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.
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
The Motorcycle Diaries (2003)
7.8/10
Director: Walter Salles
Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Rodrigo De La Serna, Mia Maestro
From executive producer Robert Redford and acclaimed director Walter Salles ("Central Station") comes a love letter to a continent and its people. Bas... Read more
City of Men: The Complete Series (2002)
7.3/10
Director: Fernando Meirelles, Philippe Barcinski, Regina Case, etc
Starring: Douglas Silva, Darlan Cunha
Following the outstanding success of the Oscar-nominated 'City of God', the same team made this incredible 9-part series for Brazilian television. Fi... Read more
No (2012)
7.4/10
Director: Pablo Larrain
Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Alfredo Castro
Starring Gael García Bernal ("Amores Perros", "Y Tu Mama Tambien"), this is the inspiring, Oscar-nominated true story of the advertising executives wh... Read more
The House of Sand (2005)
Director: Andrucha Waddington
Starring: Fernanda Montenegro, Fernanda Torres
In 1910 Aurea and her mother arrive in the Brazilian town of Maranhao where her husband believes he'll find prosperity in the barren desert. As the fa... 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
Alamar (2009)
7.3/10
Director: Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio
Starring: Natan Palombini, Jorge Machado
Before his 5-year-old son, Natan, returns to Rome with his mother, Jorge is determined to teach him about their Mayan roots. Together, they journey to... Read more
Amores Perros (2000)
8.1/10
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Goya Toledo, Emilio Echevarria
A.k.a. "Love's A Bitch". Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu makes his directorial debut in an honest, raw, unapologetic look at the total human experience. S... Read more
Men With Guns (1998)
7.6/10
Director: John Sayles
Starring: Federico Luppi, Damian Alcazar, Tania Cruz
From writer/director John Sayles comes this sobering and politically awakening film about a recently widowed doctor who returns to an unnamed Latin Am... Read more
Elsa and Fred (2007)
Director: Marcos Carnevale
Starring: China Zorilla, Manuel Alexandre
A story about two elderly people who, at the end of the road, discover that it's never too late to love. Elsa is 82-years-old and for the past 60 year... Read more