''El hombre de los hongos'' (English: ''The Man of the Mushrooms'') is a 1976

Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

based on the novel of the same name by Sergio Galindo.

Synopsis

The story unfolds in a family of rich landowners from the colonial era, which owns a sugar plantation on the edge of the jungle. While hunting in the forest one day, the father, Don Everardo, discovers a young black orphan by the river. He brings the child to his mansion and call him Gaspar. Friendly and intelligent, the boy quickly becomes a new member of the family. He plays with his son, Sebastian, and his two daughters, Emma and Lucilla, as if they were his own siblings. The family occasionally have lavish receptions, with fine dining. One of Don Everardo's favorite mushroom dishes is prepared with an old family recipe from Spain. The family discovers if the mushrooms are edible by making a servant eat a few first. If the servant collapses and dies, then the family does not serve mushrooms to the party. The family has another flirtation with danger: They keep a

black panther A black panther is the melanistic colour variant of the leopard (''Panthera pardus'') and the jaguar (''Panthera onca''). Black panthers of both species have excess black pigments, but their typical rosettes are also present. They have been d ...

called Toy chained in the main courtyard. From time to time it is released and chases people. Some years pass, and Gaspar grows into a handsome young man, and Lucila and Emma become beautiful women. They go into the woods hiking and swimming in the river. But the play of children has become flirtations, especially among young Gaspar and Emma. Along the way, Gaspar reveals his knowledge of different species of mushrooms that grow in the forest. There is also an incestuous relationship between Sebastian and Lucila, who want to leave the

hacienda An ''hacienda'' ( or ; or ) is an estate (or ''finca''), similar to a Roman ''latifundium'', in Spain and the former Spanish Empire. With origins in Andalusia, ''haciendas'' were variously plantations (perhaps including animals or orchards), ...

and go to the capital city where they can meet people of their own age. The family unit falls apart when Emma and Elvira compete for the attentions of Gaspar. Elvira's flirtations with Gaspar provoke the jealousy of her husband and daughter Emma. One night someone mysteriously releases the panther and it attacks Elvira after her failed attempt to seduce Gaspar. When Lucila takes the place of her mother, she informs Don Everardo about the affair of his daughter Emma with the black servant Gaspar. He decides to make him his new "man of the mushrooms". But no one has the knowledge of Gaspar on mushrooms, and a lavish party at the farm will become a circus when Emma and Gaspar take advantage of the mushrooms to get rid of the rest of their own family and escape together. But once in the forest, Gaspar suddenly disappears...

Cast

Adolfo Marsillach Adolfo Marsillach Soriano (January 25, 1928 – January 21, 2002) was a Spanish actor, playwright and theatre director. He was born in Barcelona. He was known for his collaborations with playwright Alberto Miralles. He is the father of a ...

...Don Everardo *

Isela Vega Isela Vega Durazo (5 November 1939 – 9 March 2021) was a Mexican actress,Televisa ...

... Elvira *

Philip Michael Thomas Philip Michael Thomas (born May 26, 1949) is an American actor and musician, best known for his role as detective Ricardo Tubbs on the hit 1980s TV series ''Miami Vice''. His first notable roles were in '' Coonskin'' (1975) and opposite Irene C ...

...Gaspar * Sandra Mozarowsky...Emma *

Ofelia Medina María Ofelia Medina Torres (born 4 March 1950) is a Mexican actress, singer and screenwriter of Mexican films. She was married to film director Alex Philips Jr. and actor Pedro Armendáriz Jr. Biography She was born in Mérida and has four ...

...Lucila *

Fernando Allende Luis Fernando Allende Arenas (born November 10, 1952) is a Mexican singer, actor, painter, film producer, and film director. Early life Allende was born in Mexico. His father is Mexican, and his mother is from Cuba. Allende's grandfather on his f ...

...Sebastian *

Josefina Echánove Josefina Echánove (born Josefina Rojas Hudson; 21 July 1917 – 11 July 1999) was a Mexican film, television and stage actress.

...The Nanny

External links

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Cine Mexicano de Galletas: ''El hombre de los hongos''

''El Mirón:Reseñas y críticas de películas en Español- El hombre de los hongos''

Isela Vega y Ofelia Medina hablan sobre ''El hombre de los hongos''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hombre de los hongos 1976 films 1970s Spanish-language films 1976 drama films Films directed by Roberto Gavaldón Mexican drama films 1970s Mexican films