Alfonso Arau Incháustegui (; born 11 January 1932) is a Mexican

filmmaker Filmmaking or film production is the process by which a Film, motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, beginning with an initial story, idea, or commission. Production then continues through screen ...

and actor. He worked as an actor and director in both Mexican and Hollywood productions for over 40 years, before his international breakthrough with the 1992 film ''Like Water for Chocolate'', based on his wife

Laura Esquivel Laura Beatriz Esquivel Valdés (born 30 September 1950) is a Mexican novelist, screenwriter and politician, who served in the Chamber of Deputies for the Morena Party from 2015 to 2018. Her first novel ''Como agua para chocolate'' ('' Like Wat ...

's novel of the same name. His other films include ''

A Walk in the Clouds ''A Walk in the Clouds'' is a 1995 period romantic drama film directed by Alfonso Arau and starring Keanu Reeves, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Giancarlo Giannini, Angélica Aragón, Evangelina Elizondo, Debra Messing and Anthony Quinn. An in ...

'' (1995), ''Picking Up the Pieces'' (2000), ''The Magnificent Ambersons'' (2002) and '' Zapata: El sueño del héroe'' (2004). He is a five-time

Ariel Award The Ariel Award () is an award that recognizes the best of Mexican cinema. Given annually, since 1946, by the Academia Mexicana de Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas, Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences (AMACC), the award reco ...

winner, including

Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * As ...

for ''Like Water for Chocolate'', and a

BAFTA The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA, ) is an independent trade association and charity that supports, develops, and promotes the arts of film, television and video games in the United Kingdom. In addition to its annual awa ...

nominee.

Life and career

The son of a physician, Arau was born in

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

. He directed the films '' Zapata: The Dream of a Hero'', '' Like Water for Chocolate'' (adapted from the novel written by his ex-wife

), ''

'' with

Keanu Reeves Keanu Charles Reeves ( ; born September 2, 1964) is a Canadian actor and musician. The recipient of numerous accolades in a career on screen spanning four decades, he is known for his leading roles in action films, his amiable public imag ...

and

Anthony Quinn Manuel Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca (April 21, 1915 – June 3, 2001), known as Anthony Quinn, was an American actor. He was known for his portrayal of earthy, passionate characters "marked by a brutal and elemental virility" in over 100 ...

, and the ''

Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas Citybased greeting card company. It is the longest-ru ...

'' production ''

A Painted House ''A Painted House'' is a 2001 novel by American author John Grisham. Inspired by his childhood in Arkansas, it is Grisham's first major work outside the legal thriller genre in which he established himself. Initially published in serial form, t ...

'' (adapted from the

John Grisham John Ray Grisham Jr. (; born February 8, 1955) is an American novelist, lawyer, and former politician, known for his best-selling legal thrillers. According to the Academy of Achievement, American Academy of Achievement, Grisham has written 37 ...

novel of the same name). Among a plethora of roles in his career, Arau played "Captain Herrera", a lieutenant of Federal general "Mapache", in

Sam Peckinpah David Samuel Peckinpah (; February 21, 1925 – December 28, 1984) was an American film director and screenwriter. His 1969 Western epic '' The Wild Bunch'' received two Academy Award nominations and was ranked No. 80 on the American Film Instit ...

's 1969 western ''

The Wild Bunch ''The Wild Bunch'' is a 1969 American epic revisionist Western film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O'Brien, Ben Johnson and Warren Oates. The plot concerns an aging outlaw gang ...

''; chief bandit "El Guapo" in ''

Three Amigos ''¡Three Amigos!'' is a 1986 American Western comedy film directed by John Landis, written by Lorne Michaels, Steve Martin, and Randy Newman (who also wrote the film's songs), produced by Michaels and George Folsey Jr. (who also served as sec ...

'' (USA, 1986), a comedy with

Martin Short Martin Hayter Short (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian and American comedian, actor, and writer. Short is known as an energetic comedian who gained prominence for his roles in sketch comedy. He has also acted in numerous films and television ...

Steve Martin Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician. Known for Steve Martin filmography, his work in comedy films, television, and #Discography, recording, he has received List of awards a ...

, and

Chevy Chase Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase (; born October 8, 1943) is an American comedian, actor, and writer. He became the breakout cast member in the first season of ''Saturday Night Live'' (1975–1976), where his recurring ''Weekend Update'' segment b ...

; shady businessman Manuel in the comedy ''

Used Cars ''Used Cars'' is a 1980 American satirical black comedy film co-written and directed by Robert Zemeckis. The story follows Rudy Russo (Kurt Russell), a devious salesman, working for affable, but monumentally unsuccessful used-car dealer Luke ...

'' (USA, 1980); and the smuggler "Juan" in ''

Romancing the Stone ''Romancing the Stone'' is a 1984 romantic comedy-adventure film directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Diane Thomas and produced by Michael Douglas, who also stars in the film alongside Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. The film follows a ro ...

'' (USA, 1984) starring

Michael Douglas Michael Kirk Douglas (born September 25, 1944) is an American actor and film producer. He has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the ...

and

Kathleen Turner Mary Kathleen Turner (born June 19, 1954) is an American actress. Known for her distinctive deep husky voice, she is the recipient of two Golden Globes, as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a Grammy, and two Tony Awards. After debuting ...

. Arau appeared in the 1972 Mexican film ''El rincón de las vírgenes'' (''The Virgins' Corner''), where he played the assistant of a fake mystical doctor traveling from town to town, who reminisce about their travels, when a group of women decide to propose the doctor for sainthood. The movie was set in 1920s rural Mexico. Arau has made many appearances as a character actor in American TV series and plays. In the 1972 episode of ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'' titled "Hidalgo", Arau portrayed the bandit "Mando" who shoots and wounds

marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used fo ...

Matt Dillon Matthew Raymond Dillon (born February 18, 1964) is an American actor. He has received various accolades, including a Screen Actors Guild Award and two Independent Spirit Awards alongside nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, ...

. In

1973 Events January * January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...

, Arau acted in and directed '' Calzónzin Inspector'' ("

Cazonci Irecha was the title held by the ruler of the Purépecha Empire, which existed from the 14th to 16th centuries in the area of the modern states of Michoacán, Guerrero, Jalisco, Guanajuato, and the State of Mexico The State of Mexico, offici ...

" or "Caltzontzin" was the term used in the

Purépecha The Purépecha ( ) are a group of Indigenous people centered in the northwestern region of Michoacán, Mexico, mainly in the area of the cities of Cherán and Pátzcuaro. They are also known by the derogatory term " Tarascan", an exonym, app ...

culture, to name their emperors), a movie based on a character from the Mexican comic ''Los Supermachos'' of

Rius Eduardo Humberto del Río García (June 20, 1934 – August 8, 2017), better known by his pen name Rius, was a Mexican intellectual, political cartoonist and writer born in Zamora, Michoacán, Zamora, Michoacán. One of the most popular Mexican ...

, a cartoonist, who co-wrote the screenplay. The movie, which is influenced by

Nikolai Gogol Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol; ; (; () was a Russian novelist, short story writer, and playwright of Ukrainian origin. Gogol used the Grotesque#In literature, grotesque in his writings, for example, in his works "The Nose (Gogol short story), ...

's ''

The Government Inspector ''The Government Inspector'', also known as ''The Inspector General'' (, literally: "Inspector"), is a satirical play by Russian dramatist and novelist Nikolai Gogol. Originally published in 1836, the play was revised for an 1842 edition. Base ...

'', centers around two Mexicans who are mistaken for government inspectors from

by the corrupt mayor of a small town. It is a humorous political critique, aimed squarely at the then ruling party

Partido Revolucionario Institucional The Institutional Revolutionary Party (, , PRI) is a political party in Mexico that was founded in 1929 as the National Revolutionary Party (, PNR), then as the Party of the Mexican Revolution (, PRM) and finally as the PRI beginning in 1946. T ...

(PRI) and its

paramilitary A paramilitary is a military that is not a part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the use of the term "paramilitary" as far back as 1934. Overview Though a paramilitary is, by definiti ...

cacique A cacique, sometimes spelled as cazique (; ; feminine form: ), was a tribal chieftain of the Taíno people, who were the Indigenous inhabitants of the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles at the time of European cont ...

s'', at a time when freedom of speech in politics was highly restricted. There are at least two versions of the movie, with one having some scenes deleted by State censors, the most notable of which depicts the killing of a renegade farmer by a police officer, who shoots the farmer in the back. In December 2004, the

Santa Fe Film Festival The Santa Fe Film Festival is a non-profit organization which presents important world cinema that represents aesthetic, critical, and entertainment standards highlighting New Mexican film. The organization partners with educational groups, school ...

honored Alfonso Arau for his work in cinema. In 2010 he directed the Italian-language film, '' The Trick in the Sheet''. In January 2011, he starred in Chad, Matt & Rob's ''The Treasure Hunt: An Interactive Adventure''. In February 2017, it was alleged by

Debra Messing Debra Lynn Messing (born August 15, 1968) is an American actress. After graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Messing starred in the television series ''Ned and Stacey'' on Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox (1995–1997) an ...

that Arau belittled her for her appearance and body in her first film ''A Walk in the Clouds''. Arau later denied the allegation. Messing reinforced these claims during an episode of the PBS documentary

Finding Your Roots ''Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'' is an American documentary television series hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. that premiered on March 25, 2012, on PBS. In each episode, celebrities are presented with a "book of life" that is com ...

which aired in February 2025.

Filmography

* 1954 ''Looks that Kill'' as Bailarín (uncredited) * 1954 ''El casto Susano'' as (uncredited) * 1956 ''Caras nuevas'' * 1957 ''La locura del rock 'n roll'' as Cristobal * 1957 ''Cien muchachas'' * 1958 ''Viaje a la luna'' as Carlos Vera * 1958 ''Música en la noche'' * 1960 ''Los pistolocos'' * 1962 ''… und deine Liebe auch'' as Alfredo * 1965 ''En este pueblo no hay ladrones'' as Agente Viajero * 1967 ''

Pedro Páramo ''Pedro Páramo'' is a novel by Mexican writer Juan Rulfo, first published in 1955. This novel showcases the roots of Mexican culture and its beliefs on afterlife through deeply complex characters, spirituality, and a constant transition betwee ...

'' as Saltaperico * 1967 ''

The Jungle Book ''The Jungle Book'' is an 1894 collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling. Most of the characters are animals such as Shere Khan the tiger and Baloo the bear, though a principal character is the boy or "man-cub" Mowgli, who ...

'' (voice actor, Latin Spanish dub) as Kaa * 1968 ''Operación carambola'' as Roman Ayala * 1969 ''

'' as Lieutenant Herrera * 1969 ''El aviso inoportuno'' as Cliente Señorito Del Sastre * 1970 ''Tres amigos'' * 1970 ''Jóvenes de la Zona Rosa'' * 1970 ''La vida inútil de Pito Pérez'' * 1970 '' Paraíso'' as "El Perro" * 1970 ''

El Topo ''El Topo'' (, "The Mole") is a 1970 Mexican acid Western film written, scored, directed by and starring Alejandro Jodorowsky. Characterized by its bizarre characters and occurrences, use of maimed and dwarf performers, and heavy doses of Jude ...

'' as Bandido #1 * 1971 '' Scandalous John'' as Paco * 1971 ''El águila descalza'' (director, writer) as Poncho / Jonathan Eaglepass / Mascalzzone * 1971 '' The Garden of Aunt Isabel'' * 1972 ''

'' (TV Series) as Mando * 1972 ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on ...

'' (TV Series) as Simon * 1972 '' Run, Cougar, Run'' as Etio * 1972 ''El rincón de las vírgenes'' as Lucas Lucatero * 1974 ''

Calzonzin Inspector ''Calzonzin Inspector'' is a 1974 Mexican comedy film and live action comic adaptation directed and starred by Alfonso Arau. It was selected as the Mexican entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 47th Academy Awards, but was not accepte ...

'' (director, writer) as Calzonzín * 1975 ''

Posse Posse is a shortened form of posse comitatus, a group of people summoned to assist law enforcement. The term is also used colloquially to mean a group of friends or associates. Posse may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Posse'' (1975 ...

'' as Pepe * 1975 '' Tívoli'' (writer) as Tiliches * 1976 ''La palomilla al rescate'' as (uncredited) * 1976 ''Caribe, estrella y aguila'' (director) * 1980 ''

'' as Manuel * 1981 '' Mojado Power'' (director, writer) as Nato Solís * 1982 ''El día que murió Pedro Infante'' * 1984 ''

'' as Juan * 1986 ''Redondo'' * 1986 ''

'' as "El Guapo" * 1986 ''Chido Guan, el tacos de oro'' (director, writer) * 1987 ''

Miami Vice ''Miami Vice'' is an American crime drama television series created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series stars Don Johnson as James "Sonny" Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo Tubbs, Ricardo "Rico" Tub ...

'' (TV Series) as Jorge Cruz * 1987 ''

Walker Walker or The Walker may refer to: People *Walker (given name) *Walker (surname) *Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer Places In the United States *Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County *Walker, Mono County, California * ...

'' as Raousset * 1988 ''

227 Year 227 (Roman numerals, CCXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Senecio and Fulvius (or, less frequently, year 980 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination ...

'' (TV Series) as Alfonso Gonzales * 1991 ''Camino largo a Tijuana'' * 1992 ''Polvora en la piel'' * 1992 '' Like Water for Chocolate'' (director) * 1995 ''

'' (director) * 2000 '' Committed'' as Grampy * 2000 '' Picking Up the Pieces'' (director) as Dr. Amado * 2002 ''

The Magnificent Ambersons ''The Magnificent Ambersons'' is a 1918 novel by Booth Tarkington, the second in his ''Growth'' trilogy after '' The Turmoil'' (1915) and before ''The Midlander'' (1923, retitled ''National Avenue'' in 1927). It won the Pulitzer Prize for fict ...

'' (TV, director) * 2003 ''A Painted House'' (TV, director) * 2004 '' Zapata: El sueño de un héroe'' (director, writer) * 2007 '' El Muerto'' as Tezcatlipoca (voice) * 2010 '' The Trick in the Sheet'' (director, with

Anne Parillaud Anne Parillaud (; born 6 May 1960) is a French actress who has been active since 1977, who is best known internationally for playing the title character in Luc Besson's film ''La Femme Nikita (film), La Femme Nikita''. Biography Parillaud was b ...

) * 2012 ''

I Heart Shakey ''I Heart Shakey'' is a 2012 family comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being ...

'' as Raoul * 2017 ''

Coco Coco or variants may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Coco'' (2009 film), a French comedy film * ''Coco'' (2017 film), an American animated fantasy film * '' Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle'' (), a 2020 Japanese anime film ...

'' as Papá Julio (voice)

References

External links

*
Santa Fe Film Festival
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arau, Alfonso 1932 births 20th-century Mexican male actors 20th-century Mexican screenwriters 20th-century Mexican male writers 21st-century Mexican male actors 21st-century Mexican screenwriters Ariel Award winners Best Director Ariel Award winners Living people Male actors from Mexico City Mexican male film actors Mexican film directors Mexican film producers Mexican male screenwriters Writers from Mexico City Mexican expatriate male actors in the United States