MANITO
New York , 2002
Fifteen years ago, their Washington Heights neighborhood was dubbed the crack-cocaine capital of the world, but today it is transforming into one of the most vibrant, Spanish-speaking communities in the United States. While the drug dealers continue to disappear, their violent legacy still casts a shadow over the neighborhood and its residents. Junior, an ex-convict struggling to get his life back on track, is a product of this legacy. His younger brother Manny, the salutatorian of his high school class, embodies the hope of the future. On the night of his graduation party, Manny finds himself faced with an ill-fated decision that could change his life forever. |
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LOS ARCHIVOS PRIVADOS DE PABLO ESCOBAR (THE PRIVATE ARCHIVES OF PABLO ESCOBAR)
Colombia , 2002 Ten years have passed since the death of Pablo Escobar, the most feared drug dealer in the world, a beloved hero to many of Colombia 's poor and Public Enemy #1 to the Colombian and U.S. governments. For the first time, the history of the infamous drug lord is being told from the point of view of those family members and associates closest to him. |
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TE BUSCO
Colombia , 2002 Te Busco reconstructs William's memories of the time when as a precocious five-year-old boy he lived with his wildly imaginative uncle Gustavo. The boy becomes an accomplice in Gustavo's intricate mission to seduce Jazmín, a gorgeous singer that performs in a shopping mall in Bogotá. This hilarious film, filled with infectious Salsa music, was the highest grossing Colombia film when it opened in 2002. |
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LA CORTINA DEL PALACIO THE CURTAIN OF THE PALACE
Dominican Republic A passionate young man in the Dominican countryside turns to his best friend for help in winning the hand of his love. But the course of true love never runs smooth in this story that is both magical and dark. |
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LATINA CONFESSIONS
USA (work in progress)
"Vagina Monologues" meets "Latinas with Huevos" What does it mean to be Latina in the U.S. today? Latinas who defy stereotypes share their secrets, revealing unconventional views about sex, family and religion. English-language monologues are documented in New York and Los Angeles with 23 Latinas born in the U.S. or Latin America who live in diverse regions of the United States , such as New York City , California , San Antonio , El Paso , and New Mexico . |
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UN OSO ROJO (A RED BEAR)
Argentina , 2002 Although Bear is the only one counting, seven years have gone by since he was sent to prison for robbery and murder. He's unpredictable and violent by nature, but he holds his past close to his vest with a simmering intensity. The day of the robbery was his daughter's Alicia first birthday and his wife Natalia has never forgiven him for that. Now as he is paroled, Bear thinks he might be able to star anew -- but Natalia lives with Sergio, who helped her during rough times, and Alicia barely remembers her father at all. Bear is determined to get them back or at least repair the damage. |
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LAVOURA ARCAICA (TO THE LEFT OF THE FATHER)
Brazil , 2002 Lavoura Arcaica's unparalleled visual magnificence has amazed audiences at over 30 major film festivals around the world, garnering over 40 prizes. Based on the novel by Raduan Nassar about a family of Lebanese immigrants in the interior of Brazil , the film is a tragic drama about the eternal struggle between tradition and freedom, tackling grand themes such as love, incest, prostitution, homosexuality, and family relations. The power of suppressed passions and destructive familial conflicts is expressed in the whirlwind camerawork, a rich palette of vivid colors and intense performances. A unique film that offers an unforgettable experience. |
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THE KRUTCH
New York/Puerto Rico USA
THE KRUTCH is a surreal narrative about a Puerto Rican psychoanalyst with a long-suppressed identity problem that erupts with some dire consequences. The film is unique in exploring the mental anguish and shame associated with racism. Stylistically akin to Buñuel with an eye towards Godard, it occupies an absurdist space that keeps it from descending into the maudlin cliches of realism. With Jaime Sanchez as the mysterious Dr. Guzman and Cathy Haase as his unsuspecting patient Mrs. Kleist. |
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