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CHARLES COLEMAN
Film Programmer for Facets Cinémathèque

Read his feature in the Chicago Reader

April 2009

The Facets Cinémathèque is located at 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. in Chicago. For more information on films playing in the Cinémathèque, please call 773-281-4114. To order advance tickets online, visit the TicketWeb website by clicking here.

The 25th Annual
CHICAGO LATINO FILM FESTIVAL
Silver Anniversary

April 17 - 30

The Facets Cinémathèque is pleased to once again host the Chicago Latino Film Festival, now in its 25th year. This ambitious event, held at various Chicago theaters, Universities, and Community Centers, offers the best contemporary films from Spain, Portugal, the United States and Latin America. This year's line up features more than 100 films and videos, an exciting array of comedies, dramas, documentaries, animation and experimental programs representing over 20 countries. The Festival continues to break the barriers of stereotypes while provoking the audience to challenge mainstream ideals of the Latino identity by showing, through film, that Latinos come from all social and racial backgrounds. All films will be screened in their original language with English subtitles.

International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago     Download film schedule (PDF)

Festival hotline: (312) 431-1330

Chicago Sun-Times    

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Buscando a Gabo
(Looking for Gabo)

Directed by Luis Fernando Bottía, Colombia
52 min.

Fri., April 17 at 7 pm
Wed., April 22 at 9 pm

Colombian novelist and Nobel Laureate, Gabriel Garcia Marquez is portrayed by his family, colleagues and friends through interviews and narration, revealing a shy, everyday man — one who might have been a great vallenato singer and who enjoyed spending time in places like Havana and Mexico City. The film captures the personal side by uncovering details lost in biographical data. Highlights include the testimony of his brother, Jaime Garcia Marquez and writers like Carlos Monsivais and long time friend, Alvaro Mutis.

Shown with Biblioburro (The Donkey Library; Colombia, 50 min.)

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Below the Fold:
The Pulitzer That Defined Latino Journalism

Directed by Roberto Gudiño, USA
23 min.

Fri., April 17 at 9 pm
Mon., April 20 at 9 pm

In 1982, a group of Latino reporters at the Los Angeles Times wrote a series about Latinos living in Los Angeles. They got very little cooperation at the daily paper, but went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. A tale of determination, skill and committment.

Shown with Valkirias (Valkyries; Spain, 19 min.) and Welcome to Paradox (USA, 15 min.)

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Neruda Fugitivo
(Neruda Fugitive)

Directed by Hugo Arévalo, Chile
57 min.

Sat., April 18 at 3 pm
Wed., April 29 at 9 pm

From 1948 to 1949 the late Chilean poet and Nobel Laureate, Pablo Neruda spent his life in hiding. This documentary recounts this period of the poet's life that began in Chile when he was removed from his post as a senator. While in hiding, people from all walks of life, including those who did not know him, generously provided food and shelter while he worked incessantly on one of his greatest works, The General Song. This carefully crafted film includes interviews of people who witnessed the poet's odyssey.

Shown with Lo Que Me Tocó Vivir (The Life I Got To Live; USA, 48 min.)

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Flowers for San Lazaro

Directed by James Rauchman, Cuba
25 min.

Sat., April 18 at 5 pm
Mon., April 20 at 7 pm

Modern day religion in Cuba is examined by following a family on their pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Lazarus. Interviews with Catholic clergy and Cuban citizens illustrate the importance of the symbol of Saint Lazarus, whose identity is nevertheless open to interpretation.

Shown with Fuera de Liga (Dreaming in Blue, Cuba, 68 min.) and ¡Cállense, Cállense! (Shut up!, Shut up!; Venezuela, 3 min.)

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La Americana
(The American Woman)

Directed by Nicholas Bruckman, Bolivia
65 min.

Sat., April 18 at 7 pm
Sun., April 19 at 6:45 pm

When nine-year-old Carla falls gravely ill, her mother Carmen must leave her behind and make the dangerous and illegal journey to New York. Carmen hopes to earn enough money to support her ailing daughter realizing she may never see her again. Six years later, U.S. Congress proposes amnesty legislation that may allow the mother and daughter to reunite. This unforgettable story puts a human face on the controversial issue of the immigration debate.

Shown with Shopping to Belong (USA, 30 min.) and Made in Japan (Spain, 5 min.)

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Una Injusticia Olvidada
(A Forgotten Injustice)

Directed by Vicente Serrano, USA
76 min.

Sat., April 18 at 9 pm

Recommended! -Chicago Reader

A Forgotten Injustice is the filmic debut of Emmy Award winning Chicago anchor and investigative reporter, Vicente Serrano. The documentary sheds light on the illegal and unconstitutional deportation of almost two million Mexican Americans and U.S. citizens. After the devastating stock market crash of the '30s, government officials believed Mexicans were taking jobs and public services from "real" Americans. They came up with the idea of solving the economic problems by deporting as many Mexicans as possible, regardless of their legal status.

Shown with La Lotería (The Lottery; Spain, 18 min.) and Las Luciérnagas (The Fireflies; (Dominican Republic, 13 min.)

Chicago Reader

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Hobby

Directed by Ciro Altabás, Spain
50 min.

Sun., April 19 at 5 pm
Mon., April 27 at 7 pm

A chance trip to Japan for the release of a video game console turned into this entertaining documentary that explores the many interesting and wonderful ways in which the Japanese spend their leisure time.

Shown with Diario del Fin (Diary of the End; Peru, 24 min.) and Danzak (Peru, 20 min.).

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Vida y Obra de Jorge Sarmientos
(Life and work of Jorge Sarmientos)

Directed by Byron Alfredo Rabe, Guatemala
60 min.

Sun., April 19 at 8:30 pm
Thurs., April 30 at 7 pm

Maestro Jorge Sarmientos is considered one of Guatemala's greatest musical talents. The documentary pays homage to his 75 years of life and cultural activism from his humble beginnings to international acclaim. Among the many awards garnered, the most outstanding include the Orden del Quetzal (Quetzal's Order) and the Academic Palms of France.

Shown with Qak'aslemal, Nuestra Existencia (Our Existence; Guatemala, 26 min.) and En el Apartamento (In the Apartment; Spain, 12 min.)

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Titón de la Habana a Guantanamera
(Titon, From Havana to Guantanamera)

Directed by Mirtha Ibarra, Cuba
93 min.

Tues., April 21 at 7 pm
Wed., April 22 at 7 pm

A look at the life and work of Cuban filmmaker Tomas Gutierrez Alea (1928-1996), known as Titón and considered Cuba's best filmmaker (Strawberry & Chocolate, Memories of the Underdevelopment) and one of film history's paramount names. The documentary begins from his birth in Havana up to his last film, Guantanamera. The film broadly traces Titón's work, his outlook and vital engagement as reflected in his own words and in the opinions of family members and professionals. Director and Titón's lifelong companion, actress Mirtha Ibarra, provides an essential and touching thread.

Shown with Límite (Limit; Uruguay, 12 min.)

Trailer

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Este Maldito País
(This Rotten Country)

Directed by Juan Martín Cueva, Ecuador
78 min.

Tues., April 21 at 9 pm
Tues., April 28 at 7 pm

This documentary embraces the challenge to discover the identity of Ecuadorians and asks: Who is Ecuadorian? What does being Ecuadorian mean? Jorge Enrique Adoum does not know the answer being the son of a Lebanese father and Ecuadorian mother. Lourdes Tiban also does not know the answer as she considers herself a mestiza or an Ecuadorian of mixed races. Considered the Mozart of the marimba "Papa Roncon" reveals he was taught melodies by the indigenous and not the Africans. Colorful subjects share their stories of origin and express what it means for them to be considered Ecuadorian.

Shown with Big Band (Venezuela, 19 min.)

Trailer

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México, el Último País Mágico
(Mexico, the Last Magical Land)

Directed by Demetrio Bilbatúa, Mexico
33 min.

Thurs., April 23 at 7 pm
Sat., April 25 at 7:30 pm

A kaleidoscopic beauty of images showing Mexico as a melting pot of cultures. Three thousand years of uninterrupted civilization, history, art, architecture, dance, poetry, music and religion survive in the gaiety of its people and permeate in the mountains, deserts, jungles and coasts of its farthest corners.

Shown with Soraya, Amor No Es Olvido (Soraya, Love Is Not Forgetting; Colombia, 52 min.) and P.B. (Venezuela, 6 min.)

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Un Tigre de Papel
(A Paper Tiger)

Directed by Luis Ospina, Colombia
114 min.

Thurs., April 23 at 9 pm
Sat., April 25 at 9:15 pm

Itself a visual masterpiece, this documentary is a collage of the great world-renowned Colombian artist, Pedro Manrique Figueroa that traverses the globe and spans momentous periods of time. Taking Figueroa's life and work as a pretext, the documentary takes the viewer on a journey through history over the period from 1934 to 1981, when the artist mysteriously disappeared from view. The film examines the relationship that exists between arts and politics, truth and deception and when fact and fiction intermingle.

Trailer

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Nuestros Desaparecidos
(Our Disappeared)

Directed by Juan Mandelbaum, Argentina
99 min.

Fri., April 24 at 7 pm
Sun., April 26 at 8:45 pm

They dreamed of a revolution that would transform Argentina, but what exactly happened to this hopeful generation who suddenly vanished? Thirty years after leaving his native Argentina, director Juan Mandelbaum discovers that Patricia, a former college girlfriend was among the thousands abducted, tortured and gone missing during the country's military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983. Mandelbaum's personal journey, along with others who lost loved ones, tells the story behind the brutal events that still haunt Argentina today.

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1, 2 y 3 Mujeres
(1, 2 and 3 Women)

Directed by Andrea Herrera, Anabel Rodríguez & Andrea Ríos,
Venezuela, 90 min.

Fri., April 24 at 9 pm
Sun., April 26 at 6:30 pm

Three stories, three women and three women directors bring to life 1, 2 and 3 Women, a feature that tells the stories of Eloina, Rosario and Gregoria. Eloina shows the grandness and moral bravery of a mother; Rosario arrives to Caracas to discover new experiences; Gregoria demonstrates weaknesses versus the powerful energy to make decisions and gain emotional stability.

Trailer

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¿Quién Soy Yo?
(Who am I?)

Directed by Estela Bravo, Argentina
75 min.

Sat., April 25 at 3 pm
Wed., April 29 at 7 pm


How would it feel to suddenly discover that your parents are not actually your parents, but part of a network of military criminals that murdered your real parents? Or that as a young child you were kidnapped and given away to friends of those who tortured and killed your parents? And then to find your true family!

The documentary introduces viewers to children - now young adults - of the disappeared, struggling with the traumatic discoveries. For three decades, the Plaza de Mayo Grandmothers have been searching for their 500 grandchildren, who were abducted during Argentina's Dirty War (1976-83). To date, 88 of the missing children have recovered their true identity.

Shown with Rudy Lozano: His Life and Legacy (USA, 18 min.).

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A Arvore da Música
(The Music Tree)

Directed by Otavio Juliano, Brazil
80 min.

Sat., April 25 at 5 pm
Mon., April 27 at 9 pm

The future of classical music rests on the future of an imperiled tree that is on the edge of extinction. Found only in the remnants of Brazil's devastated Atlantic Rainforest, brazilwood (pernanbuco) is vital in the manufacture of fine violin bows ever since the time Mozart was composing his masterpieces. From the search for the wood in the forests of Brazil, to their use by the world's greatest symphony orchestras, the film explores a path to saving the trees and the music that depends on it.

Shown with A Menina (The Scarecrow Girl; Brazil, 13 min.)

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Bracero Stories

Directed by Patrick Mullins, USA
56 min.

Tues., April 28 at 9 pm
Thurs., April 30 at 9 pm

The Bracero Program brought temporary Mexican agricultural workers into the U.S. from 1944-1964. The film examines the program from the point of view of the actual participants including interviews with growers, government officials, advocates for the workers and employer organizations.

Shown with Fuego (Got a Light; Paraguay, 27 min.) and Monday, Tuesday (USA, 10 min.)


Tickets: