This book is the chronicle of a twofold discovery: in 1931, Sergei Eisenstein discovered Mexico, and at the same time he discovered himself. Like D.H. Lawrence"s, Eisenstein"s rendering of Mexico becomes a self-portrait. Upon filming the scenes of his unfinished masterpiece "Que Viva Mexico", the Russian director discovered a buried aspect of himself: both the violence of erotic passion and a fascination in the face of death. (From the Publisher"s notes on rear panel.)