Latin America Cinema
By Alice's definition, Latin America includes all the films we have from Mexico and South America.
Largely represented here are the films of Mexico and Brazil, but there are also treasures from Argentina, Cuba and Colombia.
Many of these films are set against a political or religious backdrop, particularly those from South America. For example the searing social commentary of 'City of God' leaves the viewer not only with the memory of an electrifying and well-crafted film but an insight into the harsh realities of Brazilian street kids. Celebrated film maker Hector Babenco did the same with the brutal but incredible, Pixote (1981), then turned to political prisoners with the fantastic 'Kiss of the Spiderwoman' (1985).
Mexican films defy categorisation and cover subjects from dog fights ('Amores Perros') to young love ('Y Tu Mama Tambien') to sci-fi ('Cronos). Robert Rodriguez began his career here with 'El Mariachi'. New talents emerging include Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Alex de la Iglesia, and Guillermo del Toro who like Rodriguez has already made the move to Hollywood.
To find films from a specific country use the By Country link to the left.
Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)
7.7/10
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Starring: Maribel Verdu, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna
Aka "And Your Mother Too". A raunchy, yet emotionally layered and keenly observed coming-of-age tale in which two Mexican teens - wealthy Tenoch and w... Read more
Central Station (1998)
8/10
Director: Walter Salles
Starring: Fernanda Montenegro, Vinicius De Oliveira, Marilia Pera
This extremely well made, touching Brazilian drama follows a young boy whose mother is killed near Rio de Janeiro's central train station. Befriended... Read more
I Am Cuba (1964)
8/10
Director: Mikhail Kalatozov
Unseen by the West for nearly 30 years, this unusual Cuban/Soviet co-production was meant to help train Cuban filmmakers and build support for Castro'... Read more
Cabeza De Vaca (1993)
7/10
Director: Nicolas Echevarria
Starring: Juan Diego, Daniel Gimenez Cacho, Roberto Sosa
A visually spellbinding biography of the Spanish explorer Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, the sole survivor of a 16th century Spanish shipwreck off the co... Read more
The Exterminating Angel (1962)
8.2/10
Director: Luis Bunuel
Starring: Silvia Pinal, Jacqueline Andere, Claudio Brook
Louis Bunuel's masterpiece tells the story of guests invited to a lavish dinner party who find they are unable to leave at the end of the evening. A m... Read more
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)
8.2/10
Director: Juan Jose Campanella
Starring: Ricardo Darin, Javier Godino, Pablo Rago, Guillermo Francella, Soledad Villamil
Aka "El Secreto de sus Ojos". Benjamin (Ricardo Darin, "Nine Queens"), a retired court employee, decides to write a book about an old murder case that... Read more
Machuca (2004)
7.8/10
Director: Andres Wood
Starring: Matias Quer, Ariel Mataluna, Manuela Martelli, Aline Kuppenheim, Federico Luppi
In 1973 Chile's democratically-elected socialist government was overthrown by a US-led coup that initiated the ruthless dictatorship of Augusto Pinoch... Read more
Embrace of the Serpent (2015)
7.9/10
Director: Ciro Guerra
Starring: Brionne Davis, Antonio Bolivar, Jan Bijvoet, Nilbio Torres
An Amazonian shaman, the lone survivor of his tribe, is the commanding central presence in this hypnotic reversal of the jungle-explorer genre by Colo... Read more
Aquarius (2016)
7.6/10
Director: Kleber Mendonca Filho
Starring: Sonia Braga, Maeve Jinkings, Irandhir Santos
Clara (Sonia Braga - "Kiss of the Spider Woman"), a 65 year old widow and retired music critic, was born into a wealthy and traditional family in Reci... Read more
Son of the Bride (2001)
7.9/10
Director: Juan Jose Campanella
Starring: Norma Aleandro, Hector Alterio, Ricardo Darin
After a middle-aged restaurateur suffers a heart attack, he takes stock of his life and re-examines his relationships with his bitter ex-wife, his est... Read more