The women, all over fifty, receive shelter, food and medical
was roaming the streets looking for trade when she
and psychological care here in the only refuge for prostitutes
stumbled across two colleagues, both over sixty, sleeping
in Latin America. Located only eight blocks from the historic
on the street, with only some newspapers for warmth.
centre of Mexico City, Casa X lies in the heart of the notorious
For almost forty years, their existence had been erased
district of Tepito, a name that has been synonymous with
from the memories of their families and society.
crime, smuggling and prostitution for the last five hundred
Forty years in which they provided their services to
years. In that time, the neighborhood has repelled attacks from
butchers, porters, refuse collectors and criminals.
the Aztec Empire and the Spanish Conquistadors, as well as
Confronted with what she realized would be her own
the current authorities. The women of Casa X clearly occupy
fate, and striving for dignity for all her colleagues,
the lowest rung on the ladder of this microcosm.
Carmen Muñoz resolved to set up a home that would
A series of astonishingly candid interviews with the women
offer them safety and warmth in the twilight of their
of Casa X, by the Mexican writer Amanda de la Rosa, serve to
lives. Twelve years later, in 2006, supported by Mexican
complement Malcolm Venville’s photographs. These are the
intellectuals and artists, the government made available a
portraits and testimonies of thirty-five survivors with much
seventeenth century mansion, where Carmen established
to say about life in a Latin American slum, about sex, poverty,
Casa Xochiquetzal, known today as Casa X.
love and the darkest side of human nature.
malcolm venville the women of casa x
One night in Mexico City, Carmen Muñoz, a sex worker,
malcolm venville the women of casa x
Malcolm Venville
is a film director and photographer.
He graduated in film, video and photographic arts from The Polytechnic of Central London. Venville’s published work includes Layers, a monograph of photographic work, Lucha Loco, a collection of Lucha Libre wrestler portraits photographed in Mexico City and Dressed to Kill, a detailed study of 1920s fashion. His directorial feature film debut 44 Inch Chest, was followed by Henry’s Crime.
Amanda de la Rosa
was born in Texas. She majored
in Mass Communication and Literature in Mexico City and Florida. In the field of journalism she has been published in the Mexican and international media, such as National Geographic, Traveler, Travel & Leisure. She is also a screenwriter for television.
www.schiltpublishing.com
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