Bridge or Barrier? 10.000km (2014) New Release
Can a modern relationship survive long distance? Facebook, Skype and social media are designed to bring people closer, are they not? The award-winning opera prima ‘10.000 km (2014)’ of Carlos Marques-Marcet is finally available…
YERMA Poisoned Blood and the Aesthetics of Anguish
YERMA at the Cervantes Theatre, presented in both Spanish and English versions, is the last of the powerful ‘Rural Trilogy’ written by Federico Garcia Lorca and here directed by Jorge de Juan. The first was ‘Blood Wedding’, then…
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…
Three Short Films: Madre, Piggy and Fifteen
Corina J Poore reviews three Latino offerings from the 'Shorts' programme at this year's The BFI London Film Festival: ‘MADRE (2017)’ by Spanish writer/director Rodrigo Sorogoyen, ‘PIGGY (Cerdita) 2018’, (14 min…
Enrique Iglesias @ The 02
After a four-year absence from UK stages, Enrique Iglesias made an impressive return to Britain for his 'All the Hits Live' tour. In a packed o2 arena the Spanish pop icon proved this was more than the comeback of an…
Ay, Carmela! Shines Again.
The excellent English and Spanish productions of José Sanchis Sinisterra’s comedy ‘Ay, Carmela!’ have just completed their runs. Latino Life’s Corina Poore comments on the productions and meets up with the director Paula Paz at…
Carlos Acosta’s A Celebration – Thirty Years in Dance
Carlos Acosta has retired from the Royal Ballet where he was principal dancer, but there is little else about him to denote ‘dancer in retirement’.
Maluma @ Wembley Arena
London's Latinas got their fix of Latin America's hottest pop property at Wembley on September 24th
'The Third Bank of the River' by Chris Feliciano Arnold (Picador)
A book which tells the story of the Amazon and its ports-towns near the frontier between Brazil, Colombia and Peru
An inspired Cuban Production of Bizet's Carmen
Cuba's natural setting, with its own historical and cultural drama, and the plethora of high quality performing artists, singers and musicians make for a triumphant production of Bizet's Carmen.
Without Stillness There Is No Dance.
Gilles Brinas believes profoundly in the universality of dance and the Arts and feels that Stillness and Silence are vital ingredients of drama. So,he developed ‘Che Malambo’, which is indeed a dramatic show, based on the ‘…
Migration and redemption in Latin America
In his film X500 (2016) Colombian-Canadian director Juan Andrés Arango García describes the challenges faced by three immigrants in three countries as they struggle to fit into their new environments.
‘The Paranoids’ Dir. Gabriel Medina (DVD release)
With humour, pain and irony, Gabriel Medina's ‘The Paranoids’ takes us into the internal world of oddball Luciano as he comes to terms with his life
Pisqu, Fitzrovia
Such is the richness of its cuisine, there is always room for one more Peruvian restaurant in London, especially when you have a head chef who performs his duty with love and pride. Amaranta Wright remarks how Pisqu ticks the…
'Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle' Dir. Gustavo Salmerón
Corina Poore talks to Gustavo Salmerón, who made a unique film about a family who lived a fairy tale. It happened to be his own.
'Zama' Dir. Lucrecia Martel (Argentina)
After a debut La Ciénaga (The Swamp 2001) that shook the world of cinema and the equally successful La Niña Santa (The Holy Girl 2004) and La Mujer sin Cabeza (The Headless Woman 2008), Lucrecia Martel, one of the protagonists of…
Chocolate, Politics and Peace-Building
An Ethnography of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, Colombia by Gwen Burnyeat
Gaucho, Smithfield
The chandeliers give the cowhides a definite impression of city opulence than Gaucho's den, but the authentic tastes of the Pampa (and more) are unmistakable and comforting.
'Antonio López 1970: Sex, Fashion & Disco' Dir: James Crump
Corina J Poore marvels at an enchanting documentary about the Puerto Rican born fashion illustrator whose work in top fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Elle and The New York Times who was so well known and…
Latin Shorts @ BFI Flare Film Festival
Corina Poore revels in the wonderful short films at this year's LGBTQ Film Festival in London, including Ursinho, set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and The mexican The Swan 2016 (El Cisne) set in Mexico, and directed by Daniel…
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.
A Fantastic Woman (2017) DIR: Sebastian Lelio
Last week's Oscar winner for Foreign Language FIlm, this deeply moving film about love, sorrow and the resilience of the human spirit, will have you feeling like rushing into the film to help.
'Salvavidas de Hielo' Jorge Drexler
Blasting away all things vacuous and inane in this world, the Uruguayan singer-songwriter delivers another sublime work of unique musicality and profound lyricism.
'La Llorona' Chavela Vargas (Milan records)
A finely curated “best of” and a great introduction to the world of the iconic ranchera singer.
Casita Andina, Soho
Heart-warming dishes that evoke Cusco's deliciously intense and cosy cuisine, make a perfect night out for a romantic winters evening in London.
The Shape of Water (2017) Dir. Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro’s stunning and superbly crafted fairy-tale fantasy is brimming with imagination, profound empathy and a deep and powerful sensuality.
Two Beats One Soul, feat. Little Louie Vega
A beautiful tribute to bi-cultural ingenuity as Little Louie Vega heads up this latest gem in a long tradition of Cuban-Nuyorican collaborations
Bar Esteban, Crouch End
North London's Quirky Crouch End is home to a charming Catalan-Basque-Scottish infused Spanish restaurant, buzzing with personality and ambition
COCO (2017) Dir.Lee Unkrich
A gorgeously animated 3D musical fantasy, based on an original idea of Lee Unkrich, and directed by him, ‘Coco’ is up there with the best of Pixar Animation Studios, and in the process manages to shed Hollywood’s tired old…
GUN SHY (2017) Dir. Simon West
GUN SHY is a good natured, clever adventure caper with lots of fun and gags and Antonio Banderas as you have never seen him before!
BINGO- KING OF THE MORNINGS (Bingo- o Rei das Manhãs) Dir. Daniel Rezende
Already picked to represent Brazil at the Oscars, this tear-jerking, heart-warming, inventive and adventurous movie is a delightfully politically-incorrect breath of fresh air, says Corina Poore
'La Casa de Bernarda Alba' By Federico Garcia Lorca
Jorge de Juan directs a stunning new version of the intense and powerful play by Federico Garcia Lorca (1898- 1936), one of the greatest Spanish writers of the 20th century. A musician, a poet and a playwright Lorca died young…
'AS YOU SEE ME NOW' by The Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra with José Feliciano
A stunning 14-track collaboration between Puerto Rican guitar legend and Grammy Award winner José Feliciano and Jools Holland's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, you can really feel how these musicians enjoyed making these…
Re-Nascimento
Celebrating the centenary of Nascimento, the legendary Chilean publishing house
Most Beautiful Island (2017 Dir. Ana Asensio)
This Polanski-esque penetrating thrilller, set in New York, is a fantastic debut from a new female multi-talented Spanish director, screenwriter, actor and producer