Der Ball der 41

Excelent film, but to say this is the "true history" is a slight exaggeration, there being very little documentation (and that skewered by the journalism of the era) about the event or the supposed "club of 42". While the incident was and is well remembered here in Mexico, how much is the "real truth" and how much is speculation (we don't know that Ignancio de la Torre was actually at the dance, although his sexuality was well established... fun fact, because Emilio Zapata was one of de la Torre's more important employees -- his horse trainer -- Zapata was "smeared" by his opponents as an allegedly gay man). That de la Torre was a self-indulgent elitist snob and oppresive member of the Mexican "one percent"... as were the other 41... had the unfortunate side effect of perpetuating the stereotype of gay men as a bunch of rich cross-dressing hedonists.

"El baile de los 41" is a great film based on true events, a great love story about two men and their gay friends, a tale about homophobia and some events that still happen in this days, closeted gay men married with ladies. The production is amazing, the cinematography and filming locations are beautiful, the music score is wonderful, the performances are great, mainly Alfonso Herrera, Emiliano Zurita and Mabel Cadena and the direction is really good. A modern gay classic movie based on sad true events! The best Mexican film of the 2020!

My Review- "The Dance of the Forty One " on Netflix My Rating 8/10 A historical Biography Drama based on true events

This Film from Mexico is important in my opinion for the simple reason that it intelligently portrays the persecution and harassment and social attitudes that Gay men who held influential Political positions endured at the conclusion of the 19th Century and well into the 20th Century .

The catalogue of GLBTQI historical movies depicting events of these times when great and talented men like Oscar Wilde had to hide their true nature with painful marriages of conveniences to keep their place in Society and in the process ruined both the husband and wife's life when their deception was exposed by authorities is rarely told authentically in films.

Gay men at that time lead covert secret lives outside their marriages meeting in underground clubs or male brothels was the only way to express their sexuality where bacchanalian party's and orgies often took place so if male nudity or mild depictions of sodomy offend perhaps "The Dance of the Forty One ."is not for you but these few scenes are necessary to explain the story and the times.

Based on the Dance of the Forty-One which was a society scandal in early 20th-century Mexico. The incident revolved around an illegal police raid carried out in 17 November 1901 in a private home in Mexico City. The scandal involved the group of men who attended, 19 of whom were dressed in women's clothing. Despite the government's efforts to hush the incident up, the press was keen to report the incident, since the participants belonged to the upper echelons of society (including the son-in-law of the incumbent President of Mexico). This scandal was unique in that it was the first time homosexuality was openly spoken about in the Mexican media and had a lasting impact on Mexican culture.

A translation of the Press release at that time- On Sunday night, at a house on the fourth block of Calle la Paz, the police burst into a dance attended by 41 unaccompanied men wearing women's clothes. Among those individuals were some of the dandies seen every day on Calle Plateros. They were wearing elegant ladies' dresses, wigs, false breasts, earrings, embroidered slippers, and their faces were painted with highlighted eyes and rosy cheeks. When the news reached the street, all forms of comments were made and the behaviour of those individuals was subjected to censure. We refrain from giving our readers further details because they are exceedingly disgusting.

• Contemporary press report.

This is a big budget beautifully produced film directed by David Pablos and Screenplay by Monika Revilla . I would have preferred to see it in its original language rather than dubbed in English but got used to it after a few minutes . The cast are all very fine actors it stars Alfonso Herrera as Ignacio de la Torre y Mier, the gay son-in-law of then-president of Mexico Porfirio Díaz, Mabel Cadena as Amada Díaz, his illegitimate daughter, and Emiliano Zurita (son of Christian Bach) as Ignacio's fictional lover, Evaristo Rivas.

The film is a joint production by three companies Canana Films El Estudio, and Bananeira Filmes and filming locations included Mexico City and Guadalajara. It was filmed at the end of 2019 . Some fiming locations include the Rivas Mercado House, the bar La Opera in Mexico City's historic center and many of the exteriors were filmed in the streets of Guadalajara.

It may not be a film for everyone's taste but I think it's a very well produced and very interesting account of history that I had no knowledge of till I watched "El Baile de Los 41 or "Dance of the Forty One".

Production showing the era of time in excellent cosumes and location designs. Its a story from the true history, a landmark for the 19th century and maybe todays lgbtq+ soscieties of the world, it happens in mexico, where gender is highly regulated by the catholic church as men and woman, and everything else is a devilish sin. A lodge of common gentlemen is made, but such secrets cant live a life being sensed by the outside world, that is the story, and it includes the highest ranks of mexican high society like a royal frog kiss.

Its a provoking and revealing historic piece of silverscreen art, a must see for some, a reserved recommend from the grumpy old man though.

As a mexican LGBTQ+ member in my early thirties, I've known this story ever since I can remember, and to see it portrayed on the big screen, with such quality production, with a compelling narrative, and that can make straight people understand a little bit of our brotherhood excites me a LOT!

I'm so thankful that Director David Pablos took a chance to make this film, and to make such relevant characters, the main arch is so powerful, I have to confess the female characters surprised me for good, Amada en Luz are so relatable Mexican women, and the secondary characters from the "Club" gave so much depth to the story.

I hope this film will remember everyone why is important to keep fighting for our rights, our right to be a normal person within society.