
Alberto Isaac
Directing
Biography
Alberto Isaac (18 March 1923 – 9 January 1998) was a Mexican freestyle swimmer and later a film director and screenwriter. He competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics and the 1952 Summer Olympics. In 1969, he directed the documentary film The Olympics in Mexico which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. In 1980 he was a member of the jury at the 30th Berlin International Film Festival. In 1987, he was a member of the jury at the 15th Moscow International Film Festival.
Known For

A terrible disease is found in a Mexican town. A doctor tries to alert the authorities when he discovers its epidemic nature. No one listen to him and soon after the disease spreads. The government tries to control the information in order to prevent panic.
The Year of the Plague

Documentary about the XIX Olympic Games in Mexico City in 1968. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment in 1999.
The Olympics in Mexico

When a young boy steals billiard balls from a local saloon, a stranger is charged with the crime. The local layabouts find there is no reason to hang out at the bar without being able to shoot pool, and the boy entertains thoughts of forming a gang to steal more billiard balls in hopes of making money.
There Are No Thieves in This Village

The story runs in the 1940s Mexico City. A schoolboy (Carlos) falls in love with his best friend's mother (Mariana). Carlos is impressed because this family is not like the ordinary mexican families of the time, because they have many expensive American things, although they are not rich. The drama begins when Carlos gets out of school to go to declare his love to Mariana, and is discovered by his teachers.
Mariana Mariana

Narration of one of the bloodiest episodes of the Mexican national history, The Tragic Ten, beginning when General Victoriano Huerta sent to kill President Francisco I. Madero, Vice President José María Pino Suárez and Senator Belisario Dominguez. The film recreates the moment of the execution at the hands of Huerta and his accomplices Bernardo Reyes, Félix Díaz and Manuel Mondragón.
Cuartelazo

"Faith-healer" develops a cult-like following in 1920s Jalisco.
Nest of Virgins

A small Arizona town is plagued by violence created from the tension between Anglo and Mexican-American youths. Tony (Tom Nardini) is the idealistic new kid in school who tries to alleviate long-time tensions between the rival factions. The Mexican gang is led by Paco (Zooey Hall), a hot-tempered youth with good reason to resent some of his Caucasian counterparts due to past prejudices. Bruce (David Macklin) is the leader of the white gang. Patty McCormack and Joanna Frank are the female interests who become victims of the gang struggles. Tony, formerly from San Diego, attempts to change the attitudes of the polarized and violent groups. Simms (Russ Bender) is a bigoted educator who fans the flames of hate, and Wilson (Arthur Peterson) is the school principal who is helpless to stop the violence between the two factions.
The Young Animals

The 1970 finals saw the emergence of probably the greatest team the world has ever seen, in the all-conquering form of Brazil. Pelé was playing in his last finals and his touch, vision and goal prowess combined with Jairzinho's amazing feat of scoring in every round, propelled the Brazilians to an irresistible 4-1 final victory over an overwhelmed Italy.
The World at Their Feet

While trying to save the famous Tivoli burlesque theater, the participants uncover a web of commercial corruption.
Tivoli

A young architect returns from Europe to live in the house of his uncles and cousins, where someone pretends to be the Devil.
The Devil's Visitations

The 1970 finals saw the emergence of probably the greatest team the world has ever seen, in the all-conquering form of Brazil. Pelé was playing in his last finals and his touch, vision and goal prowess combined with Jairzinho's amazing feat of scoring in every round, propelled the Brazilians to an irresistible 4-1 final victory over an overwhelmed Italy.
Fútbol México 70

While being shuttled from her convent/boarding school to her wedding, a young lady of the upper classes is kidnapped by bandits. She gets to see the world and meet interesting people.
The Nights of Paloma

Tired of being mistreated by their husbands, Ema (Reyes Spindola), Clotilde (Elizarraras) and Chayo (Orozco) leave their past (children and husbands included) and begin an adventure that will take them to a cavernous cabaret in Guadalajara, a love affair with a hot-blooded young drug dealer and, finally, a popular and well decorated mexican restaurant in downtown L.A. In the middle, the three women will find their respective self-esteem and their true reasons for living.
Untamed Women

In the 1920s, Mexico was still in a state of near-chaos. Rebellions and revolutions had followed one after the other for decades. Though things were beginning to settle down some, it was still a time when one had the feeling that anything could happen.
The Days of Love

Two young emigres return home from USA to their family farm to visit for a week.
Tiempo de lobos

Based on real events during Christmas of 1944 in the Pacific coast port city of Manzanillo. Hotel manager Chinto loses his temper and assaults "Inés," the homosexual cook. Inés complains to the police, but when several patrolmen come to arrest Chinto, he pulls a pistol and shoots them. The authorities soon lay seige to the hotel; Chinto's employees, follow his orders without question and assist him in barricading the hotel's doors and windows.
¡Maten a Chinto!
El Pueblo Del Sol captures not only the visual delights of Mexico today, but also grasps the day-to-day life of a people in a land filled with future promise. One is mesmerized by rich images of such natural beauties as the Isla Contoy in the Caribbean, Copper Canyon in the Chihuahua Sierra, the Paricutin Volcano, and Ensenada's Bay. Short IMAX documentary.
People of the Sun

Based on a true story, it tells the story of opera singer Paco Sierra, who, realizing that the life of an artist does not provide him with enough money, plans and carries out a terrorist act: He assures the passengers of an airplane that he has placed a bomb.
¡Pum!

Mexican feature film