BALLAD OF A HAPPY IMMIGRANT (2021) book of poems by Leo Boix
“Come back a man or never come!” says the refrain in the titular poem 'Ballad of a Happy Immigrant', that is, in a sense, “the story of my life”, says Leo Boix. If you are searching for a Christmas gift for a book…
‘UNIDENTIFIED OBJECTS’: Juan Felipe Zuleta’s film of friendship despite all odds
Screened in the 'Hearts' Strand at the 2023 BFI Flare LGBTQI+ Festival, this powerful and charming film has been praised by Queer Forty as “one of the best road movies ever made”. This may be a grand statement but there…
Latin Things to Do with Kids
There’s always something exciting to do in London, but it gets a bit tricky when it comes to finding things in Spanish for kids or to inspire them about their culture! So we’ve put together a list of great things to do with the…
When Two World's Collide (Dir. Heidi Brandenburg and Mathew Orzel)
The Sundance World Cinema Documentary special jury prize-winner, this tense and immersive tour de force, takes audiences directly into the line of fire between powerful, opposing Peruvian factions who will stop at nothing to keep…
The Rise of Female Mexican Filmmaking
Mexican filmmaker Lorena Valencia’s “DANDELION” (Cuanacaquilitl) recently won the top prize at the recent ‘16 Days 16 Films’ competition. ‘Esperanza’ and ‘A Very Nice Guy’, also directed by Mexican female directors, featured…
Modern (yet Unashamedly Macho) Malambo
A fiery, young, and scintillating take on traditional Argentine malambo dance, Malevo is a dance troupe based in Buenos Aires, seeking inspiration from the malambo dance, originally from the Pampas plains. Wowing audiences across…
Things You Should Know About...Pioneering Latina Actors
Long before Latina was cool in Hollywood, before the likes of Ana de Armas, Jessica Alba and the new Latina blockbuster stars were even in nappies, Latin America was churning out some of the world's best actors. The world…
Films to Watch Before You Die #6 – 'La Historia Oficial' by Luis Puenzo
Only Memory Remains – Desaparecidos, Bourgeoisie and Memory in 1983 Argentina
'Madalena': Another Lonesome Transgender Death in Brazil
Shown last month as part of the official selection at the IFFR film festival in Rotterdam, 'Madalena' shows the reality of life and murder for the trans community in Brazil. The film is not a crime thriller, the police…
Sidelines: Four Films about Football, Latin America and Human Rights
Ana Ryle spent a weekend at Amnesty UK’s first football film festival at Hackney Picturehouse. It aimed to bring together the worlds of football and human rights. Four of the thought-provoking films shown - Looking for Rio,…
Latin Pop's Unlikely Phantom
For someone who has the knack of appearing everywhere in musical theatre, you could say there is something ghost like about Geronimo Rauch, London’s Phantom of the Opera. If not that, this Argentine has so obviously taken life by…
Fuerza Bruta @ The Roundhouse
The Hyperactive Argentine spectacle at The Roundhouse until March 2nd
Embrace of the Serpent dir. Ciro Guerra
Ciro Guerra’s El abrazo de la serpiente/Embrace of the Serpent takes you on a journey into the deep Colombian Amazon, in principle with two white explorers who are in search for the sacred, psychedelic yakruna plant. Though…
Interview with Patricio Guzmán
Award-winning filmmaker Patricio Guzmán, one of Latin America’s most important directors of the 20th and 21st centuries, talks to Latino Life about his new film, Nostalgia for the Light, and about his approach to and opinions of…
Alejandro Loayza Grisi: Director of 'Utama'
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival 2022, ’Utama’ is a journey through the eyes of a Quechua couple that are battling between life and death with the climate change crisis affecting their home, forcing them…
The Unusual Spaniard
As daughter of Hollywood legend Charlie Chaplin, Geraldine Chaplin was destined for fame or failure in her own film career. Instead, she became an unlikely icon of Spanish cinema through some unusual choices of her own.…
Luis Caballero - A Rare Insight into Queer Colombian Artistry
In ‘A Deliberate Defiance’, an exhibition of five canvases by Luis Caballero (1943-1995), London’s Cecilia Brunson Projects highlights the stories of duality and dichotomy depicted in the pioneering queer Colombian artist’s work…
'Los Años Nuevos' (The New Years) by Rodrigo Sorogoyen
In this absorbing 10-episode mini-series ‘Los Años Nuevos’ (The New Years) 44-year-old Rodrigo Sorogoyen del Amo, once again explores the romantic and emotional life of a group of friends, focusing on Óscar (Francesco Carril) and…
Macedonio Fernandez - The Non-Believer's Belief
This week it is sixty years since the death of Macedonio Fernández, the Argentine writer and philosopher, who Jorge Luis Borges admitted he imitated ‘to the point of devoted and impassioned plagiarism.’ Yet virtually nothing is…
German Cornejo's 'Wild Tango'
Amaranta Wright writes about a revolutionary tango show that will define German Cornejo as one of the greatest Argentine creatives of his generation.
Bon Voyage, Mr President and Other Stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Penguin Books, 1995)
An insight into the world of the great Colombian writer that touches on subjects that everyone can relate to. A beautiful book to read when in between books or when in need of a short term change in literature.
Latin Londoner #34: Gisella Stapleton, Artist
The unique artworks of vibrant colours, inspired by folklore and culture, with social undertones, are quickly earning a name for Peruvian artist Gisella Stapleton. Gisella’s work combines realism and abstract art, mixing figure…
CLOSE YOUR EYES (2023) by Victor Erice at the BFI in the Victor Erice Season 2024
‘Memory is very important, but a person is more than just a memory’ and a film can be more than just a film. Spanish writer/director Victor Erice’s slow-burning film of mystery and loss lingers long after the credits have rolled…
LOVIN’ LATIN LONDON - The Artists
We are used to celebrating the great Latin artists who are brought to exhibit their work in London, but what about the plethora of talent bred or residing in the UK? London’s Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese communities are…
QUEEN OF LEON
Gabriela Garcia, the Mexican actress currently starring in the London musical In The Heights talks theatre, tacos and Trump with Elizabeth Mistry
'Britain and the Dictatorships of Argentina and Chile' by Grace Livingstone
Ask anyone active in the British left during the 1970s and 1980s and they are likely to remember stories about Chile: Hawker Hunter jets bombing the presidential palace, the murderous Pinochet regime (1973-1990), Chilean refugees…
'Alcarràs' (2022) Dir. Carla Simón
Shot at the height of the Pandemic in 2021 in Alcarràs, an area in the province of Lleida, on the border between Catalonia and Aragon, Carla Simon’s moving film ‘Alcarràs’ (2022) is a stark picture of the Solé family fighting the…
Mexico in Kew: A Floral Celebration of Life
“Our Day of the Dead is an affirmation of life”, says Betsabeé Romero, the internationally renowned Mexican artist who has created a riotously-colourful Día de Los Muertos installation at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. As…
INFECTION (2019) Dir Flavio Pedota (Venezuela/ Mexico)
Venezuelan film director Flavio Pedota’s debut feature ‘INFECTION’ hit the screens of the Raindance Film Festival with a disturbing zombie movie that reflects the socio-economic and political drama that is also unfolding in his…
Films to Watch Before You Die #5: 'Palomita Blanca' by Raúl Ruiz
CHILE IN VIEW - Palomita Blanca (Little White Dove) A teenage love affair in times of civil unrest and military dictatorship. Our fifth entry of “Latin American films you should watch before you die” is one of the most…
BBC’s STORYVILLE has found a quiet gem with ‘INHERITING THE CASTLE (2023)’ by Argentine director Martin Benchimol.
Inheriting the Castle (2023) is the moving and gentle tale of 60- year-old Justina and her 20-year-old- drum- mad daughter Alexia, who inherit a mansion, deep in the Argentine pampas.
10 Stand Out UK Afro-Latinos y Latinas
In the last of our series celebrating Black HIstory Month...it’s time to bring it home. While the US has long been celebrating the contribution of Black Latin Americans to its culture, and life, we here in the UK also have our…
The House of Bernarda Alba returns to the Cervantes Theatre to critical acclaim.
Thanks to its consistent success, the Cervantes Theatre has brought back their excellent production of The House of Bernarda Alba, directed by Jorge de Juan. Now, the third version of this powerful play, steeped in passion and…
LATIN LONDONER #29: Julia Ruiz Fernández, dancer
Julia Ruiz Fernández is one of those rare dancers who traverses the world of Latin dance and ballet. Born in Málaga, Spain, she graduated in Contemporary dance and Ballet before training with the prestigious Alicia Alonso company…
In the shadow of Lorca
The poems of Federico Garcia Lorca have touched and inspired people and poets worldwide. Yet his passion, defiance to oppression and his unique vision of Andalucía as a tolerant fusion of cultures makes him particularly special…