There were several common Mexican stereotypes in the film. The way that Azul always asked for a bottle of beer portrays the stereotype that the Mexican men are macho. Also, there was the stereotype of the men wearing thick mustaches, mullets, and gold chains. Also, there was the stereotype of Mexican women being under the control of the men and treated as lesser beings.
The bandido (gangster) violence is commonly associated with Mexican culture. This includes the drugs, aggressiveness, and hunger for power. There are many American movies that portray the Hispanic culture this way, wrapped up in drug crimes and extreme violence.
The statement: "All he wants is to be a Mariachi" refers to the struggle that the Mariachi endured when he arrived in the small Mexican town. The Mariachi was a young man who was following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who had also been mariachis. He wanted to gain different experiences "traveling from city to city" performing with his guitar and singing. He came to that town looking for work as a singer and musician, but found himself in over his head involved in the middle of a feud between drug lords and criminals. All he wanted to do was share his talented gift of music with the people around him. He definitely struggled to do so given the circumstances that were out of his control.
The role of music is extremely important in this film and in Hispanic culture in general. Not only did the Mariachi live his entire life devoted to music, the music that was a part of the film influenced the overall feel as well. Music actually saved the mariachi's life when he was in Domino's room. She had a knife to his throat and whether or not she decided to kill him was based on his ability to prove his was indeed a mariachi and not a gangster. The music he played on his guitar and his soothing singing voice captivated Domino and she decided he was truly a mariachi. It was also seen through this film how important music is in the Hispanic culture. Each character had an appreciation for, or at least recognized the power of the mariachi.
I totally agree with you, the way the men carried around huge guns in the middle of the day, it's like a bad scene from cops or something. I also noted that the women were substandard to the men, they were treated as objects not individuals. When he walked into the town he said he had a good feeling about but as we know his story did not end well when the drug lord shot him in his hand taking away his ability to play music as a living. I also agree with you, the music was important in this film however at times was a little bit cheesy but I guess that's the nature of this film.
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