Spanish Films and Music Guide ~ Billington Library @ JCCC

Feature Films

[DVD] 791.43 G7524

When news of his son's death brings old Count Albrit home to Spain after years abroad, he's pleased to meet his two charming young granddaughters. But one of the girls is not his son's daughter, and therefore not his true heir. The determined Count sets out to discover which granddaughter is worthy of his love and name.

Angel de Fuego (Angel of Fire) (Mexico)

[DVD] 791.43.A5817

In a rundown circus on the outskirts of Mexico City, 13 year old Alma earns a living as a trapeze artist. When her fellow performers find out that she is pregnant, Alma is expelled from the circus. She lives on the streets until she meets a troupe of traveling puppeteers that preach the word of God. Alma sees a promise in them, a glimpse of hope. this is a story of a young girl's search for redemption and forgiveness.

Al Otro Lado (To the Other Side) (Mexico)

[DVD] 791.43 T6276

Three cultures, three countries, three realities introduce us to the lives of three children that all share the same sentiment, dealing with the absence of a loved one and the need to bring them back home.

Belle Époque (Spain)

[DVD] 791.43.B4383

Fernando, a handsome, young Spanish Civil War deserter who befriends a free-thinking artist, finds himself in a romantic dilemma when the artist's four beautiful daughters return to their country home. Which woman should he love?

Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding) (Spain)

[VHS] 791.43 B6553

This film is a Flamenco interpretation of the classic drama by Federico García Lorca. The National Ballet of Spain is first shown arriving at the dance studio, making up and rehearsing, dramatizing the technique by which they transform themselves into a unified dance company. The story of murderous passion and revenge is told entirely through dance without dialogue. A young bride runs off from her wedding with a married lover. Her jilted husband tracks them down and fights a knife duel to the death.

Bolivia

[DVD] 791.43 B6897

A man must work as an illegal alien in Argentina in order to support his family in Bolivia. The film paints a portrait of struggle in the modern economy of Argentina and the mistreatment of illegal workers.

Butterfly (Spain)

[DVD] 791.43.B9883

A shy young boy is brought out of his cocoon by a wise teacher who shows him the wonder of the natural world around him, amidst the growing tensions and chaos of the Spanish Civil War in Galicia.

Caballos Salvajes (Wild Horses) (Argentina)

[DVD] 791.43 C1124

Caballos Salvajes is a lively yet poignant Argentine crime adventure about three fugitive rookie anarchists who transform themselves into media darlings after their botched robbery.

Carmen (Spain)

[VHS] 791.43 C2875

To complete his production of "Carmen," a director-choreographer must find a leading lady. His obsessive search for a fiery, passionate Carmen, takes him to flamenco dance schools.

Casa de los Babys (USA)

[DVD] 791.43.C3343

Six women -- dreamy Eileen, abrasive Nan, athletic Skipper, brusque Leslie, vivacious Jennifer and patient Gayle -- are staying at a hotel in South America. The film focuses on the turbulent emotions these American women face surrounding the adoption of foreign babies. The six women are fed up with the long delays of the adoption system in the United States and have the common desire to adopt a child. The film also follows a Latina mother who is certain that her baby will enjoy a better life with adoptive American parents, but is still struggling with the anguish of her sacrifice.

Cilantro y Perejil (Recipes to Stay Together) (Mexico)

[DVD] 791.43.C5723

A female documentary director's latest project is to capture her sister's marital difficulties on film in hopes of shedding light on the travails of modern romance.

Ciudad y los Perros (City and the Dogs) (Peru)

[DVD] 791.43 C5817

Four angry cadets, who have formed an inner circle in an attempt to beat the system and ward off the boredom and stifling confinement in a Peruvian military academy, set off a chain of events that starts with a theft and leads to murder and suicide.

Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate) (Mexico)

[DVD] 791.43 C7276
[VHS] 791.43 C7276

This is a romantic fantasy set in the early 20th century about a young couple blocked from marrying by the demands of her cold and selfish mother. To be near his love the young man marries her sister, and she expresses her passion for him through her cooking.

Cronos (Mexico)

[VHS] 791.43 C9474

An alchemist perfects an invention (the Cronos device) which gives him the key to eternal life. Centuries later, an elderly antique dealer finds the hellish machine and becomes obsessed with its incredible powers. The more he uses the device the younger he becomes. When a ruthless millionaire comes looking for the Cronos device, there's hell to pay.

The Cuban Masterworks Collection Obras Maestras del Cine Cubano (Cuba)

[DVD] 791.43 C9624

Five restored classic films from Cuba

Dolce Sillas (The Twelve Chairs): A rich woman decides, before dying, to hide the family jewels under a chair lining. A former proprietor and his former drive try to locate the treasure. The film is full of comic situations and adventures.

Aventuras de Juan Quin: A peasant farmer becomes a soldier in the Cuban revolution in an offbeat adventure.

Un Hombre de Éxito (A Successful Man: Cuba's history before the Revolution is chronicled through the story of two brothers, one a revolutionary man of action, the other an unscrupulous politician trying to steer a treacherous middle path between opposing political ideas.

Cecilia: In 1830 Cuba, the son of a rich colonial family falls in love with a proud, beautiful but poor mulatto girl. His father, however, wants him to marry a woman from his own social class.

Amada: set in Havana in 1914, as World War I begins. Amada, a young conservative bourgeois woman unhappily married to an ambitious politician, and tied to obsolete values, falls passionately in love with her cousin Marcial, a young nonconformist who tries unsuccessfully to shake her out of her traditionalism with tragic results.

Día que Murió el Silencio (The Day the Silence Died) (Bolivia)

[VHS] 791.43 D27513

This is a lyrical, sentimental comedy with shades of magic realism in its tale of a mysterious stranger who brings radio to a remote South American village.

Erendira (Cuban/Mexico)

[VHS] 791.43 E675

A black comedy about a teenage girl forced into prostitution by her greedy grandmother. Erendira's only escape from this exploitation is to murder the grandmother in this surreal tale of sexual fantasy, political allegory, and bawdy humor.

Espinazo del Diablo (Devil's Backbone) (Spain)

[DVD] 791.43 D4946

During the Spanish Civil War, young Carlos is abandoned at a completely isolated orphanage. The tensions therein have been building for years, exacerbated by the unexploded bomb resting menacingly in the courtyard. Bullies scheme, tempers flare, and a ghost that visits Carlos's bed seems to be the key to it all.

Exterminating Angel (Mexico)

[VHS] 791.43 E966

A group of wealthy dinner party guests are psychologically unable to leave the home of their hosts and panic sets in as they are trapped there for many days.

Fresa y Chocolate (Strawberry and Chocolate) (Cuba)

[DVD] 791.43 S9132
[VHS] 791.43 S9132

A young college kid meets a writer and a passionate woman who teach him the things that aren't taught in school.

Girl of Your Dreams (Spain)

[DVD] 791.43 G5253

In Civil War torn Spain, Germany invites a group of filmmakers to shoot two versions of the Andalusian musical drama "The girl of your dreams" in Berlin. Happy to leave the war behind them, the troupe of Spaniards starts filming in Hitler's Berlin. The hospitality upon their arrival has more to do with the youthful charms of Macarena Granada. What's more, the only Andalusian-looking extras in Germany are the gypsies and Jewish prisoners in a nearby concentration camp. When Macarena befriends one of the prisoners, the troupe must decide if the movie is more important than their lives.

Golpes a mi Puerta (Knocks on My Door) (Argentina)

[VHS] 791.43 K726

A deadly encounter between two nuns and the military police reflect the turbulent times in Latin American society.

Green Wall (Peru)

[VHS] 791.43 G7985

The film tells the story of a young settler who tries to escape the bureaucracy of life in Lima with his wife and son by starting a farm in the Peruvian jungle, only to experience more problems and setbacks.

Guantanamera (Cuba)

[DVD] 791.43 G9137
[VHS] 791.43 G9137

In this romantic comedy, Yoyita, a world-famous diva, returns to her home town of Guantanamo for an elegant reception and a surprise reunion with her once beloved, Candido. Overjoyed with the rekindled memories of her first love, Yoyita's elated heart fizzles while in Candido's embrace. Joining Yoyita's funeral procession back to Havana are her sexy niece Gina, a former professor blacklisted for political nonconformity, and her husband Adolfo, a tasteless government official in charge of the funeral proceedings. As the cortege wends westward across Cuba, its path keeps crossing that of Mariano, a gallant truck driver who once had a crush on Gina and whose recurring presence crystallizes her doubts about her marriage.

Historia Oficial (Official Story) (Argentina)

[DVD] 791.43 O326
[VHS] 791.43 O326

The wife of a businessman in Argentina finds herself face to face with terror as she begins to discover that her own daughter, adopted at birth, may have been stolen.

Holy Innocents/Santos Innocentes (Spain)

[VHS] 791.43 H7614

A rural Spanish family dreams of rising out of poverty and changing their life of subordination.

Imagining Argentina (Argentina)

[DVD] 791.43.I313

This is an extraordinary story of love, compassion, and danger. This political thriller is about one family who had the courage to fight for justice in a country ruled by fear.

El Imperio de la Fortuna (Mexico)

[DVD] 791.43.I344

Born with a deformed hand, and living a very meager life, Dionosio's luck turns around when he is given a losing gamecock which he nurses back to health. He trains the bird for fighting, begins to make money, and begins a relationship with a gold-digging singer. As he makes money, though, he begins to become more and more corrupt--and it becomes apparent that his winning streak will not last.

Innocent Voices (El Salvador)

[DVD] 791.43 I586

In war torn 1980's El Salvador, Chava, an eleven-year-old boy, suddenly becomes the 'man of the house' in a time when the government's army is forcibly recruiting children for civil war. As his single mother fights to protect her children, their village becomes both playground and battlefield. This is about life, love, the hope of peace, and the ennobling power of the human spirit. The film is based on a true story.

Julio y su Angel (Mexico)

[VHS] 791.43 J946

This is a heart-warming story of a Mexican orphan who finds a guardian angel.

Lista de Espera (Waiting List) (Cuba)

[DVD] 791.43 L7735

A rundown bus station in rural Cuba becomes the backdrop for romance and miracles in Juan Carlos Tabio's blend of magical realism and social commentary.

Lo Que Vendra (Times to Come) (Argentina)

[VHS] 791.43 T5838

Three characters try to survive in a futuristic city.

Man Facing Southeast (Argentina)

[VHS] 791.43 M2663

A man named Rantes appears in a Buenos Aires psychiatric hospital, claiming to be an alien, and becomes a source of hope to the patients.

Machuca (Chile)

[DVD] 791.43 M1512

In 1973, the Chilean military, under the direction of General Augusto Pinochet and backed by the CIA, overthrew the shaky socialist government of democratically elected President Salvador Allende. The coup led to the murder of 3,000 leftist Allende supporters and the detention of an estimated 250,000 political prisoners. Set against the background of the political instability that led to that crisis, Andres Wood's Machuca is a story of the friendship between two twelve-year-old boys from different sides of the social spectrum.

Maria Full of Grace (USA/Colombia)

[DVD] 791.43 M3325

Maria, a poor Columbian teenager, is desperate to leave a soul-crushing job. She accepts an offer to transport packets of heroin - which she swallows - to the United States. The ruthless world of drug trafficking proves to be more than she bargained for.

Matando Cabos (Killing Cabos) (Mexico)

[DVD] 791.43 K487

Nobody likes Cabos, but his future son-in-law, the last guy intending to harm him, ends up with Cabos in his trunk and Cabos-haters on his tail. Thankfully, a retired pro wrestler and a midget cannibal come to the rescue!

Men with Guns (USA/Latin America)

[VHS] 791.43 M5347

Dr. Fuentes is a man in search of his legacy, 7 medical students he trained to work in impoverished native villages in Mexico. But early in his odyssey he begins to suspect that men with guns got there first, and with every step he is confronted by bloody realities he had long ignored. Now, his is an almost desperate quest, but for a mythical village deep in the rainforest, one last refuge of hope called Cerca del Cielo.

Motorcycle Diaries (Argentina)

[DVD] 791.43 M9195

An inspirational adventure, based on the true story of Ernesto Guevara and Alberto Granado, whose thrilling and dangerous road trip across Latin America becomes a life-changing journey of self-discovery.

El Norte (Mexico/U.S.)

[VHS] 791.43 N8633

Beginning in the remote mountain jungles of Guatemala, this highly acclaimed drama about a brother and sister seeking a better life centers on two young Indians. When their father is killed by government soldiers and their mother taken away, they set out for the "promised land" to the north -- El Norte.

Novia Que Te Vea (Like a Bride) (Mexico)

[DVD] 791.43 L7273

This film is a delightful depiction of the adventures, suffering, love affairs and difficulties of two Mexican Jewish girls in the early 1960s.

Los Olvidados (Mexico)

[DVD] 791.43 O526

A group of juvenile delinquents live a violent and crime-filled life in the festering slums of Mexico City, and the morals of young Pedro are gradually corrupted and destroyed by the others.

The Other Conquest (Mexico)

[DVD] 791.43 O873

After the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlan, scribe Topilzin rebels against the new state-imposed religion.

Pan's Labyrinth (Spain)

[DVD] 791.43 P1965

When young Ofelia and her mother go to live with her new stepfather on a rural military outpost, she finds herself in a world of unimaginable cruelty. Soon Ofelia finds the creatures of her imagination in which she used to escape have become a reality and she must battle them to save both her mother and herself. In the terrifying battle that ensues, Ofelia soon learns that innocence has a power that evil cannot imagine.

Princesas (Spain)

[DVD] 791.43 P9571

Caye, a Madrid prostitute, comes to the aid of Zulema, a Dominican streetwalker beaten by a government official blackmailing her for free sex. They form a strong bond and imagine themselves as royalty, to offer them a glimpse of hope.

The Sea Inside (Spain)

[DVD] 791.43 S4381

Ramón Sampedro wants to end his life because a diving accident 28 years before that turned him into a quadriplegic. For most of those years he made the most of it: writing, developing close relationships with his family, who all help to care for him. While grateful to his family and friends for their help, Ramón was always an active person. He has come to see his life as frustrating and pointless and wishes to die with what remains of his dignity. Gené is a friend who works with a "Right to Die" organization who introduces Ramón to Julia, a lawyer he hopes will help him persuade the courts to let him end his own life. As Ramón and Julia work together on his case, Ramón finds himself falling in love with his attorney, but Ramón remains convinced that the greatest gift to him would be an end to his life.

Secretos del Corazon (Spain)

[DVD] 791.43 S4469

Javi believes he can hear the voices of the dead and that they whisper to him their secrets, which were left unspoken in life. At his mother's house in the mountains, he is fascinated by the room in which his father died and which his mother carefully keeps locked. But, Javi also learns that the living have their secrets as well.

Silence of Neto (Guatemala)

[VHS] 791.43 S5823

Produced entirely in Guatemala and filmed in the colonial city of Antigua, this film tells the story of a young boy's coming of age while his country struggles to preserve democracy amidst CIA cold-war propaganda. Through the eyes of young Neto, the viewer is given an authentic insider's look at the diverse people of Guatemala and the historical events in the mid-1950's that have shaped their destiny.

Sol del Otoño (Autumn Sun) (Argentina)

[DVD] 791.43 A9416
[VHS] 791.43 A9416

In this love story set in Buenos Aires, a Jewish woman is forced to create a contrived relationship with a man of her own faith because of the impending visit from her American brother. Complications result.

Son of the Bride (Argentina)

[DVD] 791.43 S6984

Rafael is a 42-year-old divorced father and restaurant owner who is overwhelmed with life. He feels guilty that he doesn't visit his mother, who is stricken with Alzheimer's disease; he lives in his father's shadow; he doesn't spend enough time with his daughter and he can't commit to his girlfriend. When a series of unexpected events happen, Rafael re-evaluates his life.

Talk to Her (Spain)

[DVD] 791.43 T1465

In a private clinic Barco and Benigno strike up a friendship while caring for comatose women.

Taxi Para 3 (A Cab for 3) (Chile)

[DVD] 791.43 C1122

In this black comedy telling the story of Ulises, a taxi driver who thinks that joining the gang that holds him up may just be the way out, he is given a difficult choice from two small-time crooks: drive them around while they rob, or get locked up in the trunk.

Te Doy Mis Ojos (Take My Eyes) (Spain)

[DVD] 791.43 T1364

A terrified Pilar hastily flees from her husband Antonio's rage in the middle of the night with her young son as if her life depends on it. Reaching her sister Ana's house, Pilar breaks down in turmoil. Banging on Ana's front door is Pilar's husband, Antonio, who in a fit of rage screams for Pilar to return home. With Ana's support, Pilar is determined to save herself from Antonio's rage. Yet the very passionate Antonio is far from a one-dimensional brute, and the bond between Pilar and Antonio is deep.

Todo Sobre Mi Madre (All About My Mother) (Spain)

[DVD] 791.43 A4163

Manuela is the perfect mother. A hard-working nurse, she's built a comfortable life for herself and her teenage son. But when tragedy strikes and her son is killed in a car accident, her world crumbles.

Tortilla Soup (Mexico)

[DVD] 791.43 T7115

This is a heartwarming comedy that's all about food, family and a certain kind of magic that only happens at the dinner table. Martin is the culinary genius behind a successful restaurant and the widowed father of three daughters whom he has a compulsion to try and steer in the right direction. Hungry for their independence, the girls find themselves at odds with their traditionalist father.

Ultimo Tren (The Last Train) (Uruguay)

[DVD] 791.43 L34985

Three old men and a little boy are to protect an old patrimony, La '33', the last train, in this film adventure.

Valentin (Argentina)

[DVD] 791.43 V1561

Valentin is a nine-year-old boy whose feuding parents have left him to be raised by his eccentric grandmother. With his father visiting only occasionally, Valentin is left to look to the other men in the neighborhood for father figures, and to replace his absent mother he warms to Leticia, one of his father's many short-term girlfriends. When he tells her personal secrets about his father, however, Valentin jeopardizes their relationship. He sets out to discover the harsh realities about his parents, while bringing joy to those around him.

Viridiana (Mexico)

[DVD] 791.43 V8182
[VHS] 791.43 V8182

Viridiana, who is about to take her religious vows, is seduced by her uncle, in this surrealistic-style film. The uncle hangs himself in guilt and leaves his estate to Viridiana who opens up a home for the local beggars.

Volver (Spain)

[DVD] 791.43 V9443

Raimunda lives in Madrid with her daughter Paula and her drunk husband Paco. Her sister, Sole, is separated and works clandestinely as a hairstylist for women. Years ago, in the sisters' birth village, they lost their parents in a fire in La Mancha. Their aunt, Paula, still lives in the village and continues to speak about her sister Irene, mother of the two sisters, as if she were still alive. When the old aunt dies, the situation changes and the past returns (Volver).

Without A Trace

[DVD] 791.43 W8242

The story of two women on the run: one a Spanish dealer in ersatz Mayan relics the other a young mother who has run away from her drug dealer boyfriend and who hopes to build a better life for her two children. The two women ultimately form a bond of solidarity and camaraderie that is put to the test when both a border officer and the boyfriend catch up with them.

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Spain)

[VHS] 791.499

Comedy about a woman who has been jilted by the love of her life, her friend who is in love with a terrorist, and her ex-lover's crazed wife. Mix them all together and you end up with women on the verge of a nervous breakdown!

Zoot Suit (USA)

[DVD] 791.43 Z877
[VHS] 791.43 Z877

A group of Mexican Americans are sent to San Quentin unjustly for the death of a man at Sleepy Lagoon. Based on the actual zoot suit case and riots of 1940's Los Angeles.

Documentaries

Almost a Woman

[VHS] 974.04

A dramatization of Esmeralda Santiago's youth, from the time she moves to New York from rural Puerto Rico, to the threshold of her successful artistic career.

Mama Coca

[VHS] 338.22

The Aymaras Indians of Bolivia discuss the everyday and sacred uses of the coca leaf. It explains the Agro-Yungas project launched by the U.S. government to replace the coca crops with coffee, and the reasons the farmers do not want to participate.

The Buried Mirror:
'The Buried Mirror' is an epic portrait of a remarkable history. An extraordinary "mirror" is being held up to the Old and New Worlds to reflect the diverse cultures of Spanish-speaking countries and peoples, together with the themes, institutions, beliefs, and symbols that have endured or changed through time.

I. The Virgin and the Bull	[VHS] 946.01
Carlos Fuentes looks for his forebears in the mix of people that created Latin America: Spanish, Arab, Jewish, Indian, and African. He asks what is unique in their culture that is cause for celebration in the 500th anniversary year of Columbus. His quest takes him from the quayside at Vera Cruz back to Spain.

II. Conflict of the Gods	[VHS] 946.02
In his lifetime Carlos Fuentes has witnessed the rediscovery of ancient Aztec temples beneath the central square of modern Mexico City. He retraces the Indian world through their magnificent pyramids and sculptures. The return of their exiled god was forecast for the very year Cortés reached their shores. The savagery of the conquistador equaled that of the Indian, but he brought with him a new god, a god who sacrificed himself for men.

III. The Age of Gold	[VHS] 946.03
The New World brought Spain enormous treasures: gold, silver, chocolate, tomatoes, the potato. Yet Spain's most powerful ruler, Philip II, lived in austere solitude in a cell-like study. He sought to protect the Catholic faith, while Cervantes questioned all values in Don Quixote. Velázquez painted masterpieces of psychological penetration that vaulted the Atlantic.

IV. The Price of Freedom	[VHS] 946.04
Every year a million Mexicans gather in their capital to celebrate El Grito, the cry for independence. Following its progress, Carlos Fuentes crosses the Andes in the steps of Bolívar and San Martín. The liberators succeeded in throwing off the Spanish yoke, but they found it harder to establish a just society. For the gaucho there was the consolation of the open spaces, the mountains, and the plains. And for those crowding into the new cities like Buenos Aires, there was tango, a sad thought that can be danced.

V. Unfinished Business	[VHS] 946.05
Within the lifetime of those born now, half the population of the U.S. will be Spanish-speaking. Every year, half a million brave the border patrols to enter the U.S. illegally, "searching for the Gringo gold but also bringing the Latino gold." Hispanic immigrants contribute a wealth of traditions: diverse cultural creativity in art, music, and dance, respect for family ties--distinct hallmarks of the Spanish-speaking world.

Lost Kingdoms of the Maya

[VHS] 972.11

An exploration of the forests of Central America and Mexico on the trail of the ancient Maya. Distinguished scientists unearth artifacts, reconstruct cities and decipher the hieroglyphics of an extraordinary civilization.

Isabel Allende: An Extraordinary Life

[VHS] 809.07

When her daughter became ill and fell into a coma, Isabel Allende began to write the story of her family "in case Paula wakes up and has no memory." Isabel Allende tells the story of her life and the events in it.

Inca: Secrets of the Ancestors

[VHS] 980.04

Learn about the legendary kingdom of the Incas and the achievements of their society, including medical skills, engineering and architectural marvels, and much more.

Qeros: the Shape of Survival

[VHS] 980.05

Life and hardships of the Andean nomads called the Q'eros. Film describes their means of subsistence, their rituals and beliefs, and the pattern of discrimination they have undergone.

Quest: The Lost World of the Maya

[VHS] 972.10

Examines the Lacandron sect, the descendants of the great Mayan culture.

Quién Diablos es Juliette? (Who the Hell is Juliette)

[DVD] 305.8.W6285

The film looks at the lives and thoughts of some young people in Havana in the 1990's as seen through the making of a film, "The story of Yuliet Ortega & Fabiola Quiroz as filmed by Carlos Marcovich."

Music CDs

Antología V. 1 and 2 - Paco de Lucía

[CD] 780.89.9372an v1-2

Autorretrato - Carmen de la Isla

[CD] 780.89.C172au

Bachata Rosa - Juan Luis Guerra

[CD] 780.89.G9342ba

Balkan Vistas, Spanish Dreams

[CD] 780.89.V8893ba

The Best of Inti-Illimani

[CD] 780.89.I616be

Best of the Gipsy Kings