The ninth Latin American and Spanish Film Week returns to the University of Victoria this month with an eclectic lineup of international films.
Hosted at UVic’s Cinecenta theatre Sept. 18 to 23 by the Hispanic Film Society of Victoria, the line-up includes movies from Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Panama and Spain.
The week opens Sept. 18 with Julián Chalde’s Charco: Songs from Río de la Plata [Charco: canciones del Río de la Plata], a documentary about the region’s thriving musical scene including the capital cities of Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
Sept. 19 brings The Silence of Others [El silencio de los otros] by Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar, revealing the epic struggle of victims of Spain’s 40-year dictatorship under General Franco, who continue to seek justice to this day.
Mexican filmmaker Natalia Beristáin attends Sept. 20 to present her film The Eternal Feminine [Los adioses], exploring the life and work of Mexican writer Rosario Castellanos. A Q&A session in English follows the film.
Sept. 21 brings Sergio & Sergei by Ernesto Daranas, featuring a Russian cosmonaut circling the Earth and a down-on-his-luck Cuban professor in Havana who establish contact via radio equipment. This political satire, based on true events, is an endearing allegory of human solidarity in the face of crumbling regimes. A discussion follows with Queen’s University Prof. Susan Lord, a specialist on Cuban media and society.
Sept. 22 features Julia Solomonoff’s Nobody’s Watching [Nadie nos mira], about an Argentine actor who moves to New York City for a promised film role and a new start. The film deftly explores the life of the immigrant who does not quite play the part of the struggling Hispanic undocumented migrant.
The week wraps Sept. 23 with Ruben Blades is not my name [Yo no me llamo Rubén Blades] by Abner Benaim (Panamá), about the life and work of iconic Salsa singer, actor and activist Ruben Blades.
Films are open to the public and are subtitled in English. Regular prices apply.
For morte information, visit hispfilmvic.ca.
