Movie Recommendations: The
following movies are either partially/all in
Spanish with subtitles in English, or are about Hispanic culture.
This list is intended
for parents, as many of the movies are borderline in terms of age
appropriateness.
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The Sea Within (Mar adentro): This
movie just came out on DVD and won many awards--excellent movie!!
Takes place in Spain, and is a beautiful, moving film based on a true
story. This is PG13. It is
appropriate for kids, but parents may wish to screen first as it deals
with
some controversial social/ethical issues.
Real Women Have Curves (PG13,
parental discretion)
This movie is absolutely fantastic, and is strongly recommended.
This is a
coming of age story of a Mexican-American high school-aged girl, and
her struggle to come to
terms with the differences between the culture she comes from and the
country
she lives in. Lots of material for interesting dinner table
discussion. FANTASTIC SOUNTRACK!
Balseros: A documentary about the fate of several Cubans who risk their lives to leave Cuba and find a new life in the USA. Kids might get bored, but a great flick for parents!
Quinceañera (PG) There is an
oldie
with this title, as well as a recent one put out in the 80's. The
80's one
is more appropriate for kids, and is rated PG. A bit fluffy, but
a nice introduction to Mexican-american culture.
Mi
Familia (R): Parents should screen first; parents may find this
film appropriate for 8th graders, with the one or two brief
adult-content scenes skipped over. Starring Jimmy Smits. This is
a fantastic movie for understanding some of the cultural and social
challenges facing first and second generation Mexican-Americans.
A multi-layered film--students will like the plot and the characters,
and parents can help them understand the deeper messages presented.
El Norte (Rated R for a a few
scenes with swearing/ explicit language in
Spanish, but no significant violence/sexual content. Parents
advised to
screen beforehand if considering allowing a child to watch.) This
is
considered a classic,
a powerful film with gorgeous cinematography. It
accounts the journey and fate of a brother and sister who flee for
their lives
from their home village in Guatemala, and find their way to a new life
in San
Diego. If you are used to happy Hollywood endings, prepare
yourselves...
La
Historia Oficial / The Official Story (NR/Not Rated): A classic
movie based on facts from Chile's infamous 'Dirty War' where thousands
of young people disappeared, victims of kidnapping, torture and murder
at the hands of a hard-line regime. The children of these victims
were often put up for adoption. This movie is the story of one
such family. Recommended for parents and mature 8th graders--for
a really educational experience, do some searches to learn more about
Chile's Dirty War before viewing. Parents should screen prior to
viewing with kids.
Frida: this is very much an 'R'
film, and
is not appropriate for 8th graders. However, for parents it is a
must, and you may share parts of it with a child as it is brimming with
Mexican culture and visuals. There are tons of web sites about
Kahlo and Rivera, which I recommend you browse before watching the
film. AWARD-WINNING SOUNDTRACK.
Fresa y
Chocolate (Strawberry and Chocolate): this one is also for
parents. Cuban film, critically acclaimed, about the relationship
between a gay man and a straight man in Cuba--a complex film full of
social and ethical issues...
Selena ~ enough said! Kids
will love it.
A Day Without a Mexican: Rated R, highly recommended for parents--may be appropriate for students with a few "edits". This is a funny movie based on a screen play. It asks the question "What would happen to California if every Hispanic suddenly vanished?" In this movie, every Latino suddenly disappears, and chaos ensues. A silly movie with serious underlying messages about discrimination, immigration and culture.
Los Olvidados (The Forgotten Ones / The Young
and the Damned) NR/No Rating. This film is powerful -- screen it
first before deciding if you will show it to kids. This is a 1950
low-budget, black and white film studied in film classes all over the
world. It is considered a masterpiece. No happy endings
here. But, a must for parents, especially if you are interested
in international cinema!