Las visitaciones del diablo emilio carballido biography

It is a very stylish and well-made film that somewhat resembles a Gothic novel except that the visitor who becomes involved in a mystery in an old house is male rather than female. A number of films made by the "new wave" of Mexican filmmakers of the late '60s are additionally interesting because they feature cameo appearances by other filmmakers, intellectuals, and so forth.

Claudio Isaac, the director's son, makes a brief appearance: he later became a feature film director himself.

Emilio Carballido ha sido un incansable formador de dramaturgos y directores (subdirector y maestro de la Escuela de Teatro y miembro del Consejo Editorial en la .

The film is set in Veracruz at the turn of the century. Various mysterious events begin to occur. A mysterious woman enters Lisardo's room one night and attacks him; another night, he sees and hears a woman in white singing in the garden, but she disappears when he approaches. Angela is found at the bottom of a staircase, and claims that an unseen attacker pushed her.

However, Angela's hysterics begin to get on his nerves; he also discovers that a "religious" book that Juan--a servant--has been reading aloud to Angela is actually pornography. No one knows--although Paloma suspects it--that Angela actually can walk with difficulty , although she pretends she cannot. Fed up with the strange occurrences at the old house, Lisardo announces his intention to leave.

However, he sees Arminda and Paloma fighting in the garden, and intervenes just in time to save Paloma from drowning.

Las visitaciones del diablo es una obra que rescata los elementos del Romanticismo y los coloca en pleno siglo veinte, obedeciendo al compromiso del autor de .

The repressed Arminda has been behind the mysterious happenings. The next day, Lisardo and Paloma leave to begin a new life. They board a train and leave Veracruz behind. Las visitaciones del diablo is an entertaining, well-crafted film. Given the general international neglect of Mexican films, it is not surprising that Isaac is largely unknown--however, he certainly deserves more recognition as a director who combines technical ability, a definite personality and aesthetic, and a social conscience.