Ten More Excellent Spanish-Language Films
Jul 16 '04 (Updated Nov 10 '05)
The Bottom Line There's a blossoming underway in Spanish-language films, in Spain and Latin America, as well as some overlooked gems from previous decades. Here's ten Spanish-language films that are sure to please!
There seems to be a fair amount of interest in Spanish-language films, judging from the hit count for my previous list of Ten Excellent Spanish-Language Films and the films that were listed on it. I’m not surprised, given the number of Hispanic-Americans in the United States and Spanish-speaking internet users in Latin America and Europe. So, here’s a second helping. These ten are not, strictly speaking, numbers 11-20 since some of these would certainly work there way up into the top ten if the two lists were compressed.
TEN MORE EXCELLENT SPANISH-LANGUAGE FILMS:
#1. Talk to Her (2002)
Pedro Almodóvar is well known for daring and unconventional films. He likes to explore ambiguities of gender and to challenge conventional thinking about gender stereotypes and sexual morality. He has also exhibited a steady progression in the depth of issues that he explores. Talk to Her explores the range of human responses to loss and how we deal with a loved one dying or lapsing into a prolonged coma. Be advised that there is one sexually explicit segment, though cartoon-style in character.
#2. The Official Story (1985)
Luis Puenzo’s film The Official Story (La Historia Oficial) won the !985 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. Based on actual events occurring during the 1970’s in Argentina, this film delivers a political statement that is both intensely searing and dramatically engaging. Norma Aleandro won the Best Actress Award at Cannes in 1985 for her tour-de-force performance as Alicia. The story concerns a woman who discovers that her adoptive child may have been stolen from a political prisoner.
#3. Los Olvidados (1950)
This film deals, in Buñuel’s unique style, with the despair of poverty and abandonment in the slums of Mexico City. The protagonist, Pedro (Alfonso Mejia), a boy of about eleven years of age, is wavering on the edge of delinquency. He must deal with the influence of Jaibo (Roberto Cobo), an escapee from reform school, who is older, tougher, more street savvy, and something of a sociopath. Will Pedro emerge into a better life or be ground down by the poverty into which he was born?
#4. Cria! (1975)
Cria is an exceptionally touching portrayal of the inner turmoil of childhood. It is both psychodrama and political allegory. Ana (Ana Torrent) is an inquisitive, angelic girl and the middle of three sisters. She awakens in the early part of the night and hears her father having a heart attack while in the midst of a tryst with his best friend’s wife, Amelia (Mirta Miller). Ana, who had previously lost her mother, is now orphaned. Small wonder that she becomes somewhat obsessed with death. The scenes in this film depicting the three sisters playing together in their own unique world of make-belief are among the most touching portraits of childhood in cinema.
#5. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)
This film from Pedro Almodóvar is pure farce – racy and up-to-date. It received the best picture award in Spain in 1988 and a nomination for the Best Foreign Film category at the American Academy Awards. Pepa, an actress, is distraught over being summarily dumped by her lover Ivan. She is in a frenzy, wanting some closure, at least, on the relationship. Pepa whips up a batch of gazpacho laced with barbiturates. Meanwhile, Ivan’s ex-wife has gotten out of a mental institution after a twenty year stint and has revenge on her mind. Pepa’s best friend, Candela, has just discovered she’s been living with Shiite terrorists. Ivan’s son, Carlos (Antonio Banderas) shows up looking to sublet Pepa’s apartment. Soon the flat is littered with unconscious cops, friends, and a telephone repair man and it’s up to Pepa to stop the jealous ex from killing Ivan at the airport. You get the idea!
#6. Belle Epoque (1992)
This is a good old-fashioned fun film. Fernando, a deserter from the Spanish army, meets Manolo and cooks him a sumptuous meal. In the morning, Manolo takes Fernando to the train station where his four daughters are arriving from Madrid. One by one, the four daughters disembark from the passenger car and each is more stunning than the last. Poor Fernando is seduced by one after the other, each time believing that he has found his one true love. There are plenty of laughs along the way.
#7. Tie Me Up! Time Me Down! (1990)
Ricky is a 23 year-old hunk, well-built, handsome, sincere, with penetrating eyes. He’s been secretly in love with Marina for three years. He wants to be the best husband he can possibly be for Marina and a wonderful father for her children. Oh, and he’s so good in the sack that he makes women weep. There’s just one problem. Ricky’s idea of a first date is to break into Marina’s apartment and tie her up until she gets to know him well enough to fall in love. Otherwise, he’s a terrific guy. What is poor Marina to do?
#8. Nine Queens (2000)
This is one of those films about con-artistry in the manner of, say, The Sting (1973) or The Grifters (1990). It has more twists and turns than a whirling dervish. Whatever you think is going on isn’t and just as you think you’ve figured out one twist, the floor drops out from under your feet and you fall to another level. Set in Buenos Aires, this film will keep you guessing until the very end.
#9. El (1952)
Luis Buñuel produced this film about psychological torments during his prolific Mexican period. It’s style is reminiscent of the suspense dramas of Alfred Hitchcock. For Don Francisco, it is love at first sight when he spies the beautiful face of Gloria. Even the fact that she is presently engaged cannot stop the determined Francisco from wooing and winning her. No sooner are their marriage vows uttered than Gloria begins to discover that Francisco is not quite the person she imagined. He is consumed by unquenchable jealousy. As his delusions and paranoia escalate, Gloria’s situation becomes increasingly precarious.
#10. Tristana (1970)
Tristana (Catherine Deneuve) is in her early twenties when she is made a ward of an elderly aristocrat, Don Lope. Though politically liberal, Don Lope is both a hypocrite and a blatant sexist. He seduces Tristana and becomes jealously possessive of her. Tristana soon discovers the courage to step out in rebellion and meets and runs off with a handsome young artist. Two years later, Tristana returns, having developed a tumor in her leg, which must be amputated. The deeply embittered Tristana now has no choice but to live with the lecherous Don Lope, awaiting her opportunity for revenge.
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You may also enjoy my other genre lists for non-English language films:
Ten Excellent Spanish-Language Films
Coming-of-age – Outside the USA!
Top Ten Foreign Language Psychodramas
Top Ten Non-English Language Political Movies
My Top Ten Non-English Language Tragedies
Top Non-English Language Comedies
Top-Ten Non-English Language Film Biographies
Top-Ten Non-English Language Action/Adventure Films
Ten Best Non-English Language War Movies!!
Top-Ten Non-English Language Mystery Films
Top-Ten Non-English Language ~Horror~ Films
Top-Ten English-Language ~Horror~ Films from Outside the USA
Ten Excellent Films Featuring Royalty
Ten Excellent Non-English Language Thrillers
Ten Non-English Language High-Yield Tearjerkers
Ten Excellent Non-English Language Senior Films
Top-Ten Non-English Language Films Featuring Classical Music
The Top Non-English Language Epics
The 10 Best Foreign Language Romance Movies!!
The Ten Best Non-English Language Love Story Movies!!
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