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5-star movies

Llévate mis amores
There are so many movies about immigration into the U.S., most of which are not very good.  This one is a lovely exception - it is a documentary, which helps, and it is a mix of heart-breaking and inspiring, I highly recommend it!

I, The Worst Of All
This magnificent portrayal of 17th Century Mexico tells of the adult life of the brilliant and beautiful poet Sister Juana Ines de la Cruz.  In order to pursue her love of writing, Juana enters the convent and gains international renown.  When the Inquisition comes, the Spanish Viceroy and his wife become Juana's protectors but their power is limited.  A bishop betrays her and her confessor humbles her.  The Plague, a tribunal, and her confession as "the worst of all" end the great poet's life.

El Fotógrafo De Mauthausen 
Based on real events, Francesc Boix is a Spaniard inmate in the Nazi concentration camp of Mauthausen in Austria who tries to save the evidences of the horrors committed inside its walls.  Intense, sad, horrific, and inspiring.  

Mi Obra Maestra
This comedy-drama centers on the complex professional relationship and years-long friendship of a cranky painter and a crafty gallery owner.  I found it fun, funny, sad, touching, and unexpected.   The characters seemed real to me and they grew on me throughout the film.  I loved it. 

The Flower Of My Secret
For 20 years, Leo Macias has had success writing popular romance novels in Madrid under the pseudonym Amanda Gris. However, as of late she is unhappy with her professional life as well as with her husband, a soldier who she rarely sees.  This is where the movie kicks off and it is a fun ride all the way to the end.  Funny and sincere, a joy to watch.  

Como Agua Para Chocolate
Based on the best-selling novel by Laura Esquival, this romantic drama from Mexico centers on Tita, a young woman who discovers that her cooking has magical effects.  Tita is the youngest of three daughters in a traditional Mexican family.  Bound by tradition to remain unmarried while caring for her aging mother, Tita nevertheless falls in love with a handsome young man named Pedro.  Pedro returns her affection, but he cannot overcome her family's disapproval, and he instead marries Tita's sister.  The lovestruck young woman is brutally disappointed, and her sadness has such force that it infects her cooking: all who eat it her feel her heartbreak with the same intensity.  This newly discovered power continues to manifest itself after the wedding, as Tita and Pedro, overcome by their denied love, embark on a secret affair.  

Cronos
A mysterious device designed to provide its owner with eternal life resurfaces after four hundred years, leaving a trail of destruction in its path.  Like all Guillermo del Toro films I've seen, this film is dark and violent, yet with good prevailing evil in the end.  Disturbing for sure, but worth it!

La Mala Educación 
In the early 60s in Spain, two boys discover love, movies and fear in a Catholic school.  Father Manolo, the school principal and literature teacher, both witnesses and takes part in these discoveries. The three are followed through the next few decades, their reunion marking life and death.  This drama is INTENSE.

Before Night Falls
The life of Cuban poet and novelist Reynaldo Arenas, based on his memoir of the same name, which was published 3 years after his death in 1990.

100 Metros 
Based on the incredible true story of a Spanish man with multiple sclerosis who tried to finish an Iron-Man: 3,8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42 km running. And he was told that he could not make 100 meters.  As he trains with his hard-drinking, heart-broken father-in-law, both men are transformed.  This film is excellent - heart-wrenching and heart-warming.

Living Is Easy With Eyes Closed 
In Spain in 1966, an English teacher picks up two hitchhikers on his quest to meet John Lennon.  This is one of the few Spanish-language films that doesn't focus on drugs, gangs, or immigration.  Nor does it contain any gratuitous sex scenes.  And yet it is captivating!  It is endearing and fun, with great characters.  The ending leaves some to the imagination yet without being entirely unsatisfying (i.e., incomplete) like so many other Spanish-language films.  Highly recommended!

Elefante Blanco 
Two priests, the old veteran Father Julián and his new younger Belgian colleague, Father Nicolás, and the social worker Luciana, work in a slum area of Buenos Aires  to resolve the issues of the neighborhood’s society. Their work will have them face clerical hierarchy, organized crime, and government repression, risking their lives defending their commitment towards the people of the neighborhood and their chosen professions.

Tierra de Patagones 
The "Gauchos del Mar" brothers pursue their goal of surfing at one of the southernmost areas of the world - the uninhabited "Isla de los Estados". They travel by truck and sailboat and live in a tent across Patagonia for six months, sharing experiences with native people, exploring the endemic flora and fauna, and fighting against harsh weather conditions. This film is full of amazing landscapes and is set to an amazing soundtrack - I highly recommend it!

Los Secretos En Sus Ojos 
A retired legal counselor writes a novel hoping to find closure for one of his past unresolved homicide cases and for his unreciprocated love with his superior - both of which still haunt him decades later.  This murder-mystery is suspenseful, disturbing, moving, and entertaining throughout.

El Mar Adentro 
Ramón Sampedro is a Spanish ship mechanic and part-time poet who is left a quadriplegic after a diving accident.  This film tells the true story of Ramón's 30-year batlle for the legal right to end his own life.  He develops close relationships with many of those around him, some of whom support his wishes and others who try to convince him that his life is worth living.  This film manages to capture some of the struggles and heartaches of Ramón's condition, as well as some of life's beauty and the power of love.  

NO 
In this film, an ad executive comes up with a campaign to defeat Augusto Pinochet in Chile's 1988 referendum.  I highly recommend this fantastic film!  It is educational and entertaining at every moment.

Escuchando a Gabriel (Gabriel's Voice) 
Gabriel is a strange and solitary young man who was a brilliant piano player until his mother died and his father was sent to prison.  Sara is a violinist who moves into the same building where Gabriel lives.  Gabriel's father has just been released from jail but can't find the courage to meet his son after 16 years.  When Gabriel meets Sara and is reunited with his father, emotions surface in his isolated life, forcing him to deal with his past, present, and future.  Three wandering characters on their own personal roads who meet at a crossroads in their lives.  Around a missing piano and the world of music that surround it, they will have to find the hope and the motivation to love, live, and forgive.  A beautiful story about forgiveness and love.

Broken Embraces
In Madrid, Harry Caine is a blind screenwriter, assisted by Judit and her son Diego.  The past comes rushing in when Harry learns of the death of Ernesto Martel, a wealthy businessman, prompts his son to pay Harry a visit.  In a series of flashbacks, we watch as Harry, who was at that time a director, as he falls in love with Ernesto's mistress, Lena, and casts her in a film, which Ernesto finances.  Ernesto is jealous and obsessive, sending his son to follow and film Lena and Mateo.  Judit doesn't like Lena for reasons that are revealed toward the end of the film.  It's a collision course and a wild ride filled with passion, obsession, wealth, jealousy, family, guilt, sorrow, and creativity.   The only thing I disliked about this movie is that, like most Spanish-language movies I've seen, the viewer is left wondering about several important details...

La Camioneta 
Every day dozens of decommissioned school buses leave the United States on a southward migration to Guatemala where they are repaired, repainted, and resurrected as the brightly-colored camionetas that bring the vast majority of Guatemalans to work each day.  Since 2006, nearly 1,000 camioneta drivers and fare-collectors have been murdered for either refusing or being unable to pay the extortion money demanded by local Guatemalan gangs.  This film follows one such bus on its transformative journey: a journey between North and South, between life and death, and through an unfolding collection of moments, people, and places that serve to quietly remind us of the interconnected worlds in which we live.

Karen Cries On The Bus
Karen abandons a failing marriage with no job, friends, or money, but is fortunate to befriend a wild hairdresser who helps her discover a new vivacious self.  While this movie didn't end as I had hoped (i.e., Hollywood ending), it is fantastic through and through.

El Viaje de Carol
Carol, a 12-year-old Spanish-American girl from New York, travels with her mother to Spain at the height of the Spanish civil war, where her American father is helping to fight Franco's military regime near Madrid.  A wrenching and beautiful drama.

El Crimen de Padre Amaro 
Father Amaro is a young Catholic priest whose mentor, the Bishop, sends to the small rural community to assist Father Benito.  To his shock, Amaro discovers Benito that is having an affair with Sanjuanera, a woman who runs a local restaurant, and he's been helping a drug dealer launder his profits in exchange for large donations to the church.  Amaro soon discovers his own weaknesses when he falls in love with Amelia, Sanjuanera's teenage daughter.  As Amelia finds herself falling for Amaro, she breaks off her relationship with Ruben, a newspaper reporter.  Ruben responds by publishing a story which reveals the details of Benito's dealings with the drug dealers.  As Amaro tries to distance himself from the growing scandal, he receives shocking news from Amelia when he learns she's pregnant with his child.  See what happens next in the highest-grossing Mexican film ever in its native country!  

Fidel 
Whether dismissed as a relic or revered as a savior, many agree that Fidel Castro is one of the most influential and controversial figures of our time.  Juxtaposing the personal anecdotal with history of the Cuban revolution and the fight to survive the post-Soviet period, this documentary offers a unique opportunity to view Fidel Castro through exclusive interviews with Castro himself, historians, public figures, and close friends.  Educational and entertaining - loved it!

Nostalgia Por La Luz
This documentary takes place in Chile's Atacama Desert, where astronomers examine distant galaxies, archaeologists uncover traces of ancient civilizations, and women dig for the remains of disappeared relatives. This film combines incredible music and visuals with true events and real people - it is beautiful and moving - and highly recommended!

Crude 
This documentary tells the epic story of one of the largest and most controversial legal cases on the planet. An inside look at the infamous $27 billion "Amazon Chernobyl" case, this film is a real-life, high stakes legal drama involving global politics, the environmental movement, celebrity activism, human rights advocacy, multinational corporate power, and the fate of disappearing indigenous cultures. Subverting the conventions of advocacy filmmaking, this award-winning film explores a complex situation from all angles, bringing an important story of environmental peril and human suffering into focus.  An eye-opening and informative call to action!

Even The Rain (Tambien La Lluvia) 
This film tells the tale of Mexican director Sebastián and executive producer Costa who travel to Bolivia to shoot a film depicting Christopher Columbus' conquest.  Sebastián and Costa unexpectedly land themselves in a moral crisis when they and their crew arrive at Cochabamba, Boliva during the intensifying 2000 Cochabamba protests, which their key native actor Daniel persistently leads.  An informative, impactful, enjoyable film!

4-star movies

La Chana
The film brings us into the mind and heart of La Chana, a talented Gypsy flamenco dancer as she returns to the stage to give a final seated performance after a 30-year break. Along the way, we learn about her rise to fame and her disappearance when she was at the peak of her career.

El Pastor
Anselmo is a middle age shepherd, lives a poor but happy life in a small run down house in a middle of the Spanish plains, near a small, but growing village. His dog Pillo and his sheep are his only company. When Anselmo rejects the offers he receives from a construction company who wants to buy land to build a new residential and commercial complex creates conflict, with greed, fear, and anger bubbling over into violence.

El Museo
In 1985, a group of criminals mock the security of the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City to extract 140 pre-Hispanic pieces from their showcases.​

Vivir Dos Veces
A retired mathematics professor tries to find the love of his youth after being diagnosed with Alzheimer'

El Cantar De Los Grillos
This movie follows the pilgrimage taken by a young Chilean boy after his father's death.  Sweet but somewhat unrealistic.  Not a lot of dialog.

23 Segundos
Emiliano is a socially awkward windshield washer who works at the same intersection each day.  One day, an incident occurs at the intersection that changes his life forever.   A very interesting and unexpected movie with a satisfying ending.

La Distancia Más Larga
After his mother dies, a young Venezuelan boy runs away on a journey to meet his grandmother.  While some of the events are a little too perfect to believe, this is an entertaining, thought-provoking, and heart-warming film.

La Red Avispa
The true story of five Cuban political prisoners who had been imprisoned by the United States since the late 1990s on charges of espionage and murder.  I found the movie to be quite interesting and entertaining.

Gatos Viejos
This drama takes place in Chile and revolves around Isadora, an elderly widow who lives with her new husband and whose mental health is failing.  Her wayward daughter continues to try to get money from her to fuel her drug habit, not realizing the declining state of her mother's health.  It all comes to a head when the daughter tries to get Isadora to sign her condo over to her.  Like most Spanish-language films, the ending is left open-ended, which I didn't particularly mind this time.  The characters had enough depth the keep me engaged throughout.

De Lengua Me Como Un Plato
This old school move from 1990 does not have subtitles so I only recommend it for very advanced Spanish speakers.  The entire film takes place in and around an apartment complex, following the intertwined lives of the tenants, with special focus on a particularly gossipy woman, her pious daughter, and a pious couple.  It's pretty campy but somehow endearing and enjoyable.  

Ciudidando Ilustre 
A recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature who has been living in Europe for decades accepts an invitation to receive a prize in his home town in Argentina, where he finds both similarities and irreconcilable differences with the people of his hometown, as well as inspiration for his next novel!

I Dream In Another Language 
A young linquist travels to the jungle of Mexico to research and save an indigenous language of which there are only three surviving speakers.  The language is at the point of disappearing since two of the last three speakers had a fight fifty years ago and refuse to speak a word with each other. Trying to bring the two old friends back together, he discovers that hidden in the past, in the heart of the jungle, lies a secret concealed by the language that makes it difficult to believe that the heart of  the language will beat once again.  The movie is pretty interesting and fairly captivating, albeit cheesy and predictable at times.

Pain and Glory 
Pain and Glory tells of a series of re-encounters - some of them in the flesh and others remembered - 
experienced by Salvador Mallo, a film director in his physical decline.  Pain and Glory speaks to creation, the difficulty of separating it from one's own life and about the passions that give it meaning and hope.  In recovering his past, Salvador finds the urgent need to recount it, and in that need he also finds his salvation.  I found this film to be entertaining, thought-provoking, touching, and surprising. 

The Headless Woman 
This film is centered around Vero, an Argentinean bourgeois woman, and how her life slowly twists out of control after she hits something, or someone, with her car.  Although Vero seems indifferent about the situation, it is clear that it has a toll on it as she acts different from the Vero that we saw briefly at the beginning of the film.  She acts clumsy and out of place, barely saying anything, and when she does, it doesn't always make sense.  She and her friends and family take steps to clear all traces of the accident, though there are also clues that suggest that she might not have hit a person.  This film has a lot of recurring images and themes, and many clues along the way, yet no definitive answer as to what Vero hit with her car.  I found this film fascinating and worth the watch!

Return to Cuba 
After 18 years living in Italy, the Cuban Barbara Ramos returns to live in her homeland. In the town of Santa Clara, she discovers through her own projects and the projects of family and friends what has changed in Cuba but also what has not and will likely never change. Shot over a period of three years - the time it took Barbara to build her dream house - this documentary chronicles her life in the wake of Raul Castro's liberal reforms and reconciliation with the United States. A light-hearted yet realistic film demonstrating that finding happiness is possible in today's Cuba!

The Prize (El Premio) 
Under a military dictatorship, a mother and daughter flee Buenos Aires for the seclusion of an Argentine beachside cottage. When young Cecilia joins a nearby school, she is incorporated into the political turmoil through a patriotic essay contest sponsored by the army.  Moving and entertaining to the max.  O only wish the film revealed a bit more of the backstory. 


La Hija Del General 
Michelle Bachelet's father was a Chilean Air Force General who opposed the military coup against then-president Allende by General Pinochet.  For this, he was imprisoned and tortured.  After his death in prison, his wife and daughter, Michelle, were also imprisoned and tortured for a time.  In addition to giving an account of those events, this short documentary tells the story of Michelle Bachelet's ascent to become the first female president of Chile.


Off Course (Perdiendo el norte) 
Two young Spanish men with university educations are tired of unemployment and decide to move to Germany; but they soon find that finding a better living is not as easy as they expected.  A fairly predictable romantic comedy, this movie will not change your life.  However, it is light-hearted yet heartfelt and is a great one for practicing your Spanish comprehension.  

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown 
Pepas's lover, Iván, leaves her and she tries to contact him to find out why he's left and to tell him something important.  In her search for Iván, she confronts another former lover of his and his son, who are as clueless as she is.  Meanwhile; Candela, her friend, is afraid the police might be looking for her because of her ex-boyfriend's criminal activities. As the plot develops, it is revealed that everyone's lives are more intertwined than they could have ever expected.  A fun watch.

Neruda
An inspector hunts down Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, who becomes a fugitive in his home country in the late 1940s for joining the Communist Party.  Part fact, part fantasy, this film is artistic and entertaining, yet a bit hard to understand at times.

Verónica
A female psychologist who has stopped practicing decides to take the case of Veronica de la Serna, a young woman whose previous therapist has mysteriously disappeared.  This psychological thriller will keep you guessing throughout.  Somewhat disturbing, very interesting.

Whisky
When his long-lost brother comes to visit, socially awkward Jacobo,asks an employee at his sock factory, to pose as his wife.  This film is slow-moving at first but picks up after the first 30 minutes and ends up being quite entertaining.  As with the vast majority of Spanish-language films I've seen, it ends with many questions left unanswered.

10,000 Km
A couple split between Los Angeles and Barcelona struggles to remain connected via technology, as the distance threatens to tear them apart.  This romantic drama felt quite realistic to me, which I appreciated.  I sympathized with both characters and was satisfied by the ending.

The German Doctor
The true story of an Argentine family who lived with Josef Mengele without knowing his true identity, and of a girl who fell in love with one of the biggest criminals of all time.  Suspenseful and disturbing.

Julieta
After a chance meeting, middle-aged Julieta learns that her long-lost daughter has resurfaced in Madrid.  This begins a painful reflection by Julieta into her painful past, flashing back to the moments that defined her current life.  This drama is directed by Spanish master Pedro Almodóvar.  Like the vast majority of Spanish-language films, it leaves the ending open for interpretation; however, the ending was not as abrupt as some and left me feeling hopeful.

Siempre Hay Un Camino A La Derecha
Juan and Pepe, two men on the verge of committing suicide, find themselves immersed in a reality TV program where they attempt to redirect their lives.  Cheesy and unrealistic, yet unpretentious and funny.

El Faro De Las Orcas
A mother brings her autistic son from Spain to Argentina looking to help her son connect with his emotions by interacting with orcas.  Meanwhile, the divorced mother begins to connect emotionally with the man who works with the orcas.  This is a touching drama that is based on a real-life story.  As with most Spanish-language films, the ending is a bit open-ended but implied.

Mr. Kaplan
Mr. Kaplan is a dark comedy addressing family, aging, and the drive for significance.  Jacob Kaplan, one of many Jews who fled Europe for South America during World War II, lives an ordinary life in Uruguay.  Now 76, he begins to question his contributions to the world.  After learning of a mysterious German prowling the shores of a nearby beach, he becomes convinced that he's found a Nazi in hiding and plans to expose him.  Combining a potent mixture of emotional depth and deadpan comedy, this film is unpredictable, entertaining, and endearing.

The Devil's Backbone
After Carlos - a 12-year-old whose father has died in the Spanish Civil War - arrives at a boys' orphanage, he discovers the school is haunted and has many dark secrets that he must uncover.  This movie is entertaining and unpredictable, creepy with little regard for the Hollywood happy ending!

Land and Shade (La Tierra y La Sombra)
In this Colombian drama, an old farmer returns to his home where the woman who was once his wife still lives with his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, because his son is gravely ill.  His house is now surrounded by large sugar cane plantations which produce ash that worsens, and most likely was the cause of, the illness. Now, Alfonso will try to regain the love of his family and take care of them.

The Amazing Catfish
Claudia, a lonely young woman, works in a supermarket. One night, she ends up in the hospital with a severe case of appendicitis. There, she meets Martha, the woman resting in the bed next to hers. Martha, who is suffering from AIDS and lives alone with her four children, offers Claudia to go home with them when they are both released from the hospital. As Martha's health weakens every day the bond Claudia has with her and each other member of the family grows stronger.  This Mexican drama starts out a bit slow but ultimately is very touching!

Acapulco La Vida Va 
Three old friends in their 70s decide to go to Acapulco like they did 50 years ago.  Antolin, happily married, is a hyperchondriac whose suitcase is filled with medications.  Justo is a perpetual bachelor who chases after younger women.  Mariano is a successful engineer who has recently been diagnosed with brain cancer and hopes to reunite with his lost love from Acapulco.  I was frustrated by the lack of explanation as to why Mariano never married his love from Acapulco and the lack of dialogue he and she had about this matter once they reunited.  Nonetheless, this is a funny and sweet film worth watching.

No Manches Frida 
In this charming comediy, a recently released bank robber who goes to recover stolen money buried by his ditzy accomplice while he served time in jail.  They return to the site only to find that Frida Kahlo High has built a gymnasium over the loot. To get the money, he poses as a substitute teacher for the school.  While unrealistic at times, this is a funny and entertaining film all the way through and is great for practicing/learning Spnaish!

Bananas!* 
On behalf of Nicaraguan banana workers, a Cuban-born lawyer living in L.A. takes on Dole Food in a ground-breaking legal battle for their use of a banned pesticide that was known by the company to cause sterility.  While a larger portion of this documentary is in English, there is a decent amount of Spanish as well.  Eye-opening, suspensful, and in turns hopeful and discouraging.

The Maid (La Nana) 
Raquel has worked as the only maid for over 20 years an affluent Chilean household.  She does not have a warm personality nor a sense of humor and is particularly harsh toward one of the daughters.  When the mother brings in other maids to help with the workload, Raquel begins acting out, behaving rudely toward the other maids, and showing signs of deteorating health.  However, things begin to change for the positive when one particularly unique, kind-hearted and humorous maid joins the household.

Heli 
Heli must try to protect his young family when his 12-year-old sister inadvertently involves them in the brutal drug world.  He must battle against the drug cartel that has been angered, as well as the corrupt police force.  I'm not certain how realistic this story is, but it certainly held my interest all the way through.  Beware it is quite violent and graphic.

Aquí Entre Nos 
Tired of being taken for granted by his boss, Rodolfo wakes up one morning and decides not to go to work. This decision brings to light and to head several issues brewing within Rodolfo's marriage and family, and craziness ensues!  This is a charming, funny film - very enjoyable!

Octubre 
Clemente, a moneylender of few words, is a new hope for Sofía, his single neighbor.  They're brought together over a new-born baby, fruit of Clemente's relationship with a prostitute who's nowhere to be found.  While Clemente is looking for the girl's mother, Sofía cares for the baby.  With the arrival of these beings in his life, Clemente has the opportunity to reconsider his emotional relations with people.  My only complaint is that, like the vast majority of Spanish-language films I've seen, the ending is left open-ended.

La Tigra, Chaco 
One of the rare Spanish-language films I've seen that did not have drugs or violence as a prevalent theme!  However, the ending left us hanging - like the vast majority of other Spanish-language films I've seen.  This is a sweet film that was enjoyable to watch but not particularly impactful.

Gloria 
Gloria is a divorcée whose two adult children have left home.  Determined to defy old age and loneliness, she attends a whirl of singles parties.  When she eventually meets Rodolfo, an ex-naval officer seven years her senior to whom she feels romantically inclined, she begins to imagine a permanent relationship.  However, the encounter presents unexpected challenges and Gloria gradually finds herself being forced to confront her own dark secrets.  This is a story of fragile hopes and painful truths, and a strong woman who manages to assert her strength and independence in spite of a maelstrom of conflicting feelings.  I found this tragicomedy to be very entertaining, surprising, and even touching at times.    

Looking For Fidel 
This 2004 documentary by Oliver Stone consists of interviews withe the Cuban leader Fidel Castro as well as several political dissidents.  The film specifically focuses on the 2003 crackdown on dissidents in Cuba and the execution of three men who attempted to hijack a ferry to the U.S.

Maria Full of Grace 
In this drama, a pregnant Colombian teenager becomes a drug mule to make some desperately needed money for her family.  This story is eye-opening, shocking, and moving.  I was frustrated with Maria's immaturity and never-ending bad decisions, and thus did not connect with her personally as a character; however, the story itself and the supporting characters were fantastic.

Biutiful 
Uxbal, single father of two children, finds his life in chaos as he is tries to escape the heat of crime in underground Barcelona, to cope with the manic depressive, abusive mother of his children, and to face his diagnosis with terminal cancer. This is a heart-wrenching, intense film, as per usual for Iñárritu, but also per usual for Iñárritu, it is worth it! 

Clandestine Childhood 
After years of exile in Cuba, Juan and his family come back to Argentina in 1979 under fake identities.  Juan's parents and uncle are members of the Montoneros Organization, which is fighting against the Military Junta that rules the country.  Because of their political activities they are being tracked down relentlessly, and the threat of capture and even death is constant.  This is a story about militancy, undercover life, and love. 

Viva Cuba 
In this Cuban tale, the friendship between two children is threatened by their parents' differences. Malu is from an upper-class family and her single mother does not want her to play with Jorgito, whose background is more commonplace. Jorgito's mother is a poor socialist who is proud of her family's social standing and places similar restriction on her son. When the children learn that Malu's mother is planning to leave Cuba, they decide to travel to the other side of the island to find Malu's father and persuade him against signing the forms that would allow it. The disappearance of both children bring their two mothers closer together.  I found this story to be touching, and enjoyable through and through.

A Place Called Los Pereyra 
This movie tells the story of the schooldchildren in an isolated, impoverished village in Argentina who are visited by a group of wealthy teenage girls for a week-long charity mission. Somewhat depressing to see the great need of Los Pereyra, but also inspiring to see the connections made between the girls and the villagers and the help and joy they were able to bring. 

El Alma De Las Moscas 
A magic realism tale of two brothers who meet for the first time on the way to their father's funeral, who they never knew.  Very imaginative, poetic, thoughtful, and funny!  A little strange at times, but not so much that it is off-putting.  Very likeable characters, with good musical and visual 
accompanyment.   

All About My Mother 
The film centers on Manuela, a nurse who oversees donor organ transplants in Madrid and a single mother to Esteban, a teenager who wants to be a writer and wants to know the story of his absentee father.  When Esteban dies tragically, Manuela quits her job and journeys to Barcelona, where she hopes to find her son's father, Lola, a transvestite she kept secret from her son, just as she never told Lola they had a son.  In Barcelona, Manuela reunites with her old friend Agrado, a warm and witty transvestite prostitute. She also meets and becomes deeply involved with several other characters, including a young nun who is carrying another child of Lola's.  Not as disturbing as some other Almodovar films I've seen, while still touching on some less common themes in a sensitive and entertaining way. 

Requiem NN -
This short documentary is set in Puerto Berrio, Colombia, whose citizens have lived continuous cycles of violence for many decades.  The recovery of bodies from the Magdalena River, their burial, the "adoption" of them and the favors people ask from the souls of the NN ("No Names"), is a collective ritual that has taken place for over 30 years.  Juan Manuel Echavarria began photographing the graves in Puerto Berrio in November 2006 and this film is one of the results of this investigation.  This sad and visually stunning film gives a glimpse into an unusual custom and a sad existence of many in the region around Puerto Berrios.

Motorcycle Diaries  
This is a biopic about the journey and written memoir of the young Ernesto Guevara, who would later become internationally known as the iconic Marxist guerrilla commander and revolutionary Che Guevara.  The film recounts the 1952 expedition, initially by motorcycle, across South America by Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado.  As the adventure unfolds, Guevara discovers himself transformed by his observations on the life of the impoverished indigenous peasantry.  An entertaining and moving film.

Hermano 
Raised as brothers, teammates, and competitors on the soccer field, the gregarious, Julio and Daniel have remained virtually inseparable ever since the newborn Daniel was found abandoned in a trash heap in their La Ceniza slum.  The opportunity of their lives arrives when a soccer scout invites them to try out for the city's top professional team, just as a tragic act of violence threatens to tear them apart and prevent them from achieving their dreams.  An entertaining and moving film.

Amores Perros 
This movie is a triptych - an anthology film containing three distinct stories which are connected by a car accident.  Each of the three tales is also a reflection on the cruelty of humans toward animals and each other.  Violent, suspenseful, disturbing - this movie is INTENSE and will have you on the edge of your seat.

Stranded 
On October 13, 1972, a young rugby team from Uruguay boarded a plane for a match in Chile—and then vanished into thin air. Two days before Christmas, 16 of the 45 passengers miraculously resurfaced. They managed to survive for 72 days after their plane crashed on a remote Andean glacier. Thirty-five years later, the survivors returned to the crash site to recount their story of defiant endurance and indestructible friendship. Tragic, disturbing, and thought-provoking, this film will leave your mind running for days.  It was hard to believe at times and hard to watch at others - it is amazing to think it is all true! While I was glad to come to know of this group's story, I could not watch this film again - it is simply too difficult and disturbing.

La Demora 
Maria is a middle-aged, single mother of three who also cares for her elderly father, whose mental health is deteriorating such that Maria explores the possibility of him living with another relative or in some kind of care facility.  When neither of those options pans out, Maria makes a drastic decision...

The Garden 
This documentary captures the explosive turn of events when greedy developers, inept politicians, and self-serving 'community' leaders run roughshod over the lives of working-class families fighting to save the largest urban farm in the U.S., which is located in Los Angeles.  Cameos by Danny Glover, Daryl Hannah, and L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.  This is a great film - the only reason it does not get 5 stars is the mix of Spanish and English dialog, making it only somewhat helpful for learning Spanish.

El Matador 
Documents David Fandila's three-year journey across Spain and Latin America in his quest to become the top-ranked bullfighter in the world.  I enjoyed learning about the world of bull-fighting.  But beware - you will see violence toward animals and humans alike.  Mix of Spanish and English.

The Mexican Suitcase 
This film tells the story of the recovery of 4,500 negatives taken by photographers, Robert Capa, Gerda Taro and David 'Chim' Seymour during the Spanish Civil War and recovered 70 years later in a closet in Mexico City. The film looks at the journey of these negatives from Spain to France and to Mexico where they remained safe for over half a century.  Mix of Spanish and English.

Machuca 
Set in Chile, 1973, this movie is an intimate and painful coming-of-age story about a pair of 12-year-old boys from opposite extremes of society who form an unlikely friendship during the last days of President Allende and the first days of Pinochet.  Very nice movie but it was hard to follow some of the characters and events - it felt like I was left out of the loop on a lot of pertinent details.  

Post Mortem 
In Chile, 1973, during the last days of Salvador Allende's presidency, an employee at a morgue's recording office falls for a burlesque dancer who mysteriously disappears.  This is a strange movie with some strange characters, but it is entertaining throughout and gives a glimpse of some of the harsh realities surrounding the military coup of 1973.

Che
In 1956, Argentine doctor Ernesto 'Che' Guevara and a band of Castro-led Cuban exiles mobilize an army to topple the U.S.-friendly regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista in Cuba.  10 years later, Che leaves Cuba to lead a small partisan army to fight another revolutionary guerrilla war in Bolivia against the U.S.-backed army.  This two-part film chronicles these historic movements.  I learned quite a bit from this film, though I wish it had gone into more details about the conflicts and I wish I had felt more of an emotional response and connection.


The Skin I Live In (La Piel Habito) 
A talented plastic surgeon haunted by past tragedies creates a type of synthetic skin that withstands any kind of damage.  His guinea pig is a mysterious woman for whom he develops feelings.  This is a dark and disturbing film - fascinating and unexpected in almost every way.  Haunting. 

A Moonless Night 
On New Year's Eve, three lonely characters travel to a small town in the Uruguayan countryside.  Cesar, a divorced man, arrives at the town to have dinner with his ex-wife's new family in an attempt to win back his daughter's love.  Antonio, a magician, is trying to get to the town to perform his routine at the community center but is stuck with a flat tire.  Miguel, a musician, gets out of jail for one day in order to also perform at the community center.  The short film was pleasant to watch - entertaining without being overly dramatic or fantastical.  

Alivio
Three single mothers from different regions in Mexico attempt to heal painful memories of abuse through a shared profession they've fought very hard to achieve: nursing.  This film cuts back and forth between the women a lot, making it a bit hard for me to keep track of each woman's story.  Nonetheless, I found it to be very inspirational and enjoyable to watch.  
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3-star movies

Eva No Duerme
The embalmed corpse of Eva Peron is taken to various cities throughout Europe before returning to her home in Argentina, where it is ultimately abducted.  I wish there had been a bit more explanation of events and something more to tie me to the characters.

El Infierno
El Benny is deported from the U.S. and returns home to a Mexico devastated by the drug wars. He too joins in, and starts climbing the hierarchy, finding a prosperous life, full of money, women, violence and fun....for a time.  Entertaining for sure, a little cheesy.

Como Caído Del Cielo​
Mexican legend Pedro Infante receives another chance on earth to redeem himself for his forays with women and earn heaven-  in the body of an imitator.  Cute but cheesy.

Aquarius
Clara, a widow and cancer survivor, lives her life to the fullest with her family and friends. A construction company wants her oceanfront condo in Rio de Janeiro, as they've already bought all the other units in her building and are hoping to demolish the building and replace it with a new one.

Tiempo De Valientes
A psychologist who must fulfill community service after losing a lawsuit related to a traffic accident is forced to provide therapeutic support to a policeman who is depressed over his wife cheating on him.  The psychologist becomes unwittingly involved in a double homicide being investigated by the policeman, and things escalate.   Funny at times but totally unrealistic.

Alanis
A young Buenos Aires mother finds employment as a sex worker and struggles to live under the same laws that are supposed to protect her.  I found this film to be fairly interesting and eye-opening, thought I had a hard time sympathizing with the main character.

Rosa Chumbe
Rosa is a middle-aged police officer with both a gambling and a drinking problem.  She lives with her daughter Sheila, who has a little baby.  One day, after a big fight between them, Sheila steals her mother's savings and storms out of the house leaving her baby behind. Rosa is forced to spend some time with her grandson, and something changes inside her heart of stone. However, everything takes a wrong turn one night. Only a miracle can save her.  This film is fairly interesting and not very long, but the characters are not very well developed, so it is hard to feel a connection to them.  Further more, there is hardly any dialogue so it is not good for practicing Spanish.  

El Circo
This documentary follows the latest generation of a hardscrabble traveling Mexican circus troupe that has lived and performed on the road since the 19th Century.  I appreciated and enjoyed getting a glimpse of a rarely-covered aspect of Mexican culture, though I would have appreciated a deeper look into the fraying marital relationship, and its ultimate outcome. 

La Yuma 
This is the story of Yuma a strong-willed and rebellious girl from the poor neighborhoods of Managua who dreams of being a boxer.  Believable characters and fantastic acting.  Not particularly heart-warming but truer to real life and certainly with happy moments.

Cows Wearing Glasses (Las Vacas Con Gafas) 
When a solitary, eccentric artist and professor learns he's going blind, he must come to terms with this terrifying fact and sort things out with his daughter, who became estranged from him years ago.

Jamón, Jamón 
When a mother disapproves of her son's lover, she hires a ham hawker and aspiring underwear model and to seduce the girl.  This movie is entertaining and endearing, but be warned that there is no perfect character and no happy ending here.  

The Executioner (El Verdugo)
An undertaker marries an old executioner's daughter and, although he doesn't want to, he must continue the profession of his father-in-law after his retirement in order acquire the family's desired apartment.  I found this film to be pretty interesting and enjoyable - worth watching for sure, just not special enough to warrant a particularly high rating.


Malacrianza 
Don Cleo, a humble man  who keeps watch over a piñata store in a little town in El Salvador, arrives at home one day to find an extortion letter at his door step, telling him that if he doesn't pay $500 in 72 hours, a small fortune for him, he will be killed.  He attempts to raise that money whatever way possible with friends and acquaintances. However, after various attempts and finding himself further into trouble, he decides to confront the presumed perpetrators. Eventually, the matter is settled and it becomes clear who the letter was really meant for.

La Ley Del Deseo 
The story focuses on a complex love triangle between two men and a transgender woman.  Pablo, a successful gay film director, disappointed in his relationship with his young lover, Juan, concentrates in a new project, a monologue starring his transsexual sister, Tina.  Antonio, an uptight young man, falls possessively in love with the director and in his passion stops at nothing to obtain the object of his desire.  This film has many similarities with "Time Me Up, Tie Me Down" but in my opinion is better.  

Güeros 
Tomás is too much for his lone mother so she sends him to live with his older brother Federico, aka Sombra, in Mexico City.  Entertaining for sure, but not very believable and frankly a bit annoying at times.  One very touching moment toward the end.  The ending was left wide open, which I find a bit frustrating.  

Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down! (¡Átame!) 
An unbalanced former mental patient takes a former porn star hostage in the hopes of convincing her to marry him.  I enjoyed the first 3/4 of this movie but was disappointed by the totally unrealistic and uninspiring ending.


Who is Dayani Cristal? 
An anonymous body in the Arizona desert sparks the beginning of a real-life human drama. The search for identity leads us back across a continent to seek out the people left behind and the meaning of a mysterious tattoo.  This movie touches on a discouraging trend of rising deaths of illegal immigrants in the Arizona desert, concentrating on the journey of one man in particular.  I found the film to be interesting and informative, though I didn't feel particularly moved by the story of this one individual in particular and didn't understand why they singled him out as opposed to any of the other people who have met similar fates.

El Bolero De Raquel 
The comedy tells an episode of the life of a kind-hearted shoe shiner who unexpectedly becomes the care-taker of a young boy but nevertheless spends all his time and effort for the sake of the boy.  Cute an funny at times, mostly cheesy.

A Useful Life 
A movie-theater employee adjusts to a new life after the theater where he worked for over 25 years is forced to shut down due to financial woes.  Not a very engaging film but it's a short film (just over an hour) so doesn't require much investment on your part.  I wouldn't necessarily recommend it but I wouldn't discourage someone from watching it.

Nosotros los Nobles (The Noble Family) 
This comedy tells the story of three spoiled children who are cut off from their family fortune and forced to do the unthinkable - get a job.  Funny at times but entirely unbelievable and not much character development.  

Malcriados 
This comedy is the Colombian version of "Nosotros los Nobles" and tells the same story (with a few differences) of three spoiled children who are cut off from their family fortune and forced to do the unthinkable - get a job.  Funny at times but entirely unbelievable and not much character development.  

La Ventana 
While bed-ridden Antonio awaits a visit from his long-lost son, the alluring view of Patagonia from his window leads him to escape for one last stroll.  Not a terrible movie but it could use more character development, in my opinion.  

The Queen of Spain 
Nearly twenty years after the events of "The Girl of Your Dreams", in the 1950s, Macarena Granada, who has become a Hollywood star, returns to Spain to film a blockbuster about Queen Isabella I of Castile.  Moments of comedy (and cheesy acting) set against the hard times of civil war and dictatorship in Spain make this movie a bit strange and hard to pin down, but it was fairly enjoyable. 


Ocho Apellidos Catalanes (Spanish Affair 2) 
I liked this sequel much more than the first film.  While still as far-fetched as the first, I found this one to be much funnier, light-hearted, and sweeter.  After Rafa left her at the altar (at the end of the first film), Amaia falls in love with a Catalonian.  Her father goes to Sevilla to persuade Rafa to go to Catalonia and take Amaia's heart back.

Paraiso 
Carmen and Alfredo, an overweight couple, have a happy life in one of México City's suburbs.  Bit when a job opportunity for Alfredo requires them to move into the noisy and stressful Federal District (México City proper), the change has a major impact on the couple.  This romantic comedy is not terrible but it does not have a lot of depth and is not ultimately very satisfying.

Una Noche 
In Havana, Raul dreams of escaping to Miami to meet his father.  He appeals to his friend Elio to help him reach his destination, and Elio's twin sister won't let them leave without her.  One night, full of hope, they face the biggest challenge of their lives.  

Amor De Mis Amores 
Days before her wedding, a woman believes she's falling in love with another man, who is also headed for the altar, and their lives change dramatically as a result.  Unrealistic but charming.

El Norte 
Mayan Indian peasants tired of being thought of as nothing more than cheap manual laborers organize an effort to improve their lot in life but are discovered by the Guatemalan army.  After the army destroys their village and family, a brother and sister decide they must flee to "El Norte" (i.e., the U.S.).  After various difficultires, they make their way by truck, bus, and other means to Los Angeles, where they try to make a new life as young, undocumented immigrants.  This film has a lot of strange moments and low-quality action scenes, but nonetheless it is a very interesting story and quite touching at times.  

Perfectos Desconocidos 
Seven friends gather for dinner and decide to play a game in which all incoming messages and calls will be on display for the entire group, leading to a series of revelations that gradually unravels their 'normal' lives.  Entertaining for sure, with a few life lessons weaved in, but a mostly unbelievable plot with an entirely confusing ending. 

Lake Los Angeles 
Francisco, a middle-aged Cuban exile working at a holding house for illegal immigrants crosses paths with Cecilia, a 10 year old Mexican girl who has crossed the border without her family.  Like with most Spanish-language films, I wish there was more dialog and a bit more explanation of things.  Nonetheless, this film was pretty interesting and had a great ending! 

Live-In Maid 
A sophisticated womean's recent divorce has left her in a precarious financial position and the live-in maid she's had for 30 years is forced to resign.  When both women face life without the other, they soon discover that their relationship is different than either had imagined.  This film definitely has a few great comedic moments and a few heart-warming moments.  However, like many other Spanish-language films I've seen, there does not seem to be enough dialogue to really understand exactly what is going on or how the characters feel - there is a lot left up for interpretation/guessing.  And like the majority of Spanish-language films I've seen, the ending leaves you wondering how it all worked out.  An enjoyable watch, just not a must-see.  Probably better suited for women viewers.

The General's Daughter 
This documentary tells the story of Michele Bachelet's first run for president in Chile.  This film assumes that you already know the history of Michele's father (General Bachelet); if you don't, you will find this film leaving you with more questions than answers.  Also, the version I watched did not have subtitles so I missed some of the details it did share. 

Gauchos Del Mar
Two brothers surf the American Pacific from Mexico to Argentina, giving us a taste of the continent through its different towns, people, animals, food, and landscapes.  A beautiful film for sure.  Some great cinematography and music, and of course lots of surfing footage, but not a lot of dialog.  I definitely enjoyed the film but was left wanting to know a lot more about each place they visited.

Butterfly 
In a small Spanish town, timid young Moncho is fearful as he starts school for the first time. With the guidance of his devoted teacher, a world of possibilities begins to open up for him, but when civil war sweeps across the country, his family and community must choose between the fight for freedom and the threat of persecution. A story of family and friendship in a time of conflict.  The first 3/4 of this film were wonderful, though I wasn't as fond of the last 1/4.  I wouldn't discourage you from watching it, but nor would I encourage you to watch it if you have other options.

Te Presento a Laura 
Disconnected from her peers and distraught after discovering the exact date she will die, Laura makes a list of goals to accomplish before that date, one of which is to save another person's life.  Funny and at times touching, I found this movie enjoyable to watch - just totally implausible throughout.

Macho 
To continue his deception as a flamboyant gay, a womanizing fashion designer reluctantly agrees to seemingly date the new, gay office boy.  Funny and touching at times, mostly unrealistic, shallow, and campy.

Rudo y Cursi 
Mexican half-brothers Rudo and Cursi have a typical love/hate relationship with each other.  They live with their extended family who are rural peasant class and are barely making ends meet.  The brother's fortunes change when Batuta, a soccer scout, enters their lives.  Batuta recruits each brother for a different team in Mexico City.  The brothers' fortunes rise and fall, based on those things which hold more passion for the brothers.  Cursi loves women and singing, while Rudo's passion is gambling.  Can they keep these alternate passions in check to make their soccer lives lucrative ones?

Narco Cultura 
To a growing number of Mexicans and Latinos in the Americas, narco traffickers have become iconic outlaws and the new models of fame and success. They represent a pathway out of the ghetto - a new form of the American Dream, fueled by the war on drugs.  This documentary follows the cycles of addiction to money, drugs, and violence that are rapidly gaining strength on both sides of the US/Mexican border.  

Viola 
A group of actresses performing in a production of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" get caught up in a web of romantic intrigue and revelation.  This film starts off quite intriguing and the acting is supurb - however, it ends anticlimactically, without tying up all loose threads. 

The Pope's Toilet 
In 1988, the Urugauyan town of Melo, on the Brazilian border, awaits the visit of Pope John Paul II. To the poor citizens of Melo this means pilgrims in need of food and drink, paper flags, and souvenirs. Brimming with enthusiasm, the locals hope not only for divine blessing but also a small share of material happiness.  Petty smuggler Beto is certain that he’s found the best business idea of all: "The Pope’s Toilet", where the thousands of visiting pilgrims can find relief.

No One Writes To The Colonel 
This film is based on the novel by Gabriel García Márquz.  It is the story of an impoverished, retired colonel and his asthmatic wife.  The pair lives in a small village in Colombia, where they await the pension the colonel was promised over 20 years ago and continue to mourn the death of their son several years ago.  I would have rated this film higher if it had not ended so abruptly and without resolution of any kind.  It doesn't just leave one or two minor things in question, but the most important and interesting parts of the story!  I was left disappointed and unsatisfied.

Sin Nombre 
Seeking the promise of America, a beautiful young woman joins her father on an odyssey to cross the gauntlet of the Latin American countryside.  Along the way, she crosses paths with a teenage Mexican gang member who is trying to outrun his violent past. Together they have to rely on faith, trust, and street smarts if they are to survive their increasingly perilous journey towards the hope of new lives.  Some events seemed very unrealistic (and disturbing) to me - nonetheless, a gripping story.

Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto Del Fauno)  
This movie is a very entertaining dark fantasy film that has some nice visual and special effects.  However, be warned that it is quite strange, violent, and disturbing - it is not for minors!

La Sierra 
Tracing a year in the life of a neighborhood in Medellin, Colombia ruled by a paramilitary gang, this documentary explores three lives defined by years of overwhelming violence.  This is another film that has a great premise with disappointing follow-through.  Not particularly well-organized, with many questions that remain.  Nonetheless, it is entertaining and eye-opening to the dark realities in Medellin.

Violeta Went To Heaven 
This film tells the story of famed Chilean singer and folklorist Violeta Parra, tracing her evolution from impoverished child to international sensation and Chile's national hero, while capturing the swirling intensity of her inner contradictions, fallibilities, and passions.  With ever-changing time periods, places, characters, and moods, this film can be confusing and frustrating at times - nonetheless, it is a fascinating story accompanied by beautiful music.

TOC TOC 
The film portrays a group of patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (TOC in Spanish) who perform their own sort of group therapy while waiting for the doctor to arrive. Pretty hammy and a bit far-fetched, yet nonetheless funny and charming. 

Anita 
Anita is the story of a young woman with Down Syndrome who lives a happy, routine life in Buenos Aires, being meticulously cared for by her mother Dora until one tragic morning in 1994, when Anita is left alone, confused, and helpless after the nearby Argentine Israelite Mutual Association is bombed (the deadliest bombing in Argentina's history).  Sad, raw, beautiful, and inspiring.  

Tierra Madre 
This film is based on the true story of Aidee Gonzalez, an exotic dancer determined to raise her children with her female partner in the Mexican border town of Tecate.  This raw and eye-opening film stars Aidee as herself.  I didn't relate to much in this movie but it was definitely entertaining!

Bonsai 
A struggling young writer lands an interview with a famous author to transcribe his latest book.  When he doesn't get the job, instead of admitting it to his girlfriend, he pretends to transcribe the new work by writing it himself.  Searching for a plot, he revisits a romance from his college days.  As the novel progresses, so does his fondness for the past and the love he let slip away.  This movies starts off a little slow and strange, with young characters that are hard to relate to or care about.  However, things improve as the movie progresses and I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.  

La Jaula De Oro
Three teenagers from the slums of Guatemala embark on a journey by boat, foot, and train  to the United States in search of a better life. Along the way, they meet an indigenous teen who doesn't speak Spanish.  The journey is filled with peril, pain, heartache, and friendship.

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2-star movies

Ema
Ema, a young dancer, decides to separate from Gastón after giving back their adopted son Polo after an incident.  In a desperate search through the streets of the port city of Valparaíso, Ema seeks love affairs in order to overcome her guilt.  However, she has a secret plan to recover everything she's lost.  I found this film to be interesting, but too unrealistic to be credible.

Raúl
Approaching 30 years working in the barber shop he inherited from his parents, Raúl starts to change his daily routine, in order to have something new to tell to his customers. He tries to get closer to his neighbors, visits a bar near his home, and ultimately makes a few small improvements to the barber shop, reaffirming his commitment to the business.

Solteras
A wannabe bride seeks professional help to find a husband and, in the process, learns to be less self-centered.

El Brindis
A young Mexican woman who hardly knows her Chilean father decides to travel to Chile and meet him. There, she will find out that he is suffering from a terminal disease, and while trying to come to terms with her relationship with him, she begins a romance with one of his best friends.

Lo Nunca Visto (A Remarkable Tale)
This movie had the potential to be charming but is so over the top that it is just ridiculous and borderline offensive.  There are cute parts for sure, and the dialogue is good for practicing your Spanish listening skills - just don'​t expect a good story. 

A Pesar De Todo 
Four very different sisters, all with their own little secrets, attend their mom's funeral in Madrid. Their mother's will reveals that their dad is not their biological father and they are sent on a quest together to find their biological fathers.

Roma 
A year in the life of a middle-class family and their maid/nanny in Mexico City in the early 1970s.  Too slow, too little dialog, too little explanation of the social disturbances occurring in the region.  Not a fulfilling movie.

Only Human 
In this comedy, Leni takes Rafi k her Palestinian boyfriend, to meet her Jewish family in Madrid.  That night, Rafi accidentally drops a block of frozen soup out the flat window, possibly killing a man on the street below, who is possibly Leni's father!  Leni initiates a cover-up.  Then the body disappears, and a search for dad begins, with Mom certain that he is having an affair.  I loved how this movie ended, but that is the only thing I loved about it - it is beyond absurd, with generally unlikeable characters (mom and dad excepted).  

Sangre (Secreto de Familia) - 
A mother and her two sons live under the shadow of the father's death 25 years ago.  Too many things left unknown/unfinished for my liking.

The Last Island 
This magical story of a 10-year-old city girl, Alicia, whose parents send her to a remote island to spend the summer with an aunt she has never met. Without TV, cell phones, or other modern comforts, Alicia is both bored and scared as she watches her aunt entertain strange guests and perform strange rituals in their tiny cottage. As Alicia explores the island she meets various characters and eventually makes several friends.  Little by little, Alicia joins in on the fantasy play of the her friends, and discovers another way of looking at the world.  This one was a bit too strange for me.

Desierto 
A group of people trying to cross the border from Mexico into the United States encounter a man who has taken border patrol duties into his own racist hands.  This thriller flick is mediocre at best.  It has a few interesting twists for sure, and some nice landscapes, but the character development is completely lacking and the plot is largely unrealistic.  There isn't a whole lot of Spanish dialogue so it's not ideal for learning purposes either.  

Ocho Apellidos Vascos (Spanish Affair) 
Rafael is a young man from Seville who has never left the Andalucia region of Spain, but decides to leave in pursuit of Amaia, a beautiful and intriguing young woman from the Basque region.  A series of misunderstandings forces Rafael to impersonate a full-blooded Basque...  While funny and charming at times, this romantic comedy was too far-fetched for my liking.  Also, the dialog is fast-paced with some strong accents, so it is not the best for practicing Spanish.

74 Metros Cuadrados 
A social experiment that moves marginalized families into a middle class neighborhood in Valparaiso, Chile.  I didn't understand the point of this movie - it was slow and depressing. 

Liverpool 
A merchant sailor returns to his home in Argentina after spending most of his adult life at sea.  While the premise sounds promising, this movie is frustratingly slow and secretive.  Worst of all, it is terrible for practicing Spanish - there is VERY little dialogue!

Lake Tahoe 
After a teenager crashes the family car into a pole, he encounters oddball characters who help him face the family crisis he initially tried to escape.  This movie moves painfully slowly, with long, awkward stretches void of activity or dialog.  While this movie is ultimately touching, I do not recommend it for learning Spanish.

Jauja 
This bizarre movie isn't particularly entertaining or enlightening, nor is it helpful for learning Spanish - of the scarce dialogue, half of it is in Danish.

La Casa De Mi Padre 
This ridiculous comedy is fun to watch but beware - the English subtitles are only partly correct!  
Bad Day To Go Fishing 
A former "strongest man on earth", now a washed-up alcoholic, together with his crafty manager stages bogus wrestling matches in small South American towns.  This is a strange and somewhat confusing movie without much pay-off in terms of entertainment or learning Spanish.  I do not recommend it.

Gigante 
This is a story of a shy and lonely security guard who works the night shift at a supermarket monitoring the surveillance cameras of the entire building and one night discovers an attractive cleaning woman through one of the cameras.  Night after night, he watches her on the cameras while she works and soon starts following her after work, his life becoming a series of routines and rituals around the woman until he eventually must decide whether to give up his obsession or confront it.  This movie has very little dialog so it is not particularly helpful for learning Spanish.  It is pretty unrealistic and a little creepy.  I do not recommend it.

Alamar 
Jorge has only a few weeks with his five-year-old son Natan before he leaves to live with his mother in Rome. Intent on teaching Natan about their Mayan heritage, Jorge takes him to the pristine Chinchorro reef and eases him into the rhythms of a fisherman's life.  As the bond between father and son grows stronger, Natan learns to live in harmony with life above and below the surface of the sea.  Entertaining, though not particularly engaging or helpful for learning Spanish.

Nora's Will 
Billed as a comedy and a unique tale of lost faith and eternal love.  I found it to be quite strange and not particularly engaging.

XXY 
15-year-old Alex has both female and male genitalia but has been living as a girl and using medicines to suppress masculine features.  However, Alex has recently stopped taking her medication. Her mother invites friends from Argentina to discuss the possibilities of sex reassignment surgery.
This film tells the story of the visit, how she and her family cope with her condition, and the ultimate decision that she must eventually make as she finds her gender identity.  This is a difficult topic and I found it difficult to relate to any of the characters except Alex's father, so I can't say I enjoyed the film - however, it did expose me to a condition that is the reality for some.

Órbita 9
A young woman who has spent her entire life alone on a spaceship becomes enamored by an engineer who suddenly enters her world and upends her universe.  This sci-fi love story is corny and impossible to believe at many points in the plot.

Los Viajes del Viento 
This film takes place in Columbia and tells the story of a Vallenato singer and accordion player who decides, after his wife's death, to stop playing and return his accordion, which is said to be cursed, to his master.  He is joined by a teenage boy who admires him and wishes to become a performer like him.  This film has great scenery but does not have much dialogue.  It is slow-paced, confusing, and disappointing.

Manito 
This drama chronicles 48 incident-packed hours in the lives of a Latino family in the Washington Heights part of New York City.  While the overall story line is pretty good, the character development is poor.  Also, there is more English than Spanish in this movie so it is not recommended for practicing your Spanish. 

Y Tu Mama También 
I'm sorry but did a pre-pubescent boy write this script?  Terrible.

From The Other Side 
This was one of the worst movies I have ever seen.  It has very little value in terms of learning Spanish or enjoying your evening!  This documentary's premise is actually quite compelling: "Using technology developed for the military, the flow of illegal immigration into San Diego has been stemmed.  But for the desperate, there are still the dangerous deserts of Arizona."  However, it fails to deliver - there is very little dialog and long stretches without any action whatsoever.  I do not recommend this movie.

Todo Lo Demás 
This is a pointless story about a woman with virtually no personality or emotional intelligence.  Furthermore, there is very little dialogue so it is not beneficial at all for learning Spanish.  Don't waste your time!

La Vida Me Mata 
A man is depressed by the death of his brother and his life changes when he meets an eccentric young man, whose favorite subject is death.

Lecciones Para Un Beso 
A young boy new to the city falls in love with a neighbor girl, who simply ignores him. But three men with different strategies in the art of love (romance, lies and money), come to the rescue to try to lead the young boy to his dream: a kiss on the lips.  This movie was completely unbelievable in every way, with deplorable characters and virtually no character development.  Do not waste your time.

¡Ay, mi madre! 
In this movie, a middle-aged Spanish woman must follow specific instructions in order to receive an inheritance from her mother, who recently passed away.  This is one of the most ridiculous movies I have ever seen.  I got a couple laughs and a few of the characters were charming, but there is very little character development and very little backstory to anchor the plot or the ending, which is entirely unsatisfying.  I highly suggest you skip this one.

El Rey Del Once
After years away, Ariel returns to Buenos Aires seeking to reconnect with his father, who founded a charity foundation in Once, the city's bustling Jewish district where Ariel spent his youth.  In the process of trying to meet his father and getting entangled in his charitable commitments, Ariel meets Eva, whose independent spirit motivates Ariel to come to grips with the traditions that once divided him and his father.

Tristana
After her mother's death, an innocent young woman is taken into the household of her middle-aged guardian, who treats her as both his daughter and his wife, which she comes to resent.