
The Melbourne Cinémathèque & ACMI present
Two Monks
When
Wed 17 Sep 2025
See below for additional related events
With visually arresting cinematography by Agustín Jiménez, openly displaying the influence of German Expressionism with its dramatic lighting, careful use of shadows and intense close-ups, this was also the first Mexican film to use a crane for high-angle shots. Described by Charles Ramírez Berg as an “existential mystery”, its highly original use of multiple flashbacks of the same event preceded Kurosawa’s Rashomon by 16 years.
Praised by critics, the experimental style proved too much for contemporary audiences and it was a box-office failure. Rediscovered in the 1970s, it is now credited with creating the “Mexican Gothic” genre.
Courtesy of Filmoteca UNAM's Collection.
About Melbourne Cinémathèque
Australia's longest-running film society, Melbourne Cinémathèque screens significant works of international cinema in the medium they were created, the way they would have originally screened.
Melbourne Cinémathèque is self-administered, volunteer-run, not-for-profit and membership-driven.
