“City of God”, 2011
Director: Lijo Jose Pellissery
Set in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, this Brazilian crime film tells the harsh realities of growing up in a violent neighborhood through the eyes of two boys who take different paths: one becomes a photographer; the other, a drug dealer.
Starring: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Indrajith Sukumaran, Rajeev Pillai, Jagadish, Anil Murali, Sreehari, Arun Narayan, Kishore Satya, Sudheer Karamana, Shaju K.S., Jayashankar, Nandu, Achankunju, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sumesh, Rajesh Hebbar, Abraham Koshy, Payas, Das, Santhosh, Shweta Menon, Rima Kallingal, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Rohini, Valsala Menon, Renjusha Menon, Shobha Singh, Sudha Nair;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: drama;
Duration: 145 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “City of God” on the website imdb.com
“Roma”, 2018
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, this Mexican drama focuses on the life of a live-in housekeeper of a middle-class family, set against the political and social upheavals of 1970s Mexico City.
Starring: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Diego Cortina Autrey, Carlos Peralta, Marco Graf, Daniela Demesa, Nancy García García, Verónica García, Andy Cortés, Fernando Grediaga;
Production year: 2018;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 135 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Roma” on the website imdb.com
“No”, 2012
Director: Pablo Larrain
A Chilean historical drama centered on the advertising campaign opposing Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet's bid for an additional term in office, showcasing the power of media in political change.
Starring: Gael García Bernal, Alfredo Castro, Luis Gnecco, Néstor Cantillana, Antonia Zegers, Marcial Tagle, Pascal Montero, Jaime Vadell, Elsa Poblete, Diego Muñoz;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: drama, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 115 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “No” on the website imdb.com
“Cidade de Deus”, 2002
Director: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund
The same as “City of God,” this film provides an unflinching look at the cycle of violence in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, from the perspective of two boys whose lives take drastically different directions.
Starring: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen, Douglas Silva, Jonathan Haagensen, Matheus Nachtergaele, Seu Jorge, Jefechander Suplino, Alice Braga, Emerson Gomes;
Production year: 2002;
Genre: drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 130 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,6;
“Neruda”, 2016
Director: Pablo Larrain
A biographical drama blending fact and fiction to depict the hunt for the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet and Communist senator Pablo Neruda, who becomes a fugitive in his own country during the Cold War in the late 1940s.
Starring: Luis Gnecco, Gael García Bernal, Mercedes Morán, Emilio Gutiérrez Caba, Diego Muñoz, Alejandro Goic, Pablo Derqui, Marcelo Alonso, Michael Silva, Francisco Reyes;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime, biography, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 107 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “Neruda” on the website imdb.com
“El secreto de sus ojos”, 2009
Director: Juan José Campanella
An Argentine crime drama that weaves a tale of love, justice, and unresolved mysteries through the efforts of a retired legal counselor writing a novel based on a decades-old unsolved murder.
Starring: Ricardo Darín, Soledad Villamil, Guillermo Francella, Pablo Rago, Javier Godino, Carla Quevedo, Bárbara Palladino, Rudy Romano, Alejandro Abelenda, Mario Alarcón;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: thriller, drama, melodrama, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 129 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
These films, among others about Latin America, offer a vivid exploration of the region's multifaceted identity, revealing the struggles, passions, and beauty of its lands and people through the powerful medium of cinema.
In conclusion, films about Latin America serve not only as a vibrant kaleidoscope of culture, history, and politics but also as a profound medium through which the multifaceted narratives of its people are illuminated. Through the lens of diverse filmmakers, audiences are invited on a journey that transcends mere entertainment, offering an exploration into the heart and soul of a region shaped by a tumultuous past, colorful traditions, and an unyielding spirit of resistance. These films, varying from the deeply personal to the broadly political, present an invaluable perspective on the struggles and triumphs of Latin American societies. As a mirror reflecting the complex tapestry of human experience within this richly diverse continent, this cinematic journey compels us to confront our preconceptions, engage with uncomfortable truths, and celebrate the resilient spirit that defines Latin America.
