Note: This post was originally published on March 2014. We are repeating it today in recognition of Helen Chavez, the widow of iconic Mexican-American civil rights and labor activist Cesar Chavez, who passed away on June 6th at the age of 88.
March 31st would have been the 84h birthday of the late civil rights
activist and labor leader Cesar Chavez. His life has received renewed
attention with the new release of a Hollywood biopic that was directed by Diego Luna and stars Michael Peña, America Ferrera and Rosario Dawson.
The Mexican-American Chavez devoted his life to improving the conditions
of farm workers by campaigning for equal pay and fair working
conditions. He championed nonviolent efforts to promote the rights of
farmworkers who generally suffered from abusive labor conditions as well
as low pay for their work. Along with Dolores Huerta, he co-founded
the United Farm Workers (UFW), which helped organize strikes and other
actions such as a boycott in the 1980s to protest the use of toxic
pesticides on grapes.
Chavez’s views on immigration varied; on the one hand, he was opposed to undocumented immigrants who he viewed as “scabs” that would potentially undermine his efforts to campaign for farmworkers. Yet he also successfully campaigned to end the Bracero guest worker program that he believed had exploited migrant laborers and unfairly displaced domestic farmworkers.
Below the page break is the first part
of a documentary depicting the Delano grape strike of the mid-1960s
where Chavez and his allies fought for union recognition for
farmworkers. The film includes footage of the poor working conditions
faced by laborers, picketing protesters in front of a California
supermarket, and an interview with one of the grape owners who admitted
to have never met Chavez but still labeled his tactics as “distasteful.”
Showing posts with label documentaries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label documentaries. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Latin American Films Receive Oscar Nominees
A pair of cinematic tales of discovery created by Latin American auteurs received nominations for the upcoming Academy Awards set to take place on February 28th.
“Embrace of the Serpent” (“El Abrazo de la Serpiente”) became the first-ever Colombian movie selected as a finalist for Best Foreign Film. The lone Latin American entry in that category is loosely based on the diaries of scientists Theodor Koch-Grunberg and Richard Evans Schultes during their search in the early 20th-century for a sacred plant in the Amazon rainforest. The film follows the perspectives of these botanists along with indigenous and a shaman as they interact with each other and explore the jungle world surrounding them. “Embrace” also examines the clash of cultures and affects to the environment that develop between natives and visitors.
Two unique features of this movie directed by Ciro Guerra is that it jumps back and forth in time, and was filmed entirely in black and white. He justified these actions by claiming that he “wanted the film to feel like it’s a place that exists but is in another world, another time.”
“Embrace” was a modest success in Colombia where the local film industry has grown over the past decade but has become critically acclaimed worldwide since its domestic release last May. The film won the Art Cinema Award as part of the Directors' Fortnight section at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and has garnered a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Embrace producer Cristina Gallo may have had her strong doubts over the film’s nomination but the odds are pretty good that it could become the third Latin American and first non-Argentine movie to win Best Foreign Film.
“Inside Out” is the clear favorite to capture Best Animated Feature yet history was made when a Brazilian production became the first Latin American film to be chosen in that category.
“Embrace of the Serpent” (“El Abrazo de la Serpiente”) became the first-ever Colombian movie selected as a finalist for Best Foreign Film. The lone Latin American entry in that category is loosely based on the diaries of scientists Theodor Koch-Grunberg and Richard Evans Schultes during their search in the early 20th-century for a sacred plant in the Amazon rainforest. The film follows the perspectives of these botanists along with indigenous and a shaman as they interact with each other and explore the jungle world surrounding them. “Embrace” also examines the clash of cultures and affects to the environment that develop between natives and visitors.
Two unique features of this movie directed by Ciro Guerra is that it jumps back and forth in time, and was filmed entirely in black and white. He justified these actions by claiming that he “wanted the film to feel like it’s a place that exists but is in another world, another time.”
“Embrace” was a modest success in Colombia where the local film industry has grown over the past decade but has become critically acclaimed worldwide since its domestic release last May. The film won the Art Cinema Award as part of the Directors' Fortnight section at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and has garnered a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Embrace producer Cristina Gallo may have had her strong doubts over the film’s nomination but the odds are pretty good that it could become the third Latin American and first non-Argentine movie to win Best Foreign Film.
“Inside Out” is the clear favorite to capture Best Animated Feature yet history was made when a Brazilian production became the first Latin American film to be chosen in that category.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Sobredosis de TV: Home and Away
“Sobredosis de TV” is our occasional feature where we look at television shows regarding the Americas.
VICE was founded in 1994 as a culture and arts magazine in Canada, which would eventually turn into a media conglomerate that includes a film production company and a record label. But perhaps VICE is best known for producing hard-hitting and revealing documentaries on a myriad of subjects from secret North Korean labor camps to civil conflict in numerous countries. The newest episode of the “VICE on HBO” series that airs tonight at 11:00pm EST is no exception to this perception.
“Sweet Home Alabama” focuses on the aftermath of staunch anti-immigration laws passed in 2011 in the Cotton State. Under House Bill-56, undocumented immigrants are barred from receiving local government benefits, obligates public schools to provide yearly tallies of the number of undocumented migrant children and permits police with “reasonable suspicion” to inquire about a person’s legal status.
Unsurprisingly, HB-56 became a lightning rod in the fractious debate over immigration in the U.S. Critics of the measure included Alabama’s Latino populace, small town police chiefs without sufficient resources to enforce the must-arrest provisions and groups that successfully convinced the federal court to invalidate some provisions. Some initial supporters of the law such as legislators who voted for its approval even backtracked with one admitting, “If you make a mistake, you should be man enough to admit it.”
In the following brief clip from “Sweet Home Alabama,” two backers of HB-56 give their rationale for the controversial measure. One of them is the sheriff of Albertville, a community that apparently became a ghost town after Latino residents fled in the wake of HB-56. Check it out below the page break:
VICE was founded in 1994 as a culture and arts magazine in Canada, which would eventually turn into a media conglomerate that includes a film production company and a record label. But perhaps VICE is best known for producing hard-hitting and revealing documentaries on a myriad of subjects from secret North Korean labor camps to civil conflict in numerous countries. The newest episode of the “VICE on HBO” series that airs tonight at 11:00pm EST is no exception to this perception.
“Sweet Home Alabama” focuses on the aftermath of staunch anti-immigration laws passed in 2011 in the Cotton State. Under House Bill-56, undocumented immigrants are barred from receiving local government benefits, obligates public schools to provide yearly tallies of the number of undocumented migrant children and permits police with “reasonable suspicion” to inquire about a person’s legal status.
Unsurprisingly, HB-56 became a lightning rod in the fractious debate over immigration in the U.S. Critics of the measure included Alabama’s Latino populace, small town police chiefs without sufficient resources to enforce the must-arrest provisions and groups that successfully convinced the federal court to invalidate some provisions. Some initial supporters of the law such as legislators who voted for its approval even backtracked with one admitting, “If you make a mistake, you should be man enough to admit it.”
In the following brief clip from “Sweet Home Alabama,” two backers of HB-56 give their rationale for the controversial measure. One of them is the sheriff of Albertville, a community that apparently became a ghost town after Latino residents fled in the wake of HB-56. Check it out below the page break:
Sunday, April 6, 2014
The Weekender – The Beast of the Rails
“The Weekender” is our new feature where every weekend we hope to highlight a short film, movie or documentary pertaining to the Americas.
A group of at least fifteen disabled Hondurans known by the Spanish-language acronym of AMIREDIS have planned to trek through Mexico with the goal of highlighting abuses committed against Central American migrants. The men may use different assistive devices but all of them became disabled while attempting to trek northbound on the dangerous rail journey on a lengthy freight train known simply as La Bestia (“The Beast”).
“My accident was in 2005,” said protester José Luis Hernández to the Animal Politico website. “I had been riding twenty days on the train and hiding from police and gangs trying to assault us. My exhaustion beat me and I fainted. I fell below the train’s wheels and one of my arms, a leg and three fingers on the other arm were cut off,” he mentioned.
The marchers petitioned last month for visas from Mexican migratory authorities in order to travel to Mexico City and attempt to talk with President Enrique Peña Nieto. Furthermore, the AMIREDIS group was scheduled to speak to legislators on Wednesday in Mexico City and voice their concerns regarding how Central American migrants are often the targets of death, extortion and kidnapping from drug gangs and corrupt police.
However, they have yet to receive permission to legally travel through Mexico and have seen their funds dwindle down. As a result, members of the group are strongly considering making their journey on the train that caused their respective serious injuries.
“My leg became amputated after riding on La Bestia and it’s a memory I would prefer not to remember,” said AMIREDIS spokesman Normal Saúl Varela. “But it may be necessary to ride on it again in order to obtain our goal, which is to speak to President Peña Nieto and that he sees with his own eyes the affects of riding that train,” he added.
A 2010 Amnesty International report found that “migrants in Mexico are facing a major human rights crisis leaving them with virtually no access to justice, fearing reprisals and deportation if they complain of abuses.” The report cited an incident that reportedly occurred on the La Bestia line when a female migrant was forced off the train by Mexican Federal Police, had her belongings stolen and was forced to walk on foot where she was subsequently raped by an armed gang.
Several documentaries have been made focusing on the perilous trip on La Bestia such as Which Way Home, a film that aired on HBO in 2009. Below the page break is a documentary in Spanish regarding the journey on La Bestia. We begin nearly nine minutes into the film with the harrowing images of teenagers in a Mexican hospital recovering from amputations caused by the beastly rail trip:
A group of at least fifteen disabled Hondurans known by the Spanish-language acronym of AMIREDIS have planned to trek through Mexico with the goal of highlighting abuses committed against Central American migrants. The men may use different assistive devices but all of them became disabled while attempting to trek northbound on the dangerous rail journey on a lengthy freight train known simply as La Bestia (“The Beast”).
“My accident was in 2005,” said protester José Luis Hernández to the Animal Politico website. “I had been riding twenty days on the train and hiding from police and gangs trying to assault us. My exhaustion beat me and I fainted. I fell below the train’s wheels and one of my arms, a leg and three fingers on the other arm were cut off,” he mentioned.
The marchers petitioned last month for visas from Mexican migratory authorities in order to travel to Mexico City and attempt to talk with President Enrique Peña Nieto. Furthermore, the AMIREDIS group was scheduled to speak to legislators on Wednesday in Mexico City and voice their concerns regarding how Central American migrants are often the targets of death, extortion and kidnapping from drug gangs and corrupt police.
However, they have yet to receive permission to legally travel through Mexico and have seen their funds dwindle down. As a result, members of the group are strongly considering making their journey on the train that caused their respective serious injuries.
“My leg became amputated after riding on La Bestia and it’s a memory I would prefer not to remember,” said AMIREDIS spokesman Normal Saúl Varela. “But it may be necessary to ride on it again in order to obtain our goal, which is to speak to President Peña Nieto and that he sees with his own eyes the affects of riding that train,” he added.
A 2010 Amnesty International report found that “migrants in Mexico are facing a major human rights crisis leaving them with virtually no access to justice, fearing reprisals and deportation if they complain of abuses.” The report cited an incident that reportedly occurred on the La Bestia line when a female migrant was forced off the train by Mexican Federal Police, had her belongings stolen and was forced to walk on foot where she was subsequently raped by an armed gang.
Several documentaries have been made focusing on the perilous trip on La Bestia such as Which Way Home, a film that aired on HBO in 2009. Below the page break is a documentary in Spanish regarding the journey on La Bestia. We begin nearly nine minutes into the film with the harrowing images of teenagers in a Mexican hospital recovering from amputations caused by the beastly rail trip:
Sunday, March 30, 2014
The Weekender – Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers’ Struggle
“The Weekender” is our new feature where every weekend we hope to highlight a short film, movie or documentary pertaining to the Americas.
March 31st would have been the 84h birthday of the late civil rights activist and labor leader Cesar Chavez. His life has received renewed attention with the new release of a Hollywood biopic that was directed by Diego Luna and stars Michael Peña, America Ferrera and Rosario Dawson.
The Mexican-American Chavez devoted his life to improving the conditions of farm workers by campaigning for equal pay and fair working conditions. He championed nonviolent efforts to promote the rights of farmworkers who generally suffered from abusive labor conditions as well as low pay for their work. Along with Dolores Huerta, he co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW), which helped organize strikes and other actions such as a boycott in the 1980s to protest the use of toxic pesticides on grapes.
Chavez’s views on immigration varied; on the one hand, he was opposed to undocumented immigrants who he viewed as “scabs” that would potentially undermine his efforts to campaign for farmworkers. Yet he also successfully campaigned to end the Bracero guest worker program that he believed had exploited migrant laborers and unfairly displaced domestic farmworkers.
Below the page break is the first part of a documentary depicting the Delano grape strike of the mid-1960s where Chavez and his allies fought for union recognition for farmworkers. The film includes footage of the poor working conditions faced by laborers, picketing protesters in front of a California supermarket, and an interview with one of the grape owners who admitted to have never met Chavez but still labeled his tactics as “distasteful.”
March 31st would have been the 84h birthday of the late civil rights activist and labor leader Cesar Chavez. His life has received renewed attention with the new release of a Hollywood biopic that was directed by Diego Luna and stars Michael Peña, America Ferrera and Rosario Dawson.
The Mexican-American Chavez devoted his life to improving the conditions of farm workers by campaigning for equal pay and fair working conditions. He championed nonviolent efforts to promote the rights of farmworkers who generally suffered from abusive labor conditions as well as low pay for their work. Along with Dolores Huerta, he co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW), which helped organize strikes and other actions such as a boycott in the 1980s to protest the use of toxic pesticides on grapes.
Chavez’s views on immigration varied; on the one hand, he was opposed to undocumented immigrants who he viewed as “scabs” that would potentially undermine his efforts to campaign for farmworkers. Yet he also successfully campaigned to end the Bracero guest worker program that he believed had exploited migrant laborers and unfairly displaced domestic farmworkers.
Below the page break is the first part of a documentary depicting the Delano grape strike of the mid-1960s where Chavez and his allies fought for union recognition for farmworkers. The film includes footage of the poor working conditions faced by laborers, picketing protesters in front of a California supermarket, and an interview with one of the grape owners who admitted to have never met Chavez but still labeled his tactics as “distasteful.”
Friday, May 17, 2013
Nuestro Cine: The Music of Mercedes
We'll be back on Monday to look at several news and notes from around the Americas.
The following video is the English-language international trailer for "Mercedes Sosa: la voz de Latinoamerica" ("Mercedes Sosa: The Voice of Latin America"). The documentary on the renown Argentine folk singer was produced by her only child, Fabian Matus, and will be released in her native country next month.
Sosa died in 2009 after battling several ailments.
Nicknamed "the voice of Latin America," Sosa's career spanned over four decades and included some forty albums. Her songs often contained political messages, which did not sit well with the "Dirty War" military regime in Argentina that forced her into a brief exile.
"She lived her 74 years to the fullest," Matus said to the press shortly after Sosa died. "She had done practically everything she wanted, she didn't have any type of barrier or any type of fear that limited her."
Online Sources - imdb.com; CNN; Montreal Gazette
Video Source - YouTube via user Rodrigo Vila
The following video is the English-language international trailer for "Mercedes Sosa: la voz de Latinoamerica" ("Mercedes Sosa: The Voice of Latin America"). The documentary on the renown Argentine folk singer was produced by her only child, Fabian Matus, and will be released in her native country next month.
Sosa died in 2009 after battling several ailments.
Nicknamed "the voice of Latin America," Sosa's career spanned over four decades and included some forty albums. Her songs often contained political messages, which did not sit well with the "Dirty War" military regime in Argentina that forced her into a brief exile.
"She lived her 74 years to the fullest," Matus said to the press shortly after Sosa died. "She had done practically everything she wanted, she didn't have any type of barrier or any type of fear that limited her."
Online Sources - imdb.com; CNN; Montreal Gazette
Video Source - YouTube via user Rodrigo Vila
Monday, February 25, 2013
”Inocente,” “Sugar Man” Nab Oscar Honors
A pair of documentaries with Latino protagonists were among the films that won at the latest edition of the Academy Awards.
The Oscar for Best Documentary Short went to ”Inocente,” a film on the life of nineteen-year-old Inocente Izucar.
As we mentioned last month, the documentary examines the many difficulties by the Mexican-born Izucar including homelessness, family abuse and living as undocumented immigrant. Nevertheless Izucar’s love for art was strong and it was through her involvement in a special therapeutic arts program that caught the attention of filmmakers Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine.
Since the film was made, Izucar has been able to exhibiting her work and selling them for several thousand dollars apiece. She has moved in to her own apartment though she continues to have a strained relationship with her family.
”Inocente” also made Oscars history by becoming the first film funded by the crowd-funded Kickstarter website to win an Academy Award.
Meanwhile, “Searching for Sugar Man” became the first music-oriented film to win the best-feature length documentary award since 1986.
The documentary examined the impact Mexican-American folk singer Rodriguez had in South Africa. His soulful and politically conscious music became anthems for the anti-apartheid movement although he was unaware of the effect his music had thousands of miles away. Thus, the film follows two South African fans of Rodriguez who look into the urban legend that Rodriguez died forgotten and abandoned.
Much like Izucar and “Inocente”, “Searching for Sugar Man” has helped Rodriguez by resurrecting his career including recently completing a tour of South Africa. In contrast to Izucar, however, Rodriguez opted to “stay home in Detroit” and watch the Oscars on TV according to one of the film’s producers.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Nuestro Cine: The Artist
This morning the nominees for the 2013 Academy Awards were announced. Among those films that made it to their respective Oscar categories are Chilean film “No” and the feature documentary “Searching for Sugar Man” that focuses on Mexican-American folk singer Rodriguez. Another documentary that could win an Oscar highlights the work of a young Latino striving to speak out through her art.
“Inocente” is named after its main subject: undocumented immigrant Inocente Izucar. She has reportedly moved more than thirty times in nine years along with her mother and three brothers. Her nomadic lifestyle included stints in homeless shelters along with her family and occasionally living on the streets. Inocente also endured family abuse that led to the deportation of her father and a difficult relationship with her mother.
“When I was little, I didn’t think it was weird. But as I got older, I began to see that other kids at school had houses to live in. I didn’t tell people at school I was homeless. It was my secret,” she said to Fox News Latino.
It was during her brief period at the Monarch School for homeless kids where Inocente would find her true voice. Her colorful and vibrant artistic work caught the eyes of teachers and members of A Reason To Survive (ARTS), a non-profit program that organized therapeutic arts-based programs. Inocente’s creativity also captured the attention of filmmakers Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine who decided to rework their planned film on homeless youth to concentrate on Inocente.
Since the film was made three years ago, some aspects of Inocente’s life have changed for the better. She is able to support herself by selling her artwork for as much as $5000 apiece, which has allowed her to move into a small apartment in San Diego and continue painting. Despite the strained ties to her mom, Inocente has not stopped dreaming of a better future for herself and her family:
Inocente Official Trailer from Shine Global on Vimeo.
Video Source - Vimeo
Online Sources – The Latin Americanist, IMDB.com, Fox News Latino, NBC Latino
“Inocente” is named after its main subject: undocumented immigrant Inocente Izucar. She has reportedly moved more than thirty times in nine years along with her mother and three brothers. Her nomadic lifestyle included stints in homeless shelters along with her family and occasionally living on the streets. Inocente also endured family abuse that led to the deportation of her father and a difficult relationship with her mother.
“When I was little, I didn’t think it was weird. But as I got older, I began to see that other kids at school had houses to live in. I didn’t tell people at school I was homeless. It was my secret,” she said to Fox News Latino.
It was during her brief period at the Monarch School for homeless kids where Inocente would find her true voice. Her colorful and vibrant artistic work caught the eyes of teachers and members of A Reason To Survive (ARTS), a non-profit program that organized therapeutic arts-based programs. Inocente’s creativity also captured the attention of filmmakers Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine who decided to rework their planned film on homeless youth to concentrate on Inocente.
Since the film was made three years ago, some aspects of Inocente’s life have changed for the better. She is able to support herself by selling her artwork for as much as $5000 apiece, which has allowed her to move into a small apartment in San Diego and continue painting. Despite the strained ties to her mom, Inocente has not stopped dreaming of a better future for herself and her family:
“I want to join the circus,” she says. “I want to do trapeze…The documentary has opened many doors for me, and I’m sure there’ll be a lot more to come.”
She says she has learned through experience to just think about tomorrow, it’s easier that way. That’s her message to the other homeless kids out there.
“It can only get better,” says Inocente. “I have a lot of impossible dreams, but I still dream them.”“Inocente” has been featured in several film festivals and aired on MTV last August. Below is the trailer to the film that will be vying to win the Oscar for top short documentary at the Academy Awards ceremony on February 24th:
Inocente Official Trailer from Shine Global on Vimeo.
Video Source - Vimeo
Online Sources – The Latin Americanist, IMDB.com, Fox News Latino, NBC Latino
Monday, January 7, 2013
Sobredosis de TV: Another Eye on Juarez
Last November we looked at “Witness: Juarez”, a documentary following the experiences of photojournalist Eros Hoagland in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. While Hoagland provided his perspective on violence in one of the Americas’ most dangerous cities, another film set to air tonight will provide another viewpoint of the conflict in northern Mexico.
“Reportero” highlights the work done by journalists working at Zeta, a Tijuana-based independent newsweekly. Much like Hoagland the staff at Zeta risk their lives in order to report on the rampant crime, corruption and difficulties faced on a daily basis in Juarez and Tijuana, respectively. Unlike Hoagland who has traveled to conflict areas around the world, however, the subjects of “Reportero” are residents of Baja California who cannot as easily escape the dangers they encounter.
As Zeta co-director Adela Navarro and reporter Sergio Haro told PBS, the work by them and their colleagues continues though the odds are seemingly stacked against them:
“Reportero” highlights the work done by journalists working at Zeta, a Tijuana-based independent newsweekly. Much like Hoagland the staff at Zeta risk their lives in order to report on the rampant crime, corruption and difficulties faced on a daily basis in Juarez and Tijuana, respectively. Unlike Hoagland who has traveled to conflict areas around the world, however, the subjects of “Reportero” are residents of Baja California who cannot as easily escape the dangers they encounter.
As Zeta co-director Adela Navarro and reporter Sergio Haro told PBS, the work by them and their colleagues continues though the odds are seemingly stacked against them:
Monday, November 5, 2012
Sobredosis de TV: Eye on Juarez
It is said that a picture captures a thousand words. This could be the mantra of photojournalists who venture to some of the world's most dangerous places in order to capture the chaos and conflict through the camera's lens.
"Witness: Juarez" is the first of a four-part documentary series that airs tonight on HBO at 9:00 PM. Tonight's episode focuses on the work of Eros Hoagland in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Since 1993, he has traveled the world to cover violence and unrest in countries like Colombia and Haiti. Hoagland followed in the footsteps of his father, John, a veteran photojournalist who was killed while covering the aftermath of El Salvador's civil war.
In a recent article in The Daily Beast, Hoagland describes that the war on drugs in Mexico is complex and includes varied individuals such as "dirty cops, masked outlaws, and corrupt politicians." He also delves into what he feels is the goal behind the images he captures:
A recent study found that Ciudad Juarez is not the world's most dangerous city though its murder rate is still a very high 148 people per 100,000. Juarez has reportedly undergone a decline in violence over the past few months though it's yet to be seen if this represents a road to recovery or a temporary improvement.
Online Sources - mexidata.info, The Daily Beat, Time, Eros Hoagland Photography, HBO Documentaries
Video Source - YouTube via user HBO Docs
"Witness: Juarez" is the first of a four-part documentary series that airs tonight on HBO at 9:00 PM. Tonight's episode focuses on the work of Eros Hoagland in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Since 1993, he has traveled the world to cover violence and unrest in countries like Colombia and Haiti. Hoagland followed in the footsteps of his father, John, a veteran photojournalist who was killed while covering the aftermath of El Salvador's civil war.
In a recent article in The Daily Beast, Hoagland describes that the war on drugs in Mexico is complex and includes varied individuals such as "dirty cops, masked outlaws, and corrupt politicians." He also delves into what he feels is the goal behind the images he captures:
Pictures lie all the time. I don’t believe my lens conveys the ultimate truth. I know full well that my photos are only part of the truth, and it’s up to you to decide the rest. Cases certainly exist with a clear victim and a villain, but in my line of work, it’s as if everything is in a bag—you can shake it up and take your pick. I’m on the hunt for thematic images that give perspective on a particular place. Good pictures should make you curious. If I’ve made you curious, I’ve done my job.Below is the trailer for the "Witness" series that will also include Hoagland reporting on the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.
A recent study found that Ciudad Juarez is not the world's most dangerous city though its murder rate is still a very high 148 people per 100,000. Juarez has reportedly undergone a decline in violence over the past few months though it's yet to be seen if this represents a road to recovery or a temporary improvement.
Online Sources - mexidata.info, The Daily Beat, Time, Eros Hoagland Photography, HBO Documentaries
Video Source - YouTube via user HBO Docs
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Arizona's Classroom Battleground
Arizona has become a key state in the often-acrimonious discussion over illegal immigration, particularly with respect to the controversial S.B. 1070 immigration law. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to render a verdict next month on the legality of the statute though that decision might do little to change other debates in Arizona related to race and ethnicity.
“Precious Knowledge” is a documentary that focuses on the contentious fight over Mexican American studies programs in Arizona public schools. Last January, for example, Tuscon education officials dropped Mexican-American Studies courses due to supposed promotion of ethnic resentment. As noted in this article from Fox News Latino, however, such actions have allegedly created “a web of censorship and confusion (that) has entangled the city’s public schools”.
The following trailer for “Precious Knowledge” includes portions of interviews with teachers, parents and lawmakers who are for and against the ethnic studies ban:
“Precious Knowledge” is a documentary that focuses on the contentious fight over Mexican American studies programs in Arizona public schools. Last January, for example, Tuscon education officials dropped Mexican-American Studies courses due to supposed promotion of ethnic resentment. As noted in this article from Fox News Latino, however, such actions have allegedly created “a web of censorship and confusion (that) has entangled the city’s public schools”.
The following trailer for “Precious Knowledge” includes portions of interviews with teachers, parents and lawmakers who are for and against the ethnic studies ban:
Friday, November 11, 2011
Today’s Video: Nuestros veteranos
In honor of Veterans Day in the U.S., the following video clip is the the trailer to "The Borinqueeners." This 2007 documentary focuses on the all-Latino 65th Infantry Regiment and the troubles they faced both on and off the military field of combat.
Video Source - YouTube user borinqueeners
Video Source - YouTube user borinqueeners
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Nuestro Cine: 9/11/73
We will soon publish a few short posts examining the 9/11 attacks and its impact on the Latino community in the U.S. For this post, however, we're going to look at another important event that occurred decades ago.
September 11th is a notable date in Latin American history for it was on that day in 1919 U.S. Marines invaded Honduras while thirteen Haitians were killed in the St. Juan Bosco massacre of 1986. Yet the most well-known event on that date was the 1973 military coup that overthrew Chile's civilian government.
The overthrow of President Salvador Allende and the subsequent regime under Gen. Augusto Pinochet which lasted until 1990 continue to be the subject of debate. Backers of the late dictator claimed that the coup was needed in order to prevent Chile from turning into a communist country under a socialist leader. Detractors, meanwhile, contend that the CIA-backed coup helped usher in a wave of brutal repression under the iron hand of Pinochet.
The aftermath of the coup thirty-eight years ago today can be seen in "The Death of Pinochet", a film that depicted the reactions of Chileans on the day he died. The conflicting views on the impact of the coup and Pinochet's rule can be seen in this documentary, which aired last month in New York as part of the Latinbeat series. The Spanish-language trailer to the film provides a glimpse into mixed feelings of joy, sadness and anger held by residents of Santiago on that day in December 2006:
Approximately 5000 people in Santiago today participated in a march to commemorate the hundreds (if not thousands) of people who died in the 1973 coup. The event was reportedly marred by clashes between police and 300 demonstrators.
Online Sources - La Tercera, La Nacion, BBC News, The Online Encyclopedia of Mass Violence, sandinorebellion.com
Video Source - YouTube
September 11th is a notable date in Latin American history for it was on that day in 1919 U.S. Marines invaded Honduras while thirteen Haitians were killed in the St. Juan Bosco massacre of 1986. Yet the most well-known event on that date was the 1973 military coup that overthrew Chile's civilian government.
The overthrow of President Salvador Allende and the subsequent regime under Gen. Augusto Pinochet which lasted until 1990 continue to be the subject of debate. Backers of the late dictator claimed that the coup was needed in order to prevent Chile from turning into a communist country under a socialist leader. Detractors, meanwhile, contend that the CIA-backed coup helped usher in a wave of brutal repression under the iron hand of Pinochet.
The aftermath of the coup thirty-eight years ago today can be seen in "The Death of Pinochet", a film that depicted the reactions of Chileans on the day he died. The conflicting views on the impact of the coup and Pinochet's rule can be seen in this documentary, which aired last month in New York as part of the Latinbeat series. The Spanish-language trailer to the film provides a glimpse into mixed feelings of joy, sadness and anger held by residents of Santiago on that day in December 2006:
Approximately 5000 people in Santiago today participated in a march to commemorate the hundreds (if not thousands) of people who died in the 1973 coup. The event was reportedly marred by clashes between police and 300 demonstrators.
Online Sources - La Tercera, La Nacion, BBC News, The Online Encyclopedia of Mass Violence, sandinorebellion.com
Video Source - YouTube
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Today’s Video: Cleaner, thinner and taller?
British broadcaster Louis Theroux is best known for his documentaries where he involves himself in the story. His style of "gonzo journalism" has seen him cover a range of subjects including covering the family at the center of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church and, most recently, immersing himself in the Miami prison system.
One of his earliest pieces aired in 1992 as part of the Michael Moore-hosted TV show "TV Nation." In the clip below, Theroux looked at the business of selling Avon cosmetics to Brazilians living in the Brazilian rain forest. The tone of the video is not heavy-handed but it does reveal the deceptive techniques used by the firm to sell its concept of beauty to mostly impoverished households in the Amazon. (One Brazilian Avon saleswoman even believes that a best-selling cream can makes its customers taller).
(Note: the segment begins around the 0:45 mark).
Theroux's fortunes have improved since that video first aired nineteen years ago as he continues airing his specials on the BBC. Meanwhile, Avon has expanded its operations not only in Brazil but also Latin America; according to Reuters the region was Avon's "largest unit" accounting for 42% of global sales in 2010.
Video Source - YouTube
Online Sources - Wikipedia, Reuters
One of his earliest pieces aired in 1992 as part of the Michael Moore-hosted TV show "TV Nation." In the clip below, Theroux looked at the business of selling Avon cosmetics to Brazilians living in the Brazilian rain forest. The tone of the video is not heavy-handed but it does reveal the deceptive techniques used by the firm to sell its concept of beauty to mostly impoverished households in the Amazon. (One Brazilian Avon saleswoman even believes that a best-selling cream can makes its customers taller).
(Note: the segment begins around the 0:45 mark).
Theroux's fortunes have improved since that video first aired nineteen years ago as he continues airing his specials on the BBC. Meanwhile, Avon has expanded its operations not only in Brazil but also Latin America; according to Reuters the region was Avon's "largest unit" accounting for 42% of global sales in 2010.
Video Source - YouTube
Online Sources - Wikipedia, Reuters
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Nuestro Cine: Zapata on Zapata
"The Storm That Swept Mexico" is a two-hour documentary on the history of the Mexican Revolution including its impact on culture and global politics. The film will is directed by veteran producer Raymond Telles and is set to premiere on PBS on May 15.
This week a website was launched to promote the documentary and it includes information on the film as well as the Mexican Revolution. The site contains the trailer to the film as well as the following clip where the grandson of Emiliano Zapata explains his discomfort with the current Mexican government:
Online and Video Source - Official website for 'The Storm That Swept Mexico"
This week a website was launched to promote the documentary and it includes information on the film as well as the Mexican Revolution. The site contains the trailer to the film as well as the following clip where the grandson of Emiliano Zapata explains his discomfort with the current Mexican government:
Watch the full episode. See more The Storm That Swept Mexico.
Online and Video Source - Official website for 'The Storm That Swept Mexico"
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Nuestro Cine: “Presumed” censorship?
Last year we briefly looked at Mexican documentary “Presunto Culpable” (“Presumed Guilty”). Today we revisit the film after it landed in a recent controversy.
The film focuses on Antonio Zuniga, a man accused of murder, and the efforts of his lawyers and supporters to free him. “Presunto” not only reveals what appears like a weak case against Zuniga but also shows numerous shortcomings of the Mexican judicial system.
In the two weeks “Presunto” was shown in Mexico it became a box-office hit and the country's highest-grossing documentary. But last week a judge issued an injunction against screening “Presunto” after one of the movie’s figures, a key prosecution witness, claimed that he did not give permission to appear in the film. As written in Global Voices, the decision led to anger among some bloggers including concerns over freedom of expression as well as conspiracy theories claiming “the judicial system does not want the film to bring to light all the irregularities in its administration.”
The clamor over “Presunto” being pulled from theaters grew over the past several days culminating in a higher court ruling yesterday to bring the movie back:
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, The Hollywood Reporter, Huffington Post, Global Voices, Variety
Video Source – PBS via YouTube
The film focuses on Antonio Zuniga, a man accused of murder, and the efforts of his lawyers and supporters to free him. “Presunto” not only reveals what appears like a weak case against Zuniga but also shows numerous shortcomings of the Mexican judicial system.
In the two weeks “Presunto” was shown in Mexico it became a box-office hit and the country's highest-grossing documentary. But last week a judge issued an injunction against screening “Presunto” after one of the movie’s figures, a key prosecution witness, claimed that he did not give permission to appear in the film. As written in Global Voices, the decision led to anger among some bloggers including concerns over freedom of expression as well as conspiracy theories claiming “the judicial system does not want the film to bring to light all the irregularities in its administration.”
The clamor over “Presunto” being pulled from theaters grew over the past several days culminating in a higher court ruling yesterday to bring the movie back:
The three-judge tribunal unanimously voted against the decision to pull the film saying that, despite the potential negative attention to the plaintiff, to force the film out of theaters "caused damage to the interests of society and contravened the regulations of public order, given that society has an interest in seeing respected the right to information enshrined in the sixth article of the Federal Constitution."If you are in the U.S. you can view “Presunto Culpable” in its entirety for free via this PBS website until March 31st. Otherwise, the following is the trailer for the documentary that has caused quite a stir in Mexico:
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, The Hollywood Reporter, Huffington Post, Global Voices, Variety
Video Source – PBS via YouTube
Monday, February 21, 2011
Nuestro Cine: Sweetness and light
Day and night. Light and dark. The past and the future.
What appears like distinct qualities can sometimes have points in common. This juxtaposition is explored in "Nostalgia de la Luz" ("Nostalgia for the Light"), a 2010 documentary by Patricio Guzman. Guzman film is set in Chile's Atacama Desert, an area classified by a 2002 Christian Science Monitor as the "astronomy capital of the world." The desert's climate and environment is optimal for studying the wonders of the firmament but may have also been an ideal burying ground for victims of Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship.
The Hollywood Reporter's review of the documentary summarizes it's main theme:
Below is the trailer for the captivating "Nostalgia de la Luz":
Video Source - UniFrance Film via YouTube
Online Sources - CSMonitor.com, The Hollywood Reporter, imdb.com, moma.org,
What appears like distinct qualities can sometimes have points in common. This juxtaposition is explored in "Nostalgia de la Luz" ("Nostalgia for the Light"), a 2010 documentary by Patricio Guzman. Guzman film is set in Chile's Atacama Desert, an area classified by a 2002 Christian Science Monitor as the "astronomy capital of the world." The desert's climate and environment is optimal for studying the wonders of the firmament but may have also been an ideal burying ground for victims of Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship.
The Hollywood Reporter's review of the documentary summarizes it's main theme:
Guzman goes beyond a basic science/religion dichotomy (mentioned by a young astronomer at the beginning of the film) to probe the universe for secrets into the origins of man, without canceling out our obligations to history and the moral obligation to hold the dead in memory."Nostalgia de la Luz" has won several awards on the international film festival circuit and it will be featured tonight at New York City's Museum of Modern Art. (Guzman will be speaking at tonight's screening according to the museum's website).
Below is the trailer for the captivating "Nostalgia de la Luz":
Video Source - UniFrance Film via YouTube
Online Sources - CSMonitor.com, The Hollywood Reporter, imdb.com, moma.org,
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Today’s Video: "Africa Rising"
Today is the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, an occasion in which to raise the awareness of the estimated 100 to 140 million women around the world who have had partial or complete circumcisions. Female genital mutilations are more common in Africa compared to other regions of the world though the practice has gradually decreased in countries like Ethiopia, Kenya and Egypt.
According to the International Organization for Migration the practice of female circumcisions has spread to Western countries but it's still relatively rare in Latin America. Nevertheless, Salvadoran-born filmmaker Paula Heredia focused on the fight against female genital mutilations in parts of Africa. She directed and produced the 2009 documentary "Africa Rising", a very revealing film that includes the following clip:
Online Sources - Voice of America, The Guardian, Deutsche Welle, imdb.com
Video Source - Women Make Movies via YouTube
According to the International Organization for Migration the practice of female circumcisions has spread to Western countries but it's still relatively rare in Latin America. Nevertheless, Salvadoran-born filmmaker Paula Heredia focused on the fight against female genital mutilations in parts of Africa. She directed and produced the 2009 documentary "Africa Rising", a very revealing film that includes the following clip:
Online Sources - Voice of America, The Guardian, Deutsche Welle, imdb.com
Video Source - Women Make Movies via YouTube
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Nuestro Cine: Trash to treasure
Earlier today the nominees were announced for this year's Academy Awards. Mexican entry “Biutiful” was nominated for nominated for Best Foreign Language Film and Spaniard Javier Bardem was nominated for Best Actor for his role in that movie.
While “Biutiful” hopes to become the second consecutive Latin American movie to win top foreign film honors (Argentina's "The Secret In Their Eyes" won last year), another film set in the region hopes to win its Oscar. Documentary film “Waste Land” examines how art can be born through ingenuity and imagination. The film focuses on an art project wherein the self-described “pickers of recyclable materials” at the the world’s largest garbage dump in Brazil create self-portraits by using garbage. Their artwork reveals details of the lives as unique people with unfulfilled aspirations but also deep emotions and personal pride.
“Waste Land” faces very stiff competition in the Best Documentary Feature category from “Exit through the Gift Shop” from street artist Banksy and from war documentary "Restrepo". Nonetheless, it has already won numerous awards on the film festival circuit and enjoys a 100% rating from critics according to the Rotten Tomatoes website.
We touched on “Waste Land” last August but it’s worth featuring again in light of today’s nomination. Here is the trailer for a documentary worthy of being named one of the best of the year and deserving of the Oscar:
Video Source - YouTube
Online Sources- CBS News, Rotten Tomatoes, The Latin Americanist, Official website for “Waste Land”
While “Biutiful” hopes to become the second consecutive Latin American movie to win top foreign film honors (Argentina's "The Secret In Their Eyes" won last year), another film set in the region hopes to win its Oscar. Documentary film “Waste Land” examines how art can be born through ingenuity and imagination. The film focuses on an art project wherein the self-described “pickers of recyclable materials” at the the world’s largest garbage dump in Brazil create self-portraits by using garbage. Their artwork reveals details of the lives as unique people with unfulfilled aspirations but also deep emotions and personal pride.
“Waste Land” faces very stiff competition in the Best Documentary Feature category from “Exit through the Gift Shop” from street artist Banksy and from war documentary "Restrepo". Nonetheless, it has already won numerous awards on the film festival circuit and enjoys a 100% rating from critics according to the Rotten Tomatoes website.
We touched on “Waste Land” last August but it’s worth featuring again in light of today’s nomination. Here is the trailer for a documentary worthy of being named one of the best of the year and deserving of the Oscar:
Video Source - YouTube
Online Sources- CBS News, Rotten Tomatoes, The Latin Americanist, Official website for “Waste Land”
Friday, November 19, 2010
Nuestro Cine: Trash to treasure
On Thursday the shortlist of the fifteen films in the running for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar was revealed. Among the favorites to win the prized stautette are The Tillman Story, Waiting for ‘Superman’, and Exit Through The Gift Shop as well as a unique film set in Brazil.
Waste Land tells the tale of a project created by Brazilian expat artist Vik Muniz with the garbage pickers from Rio de Janiero's largest landfill. Muniz helped the "catadores" create portraits of themselves using the thousands of pounds of trash they sort through on a daily basis. The film shows the hardships the "catadores" go through (they earn their living by finding and selling scraps of recyclable materials) and the impact art can have on people. In addition, as was written in The Documentary Blog:
Video Source - YouTube via The Documentary Blog
Online Sources - The A.V. Club, BBC News, The Documentary Blog
Waste Land tells the tale of a project created by Brazilian expat artist Vik Muniz with the garbage pickers from Rio de Janiero's largest landfill. Muniz helped the "catadores" create portraits of themselves using the thousands of pounds of trash they sort through on a daily basis. The film shows the hardships the "catadores" go through (they earn their living by finding and selling scraps of recyclable materials) and the impact art can have on people. In addition, as was written in The Documentary Blog:
The result is a touching but controversial project that has the artist and his partners questioning the effects of interfering with the lives of these people. Will giving them a taste of life outside of the landfill provide them with unrealistic hopes? Will returning to picking devastate them? The film is shot quite nicely and Moby provides a wonderful score. Definitely worth checking out.Directed by Britain's Lucy Walker, Waste Land may be a dark horse candidate to win the Oscar next February. Nevertheless, it is a very compelling and thoughtful documentary as you might be able to appreciate in the trailer below:
Video Source - YouTube via The Documentary Blog
Online Sources - The A.V. Club, BBC News, The Documentary Blog
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