"The art is in our genes": the success of the hometown of the Roman star | News from the world

A A couple of young flutists practice in a small windowless room of Casa de Cultura de Tlaxiaco. The rest of the city's orchestra is rehearsing its competition program with a troupe of young folk dancers – including the two youngest brothers of Yalitza Aparicio – in the main courtyard, adorned with murals depicting pre-Hispanic warriors and Mixtec artists. city.

Aparicio is nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars, which takes place Sunday, for her astonishing performance of a nanny in Alfonso Cuarón's acclaimed film Roma. If successful, the 25-year-old Mexican, who was working as a teacher before being discovered almost by chance during a casting at the cultural center, will be the first Aboriginal winner of this award.

The novice actor battles well-established stars, including Glenn Close and Lady Gaga. But in his hometown, known officially as the heroic city of Tlaxiaco in honor of a battle that took place there during the French invasion of Mexico from 1862 to 1867, Aparicio is already a hero.

"Yalitza of Tlaxiaco in Hollywood, it's great! She is such an inspiration to me, "said Arleth Velasco, 16, who was very excited to watch the Oscar ceremony on a big screen in the main square this weekend.

Tlaxiaco is a bustling city of 60,000 inhabitants located in the mountainous state of Oaxaca, in the southwest of the country, surrounded by small indigenous villages where Spanish is normally the second language. Aparicio is of mixed ancestry: his mother is Triqui and his father is Mixteco. She had to learn Mixtec to play the role of Cleo, whose character is based on Cuarón's nurse.

"The film shows the daily life of our community, it's a reality that Mexicans who criticize the Roma do not want to accept," says Velasco, referring to a racial insult used by a soap opera star to denigrate Aparicio. "The triumph of Yalitza shows that people like me, with few resources, we "Indios" can be someone. "

The unprecedented success of Aparicio has sparked a surge of pride and joy in Mexico's indigenous communities, which continue to suffer endemic rates of poverty and exclusion. Aparicio's mother was a housekeeper and his father, a street vendor of CDs. The modest family home, located on a hilly dirt road on the southern outskirts of the city, is built of sheet metal, rocks and concrete blocks.

"Seeing a sister of Triqui in a movie of this level gives pride and dignity to my ethnic group," says Eduardo Gonzalez, a 42-year-old shoe shiner who said he was a victim of racism. "I'm so happy that it's his candidacy. No matter if she wins, Yalitza is where she is supposed to be. "

Aparicio is the last of a long line of artists to emerge from Tlaxiaco, including Grammy laureate Lila Downs and cartoonist Héctor Ramírez Bolaños.

"Art, music and dance are part of the history of the community," says Miguel Angel Martinez, director of the cultural center. "Look at the murals of our ancestors, it's in our genes. Now, the success of Yalitza has aroused young people's interest in acting. "

Martinez was approached early 2016 by the film's casting director, who was browsing communities looking for a young woman with black eyes, dark hair and dark skin. The casting agents came to Tlaxiaco because of the city's participation in the famous Guelaguetza indigenous dance and cultural festival, held in the state capital, Oaxaca.

A hundred or so young women arrived and after three days the casting agents had planned for a recall, but wanted two more. Martinez tried to convince Edith Aparicio, a local singer, to audition. But being very pregnant, she could not go, sending her younger sister to her place.

Yalitza, who had no intention of becoming an actor, seduced casting agents. After three more auditions, the role was offered to him. Cuarón said that it had taken a few weeks to convince her to take it.

Some in Mexico argued that Aparicio's success was due to luck, but his brothers' dance teacher did not agree. "It's a rare family that, without having any contact with the arts through their parents, has produced four artists," says Uriel Aguilar. "All have a natural born talent."

In a telephone interview with local radio station La Poderosa on Wednesday, Aparicio said its success demonstrated the importance of experimenting outside the comfort zone. "No matter what people say, if you want something, you have to fight to get it," she said. "I did not think about winning [the Oscar]I am still trying to badimilate the application. "

Javier Guerrero, the radio presenter who conducted the interview, thinks that winning is a long fight against such fierce competition. "In our hearts, we hope that she wins, but whether they give her the statue or not, seeing her name and image on screen is a huge success for her and for the community. She's already a winner for us. "

The cultural center is located in front of an imposing 16th century church, on the edge of the main square lined with Tlaxiaco fir, which is full of musicians, salsa dancers and stall merchants who sell everything from traditional blouses. cream cakes, pbading by Aparicio's favorite snack. chicharrón, garnished with cream, cheese, cabbage, ham, tomatoes and salsa.

She always pbades for a chicharrón repair, say the husband and wife, Jeronimo Ortiz and Rocio Reyes. They met Aparicio for the first time when she was selling Christmas piñatas with her sister at the market. "She has not changed at all, she's a simple person," says Reyes.

Winner or loser Sunday, Aparicio seems destined for fame. There are rumors of a new project with American-Mexican singer and actor Diego Boneta.

"She is an example for us all," says Ariadna Fabiola, director of the kindergarten where Aparicio taught until last February. "You have to take risks and not be afraid of failing. Her life has completely changed and we are very proud of her. "