Mexico City – A screening of the 1956 film El inocente, starring the late Silvia Pinal, was held Thursday, February 12th, at the Centro Cultural Universitario’s Sala Julio Bracho, marking the first anniversary of the actress’s death. The event, a collaboration between the UNAM Film Library and the Rafael Banquels Foundation, was accompanied by an exhibition of photographs and costumes from Pinal’s extensive career.
Silvia Pinal Hidalgo, a celebrated icon of Mexican cinema, theater, and television, died on February 14, 2024, at the age of 92. Born September 12, 1931, in Guaymas, Sonora, Pinal began her film career in 1949 with a role in Bamba. She went on to star in over 60 films, working with prominent directors including Luis Buñuel, José Bolaños, and Rogelio A. González.
El inocente, directed by Rogelio A. González, features Pinal alongside Pedro Infante and Sara García. The film, released in 1956, reportedly ran for seven weeks in theaters and became a significant cultural touchstone of its time. The screening was intended to highlight Pinal’s versatility as an actress, showcasing her range from comedic to dramatic roles.
Pinal’s collaboration with Luis Buñuel resulted in several critically acclaimed films, including Viridiana (1961), which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as El ángel exterminador (1962) and Simón del desierto (1965). A capitel used during the filming of Simón del desierto was recovered by the Filmoteca de la UNAM in 1988 and is now displayed at the entrance of the film library.
Beyond her film work, Pinal enjoyed a successful career in theater, appearing in productions such as Celos del aire and Don Juan Tenorio. She as well pioneered musical theater in Mexico with the 1950s production of Ring ring, llama el amor. Her television career included roles in numerous telenovelas, and she hosted and produced the long-running program Mujer, casos de la vida real for over 20 years.
Throughout her career, Pinal received numerous accolades, including four Diosas de Plata PECIME awards and four Premios Ariel. She received the Ariel de Oro in 2008, recognizing her lifetime contribution to Mexican cinema.
The exhibition accompanying the screening featured photographs from films such as La sospechosa (1955), Un extraño en la escalera (1955), and Una cita de amor (1958), as well as a coat, paintings, a recognition from the State of Guerrero in 2011, and costumes worn during her time hosting Mujer, casos de la vida real. The exhibition, supported by the Fundación Rafael Banquels, will remain open to the public until April 2026. A virtual gallery dedicated to Pinal is also available on the Filmoteca UNAM website.
