Suggestions on good Spanish movies
I have watched a few Spanish movies in DVD to help me get used to the sound of conversations. I would watch it first in English to understand it, then in Spanish. So far I have seen "Volver", "La Noche delos Girasoles", "El Crimen del Padre Amaro", "Y Tu Mamá También" and "Talk To Her" (I forgot the Spanish title, but would that be "Habla a Ella?"). These are all good movies to me. Can you suggest a few more titles of good Spanish movies I should start looking for? Thank you!
16 Answers
Pan's Labyrinth
My favourite Spanish language film is "Bonbon el perro". It is the gentle story of a kind but poor man who acquires a pure-bred "dogo argentino" as payment for a favour.
I fell in love with all the characters, the music and especially that lilting Argentinian accent.
Best of all - the story is "visual" - there's no intricate plot so you don't really need the subtitles - just absorb the Spanish!!!
Here's a clip - link text
I liked Sin Nombre but it is not for those with a weak stomach. It shows gang life, poverty and emigration in Central America. I like it becaues it shows Central American voseo.
Also, I have yet to see it but I keep hearing good things about La Lengua de las Mariposas, a movie set in Spain about a boy and the relationship between him and his teacher.
Los cronocrimenes. Timecrimes. One of the best movies I have ever seen. Pure awesomeness.
"Los Olvidados" de Pedro Almodóvar.
Check this thread: movies. I particularly liked Under the Same Moon.
Si te gusta acción entonces encantarías la pelicula mexicana se llama 'Amores Perros.' Creo que lo ganó un Oscar.
Oh man I can't believe I forgot to mention Rojo Amanecer. It's so good/notable that I didn't want edit it in and bury it in the middle of my last post. Literally, of course, it's "Red Dawn," but it has nothing to do with that mid-80's specimen of fabulous American moviemaking.
It's a lower budget movie that came out in the late 80's that takes place within one apartment in the Tlatelolco neighborhood of Mexico City in October, 1968 just before, during and after what is one of the most famous and tragic incidences of state repression in the country's history.
It's definitely worth reading up on before watching. In lieu of a whole list of readings, this Wiki link is a good start. Elena Poniatowska's accounts and analysis of what happened that night and the months leading up to it are very good as well.
It's not an easy movie to watch, for obvious reasons, but I think it's worth the time and emotions to invest in it.
I agree that Sin Nombre and La Misma Luna are worth watching.
Also, if you want to laugh and learn some Spanish at the same time rent "Bewitched" (a series from the 60's) and choose the Spanish soundtrack. There are lots of episodes and the Spanish is easy to understand.
I enjoyed "Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios" the Wikipedia description: "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Spanish: Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios) is a 1988 Spanish comedy film written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, starring Carmen Maura and Antonio Banderas. The film that brought Almodóvar to widespread international attention, it was nominated for the 1989 Academy Award for Best Foreign-language film, and won five Goya Awards including Best Film and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Maura. The actual title refers in Spanish to "un ataque de nervios" which is not actually well translated by "nervous breakdown". "Ataques de nervios" are culture-bound psychological phenomena during which the individual, most often female, displays dramatic outpouring of negative emotions, bodily gestures, occasional falling to the ground, and fainting, often in response to receiving disturbing news or witnessing or participating in an upsetting event. Historically, this condition has been associated with "hysteria" and more recently in the scientific literature with posttraumatic stress."
My friend just saw "Mujer sin cabesa" and "El gigante" and enjoyed them both.
I hope this is helpful. Lucrecia
I recently saw "El Orfanato". I liked it because the people spoke clearly, and the subtitles were really big. It is about a woman who returns to the orphange she grew up in. Her son disappears, and she starts communing with the orphanage ghosts to find him. It had a sad, bittersweet ending.
Since I am a beginner, I am preferring to watch American movies translated into spanish and that have spanish subtitles. I've only had a problem with one show where what the people are saying doesn't match the subtitles. I find that translated movies have clearer pronunciation. The only disappointment is that many movies are translated into French but not Spanish. I found this surprising.
Aside from the fact that I don't always understand native speakers in their movies and TV shows...I am just not a big fan of Spanish TV and movies as a general rule.
Most of the films I'm familiar with are Mexican (not Spanish), and the better ones tend to be from the 90's into the '00's. Mexican cinema experienced a sort of resurgence during that period and there are a handful of really well-made movies that came out of it. However, some of the ones I'll list here aren't necessarily super-high art nor really "family friendly," (in the way that Y tu mama también is not family friendly) so be forewarned.
Amores perros, of course! Superb soundtrack as well
Sexo, pudor y lagrimas - focused on relationships between 6 urban-dwelling adults. Although some of it is a little telenovela-ish for my tastes, it's still funny, dramatic, etc.. in an easy to follow plot.
Cilantro y perejil - same sort of story, relationships, etc..
Todo el poder - more action-y suspenseful movie about hunting down corruption.
La ley de herodes - This is historical-political-fiction-comedy. I love this movie. It came out in 1999, not long before the presidential elections in 2000 and deals with what were and continue to be delicate political themes. One of the slogans on the movie posters was "Why don't they want you to see it?" Of course, it helps if you have some familiarity with Mexican politics, but is still entertaining if you don't.
Nicotina - A crime-caper-comedy with multiple storylines that intersect, some pretty gross scenes, but a really enjoyable movie.
And I haven't seen them, but I've heard good things about Matando cabos and Párpados azules.
Outside of Mexico, it can't go without mentioning Abre los ojos from Spain. If you're familiar with "Vanilla Sky," this is the original version and, from what I understand of Vanilla Sky, this is much, much better. It deals with perception and reality, and your brain will hurt by the end. It's a good time though! And a long time ago, I saw a movie from Spain called (I think) La mamá cumple cien or something along those ilnes. From what I remember, it was... weird. I'll recommend it only because I sort of want to find it again myself just to see if I can figure it out.
I can't recommend any. The good ones are the old black/white movies, from the 40's and 50's from Mexico and Spain. In the 70's and 80's pretty much is all junk, very vulgar movies. Try movies with Pedro Infante, Marga López, Silvia Pinal, Arturo de Córdova, those were good actors and most of them were good movies.
Issabella's post link text
reminded me about the film Babel link text
which I have seen twice, and thoroughly enjoyed.
It stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Mohamed Akhzam, Omar el Mallouli, Gael García Bernal, Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi and loads more!
About 30% is in English, the rest being Spanish, Arabic and Japanese, so it's an absolute treat for language lovers. It's also a fantastic tale set in 4 continents, and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu who directed Amores Perros among others. I don't know if I love Amelia ( Adriana Barraza) or the moroccan bus driver (Omar el Mallouli) more!
I can't heap enough praise on this film.
