CLOSURE: Central Library will be closed Tuesday, July 21, through Saturday, July 25, while emergency repairs are made to the building’s cooling system. We expect to reopen Monday, July 27. Click for more details on holds, program schedules, and returns during the closure. 

Guadalupe: The Making of a Nation

Summary

Annually, over twenty million pilgrims visit Mexico City to venerate the miraculous Virgin of Guadalupe. This 'brown-skinned' virgin is said to have materialized before Juan Diego, an indigenous peasant, in the early era of Christianization. A quintessential icon, she embodies the syncretism born from the spiritual convergence of the 'New World'. Beyond her religious significance, this image ignited New Spain's patriotic fervor, ultimately becoming the flag that championed Mexico's independence.However, the church's narrative of Guadalupe's miraculous apparition has thwarted genuine explorations into the origins of this potent symbol. A pioneering documentary now confronts this historical void, unveiling controversial events that contributed to shaping the captivating identity of modern Mexico. For the first time, the film breaches these historical silences, weaving together the strands that compose the Mexico we recognize today.