Poor, hungry peasant Macario longs for just one good meal on the Day of the Dead. After his wife cooks a turkey for him, he meets three apparitions, the Devil, God, and Death. Each asks him to share his turkey, but he refuses all except Death. In return, Death gives him a bottle of water which will heal any illness. Soon, Macario is more wealthy than the village doctor, which draws the attention of the feared Inquisition.
Ratings
Curator score: 9.5/10
IMDb: 8.3/10
Letterboxd: 4.25/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
TMDB: 8.7/10
Director
Roberto Gavaldón
Production
Clasa Films Mundiales, Estudios Churubusco Azteca
Cast
Ignacio López Tarso, Pina Pellicer, Enrique Lucero, Mario Alberto Rodríguez, José Gálvez, Eduardo Fajardo, Consuelo Frank, José Dupeyrón, Celia Tejeda, Luis Aceves Castañeda, Miguel Arenas, Alfredo Wally Barrón, Queta Carrasco, Felipe de Flores, Alicia del Lago, Manuel Dondé, Elizabeth Dupeyrón, Enedina Díaz de León, Enrique García Álvarez, Leonor Gómez
Curator Review
Verdict
A haunting, visually rich Mexican classic that blends folk fable, religious allegory, and social tragedy into a singular story about hunger, mortality, and class. Its atmosphere and symbolism still feel potent, and its final movement gives the film real emotional and moral force.
Best for
fans of poetic fantasy and allegorical drama
viewers interested in Golden Age Mexican cinema
people drawn to stories about death, faith, and social inequality
audiences who like slow-burn, symbolic storytelling
Skip if
you want fast pacing or action-driven plotting
you dislike overt symbolism and religious imagery
you prefer light fantasy over somber, fatalistic tone
you need modern-style dialogue and editing
Overview
Macario is one of those rare films that feels like a folk tale, a moral parable, and a social protest all at once. Its central premise is simple and unforgettable: a starving peasant wants one meal to himself, and that desire opens a doorway to God, the Devil, and Death. From there, the film becomes less about plot mechanics than about hunger, dignity, and the cruel arithmetic of poverty.
Worth noting
What makes it endure is the way it turns death into a presence that is not merely frightening, but intimate and strangely fair. The imagery is spare but potent, and the film’s emotional register moves between wonder, dread, and deep sadness without losing its human core. It also carries the texture of Mexican popular belief and Day of the Dead tradition with unusual seriousness and beauty.
Bottom line
This is not a breezy fantasy. It is a solemn, beautifully staged work with a strong moral pulse and a distinctly tragic worldview. If you respond to cinema that uses myth to expose social reality, Macario is essential viewing.
Top Letterboxd reviews
HectorPortillo (4★) · 913 likes
Te amo, cine mexicano de oro. Te juzgue mal cuando mi abuelito te veía en De Pelicula
貉 · 829 likes
Pinches niños no dejan tragar a gusto.
ximenaribs (4★) · 673 likes
Ni para que siguen haciendo plot twists en las películas si macario ya hizo el mejor hace 60 años
Ana Medicina (5★) · 339 likes
La muerte no es nuestra amiga, pero tampoco una traicionera, es solo una compañera justa y verdadera.
Andres (4★) · 327 likes
La vida no fue fácil, Macario. Pero fue buena vivirla juntos.