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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.

Bailar Para Vivir ( aka Dancing For Life ) (2003)

7.6/10
Director: Cordelia Dvorak

In this extraordinary documentary, 11 Mexico City residents ranging from 16 to 85 years of age find pride and escape by pursuing the art of dance. Sur... Read more

Battle in Heaven (2005)

5.7/10
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Starring: Marcos Hernandez, Anapola Mushkadiz, Bertha Ruiz, David Bornstein

Marcos is the chauffeur of a general with a secret that only he and his wife know - they kidnapped a baby for ransom, and the child died in their care... Read more

Behind the Sun (2001)

7.7/10
Director: Walter Salles
Starring: Ravi Ramos Lacerda, Rodrigo Santoro

Walter Salles ("Central Station") helmed this powerful drama set in the Brazilian badlands in 1910, where a feud between two families boils over into... Read more

Birds of Passage (2018)

7.6/10
Director: Ciro Guerra
Starring: Carmiña Martínez

DescriptionThe origins of the Colombian drug trade, as seen through eyes of an indigenous Wayuu family that becomes involved in the booming business o... Read more

Black God, White Devil (1964)

7.4/10
Director: Glauber Rocha
Starring: Joao Gama, Geraldo Del Rey

A masterwork, 'Black God, White Devil' blends mysticism, religion, and popular culture, into a powerful, bleak and cruel epic, that unashamedly expres... Read more

Black Orpheus (1959)

7.5/10
Director: Marcel Camus
Starring: Breno Mello, Marpessa Dawn, Lea Garcia

This extravagant explosion of colour and sounds is a modern re-enactment of Orpheus and Eurydice's tragic tale against the splendid backdrop of Carniv... Read more

Bombon (2004)

7.1/10
Director: Carlos Sorin
Starring: Juan Villegas, Walter Donado, Gregorio the Dog

52-year-old Patagonian Juan 'Coco' Villegas has been a petrol attendant for 20 years when he suddenly finds himself unemployed. He does odd jobs and... Read more

Bus 174 (2002)

7.9/10
Director: Jose Padilha

On June 12, 2000 a lone gunman, seemingly insane or drugged, hijacked a bus in Rio de Janeiro as authorities - and television cameras - surrounded the... 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

Carandiru (2003)

7.6/10
Director: Hector Babenco
Starring: Rodrigo Santoro, Milton Goncalves, Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos, Maria Luisa Mendonca...

Carandiru, Brazil's largest correctional facility. Built to house 3,000 inmates, it is home to over 7,000 murderers, rapists, drug addicts and crimina... Read more