| s vibrant and varied national identities, a turbulent and | | | | interpretations of poverty and the hardships of |
| sometimes tortured past along with its proud cultural | | | | everyday life both in rural Brazil and the favelas of the |
| heritage, Latin America has all the necessary | | | | cities. |
| ingredients for a rich tradition of cinema and film. | | | | As Latin American society made the slow transition |
| In the early years, the Latin American film industry was | | | | towards stability and democracy, its cinema began to |
| dominated by Mexico, which exported its enormously | | | | undergo a corresponding transformation. The dogmatic |
| successful movies throughout the world. But over the | | | | themes of anti-imperialism, anti-capitalism and the |
| second half of the 20th century, a number of other big | | | | struggle for liberation began to wane with the arrival of |
| film centers developed, in particular Cuba, Argentina | | | | more subtle examinations of Latin American society, its |
| and Brazil. | | | | achievements and its problems. |
| Throughout this period, filmmakers drew upon wide | | | | What has become known as the New Latin American |
| political and social influences, reflecting the often | | | | Cinema has encompassed a wide range of themes |
| chaotic environments they were trying to reflect. Latin | | | | and issues, while adopting a much broader range of |
| America’s prominent role within the non-aligned | | | | artistic styles which depart from the rigid realism of |
| movement during the Cold War and widespread | | | | previous traditions. Such films as Como Agua Para |
| popular opposition to the giant northern neighbor helped | | | | Chocolate and Pan’s Labyrinth followed |
| influence the development of Tercer Cine, Third | | | | fantastical storylines and became worldwide hits, while |
| Cinema, as a backlash against Hollywood, US cultural | | | | Y Tu Mama Tambien presented a mature portrayal of |
| dominance and capitalism. | | | | Mexican society and the country’s political |
| Led by the Argentinean Grupo Cine Liberacion, but | | | | issues. |
| also driven by radicals in Cuba, Bolivia and Brazil, the | | | | Meanwhile, Argentina and Brazil have both retained |
| Third Cinema movement drew heavily on the concept | | | | their leading role within the region’s film industry |
| of the First and Third Worlds, and expressed a sense | | | | and movies such as Nueve Reinas have gone on to |
| of solidarity and collectivism between filmmakers and | | | | inspire Hollywood filmmakers while prizes and awards |
| their audiences. | | | | continue to flood in. |
| Because films from this genre were by definition | | | | The top films to see before a Latin America vacation: |
| subversive to the region’s authoritarian regimes | | | | Before leaving for your Brazil vacation, don’t |
| of the time, movies were screened covertly so as to | | | | miss the Academy Award nominated and Golden |
| avoid censorship and commercial interferences. | | | | Globe winning Central do Brazil (1998), an emotive tale |
| Typical to this genre was the movie Ya es Tiempo de | | | | of relationships and learning set in Rio de Janeiro. |
| Violencia, or Now Is The Time For Violence, which | | | | For an alternative interpretation on your Argentina |
| addressed the repressive Argentinean dictatorship, the | | | | travel experience, look out for Nueve Reinas (2000) |
| assassination of trade union leaders and state | | | | which gives a stark, twisting picture of the Buenos |
| censorship. | | | | Aires underworld. |
| Around the same period, a similar but distinct tradition | | | | Meanwhile, Madeinusa (2005) will be fascinating |
| was evolving in Portuguese speaking Brazil. Cinema | | | | viewing before or after a Peru vacation, drawing on |
| Novo, inspired by the French New Wave, adopted a | | | | the spiritualism of Andean communities. |
| minimalist and direct style to present realistic | | | | |