IN THE NEWS: ‘The Last Aztec’
Channel 4’s showing of Booker prize-winning author D B C Pierre’s road trip documentary ‘The Last Aztec’ on November 9th. received a mixed reception in the press. For our part, we loved it! (Written/compiled by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore)
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Press reviews of ‘The Last Aztec’ (Click on image to enlarge) |
‘Channel 4 pop history at its worst’ said The Independent. ‘Trying too hard to be “not just another history documentary” said The Times. The Guardian was less critical of the programme, far more scathing of the Aztecs themselves:-
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Sacrificial remains in the churchyard at Mixquic (photo courtesy DBC Pierre) (Click on image to enlarge) |
‘And then you could look at these Aztecs, with no metal or wheels, making their crude stone buildings, butchering children and ripping their still-beating hearts from their chests. You could look at the way the Aztecs thought CortĂ©s and his men were gods, and how their cowardly leader Montezuma allowed a handful of Spanish bounty hunters to fell an entire civilisation. You could say the Aztecs were a bunch of girls as well as backward, and their empire was actually a bit crap...’
To label the Aztecs ‘backward’ belies a worryingly common ignorance of the Aztecs - representatives of one of the ‘high civilisations’ of Mesoamerica. To a large extent, it’s precisely to counter this ignorance that our little website exists! At least most commentators were able to agree with the Daily Telegraph’s support for Pierre’s assertion ‘that the spirit and magic of Aztec culture is discernible in most aspects of Mexican culture to this day...’
But Pierre (who grew up in Mexico City, is bilingual, and has a deep respect for the achievements of the Aztecs) revealed his underlying message to us not in ‘The Last Aztec’ but in a private conversation he kindly granted Mexicolore in the summer, when the film was launched at this year’s Hay Festival. ‘While believers around the world today seem set on asking our gods to provide for us and yet we give nothing in return, the Aztecs built their lives on the idea that you have to give first in order to get anything back - and the highest coinage of gift in those days was blood, life itself.’ At the end of the day they strove hard to keep their society, eco-system, world, universe and cosmos in constant balance: something we have singularly failed to do since...
Here's what others have said:
8 At 4.34pm on Monday December 30 2019, Tecpatzin wrote:
I am very grateful - your website definitely portrays a positive image of the Aztecs, something that they really needed, what with all the false Spanish propaganda. Many thanks from me and other people who value their Aztec heritage above all else. Your site is a great help for us who wish to stay in contact with our culture.
7 At 4.07am on Sunday July 20 2014, Robert Cade wrote:
The best documentary that I have seen. Just a shame that the only online streaming copy has out of sync audio.
@Sandra Cooper-Espinoza ... Have been trying to find a copy myself. Found a possible source at worldcat.org. Apparently there is a DVD, for loan presumably, in the UK and one in Australia. Which is alright for me because the one in the UK is just down the road from me. Will let you know how I get on.
6 At 11.34am on Sunday December 16 2012, ian mchale wrote:
the most fantastic program ever d p b pierre brilliant big fan
5 At 1.47pm on Saturday June 23 2012, Katia H. wrote:
I actually watched that program, and in my opinion it was a wasted opportunity. Also, that guy who presented it was just creepy.
4 At 5.44pm on Tuesday August 18 2009, Martin wrote:
To call the Aztecs backward is to compare modern or pre-industrial age Europe with stone age Mexico. Mexico developed more slowly because there was not the impetus to develop from foreign sources (Greek, Islamic, Italian) that Europe had in the 12th - 16th centuries so they just achieved their stone ages more slowly but it doesn’t belie the achievements. Mexico was a stone age culture but you have to compare that with stone age European culture. Stone age Europe was obsessed with giant earthworks and stone circles, and throwing swords into ponds whilst the Aztecs were building floating cities in the middle of lakes divided by dams into salt and fresh water and with trading empires stretching from modern day US to Peru. Had we had something like that in Britain in say 100 AD we would have colonies on Alpha Centauri by now!
3 At 5.08pm on Tuesday February 10 2009, Sandra Cooper-Espinoza wrote:
I watched this documentary on 4 and since I have been trying to get hold of a copy on DVD or something it is really amazing made me even more proud than ever to be Mexican and I’d like my daughter to watch this when she is a bit older if someone knows where I could buy it on DVD please let me know Thank you.
Mexicolore replies: We’ll keep an ear and eye open, Sandra!
2 At 8.48pm on Tuesday November 25 2008, Gemma Green wrote:
I thought the doco was very well done and very entertaining. He made history very interesting for those who normally would not watch such a program. I loved his subtle wit!!! and he was not pretentious and completely natural. Bravo!!
Mexicolore replies: Thanks for this, Gemma: we thoroughly agree!
1 At 8.04pm on Saturday March 29 2008, Angelos Tropios wrote:
excellent!!!cheers mate