Miguel Hernandez: The Man with Lots of Heart
Today, on the 30th October in 1910, in the town of Orihuela in southeastern Spain, Miguel Hernandez was born. As we come to the end of the month of October, it would seem an apt moment to delve a little into the work and life of…
Franco Lolli: a new name in Latin American cinema?
Selected by both Cannes critic’s week and to the BFI London Film Festival, Franco Lolli’s feature debut Gente de Bien, has received widespread critical acclaim. We talked to the young Colombian director during his screening in…
EL FATHER PLAYS HIMSELF (2020) dramatic documentary directed by Mo Scarpelli
“The root of all shades of machismo is fear, the root of family is love. In ‘EL FATHER PLAYS HIMSELF’ this fear and love collide.”
Women by Women: Changing Photography For The Better
Showing at the OXO Gallery to mark International Women’s Day, ActionAid’s new exhibition Women by Women “aims to shatter stereotypes and celebrate inspiring women refugees from around the world” (ActionAid). One of five…
The São Paulo Dance Company’s UK tour shook the stage at Sadler’s Wells - but is the depth of the artistic intention communicated to the audience?
Embarking on their Dance Consortium tour, the São Paulo dance company’s programme is undeniably ambitious, tackling lofty themes of nationhood and identity and time in an “invitation to dance together” (Inês Bogéa). To the highly…
LATIN LDONDONER #7 Julieta Hernández Adame - Visual Artist
Mexican born Julieta Hernández Adame is a talented artist and printmaker who skilfully uses the urban, the industrial and above all the power of words to make us reflect on the world we leave in. She was voted the Visual Artist…
My Own Private Hell / Inferninho (2018) Dir. Guto Parente
A beautiful film that illustrates how a little slice of extraordinary life can survive in a dark, fairytale environment.
MAGDALENA, TE AMO (2024) by Andrea Calao
‘Magdalena, Te Amo’ (2024) is a moving short film about student sex workers in New York. Premiered at the New York Latino Film Festival, it has also been longlisted for the 2024 Yugo BAFTA Student Awards.
Surviving Venezuela
‘Surviving Venezuela: Smuggling Dreams’, directed by Anglo-Peruvian Alexander ‘Lali’ Houghton is a TV documentary filmed in 2017 for ‘Witness’, Al Jazeera. It was short listed for a Rory Peck Award (2018), as well for the Foreign…
No Clowning Around
Vladimir Brichta’s striking good looks and palpable on-screen energy had already made him a household name Brazilian television, from mini- series to hugely popular novellas (long serials). But now non-Brazilians can enjoy these…
The Condor and The Eagle
The Condor and the Eagle (2019) is a prize-winning documentary film directed by Sophie and Clément Guerra, about the collective struggle of the Indigenous peoples of North and South America to defend their land and water against…
“Happiness is a Myth"
In his book 'You are not Meant to be Happy, so stop Trying' Basque psychiatrist Dr Rafa Euba argues that happiness is merely an ethereal ghost that inhabits our brain, not something to strive for. Released in these…
A Big Budget for a Big Man
HANDIA (Giant) swept the boards at the 2018 GOYA AWARDS, with 13 nominations, and carrying away 10 awards. In particular it won Best original Script, Best New Actor, as well as awards for Cinematography, Editing, Special Effects…
CHACO (2020) by Bolivian director Diego Mondaca.
'CHACO' is being screened in the " Echoes & Horizons of Contemporary Bolivian Cinema' at the Garden Cinema., bringing a story set during the 'War of Thirst'.
Collective Monologues (2024) by Jessica Sarah Rinland
‘Wednesdays are a day of rest in the zoo’. Not for the visitors or the carers, but for the animals. Anglo-Argentine Rinland gazes into the finer, intimate life of zoos and rescue centres across Argentina, making it a sensual…
I’m still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui - 2024) by Brazilian director Walter Salles
Picking up the Oscar at the 97th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film, ‘I’M STILL HERE’ is a stirring thriller/ family drama set in 1971 during the most agonizing period of Brazil’s Military Dictatorship. Based on…
LATINOLIFE'S NEW YEAR'S HOTLIST
At Latino Life we like to bring in the New Year with Latin bang...here's a few ways to help
Tango Fire @ the Peacock
This phenomenal show - now in its 7th year - demonstrates new energy and drama every time it returns - a testament to German Cornejo's drive and love of his art, the reason Tango Fire is still as fresh as ever.
Shaped in Mexico, Found in London
Both originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Daniela Fernandez founder of Distrito 14 a multi-diciplinery gallery in Monterrey, and Silvia Palacios, founder of their London sister gallery, Platform C, joined forces to take over the…
Above All...
‘Sobretodo’ in Spanish is the word for ‘coat’, but the literal translation means ‘about everything’, a detail not lost on the author, as this delightful selection of poems by Argentine author Sylvia Libedinsky is exactly that:…
Things That Matter To…Albert Quesada
Albert Quesada is a Spanish dancer and choreographer who trained in Amsterdam and Brussels (PARTS) after studying philosophy in Barcelona. Quesada is known for translating musical structures into choreography and inviting the…
Horror is alive and kicking in THE BREACH (2022) by Rodrigo Gudiño
Mexican- Canadian film director Rodrigo Gudiño, best known for founding the horror magazine and company Rue Morgue, has lived up to his reputation with an entertaining and fun horror film with plenty of gore, ‘The Breach’ (2022)
LATIN LONDONER #8 BIanca Jagger - Style Diva and Human Rights Activist
A ‘one off’, a glamorous Latin American who has poured her passion and pride into doing the right thing; an example of Latin American solidarity personified.
The Clan (Dir. Pablo Trapero)
Outsanding performances and direction bring to life this story, one of the most curious of Argentina's many intriguing historical dramas.
DISOBEDIENCE (2018) Forbidden love is never easy, let alone in a closed religious community.
When photographer Ronit Krushka returns from New York to London after many years, for her father’s funeral, a forbidden love that had been the cause of her departure is re-ignited with powerful consequences.
Spain's Film Intellectual: interview with Ramon Luque
A lover of Woody Allen and Ingmar Bergman, Spanish director Ramon Luque is a great Film intellectual, known just as much for his nine books than for the three films that he's made. His latest film, the critically acclaimed…
LATIN LONDONER #59 - Mariana Aristizábal, Actor, Director, Theatre-Maker
Colombian actress and theatre-maker Mariana Aristizábal describes herself as someone who “makes things happen, one way or another.” She has performed in 'Dirty Thirty,' 'Gloria y Ramona' and 'The…
WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS (2019) Dir Ciro Guerra
In a sharp critique of the worst aspects of colonialism ‘Waiting for the Barbarians’, the feature film by Ciro Guerra (faithfully adapted from J M Coetzee’s 1980s novel of the same name) examines the wilful ignorance and…
‘El Visitante’ (The Visitor- 2022) by director Martín Boulocq.
This film has been awarded 3 wins and 3 nominations for Best Film and Best Screenplay, but surprisingly. none for Enrique Aráoz's excellent debut performance.
TIDES (2017) Unwinding down winding canals
Shot in mesmerizing Black & White against a backdrop of Surrey’s serene canals, a group of forty something friends who have not seen each other for a while, decide to spend a weekend on a narrow boat to rekindle their…
Colour Conscience
Carlos Jacanamijoy is a Colombian artist from the town of Santiago, Putumayo. A well known figure in contemporary Colombian art, at 50-years of age, he has just exhibited his first ever show in London at The Sandra Higgins Art…
LATIN LONDONER #57 - Samantha Manzur, Actor, Theatre-maker
Chilean-Palestinian actor Samantha leads the Interdicta Collective, an interdisciplinary group creating immersive theatre and museum experiences. Samantha also starred in 'Mad Women' (2024), El Círculo (2019) and La…
Latin Shorts
Since short films were removed from accompanying all features at cinemas, they have struggled to find venues to reach an audience. The The 21st London Short Film Festival aims to change that, in style. We review four Latin…
Hugo Brazão- The VIA Arts Prize winner 2018–Madeiran zing shines in London
Out of 200 entries, the talented Madeiran artist HUGO BRAZÃO has won the 2018 VIA Arts Prize (Visual Ibero-American Arts) with Graham Guy-Robinson as runner up. The 30 finalist’s works are now on show in the stunning ‘Sala Brasil…
Historias de Lavapies (2014) Dir. Ramon Luque
Historias de Lavapiés is Ramón Luque’s third release which opened this year’s London Spanish Film Festival. It is a truthful, beautiful snapshot into Spain’s multicultural society and continuing economic difficulty. Few films…