1938: When Mexico Recovered Its Oil
2025 Mexican film
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1938: When Mexico Recovered Its Oil (Spanish: 1938: Cuando el petróleo fue nuestro, lit.â'1938: When the oil was ours') is a 2025 Mexican historical drama film co-written, co-produced and directed by Sergio Olhovich.[1] It stars Ianis Guerrero as President Lázaro Cárdenas, who faces the decision to expropriate the oil industry while powerful foreign companies try to prevent it.[2]
Carlos Montemayor
Roberto Fiesco
Mario Guerrero GarcÃa
Sergio Olhovich
Iliana Reyes
Eckehardt Von Damm
| 1938: When Mexico Recovered Its Oil | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Sergio Olhovich |
| Written by | Sergio Olhovich Carlos Montemayor |
| Produced by | Javier Colinas Roberto Fiesco Mario Guerrero GarcÃa Sergio Olhovich Iliana Reyes Eckehardt Von Damm |
| Starring | Ianis Guerrero |
| Cinematography | Arturo de la Rosa |
| Music by | Tomás Barreiro |
Production companies | Corazón Films Katarsis Cooperativa de Comunicación |
Release dates |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | Mexico |
| Languages | Spanish English |
Synopsis
In 1938, President Lázaro Cárdenas faced the most difficult decision of his term: to expropriate the oil industry. Powerful foreign companies were unwilling to allow this; the decision also required compensating them to avoid a major international conflict. It was at this point that the Mexican people united to contribute whatever they could to ensure the return of oil to the nation.[3]
Cast
The actors participating in this film are:[4]
- Ianis Guerrero as Lázaro Cárdenas
- Ofelia Medina as Amalia Solórzano
- Karen Martà as Young Amalia Solórzano
- Baltimore Beltrán as Francisco José Múgica
- Roberto Beck as Raúl Castellanos Jiménez
- Julian Sedgwick as Josephus Daniels
- Jon Roberts as August Armstrong
- MarÃa Penella Gómez as Rosaura
- Viridiana Robles as Alicia Cárdenas
- Salvador Sánchez as Peasant
- Esteban Soberanes as Engineer Rojas
- Raúl Briones as Vicente Lombardo Toledano
- FermÃn MartÃnez as Benito Juárez
- Mauro González as Gardener
- Dave Collins as Anderson
- Israel Almanza as Radio technician
- Salvador Alvarez as Announcer
- Irving Aranda as Photographer
- Raúl Barranco as Simón
- Steven Destello as Williams
- Nelly González as Frida
- Héctor Holten as Valente
- Elena Gore as Bride
Production
The film took 20 years to produce.[5] Sergio Olhovich and Carlos Montemayor wrote a 300-page script, which was cut to 120 pages by Olhovich alone after Montemayor's death.[6] Principal photography began in October 2021 at Mexico's National Palace and ended in May 2022.[7][8]
Release
The film had its world premiere on March 18, 2025, at the Cineteca Nacional,[9] followed by a wide national theatrical release on March 20.[10] It was subsequently screened on April 18, 2025, at the 47th Moscow International Film Festival.[11]