Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
2220 Arts + Archives, Los Angeles
Discos Rolas presents a special 50th anniversary screening of *Chulas Fronteras* (1976), newly restored in 4K and paired with the short *Del Mero Corazón* (1979). A performance by corrido singer-songwriter Gallo Armado (Monterrey, MX) will precede the screenings, and following them, filmmaker Maureen Gosling (editor of *Chulas Fronteras* and co-director of *Del Mero Corazón*) and Juan Antonio Cuéllar (longtime archivist of Arhoolie Records’ Frontera Collection) will join moderator Alexandra Lippman (Discos Rolas and Pomona College) for a discussion of the two films. The talk will be followed by DJ sets by Sonido Sabotaje (Monterrey, MX), Trucha Soul (Austin), and Sonido Sapo (LA). ∆ Directed by Les Blank and Chris Strachwitz, *Chulas Fronteras (Beautiful Borders)* celebrates the famed Mexican-American musicians of the borderlands, the migrant farming communities from which they come, the strong family bonds of Tejanos, and the social protest ethos inscribed in their music. From joyous, lively dance tunes to soulful, political work songs, musica norteña fuses traditional Mexican harmonies with central European dancehall rhythms. The film brims with tender affection for its subjects, the vitality of their marvelous music, and the generosity of spirit that they show in the face of hardship. *Del Mero Corazón (Straight from the Heart)*, directed by Les Blank and Maureen Gosling, is a lyrical journey through the heart of Chicano culture as reflected in the love songs of the conjunto tejano and musica norteña traditions. The film was constructed from outtakes from *Chulas Fronteras* and additional footage shot in California.