Mexicanos al Grito de Guerra

The film opens in the mid-1860s with Napoleon III gearing up to intervene in Mexico. General Almonte informs him that any invasion will require crossing the Atlantic and a lengthy campaign. This political backdrop sets the stage for Mexico’s struggle and the need for national unity.

Circa 1854, President Santa Anna launches a national anthem competition to rally the Mexican people. The challenge draws both composers and poets into a race to craft something grand and unifying. The stakes are high as the lyrics and music will become a symbol of national identity.

Lupe, Bocanegra’s cousin, urges him to write the anthem’s lyrics, insisting that a national song must move the hearts of the people. Bocanegra resists, fearing his poetry is more romantic than patriotic. The pressure of duty begins to override his reluctance.

Despite initial doubts, Bocanegra starts to draft after glimpsing items that awaken patriotic feeling. He realizes that true national imagery needs grandeur and unity. Days pass as he pours ideas onto the manuscript.

Lupe seals Bocanegra in a room to compel him to finish the lyrics, insisting that time is running out. He resists at first, but the surrounding symbols of patriotism push him toward completion. Eventually, he agrees to write and finalizes the draft.

After days, Bocanegra slides the manuscript under the door to Lupe and her father. The act marks a turning point as the lyric text begins to circulate among creators. Nuno soon receives Bocanegra's words and feels inspired to compose the music.

Jaime Nuno, initially uncertain of his own qualifications, is moved by Bocanegra's words to compose the music for the anthem. He wrestles with the melody and the patriotism it should evoke. The collaboration between lyricist and composer locks into a national project.

Lt. Luis Sandoval encounters Esther Dubois, daughter of the French ambassador Count Dubois of Saligny, and is smitten. He serenades her in the park when chance brings them together. The romance blooms amidst the era's political tension.

Esther and her friends plan to go to the Paseo de las Cadenas that evening. By chance, Esther's friend tosses a coin to Luis, who tries to return it but the man insists he keep it. The moment highlights a fleeting connection between them amid the era's tensions.

To fund additional troops, Santa Anna imposes a tax on windows and doors facing the street. The burden prompts residents to brick up gaps, effectively sealing houses against taxation. The act underscores the everyday strain of war on ordinary people.

In a pivotal battle, Luis grabs a trumpet and plays 'Mexicanos, al grito de guerra' to spur the Mexican soldiers. The stirring tune galvanizes the troops and they mount a fierce counterattack against the French. The moment fuses art and war into a single act of national resilience.

As the battle closes, Luis is shot, dying as his countrymen win a crucial victory. His love, Esther, escapes imprisonment in the chaos that follows, a bittersweet escape that mirrors the anthem’s enduring hope. The personal cost of national struggle is laid bare.