogue. Though tough to watch at times, "The Other Conquest" plows it's way through the harsh realities that the Indians faced while being disband, enhancing what is a horrific story with beautiful cinematography, impressive production and costume design, and intense, unforgettable moments of brutality that have you in tears and in hope simultaneously. Needless to say, I would highly recommend this movie to anyone looking to expand their reach, not only into foreign, but wonderful filmmaking.