We are halfway through Hispanic Heritage Month. One of the easiest ways to look into the window of the “Latino Experience” as I’m calling it is through the lens of a camera. Latino filmmakers have created stories based on their lives to share with the world for decades whether it’s to showcase their struggles, triumphs, or just the beauty of our culture.
With that in mind, I have created a list of films to check out during the rest of Hispanic Heritage Month. Please note that this is a list of films that I found important in my life. There are many more films that you can also discover on your own and enjoy.
UNDER THE SAME MOON (2007)
This film is filled with some big names in Latin film. Including Kate del Castillo, Eugenio Derbez, America Ferrera, and Carmen Salinas. This tells the story of a mother who leaves her son in Mexico with his grandmother for the chance of a better life in the U.S. Unfortunately, the grandmother dies and the boy must now try and make the difficult journey to Los Angeles to reunite with his mother who is working dead-end jobs.
“Under the Same Moon” showcases the painful choices many Latin families in Central America make. While some vilify those crossing over, the reality is that most are just looking for an opportunity for a better life for their family. It’s an excellent film that not only showcases great Latin talent but also could hopefully help you empathize with so many hard-working families that just want a chance.
SELENA (1997)
After the tragic death of superstar Selena in 1995 that rocked the Latin community, a biopic was released two years later. It’s the film that catapulted Jennifer Lopez’s career with co-stars Edward James Olmos, and Constance Marie. The film showcases the life of Selena from a dreaming little girl to an award-winning superstar. Despite being born in the U.S. and at times struggling with her Spanish, Selena was able to captivate audiences here and across Latin America.
The death of Selena was a huge deal in my house. Despite being a young age I remember the wall-to-wall coverage of her death. Then when the film was released, we watched it in theaters three times. Every time more family joined us. We had every CD, and her music still plays in all of our homes.
COCO (2017)
This one is probably on most “Hispanic Heritage Month” movie lists. Coco is Disney/Pixar’s love letter to Mexican culture. It follows Miguel’s dream of becoming a musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. But a generations-old family ban on music leads him to an improbable journey into the Land of the Dead. There he finds the real truth about his family’s history.
“Coco” is one of those films that can play over and over in our homes. The story of our families holding grudges for one reason or another is something we know too well. It’s been up to the later generations to try and mend wounds and get families back on track. The colors and design throughout the film are ones so familiar to Mexican culture, especially during the fall season when Dia de los Muertos is celebrated. Not only that but the amount of Easter eggs is delightful as they can unlock a variety of memories and conversations.
BLUE BEETLE (2023)
Not very many Latino superheroes, especially on the big screen. Thankfully Warner Bros. Pictures released “Blue Beetle” in theaters. Unfortunately for this film, it came during a SAG-AFTRA strike and a very unlikely storm that ravaged southern California. Not good. The film follows Jaime Reyes, played by rising star Xolo Maridueña, who ends up in possession of an ancient alien biotechnology called “Scarab”. It gives him incredible powers that put him on a path to become the superhero Blue Beetle.
What makes this film precious is director Angel Manuel Soto’s depiction of a typical Latino family. While I am not a superhero, that is how I grew up. With siblings and aunts all living under the same roof. We cheered for each other, sometimes embarrassingly, and we problem-solved together. It was so fun to see a family like mine on the big screen. Being that my aunt had just passed away that spring, Nana Reyes in particular brought me to tears as that was the energy she always brought to the family.
SPARE PARTS (2015)
True we have seen this kind of story before, but it’s a little more timely as it deals with a very popular type of club, robotics. A high school teacher played by George Lopez leads four Hispanic students to a national robotics contest. With only $800 and parts from old cars, they build a robot to compete against reigning champion MIT.
The biggest reason this is on my list is because my daughter is currently in robotics. Through her years competing in school challenges she has learned so much and gained a lot of confidence and experience. I would hope that more Hispanic kids and teens take on the challenge of robotics and break any barriers they may be setting for themselves. They could end up surprising themselves and those around them, setting them up for a better future.
CANTINFLAS (2014)
I hope that having “Cantinflas” on this list serves as a gateway to an exploration of films made by Mexican film star Mario Moreno aka Cantinflas. This film follows the story of arguably Mexico’s greatest and most beloved comedy film star of all time. It follows his humble beginnings in Mexico to Hollywood.
Cantinflas has always been a household name when it comes to comedy. Despite his films being made as far back as the 50s, they can still hold the attention of so many families in Latin America. Some of my favorites include “El Bolero de Raquel”, “El Padrecito”, and “El Patrullero 777” to name a few. If you want to learn about Mexican film Cantinflas is a MUST.
GOAL! THE DREAM BEGINS (2005)
Santi! This is a sports film beloved by soccer fans. It tells the story of Santiago Muñez. He is a Mexican illegal immigrant living in Los Angeles who works with his father as a gardener. But is also a skilled soccer player who draws the eye of a scout for Newcastle United. Now he must figure out a way to travel to England despite the challenges at home.
This film showcases a very common problem for Hispanic youth around the country. Many families depend on everyone pitching to survive. This leaves little room for activities that could flourish into a variety of careers, whether it’s sports or anything else. But given the opportunity to shine, you never know what you can accomplish.
IN THE HEIGHTS (2021)
A fun musical based on the award-winning Broadway show with music by Lin Manuel-Miranda. The story takes place in Washington Heights, New York. Following a tight community that is facing a variety of problems affecting their lives. Through song and dance, audiences can follow along through their journey.
What I appreciate about “In The Heights” is the variety of Hispanic talent from newcomers to seasoned Hollywood stars. The music is very much something common in modern cinema Manuel-Miranda’s influence can be heard in so many popular films. It has some very catchy songs that I love to play now and then.
THE CURSE OF THE LLORONA (2019)
With it now being October I had to include a couple of horror options for Hispanic Heritage Month! While not necessarily the best-reviewed movie, I thought it would be a film that people would be most comfortable with being that it was directed by Michael Chaves. He has worked on other films in the Conjuring Universe that are familiar to fans. While they’ve said it’s not part of that Universe many people include it anyway. The film takes place in the 70s and follows the story of a social worker and her kids, who must face the wrath of La Llorona.
This is such a classic horror story in Latino lore. It’s one of the few that has crossed several borders in Central America. For example, my mom and aunt, who grew up in El Salvador, claim to be able to hear the wailing mother in the distance on certain nights. It scared me for years, just like it probably scared many other Latinos around the world.
REC (2007)
“REC” is one of my favorite horror movies. Its a Spanish found footage film co-written and directed by Jaume Balagueró. It follows a reporter and a cameraman who are following firefighters on an emergency call to an apartment building. Only to discover a mysterious infection that is spreading, leading to the building being sealed up by authorities ordering everyone inside to quarantine.
Funny enough there was a horrible U.S. remake of the film titled “Quarantine” in 2008. I think for me this is one of the films that made me a fan of found footage horror. It also led me to start paying more attention to international horror films, especially in places like Argentina and South Korea. Turns out we are all scared of very similar things, but the perspective can be very different.
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Like I said in the beginning, this list for Hispanic Heritage Month is based on films that mean something special to me. While I highly recommend them, feel free to venture out and watch whatever Hispanic film catches your attention during this special time and the rest of the year.
