Category: Religion
¿Quien Baila Aqui?
A documentary about the Congo or Bantu religion in Cuba.
Cuba, Religion, Social Life and CustomsAlsino y el Condor
An allegory about an idealistic ten-year-old peasant who dreams of flying like a condor. He eventually learns to fly when he joins guerrillas fighting in an imaginary Central American country.
Drama, Economics/Development, Nicaragua, Politics/Human Rights, ReligionAmericas: Part 6
"Miracles are Not Enough" This program travels to Brazil and Nicaragua to observe the explosion of theological debate, social activism and spiritual revival that is changing a region where religion has long played an important role in society and politics.
Brazil, Latin America, Nicaragua, Politics/Human Rights, ReligionBoca del Lobo, La
La Boca del Lobo is fiction inspired by the Peruvian army's November 1983 massacre of 47 men, women and children suspected of terrorism. When the news of the massacre came out, the army blamed Shining Path for the atrocities, but one eyewitness testified to the contrary. The movie portrays the moral and emotional disintegration of the members of a small army detachment sent away from any world they know to root out Shining Path missing in a remote mountain village.
Drama, Economics/Development, Peru, Politics/Human Rights, ReligionCORAZON SANGRANTE / CUERPOS DE PAPEL
Gender/Sexuality, Mexico, Music/Dance, Religion, Women's StudiesCorazon Sangrante / Cuerpos De Papel
Corazon Sangrante is a short film that uses various mythic elements of gender - the sacred heart, saints, la china poblana - all set to the music of an old Mexican ballad. Cuerpos de Papel, also set to music, explores the relationship between two lesbians.
Gender/Sexuality, Mexico, Music/Dance, Religion, Women's StudiesCrimen del Padre Amaro, El
Father Amaro is a new priest assigned to the small rural town of Los Reyes, Mexico. He soon discovers that a conspiracy of corruption, sex, and lies has consumed the local parishes. Though he tries to resist falling into the corrupt actions of his colleagues, temptation eventually draws him in.
Drama, Mexico, ReligionCuestion De Fe, Una
In this lively road picture, three friends are contracted by a notorious gangster to create a carved statue depicting the Virgin Mary for a religious celebration in Bolivia. Domingo is the one commissioned to carve the life-size figure. After carving it, Joaquin, a gambler manages to procure a truck to transport it. They are also joined by Domingo's only friend Pepelucho. Loading the statue upright in the truck they set off on an incredible adventure.
Bolivia, Drama, ReligionFLIGHT OF PEDRO PAN, THE
Cuba, Latinos/Chicanos, Politics/Human Rights, Religion, USAFlores De Otro Mundo
The story of relationship struggles between men and women in the small town of Santa Eulalia, in Spain. Among them are Patrica, the Dominican woman, and Milady, the Cuban woman.
Cuba, Latinos/Chicanos, Politics/Human Rights, Religion, USAGuatemala Por Dentro
Part I-Documents religious paintings in the Merced Iglesia, a colonial church in Antigua. Part II-Documents retablos in the Merced Iglesia. Part III-Documents the rich history of the church of Santo Domingo and the feast of the patron in San Martín Obispo and San Martín Chile Verde.
Art, Guatemala, History, ReligionJesus
This feature film tells the story of the life of Jesus in Yucatec Maya language. It is a great resource for those who want to practice and master the language.
Drama, History, Indigenous Peoples, Mexico, ReligionKeeper Of Promises (O Pagador De Promessas)
Zé is a very poor man from the Brazilian countryside. His most prized possession is his donkey. When his donkey falls terminally ill, Zé makes a promise to Saint Bárbara: If his donkey recovers, he will carry a cross - like Jesus - all the way from his city to Saint Bárbara's church in the state capital. Upon the recover of his donkey, Zé leaves on his journey. He makes it to the church, but the priest refuses to accept the cross once he came to know the context of Zé's promise. Please note: this film does not have subtitles. It is not rated and includes scenes of domestic violence and some sexual content.
Brazil, Culture/Festivals/Food, Drama, ReligionNew Muslim Cool
Jason Perez, a.k.a “Hamza” is a Puerto Rican American man who grew up in Massachussets. Raised as a Catholic, he experienced a conversion to Islam after being imprisoned. This conversion was a turning point in his life and afterwards he formed a rap group through which he expresses bonds of solidarity with the Muslim community in Pittsburgh and in the United States. After his mosque is raided by the FBI for unclear reasons, Hamza begins giving anti-drug talks as a spiritual speaker in a jail of Pittsburgh, where he unites inmates of different racial and religious backgrounds. Hamza also looks for new alliances with a Jewish writer and both of them start using music and poetry as means for spiritual and social expressions through which the youth can channel their aspirations and frustrations.
Politics/Human Rights, Religion, Social Life and Customs, USANovia Que Te Vea
Two young Jewish girls, born Mexican, shape their lives under the pressures of the early sixties and their own awareness of conflicting loyalties. The subject of the life of the Jewish community within the ethnic complexity of modern urban Mexico is new to the Mexican cinema. Novia que te vea reveals the cultural diversity of the Jewish community and the social and political attitudes that flourish in it.
Drama, Gender/Sexuality, Mexico, ReligionOdo Ya! Life With Aids
A poetic documentary exploration of efforts by members of the Afro-Brazilian communities in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador, Bahia, Brazil to combat the spread of AIDS by drawing from their own cultural and religious traditions.
Brazil, Culture/Festivals/Food, Health, Religion, Social IssuesOFRENDA, LA: THE DAYS OF THE DEAD
Art, Culture/Festivals/Food, Latinos/Chicanos, Religion, USAOfrenda, La: The Days Of The Dead
Made by Lourdes Portillo and Susana Muñoz. The very young, the old, and the deceased are all represented in this personal and affectionate filmmaker's relationship to the history, and present-day celebrations of the Day of the Dead.
Art, Culture/Festivals/Food, Latinos/Chicanos, Religion, USAOggun, An External Presence
In Oggun, Gloria Rolando relates the mythical story of the Yoruba god Oggun, the tireless warrior who, enamored of his mother, decided as punishment to imprison himself in the mountains: Only Ochun, goddess of love, succeeded in captivating him when she let fall a few drops of honey on the lips of the god of metal, war, progress, and civilization. This documentary includes chants, dances, a "tambor" (Yoruba religious ceremony with the bata drums), and the experiences of Lázaro Ros, a legendary Akpwon, or lead singer in the Yoruba tradition, who not only made his the beauty of the African chants, but had the opportunity to sing them in trips throughout the world.
Cuba, Gender/Sexuality, Music/Dance, ReligionOrisha Tradition, The: The Gods In Exile
A documentary about the mixture of Catholic and Afro-Brazilian religious traditions.
Brazil, ReligionPOPOL VUH
History, Indigenous Peoples, Latin America, ReligionPOPULAR RELIGIOSITY
Cuba, ReligionSeis Historias Brasileiras: Santa Cruz
Seis Historias Brasileiras: Santa Cruz shows the development of an evangelical church in the Santa Cruz suburb of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the transformations that the church has made in the lives its congregation. The director wanted to show point of views that are rarely shown in the news. The film was originally released as a television series in 2000.
Brazil, Religion, Social Issues, Social Life and Customs