Mexico City’s Rich and Poor on the Big Screen

It has obviously struck a chord.  The Mexican comedy, Nosotros los Nobles (We the Nobles), has become one of the biggest hits of all time in Mexico.

In the movie, a millionaire father has a brush with death, and realizes that his children aren’t ready for “real life”.  To teach them a lesson, he stages an elaborate charade to convince them that they’re broke and must go into hiding in a poor neighbourhood.  His three (grown up) children get jobs as a bus driver, a bank employee, and a waitress.

The movie was filmed in Mexico City, and there’s no doubt that Chilangos (Mexico City dwellers) can see a lot of truth in the story as the sheltered rich attempt to function amongst the “lower classes” – the middle and lower classes of the city.

I’m not going to recommend the movie (I haven’t seen it, only clips), but I do think it’s a great moment to highlight both the incredible wealth and grinding poverty in Mexico City.

Mexico is, of course, the home of the world’s richest man – Carlos Slim.  People have been known to take their own helicopters to work.

At the same time, about 3000 people live on the streets.  10% of the population of Mexico is said to live in “extreme poverty”.

People in Mexico City are statistically some of the hardest workers in Latin America, often holding down two or three jobs.  But some must have multiple jobs to make ends meet, many earning a minimum wage of about $112 per month.  And yes, prices in the city are often high.

Mexico beats out most countries in the world when it comes to the “income gap”, with about 10% of the population holding 40% of the country’s wealth.  It’s not surprising if the majority would like to see the wealthy knocked from their perches – whether in the movies or in real life.

In his first months in office, the new president has managed to shake up some of the country’s most powerful, making the news headlines always interesting.

Granted, the rich may often be oblivious.  The poor may be fatalistic, and let’s face it – it’s not easy to get the next meal, never mind save for retirement or or save enough to put a new lock on the door.

But all segments of society need to know about God’s salvation in Jesus Christ.  And because groups are so isolated – whether it be rich and poor, or from community to community, or job sector to job sector – it can be very hard for the Good News to spread in Mexico.  This may be one reason why so many communities in central Mexico in particular continue without a Gospel witness.

Before we laugh too hard at the rich, let’s remember that the rich in Mexico are possibly one of the least-reached groups (by the Gospel) in the hemisphere.

We need to pray for people of all kinds who can reach people of all kinds here in Mexico.  Perhaps the well-off oil executive needs to retire to Mexico to share with others who will respect him.  Perhaps a single Mom needs to come to share with single Moms.  Perhaps young families need to come to share with families.

And yes, we need to weep for the poor and reach out to them.

Nosotros los Nobles echoes the sentiments of classic movies in Mexican cinema such as Nosotros los Pobres (We the Poor) and Ustedes los Ricos (You the Rich) from 1948.  65 years later, a lot has changed.  Modernization, changes in government, a growing middle class.  But much remains the same.  Many – from all classes – still live without Hope.