Vamonos 'Pancho Villa'

The Mexican Revolution was another example of this universal crisis between the individual and the collective. This “aspiration” of the Revolution is complicated by internal conflicts and contradictions shown throughout the film Vamonos con Pancho Villa. The lack of a consistent heroic cause or passion is evident; particularly in regards to the “lions” of San Pablo (Rodrigo, Tiburcio, Fatso, Calf, Martin, and Maximo), when they do not offer any valid justification as to what is driving them to join the revolution. Their lack of individuality is reinforced by their inability to collectively coalesce around their leader’s values. One assumes that the revolutionaries as organized and seemingly ambitious they are, would be portrayed as the heroes; this film does the exact opposite; it renders them as “savages” (Robe), especially the leader, Francisco “Pancho” Villa” through his cruelty and indifference towards his own men. The conflict is …show more content…
One major pattern is comprehensive: the predicaments, and ultimately deaths of each of the lions of San Pablo, who are expected to be undyingly loyal to Villa when joining the revolution, are met with utter indifference (Noble 56). In the scene when they have effectively decided to join the army, Villa says that they are “already a part of” a revolution, which indicates that he does not see them as essential to his cause, but rather as peasants who could be thrown out at any opportunity. Rather than ask how much the lions are committed to the collective cause of the revolution, Villa instead asks whether they are “macho”, which indicates that the revolution, in his point of view, is not born out of the promises for achieving a collective demand (wealth, land, and adequate food) but rather of the revolution’s need to show off his individually driven