In addition to celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with several interesting programs (http://iue.libguides.com/hispanicheritage) you can enjoy more than 50 Spanish-language films conveniently located at your IU East Campus Library (http://iue.libguides.com/spanishlanguagefilms). Films may be checked out for 3 days or viewed at the Library. We have head phones you can check out and a new large screen for small groups viewing films at the collaboration table.
A sampling of the variety (with reviews excerpted and adapted from Amazon.com):
Al Otro Lado (To the Other Side)
This is a poignant, artistic and insightful movie. It delves into the lives of three young children whose fathers have left their countries in search of work or better opportunities. In a candid way it shows the pain and desolation of those left behind. It also depicts the lengths that a child will go to in order to be reunited with his or her father. (excerpted from review by R. Sheldon)
Diarios de motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries)
“This film is based on diaries and letters to home written by Ernesto “Che” Guevara during a motorcycle and foot tour of a significant portion of South America during the early 1950s, years before Guevara achieved international renown as a Communist and Latino revolutionary. Thus, the film functions as an attempt to get at the heart of the person who preceded the myth. The film is therefore difficult to judge as pure cinema. Is this, on its own merits, a great film? Or is it a great film about Che Guevara?” (review by Robert Moore excerpted from amazon.com)
La misma luna (Under the same moon)
“Sensitive director Patricia Riggen has, in LA MISMA LUNA (UNDER THE SAME MOON), succeeded in creating a story about the travails of the illegal immigrants from Mexico that serves as a reminder to all of us that one of the reasons for the obsession to take the risks of crossing the border is an attempt to find a better life. While this story concept is by no means a novel one, writer Ligiah Villalobos has provided a script that avoids taking sides, but instead concentrates on creating wholly believable characters caught in the web of immigration – from both sides of the wall. This little film from Mexico is, above all, a film about love, about courage and about resilience and is portrayed by a very fine cast in every role.” Review by Grady Harp
Mar adentro (The Sea Inside)
“The rule of thumb is that Life is preferable to Death. But, on your mental scale, what value judgement would tip the balance towards the latter? THE SEA INSIDE is a forceful, emotive and sympathetic examination of assisted suicide. It’s not a film for those seeking the usual Saturday afternoon pabulum of Hollywood escapism. And for those that believe that opting out of Life is never an option, it will likely be infuriating.” (review by Joseph Haschka at amazon.com)
AY, CARMELA !
“The Spanish Civil War seen as a vaudeville show for the brutal Franco troops, where the terrified performers try to save their skins and their conscience, knowing they can’t have both. …For SCW buffs, the movie is top notch. Down-to-the-last-detail production truly re-creates wartime Spain in every aspect, from uniforms, vehicles, weapons, posters, fashions, jokes, songs and dances, to even the streets themselves, for it seems the producers had to destroy an entire Spanish village in order to shoot the film. The menacing background radio broadcasts real-life Franco speeches, war news bulletins and fascist hymns, whereas the movie score is powerful and nostalgic. A gripping, yet comic, tale about the unsung heroism of your fellow man, I personally prefer it to Benigni’s much vaunted ‘La Vita E Bella!’ (amazon.com review by Paco Calderon
Don’t see a film in our collection you think we should own? You are welcome to suggest it! Contact Library Director Frances Yates: fyates@iue.edu