Top 10 Films to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
We must remember who we are. We are a culture. We are traditions. We are a people.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage month is not just a box to check off on a calendar. It is a annual celebration of the rich culture, traditions, and history of Latinos.
One of the beauties of Latino culture is that it is so diverse. The customs of Mexico are different than the customs of Colombia, which are different than the customs of Washington Heights.
Yet despite those differences we can all celebrate our shared past under the Hispanic Heritage Month umbrella.
One of the favorite pastimes of Latinos is watching movies. Movies speak to universal truths that transcend language and age. They help us experience life from someone else’s point of view.
With that being said, here are our top 10 films to enjoy for Hispanic Heritage Month. Some you might agree with, and some you may not. Also there will be a few that we have left off, but we wanted to give you a little of everything on this top 10.
Coco
You know that a movie has captured the cultural zeitgeist when it becomes an annual part of the festival that it meant to celebrate. Walk around the streets of Los Angeles close to Día de Muertos. You will see elements and characters from the movie Coco that are used to celebrate this holiday with everyone. This is one of the rare movies where art imitates life, and then life imitates art. From Miguel’s iconic guitar, to the epic journey that he experiences learning about life’s truths, Coco celebrates the tie that binds us all together, family. If it’s your first time seeing this film, (where have you been?) we can almost guarantee that you won’t finish it with a dry eye. The film is a master class in tapping into the human pathos, bringing the moviegoer on a emotional journey that they won’t forget.
Encanto
Shhh…. We don’t talk about Bruno!!! Every parent who had a child under 10 probably heard the song We Don’t Talk About Bruno no less than 50 times and I’m sure there are a few who have crossed the 500 and 1000 barrier. Aside from having an earworm soundtrack from one of the greatest lyricists of our generation (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Encanto is beautiful celebration of Latino culture set in the heart of Colombia. Family, which is so important to Latino culture, is a universal truth; you don’t have to be Latino to understand the importance of family. That’s why this movie is so effective. So many people who saw this movie saw themselves in one of the characters. From their personalities, trials and tribulations, to physical appearances, there was something for everyone in this movie.
In The Heights
While many think of Latino culture happening in far away lands, the reality is that the United States has contributed so much to the culture. Set in the Dominican epicenter of New York City, In The Heights, shows us a snapshot in the lives of our favorite characters in Washington Heights. We can all remember a time that we were all together with our friends before life changed and moved us all away. We all have our “sueñitos” that we must follow in life. if we are lucky enough, we will be around those that will help make our little dreams come true.
Selena
What good is a Top 10 list without a great biopic. When you think of the best biopic movies of the last 30 years, Selena has to be right there at the top with the best of them (e.g. Ray, The Aviator, Bohemian Rhapsody, etc.). Selena is one of the most iconic figures in US Latino cultures. You know she’s big because Selena only goes by one name. You say Selena and you know who somoene is talking about. Think Madonna. Think Elvis. That’s the kind of level that Selena Quintanilla is on. To portray such an iconic figure, took a star in her own right, that just needed an opportunity to shine. That actress was a young Jennifer Lopez who was introduced to the world with this movie. In this movie you can follow the early days of Selena y Los Dinos, all the way to her hits such as Como La Flor, and even see a recreation of Selena’s iconic Astrodome concert in Houston before her untimely death.
Stand and Deliver
Ask anyone who has ever taken the AP Calculus exam. They’ve seen this movie. it’s an amazing film that speaks to the truth that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and work hard for it. Set in the heart of East Los Angeles and based on a true story, a high school professor takes a group of young teenagers whom the world has given up on, and shows them the heights that they can reach if they just believe. Featuring a tour de foroce performance by Edward James Olmos, Stand and Deliver will have you standing an cheering.
Y Tu Mamá Tambien
So not every movie that we pick has to be family friendly. This one certainly is not. In one of his first films, famed director Aflonso Cuarón delivers the coming of age film that’s raw, unfiltered, and definitely not innocent. As young people coming out of high school, Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal take you on the road trip that you wish you went on during that time of your life.
Vivo
A movie about a lovable kinkajou, that we know you will love too. Aside from the cute characters, Vivo is a beautiful on-screen celebration of Cuban culture and following your dreams. As Latino culture is not a monolith, the movie masterfully shows that you can find your cultural identity even if you weren’t born in the same country as your ancestors were. Not being born in Cuba, Mexico, or Puerto Rico doesn’t make you less Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican. Be sure to watch this movie on Netflix.
Roma
If there is a magnum opus from Alfonso Cuarón, Roma is it. This is more than just a film about a Mexican housekeeper. This film was dedicated to the women who raised Alfonso. Sometimes life was tough, and things happened that weren’t fair, but in the end they had each other. Cinematographically you’ve never seen a black and white film filled with so much color. His imagery leaps off the screen and stylistically makes you feel as though you are there experiencing the events of his characters righ alongside them. It’s pure. cinematic genius.
Real Women Have Curves
As we go through the list we find that the great latino movies are the ones that are grounded in universal truths. Nothing could be truer than Real Women Have Curves. This magnificent film starring American Ferreira, shows a young woman on her journey through womanhood and culture. Director Patricia Cardoso understands the pressures and the pitfalls that Latina women face, and bring to the screen a very honest portrayal for audiences to identify with (there’s even a whole scene that is a tribute to the bodies of women, cellulite, stretch marks and all!!).
Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse
On the surface this one doesn’t seem like a film to watch during Hispanic Heritage month. But hear us out. Miles Morales, a half black half Puerto Rican, is just a regular teen living in New York City. He speaks Spanglish at home (as many of us do) and grew up around many cultures. While his Latinidad can’t be denied, it is not the focus of the film. There is somehing very rewarding in seeing Miles just be. He’s a kid. He’s a Superhero. While there is a place for movies that focus on being Latino and how unique that experience is, there is also a place for characters that are Latino that look and feel as any other movie would feel (although cinematically Spider-Verse created a new form of animation that audiences loved).
