Las Películas

1 -Buena Vista Social Club - Oscar-winning documentary which takes a look at today’s Cuba through the eyes of famous musicians (listed by the governement as dead or retired) of the 1039's and 1940's who are stumbled upon by Ry Cooder, an American who had come to record current music trends in Cuba.  Great Music.

2- The Mambo Kings - Cuban brothers come to the USA in the 1950s to find stardom in the music world  (Armand Assante, Antonio Banderas, Desi Arnaz Jr., Celia Cruz)  Love story with great music.  Rating: R

3- The Pérez Family - 1980 Mariel boat-lift from Cuba - a refugee (with the help of a prostitute) tries to find his wife after 20 years in Castro's prison. (Marisa Tomei, Angelica Houston, Alfred Molina, Celia Cruz)  Comedy - drama. Rating: R

4-  My Family/Mi familia - América Latina - the stories of three generations of a family who came from Mexico and settled in California (Jimmy Smits, Edward James Olmos) Rating: R

5-  The Official History (Story)/ La Historia oficial - Argentina - a mystery story involving a married couple and their adopted daughter during Argentina's oppressive dictatorship. Drama. Rating: Not Rated

6- Fresas y Chocolate - Cuba - Comedy/drama about the problems of artistic and alternative lifestyles in Castro's Cuba.  Castro banned this film in Cuba.  Rating: R

7- For Love or Country - Cuba - the Arturo Sandaval Story (Andy García) Recognized as today’s greatest living trumpet player (and one of the greatest in history), Arturo Sandaval tells a compelling story of today’s Cuba, his marriage to a government agent, and his subsequent escape from Cuba.. (Rated: R)

8-Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Spain) (Victoria Abril, Antonio Banderas) In this comedy a woman is crossed by her two-timing married lover and exacts her revenge!  Rated: R

10- El Norte - América Central - A brother & sister escape from the violence of their country & come to the USA to find their Better Homes and Gardens dream world.  Comedy/Drama.  Rating: PG-13
You can find these films at Blockbuster and Carbonated Video stores.  I also have copies of several of these films.
I selected films that are not dreary in the stereotypical foreign film fashion.  Half of these are in English with Spanish mixed in, and the other half are subtitled or dubbed.