The main entrance of Chapter in the distance, with some plants in the foreground.

Film

The ART OF ACTION: The Bat Woman

adv15
  • 1968
  • Mexico

Free

Coming soon

Attributes

  • Directed by René Cardona
  • Origin Mexico
  • Year 1968
  • Certificate adv15
  • Type Film

Fierce female wrestlers Loreta Venus and The Golden Rubi find themselves caught in a whirlwind of dark magic. The pair wind up pitted against the Panther Women, a glamorous and satanic cult of werepanthers waging relentless war against the descendants of the druid who once killed their ancient leader. With the mesmerizing exotic dancer and vedette Tongolele adding to the intrigue, we are treated to adose of pulp thrills and high-energy action. A delightful blend of gothic horror with the world of lucha libre, featuring a knock-off version of El Santo and a bevy of bloodthirsty, impeccably made-up wrestlers.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective. Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.

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She Packs a Punch

We plunge into the wild world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with this fantastic double bill with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era. While these titles lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. Thanks to our friends Invisible Women and TAPE Collective these films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

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