List
Perspectives of Hispanic Heritage on Screen
This list represents only a small selection of the vast diversity of themes, perspective, and genres of Latine filmmaking and television. It's a great place to get you started.
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Wednesday: Season 1
2024Get this itemThere’s certainly a lot to like about this darkly comedic Netflix show starring Jenna Ortega (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) as Wednesday Addams. Based on the iconic characters created by Charles Addams, in this new version the representation of Latine identity via Wednesday and her family is refreshing. From the scene-stealing disembodied Thing to Wednesday’s viral epic dance at a school party, it does not disappoint. Suggested by Sharon.
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The Long Game
2024Get this itemThey believed in themselves when no one else did. Set in the 1950s, this is an inspirational movie based on a true story. A group of Mexican-American high school students have a passion for golf but are not allowed to play at the local all-white country club where they work as caddies. The boys find a kindred spirit in the new school superintendent, JB Peña, who convinces them to be the first members of the San Felipe High School golf team. Despite barriers and prejudice, they become state champions. Suggested by Sharon.
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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe!
2024Get this itemNicely adapted from Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s much-lauded, coming-of-age novel about two Mexican American teenagers grappling with their identity, sexuality, and complicated family relationships in 1987 El Paso, TX. Keep the tissues ready. You’ll feel all the feelings. Suggested by Sharon.
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Blue Beetle
2023Get this itemBreak out the popcorn and settle back for an entertaining two hours. An alien scarab picks Jaime Reyes as its host, thus giving him all sorts of superpowers and, of course, evildoers in pursuit. We love the cast, the family vibe, and the touching messages at its core. Suggested by Rummanah and Sharon.
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Utama
2023Get this itemBolivia’s entry for the 95th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film, this is an eco-drama by first-time director Alejandro Loayza Grisi that’s as heartbreaking as it is beautiful. The narrative follows an elderly Quechua couple who live in the high plains of the Andes, grazing a small herd of llamas, something they’ve done for decades. However, an unusually long drought might force them to abandon their home for the city. Cinematographer Barbara Alvarez is at the top of her profession, and you’ll be in awe of the visually gorgeous work. Suggested by Sharon.
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Father of the Bride
2022Get this itemA remake of the original with a Latine twist that stands on its own. Latine culture, specifically Cuban and Mexican, is organically incorporated in the story. It is a blast to see Gloria Estefan and Andy Garcia on the screen as a couple with their individual storyline in addition to that of the bride. Suggested by Rummanah.
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Dia De Los Muertos
2022Get this itemThis PBS musical special shows a joyous celebration of Mexican culture. It features fabulous live concerts from rock groups Ozomatli, Flor de Toloache, and Los Lobos recorded inside The Caverns subterranean amphitheater. Many in the audience came in magnificent calavera make-up and costumes. Between the performances, there are vignettes explaining ancient traditions and customs of this holiday that honors those who died. Suggested by Sharon.
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In the Heights
2021Get this itemLin-Manuel Miranda’s stage musical about the Dominican American neighborhood of Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan gets a dazzling big-screen treatment. It is bursting with family, joy, and Latine culture. Suggested by Rummanah and Sharon.
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Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
2021Get this itemRita Moreno is a distinguished performer who has won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards, and director Mariem Pérez Riera beautifully showcases her incredible journey and the challenges of racism and sexism she faced in the entertainment industry. With new interviews, archival movie clips and photos, and current footage, this engrossing film was nominated for the Documentary Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival in 2021. Suggested by Sharon.
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Te llevo conmigo: I Carry You with Me
2021Get this itemBased on a true story, Ivan and Gerardo met as young men in Mexico, fell in love, and illegally crossed over to the U.S. hoping to find opportunities and acceptance, but leaving behind loved ones. The actors playing younger versions of Ivan and Gerardo are affecting and beautifully convey the multifaceted meaning of “you” as well as home and family, while the real Ivan and Gerardo appear as their older selves to bring everything full circle. Recommended by Rummanah and Sharon.
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Language Lessons
2021Get this itemAdam’s husband Will surprises him with a gift of 100 online Spanish lessons. Then Will dies suddenly. Adam, feeling lost and grieving, nonetheless continues the sessions, and an unexpected friendship develops between Adam and his teacher Cariño. An under-the-radar gem, we really enjoyed its unique form of storytelling by almost exclusively using video chats, and the chemistry between the two lead actors is excellent. Suggested by Rummanah and Sharon.
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Identifying features
2021Get this itemWinner of the Sundance Audience Award in 2020, writer/director Fernanda Valadez calls attention to the corruption and violence many face in Mexico and acknowledges the challenges and powerlessness that migrants feel in this slow-burn social political thriller. Suggested by Rummanah.
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Song without a Name
2020Get this itemInspired by true events and set in 1988 Peru, the story follows Georgina, an Indigenous young woman whose newborn baby is stolen from a clinic that advertised free-of-charge assistance. Dismissed by the police, Georgina teams up with a journalist to investigate her daughter’s disappearance and expose deep-seated corruption. Suggested by Sharon.
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Los Lobos
2023Get this itemEmerging filmmaker Samual Kishi created a poignant coming-of-age story focusing on a single mother and her two sons who immigrate from Mexico to Albuquerque, NM. While their mother works long hours to make ends meet, the boys spend their days inside a tiny apartment, creating imaginary amusements and dreaming of a trip to Disneyland. Suggested by Sharon.
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Una mujer fantástica: A Fantastic Woman
2018Get this itemCreated by Chilean filmmaker Sebastian Lelio, this won the Oscar for Best International Film. The movie centers on Marina, a transgender woman dealing with the sudden death of her partner, Orlando. Marina (played wonderfully by Daniela Vega, a transgender actor and singer) faces suspicion, disrespect, hatred, and prejudice from hospital staff, the police, and some of Orlando’s family. Navigating her way through the sadness and turmoil, she picks up the pieces of her life and pursues her dreams. The perfect last scene really knocked me out. Suggested by Sharon.
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Dolores
2018Get this itemA civil rights hero, labor organizer, activist, and feminist, Dolores Huerta is an inspiration to many. Yet for most of history, her contributions have been excluded from history. This documentary brings you closer to an amazing woman--her tireless work, fearless commitment, and why she never gave up. Suggested by Sharon.
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Chavela
2018Get this itemIn this captivating documentary, you meet the enigmatic singer Chavela, who overcame obstacles and defied conventions, becoming a beloved icon for the LGBTQ community in Mexico and beyond. Her performances reinterpreted traditional ranchera music with soul-searching, cathartic effect. Suggested by Sharon.
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The Desert Bride
2018Get this itemFrom Argentina, this is Cecilia Atán and Valeria Pivato's feature film debut. Acclaimed Chilean actor Pauline Garcia has the lead role as a maid named Teresa, whose long-time employer unexpectedly lets her go, with a reference to work for another family in a distant town. There is much grace and thoughtfulness in Garcia's performance, beautifully capturing how Teresa navigates her way to a new beginning. Suggested by Sharon.
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Everybody Loves Somebody
2017Get this itemWritten and directed by independent Mexican filmmaker Catalina Aguilar Mastretta, this rom-com centers on Dr. Clara Barron, who has a successful Los Angeles OB/GYN practice and often gives couples advice about happiness, yet she is unhappy in her love life. While the plot has some familiar elements, the script provides a pleasantly fresh spin on relationships. Suggested by Sharon.
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East Side Sushi
2016Get this itemCharming, warm, and filled with endearing performances, this movie tackles issues of gender discrimination, diversity, determination, and family values in a way that is bright and hopeful. The story follows Juana, a single mother, who pursues her dream of being a sushi chef against all odds. Suggested by Paul.
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Jane the Virgin: The Complete First Season
2015Get this itemDelightfully playful, tenderhearted, dramatic, funny, and exciting--this telenovela has a little of everything. Gina Rodriguez as the title character leads a terrific cast through five seasons. Suggested by Sharon.
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Mosquita Y Mari
2013Get this itemSet in Southeast Los Angeles, this emotionally charged coming-of-age story focuses on a pair of Latina teens whose new friendship takes an unexpected path as they experience complex feelings of mutual attraction against the realities of their situation. Released in 2013, it remains timely. Filmmaker Aurora Guerrero and her actors deliver a delicate cinematic gem. Suggested by Sharon.
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Tanta agua
2013Get this itemSome vacations don't go as planned. A divorced father hopes to reconnect with his kids during a short getaway to a hot springs resort in Salto. Unfortunately, heavy rains close the springs as well as the pool, and there is only so much they can do indoors. As disappointment, boredom, and adolescent rebellion thwart family time, Uruguayan filmmakers Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge show a way of coming through. Suggested by Sharon.
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Alamar
2010Get this itemTo the sea! Plan your nature film night and discussion now. In this beautifully photographed semi-documentary, a father takes his 5-year-old son on a two-week journey to explore the Banco Chinchorro coral reef and to teach him about his Mayan roots. An older title, but it still qualifies as an under-the-radar gem. Suggested by Sharon.
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Ugly Betty: The Complete First Season
2007Get this itemUgly Betty aired from 2006 to 2010, and I couldn't get enough of Betty! A lively workplace dramedy based on the Colombian telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea, America Ferrera rocked as the title character. Salma Hayek served as executive producer, and she had some hilarious guest appearances in the first season. Suggested by Sharon.
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Real Women Have Curves
2003Get this itemDirected by Patricia Cardoso and starring America Ferrera in her feature movie debut, this affirming, coming-of-age dramedy features real women who have flaws, take chances, and embrace life. Counted as one of the most influential independent films of the 2000s, it was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress National Film Registry (NFR) in 2019, and Cardoso became the first Latina director to be included in the NFR. Suggested by Rummanah and Sharon.
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Y tu mamá también
Get this itemAlfonso Cuarón had been skirting between Mexico and Hollywood films before this 2001 release, though this was what put him on the map. One of the best road trip movies ever made, it's beautifully hilarious, romantic, and ribald as well as a one-of-a-kind coming-of-age film. This 2018 semi- autobiographical movie won Oscars for Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Cinematography. Suggested by Chris.
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