May 5 - Cinco de Mayo

¡Happy National Cinco de Mayo! Celebrated annually on May 5, today's deeply rooted history in the Franco-Mexican War influenced Mexican-Mexican American communities in the early years of the American Civil War. 

  

The date is observed to commemorate the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Mexican General and politician Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. 

  

In the early 1860s, as the Civil War erupted, these communities took up the banner of the Cinco de Mayo celebration as a way to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy.  

  

Today, in the United States, Americans celebrate Mexican-American heritage and pride annually on May 5. 

  

Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for “fifth of May.” 

  

On June 7, 2005, the United States Congress issued a Concurrent Resolution. 

The resolution invited the President of the United States to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe Cinco de Mayo with appropriate ceremonies and activities. 

  

According to American professor of ethnic studies José M. Alamillo, at Washington State University in Pullman, a 2006 study found more than one hundred and fifty official events celebrating the day. 

  

Celebrations surrounding the observance in the United States take on a significance beyond that in Mexico. They include displaying of banners and events highlighting Mexican culture, music, and regional dancing.  

  

School districts also hold special events to educate students about its historical significance. 

In America, commercial interests the day by celebrating Mexican products and services with an emphasis on beverages, food, and music. 

  

HOW TO OBSERVE 

  

Celebrate Mexican heritage, culture, and history. Explore foods and traditions, music, and cinema. Immerse yourself in the language and discover new connections.  

  

Uncover long lost history and share your treasures. Share your Mexican heritage and use #CincodeMayo to post on social media. 

  

HISTORY 

  

In 1861, the Battle of Puebla pitched six thousand French troops against a small, under-supplied Mexican force of o thousand men. Not expecting to win the campaign, the Mexican army overcame the French in under a day.  

  

While the battle didn’t win the war, the victory held great symbolism for Mexico during the Franco-Mexican War and buoyed the army throughout the conflict.  

  

Each year, Mexico commemorates the day with celebrations across the country, though it is not a federal holiday. 

  

How do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo? 

  

#CincodeMayo 

@congressdotgov 

@nichecinema 

May 5 - Jerzy Skolimowski

Happy 82nd Birthday, Jerzy Skolimowski! Born today in 1938, this Polish dramatist, actor, screenwriter and director was a graduate of the prestigious National Film School in Łódź. 

  

His fellow students eventually went on to become future Czech cinema giants. These included Czech-American film director, screenwriter, actor, and professor Miloš Forman ('The Firemen's Ball', 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest', 'Amadeus') and Czech film director and screenwriter Ivan Passer. 

  

He has directed more than twenty films since his cinematic debut in which he show, wrote and directed his student film. This was the two-minute 1960 Grecian silent black and white short film 'Oko wyko' ('The Menacing Eye'). 

  

In the late 1960s, Skolimowski was awarded Golden Bear for his 1967 Belgian black and white drama/romance film  'Le départ' ('The Departure'). This occurred at the 17th Berlin International Film Festival. 

  

Among his credits, Skolimowski is best known for co-writing and directing the 1970 British–West German drama/romance film 'Deep End'. This was his second non-Polish feature to be based on his own original screenplay.  

  

This coming-of-age film follows Michael (John Moulder-Brown), a fifteen-year-old bathhouse worker who develops a crush on his older, attractive co-worker, Susan (Jane Asher).  

  

At first, they help each other secure bigger tips by swapping their respective male and female clients. However, their tidy business arrangement is severed when Michael discovers that Susan has not only shunned him, but is cheating on her fiancé with an older swim coach.  

  

As Michael begins stalking Susan in an effort to break them up, his innocent crush spirals into obsession and, ultimately, his own death. 

'Deep End' also included a soundtrack by Cat Stevens and the German experimental rock band The Can.  

  

The film beared distinctive thematic similarities to 'Le Départ'. 'Deep End' was a promising film, yet it was poorly handled by the studio. 

  

Skolimowski had a cameo in 'Deep End', credited as Passenger reading Polish Newspaper. 

  

Skolimowski had lived in Los Angeles, California for over twenty years, where he painted in a figurative, expressionist mode and occasionally acted in films.  

  

He later returned to Poland, and to film making as a writer and director, after a seventeen-year hiatus. This was with his 2008 Polish thriller/drama film 'Cztery noce z Anną' ('Four Nights with Anna')

In the early 2010s, Skowlimowski had a bit part in the 2012 American superhero action/sci-fi film ‘The Avengers’. This was as Colonel General of the Russian Armed Forces and weapons dealer Georgi Luchkov. 

In the film, he had kidnapped Black Widow/Natasha Romanova (Scarlett Johansson) and attempted to interrogate and torture her, only to be outwitted by her before he and his men were beaten in a brief fight with the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.   

  

Four years later, Skolimowski received the Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 73rd Venice Film Festival in 2016. 

  

Skolimowski has been active from 1964–present. 

  

#borntodirect 

@BFI 

@RogerEbert 

@culturepl 

@slantmagazine 

@letterboxd