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.
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
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Innocent Voices (2004)
7.9/10
Director: Luis Mandoki
Starring: Carlos Padilla, Leonor Varela, Xuna Primus, Gustavo Munoz, Jose Maria Yazpik, Of...
Based on the autobiography of Oscar Orlando Torres this is the incredible and harrowing story of a young boy caught up in the vicious El Salvadoran ci... Read more
Japon (2002)
6.9/10
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Starring: Magdelena Flores, Alejandro Ferretis
Mexican director Carlos Reygadas' first film is a poetic, existential drama exploring life, death, truth and redemption by following a suicidal old ma... Read more
Juan of the Dead (2011)
6.5/10
Director: Alejandro Brugues
Starring: Alexis Diaz de Villegas, Jorge Molina, Andros Perugorria, Andrea Duro
Juan (Alexis Diaz Villegas) is a spindly, laid back Cuban who spends most of his time doing the occasional illegal odd job with his slacker best bud L... Read more
Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)
7.4/10
Director: Hector Babenco
Starring: William Hurt, Raul Julia, Sonia Braga
Two prisoners in a Latin American jail, one a Spartan revolutionary leader (Raul Julia), the other a movie-obsessed homosexual (Best Actor Academy Awa... Read more
La Tragedia de Macario (2005)
6.9/10
Director: Pablo Veliz
Starring: Tina Rodriguez, Rogelio Ramos, Victor Agustino
Determined to provide his wife with a better life, Macario (Rogelio Ramos) leaves his Mexican village to find work in the United States. This drama fo... Read more
Last Stop 174 (2009)
7.1/10
Director: Bruno Barreto
From the writer of the ground-breaking 'City of God' comes this fast-paced drama, set on the crime-ridden streets of Rio de Janeiro. Rigorously recon... Read more
Like Water for Chocolate (1992)
7.2/10
Director: Alfonso Arau
Starring: Lumi Cavazos, Marco Leonardi, Regina Torne
A delicious love story with exquisite comedy adapted from Laura Esquivel's best selling novel. Young Tita is forced to nurse her sick mother and, unti... Read more
Los Olvidados ( The Young and the Damned ) (1950)
8.8/10
Director: Luis Bunuel
Starring: Miguel Inclan, Roberto Cobo, Estela Inda, Alfonso Mejia
The best known film of Luis Bunuel's Mexican period, "Los Olvidados" looks unflinchingly at life in a festering Mexico City slum. A group of juvenile... Read more
Lower City (2005)
6.6/10
Director: Sergio Machado
Starring: Lazaro Ramos, Wagner Moura, Alice Braga
In the poorer part of Brazilian coastal town, Salvador de Bahia, two friends make a living running goods up and down the river. But their brotherly b... Read more