Sundance 2026: Inside the queer Mexican rodeo film 'Jaripeo' - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
by Suzy ExpositoJanuary 30, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The film *Jaripeo*, directed by Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig, explores the intersection of queerness and traditional Mexican culture through the lens of a rural rodeo competition known as a jaripeo. The documentary captures the lives of LGBTQ individuals in and around Penjamillo, Michoacán, where annual celebrations of masculinity take place during Christmas. Mojica, who grew up in the region, returns to document his community, blending interviews with vibrant visuals of the rodeo scene. The film challenges traditional notions of gender and performance, highlighting how queer identities thrive within a seemingly conservative setting.
*Mojica’s debut film* is shot in the style of *cinéma vérité*, offering an intimate look at the lives of LGBTQ individuals in rural Mexico. The documentary follows Mojica as he reconnects with his hometown and interviews locals, including Arturo Calderón, a rodeo clown who performs in drag, and Noé Margarito Zaragoza, a ranchero living discreetly as a gay man
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Originally published on Los Angeles Times on 1/30/2026