 Our Spanish-film library (not all films are suitable for all students): Amores Perros (R): Three lives become inextricably linked in the wake of a terrible car crash. Winner, Best Film, Cannes International Film Festival Critic's Week. Calle 54 (G): Acclaimed as one of the very best motion pictures ever made about music, the vibrant Calle 54 offers an incredible behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of Grammy Award winner Tito Puente and some of the greatest Latin Jazz artists of our time! Celia Cruz (not rated, but probably equivalent to PG): Biography of popular singer Celia Cruz. Chasing Papi (PG): Handsome advertising executive Tomas "Papi" Fuentes is truly, deeply in love ... with three gorgeous women in three different cities. But when all three arrive in L.A. to surprise Papi at home, the situation doesn't just heat up, it explodes! Cilantro y Perejil (Cilantro and Parsley) (PG-13): This movie is a heart-warming, entertaining, contemporary comedy about couples within the same middle class family that are stricken by crisis ... leading to the philosophical and practical question: Is it worthwhile to stay together? The answers and conclusions to this eternal question are fun, unpredictable, and very human. One of the best films to come out of Mexico. Nine Ariel (Mexican Academy) Awards, including Best Picture. The City of No Limits (NR): In this gripping thriller, an elderly Spanish man in a Paris hospital awaits surgery for a brain tumor, which, his family believes, has made him mad. Only the old man's youngest son Victor believes his ramblings about a mysterious man named "Rancel," whom he claims is in danger. Winner, Best Screenplay, Goya Awards. The Crime of Padre Amaro (R): A recently ordained priest is sent to help an aging priest run a small parish church in rural Mexico. Upon arriving at his new post, he meets a beautiful young woman with a religious passion that borders on obsession. Quickly, her passion for her faith becomes helplessly entangled in a growing attraction to the new priest. But when the handsome priest crosses the line that separates temptation from sin, he finds himself torn between the divine and the carnal, the righteous and the unjust. Cuando Lloran los Valientes (When the Brave Cry) (NR): The history of a Mexican peasant full of life and energy, who confronts death sacrificing his love. Stars classic Mexican film star Pedro Infante. Dust to Dust (R): Rodrigo Carnicero would rather die than attend his son's latest wedding - so that's exactly what he does, leaving the family to grapple with a will that's every bit as difficult as he was in life! Bound by love for their grandfather, and despite the fact that they loathe each other, his grandsons Rocco and Rodrigo then undertake a hilarious road trip to Acapulco in order to scatter the old man's ashes at sea. Along the say, though, the two young men learn about themselves and each other as well as a few shocking family secrets that will change their lives forever. Finding Nemo (G): When Nemo, a young clownfish, is unexpectedly carried far from home, his overprotective father, Marlin, and Dory, a friendly but forgetful regal blue tang fish, embark on an epic journey that leads to encounters with vegetarian sharks, surfer dude turtles, hypnotic jellyfish and hungry seagulls! Herod's Law (R): Herod's Law is a hilarious, outrageous satire set in a tiny Mexican town in 1949. Damian Alcazar stars as Juan Vargas, a junkyard operator who is recruited as a temporary mayor following the demise of the latest corrupt town leader. At first, Vargas is the ideal politician: he's honest, desperate and not terribly ambitious -- or so it seems. But eventually, Vargas gives in to overwhelming temptation, bribery, and even violence in this brilliant, tongue-in-cheek story about government treachery. Winner, 2000 Sundance Film Festival, Latin American Cinema. Intacto (R): Considered "lucky" after he survives a plane crash, a bank thief is recruited into an underground gambling rign where death and luck intermingle. Jam-packed with twists and turns, Intacto will leave you guessing till the very end. Jungle Book (G): This beloved Disney film tells the story of Mowgli, an Indian boy raised by wolves who's suddenly thrown back into the world of humans. Along the way, he befriends a crazy orangutan and a lovable bear with a happy-go-lucky philosophy of life. Together, the three buddies find the journey back to civilization anything but civilized! A musical celebration of friendship, fun and adventure featuring the Oscar-nominated song "The Bare Necessities." La Bamba (PG-13): The life of rock and roll legend Richie Valens bursts across the screen in this celebrated, music-filled movie with star-making performances by Lou Diamond Phillips as Richie and Esai Morales as his half-brother, Bob. La Bamba depicts the 17-year-od Mexican-American's rocket rise to fame, from field laborer to rock star with a string of hit singles and a date with destiny. Life is to Whistle (NR): In the tradition of great Cuban films comes this exuberant valentine to Cuba and its people. A magical blend of intriguing visuals and powerful music, Life is to Whistle is a charming life-affirming film about the ever-present search for happiness. Like Water for Chocolate (R): Tita and Pedro are passionately in love. But their love is forbidden by an ancient family tradition. To be near Tita, Pedro marries her sister. And Tita, as the family cook, expresses her passion for Pedro through preparing delectable dishes. Now, in Tita's kitchen, ordinary spices become a recipe for passion. Her creations bring on tears of longing, heated desire or chronic pain - while Tita and Pedro wait for the moment to fulfill their most hidden pleasures! Living it Up (R): Sexy Lola (Salma Hayek) is a waitress down on her luck until she meets handsome, charming Martín, who happens to be a big-spending millionaire ... or is he? While the two indulge in a storybook romance complete with extravagant dinners, hundreds of roses and a champagne-filled swimming pool, the clock is ticking on Martín's million-dollar debt to the mob. And just as Martín realizes his deep love for Lola, she reveals a dark secret of her own. The final question is will this spicy fairy tale have a happy ending? Midaq Alley (NR): Adapted from the novel by Nobel Prize winner Naguib Mahfouz, Midaq Alley is set in the old downtown section of Mexico City. The events that take place have been divided into the stories of three neighbors whose lives are intertwined. One of Salma Hayek's earlier films. Winner of 49 International Awards. Monsters, Inc. (G): Sulley, the biggest frightener, and Mike, his enthusiastic assistant, work in Monsters, Inc., the biggest scream factory in Monstropolis. The main source of power for monsters in the world is screams collected from human children. The monsters believe that kids are toxic and dangerous, so it gives them a real fright when they see Boo, a little girl, wandering through their world. Sulley and Mike do all they can to return the girl home, but along the way they must confront intrigues and hilarious misadventures. Open Your Eyes (R): In this steamy, intriguingly complex psychological thriller, the line between reality and fantasy is hopelessly blurred. César tries to make sense of his life after a car crash leaves his once-handsome face grotesquely disfigured. After he is placed into a psychiatric penitentiary for a murder he doesn't remember committing, César's only hope is to delve into the depths of his subconscious mind where the answer to ending his living nightmare lies in his dreams. La Pasion Segun Berenice (NR): Berenice, a brooding young widow scarred by the fire that mysteriously took her husband's life, becomes the caretaker of her ailing godmother. There she falls for her godmother's handsome young doctor, who awakens her passion and fantasies. In this dark, Hitchcockian drama, Jaime Humberto Hermosillo masterfully weaves a subplot of passion and intrigue, likening Berenice to a black widow spider. The Perez Family (R): Free-spirited Dotty Perez (Marisa Tomei) is leaving Cuba for America, her head filled with dreams of movies, mascara and dates with John Wayne. Strait-laced Juan Perez is headed for a reunion with Carmela, the wife he hasn't seen in 20 years. But when an overworked immigration officer mistakes Dottie and Juan for husband and wife, the stage is set for a merry marital mix-up - and some very unpredictable romances - in what Time calls "a juicy, exotic and utterly delicious treat." Ratas, Ratones Rateros (NR): The world of Salvador, a young naive petty thief, is about to be shaken with the arrival of his cousin Angel, an ex-convict in search of easy money and a hideout. Salvador gets wrapped in his cousin's twisted dealings in an attempt to escape from his suffocating family environment in a poverty-stricken Ecuador. Dragging along his family and friends, Salvador ends up destroying the few things that made sense in his life. Santitos (R): After Esperanza Diaz, a beautiful widow, loses her 12-year-old daughter, Blanca, to a rare virus following a tonsillectomy, she searches her faith for an explanation. When St. Jude appears in the smudged window of Esperanza's oven and tells her that Blanca is still alive, the woman is convinced that her daughter was kidnapped from the hospital and sold as a sex slave. Becoming a prostitute herself, Esperanza sets out to find Blanca in Tijuana, and eventually Los Angeles, where she unexpectedly discovers true love in this uplifting film about faith and undying family love that is as touching as it is hilarious. Selena (PG): Selena is the vibrant story of the Grammy-winning singer whose life ended at is creative peak. Pulsating with Selena's voice on the soundtrack, the film is powerfully authentic. In the title role, Jennifer Lopez captures the warmth and electricity of a beloved entertainer. Shrek (PG): You've never met a hero quite like Shrek, the endearing ogre who sparked a motion picture phenomenon and captured the world's imagination with ... the Greatest Fairy Tale Never Told! The Song of Bernadette (PG): Bernadette Soubirous is a sickly 14-year-old girl who sees a vision of a "beautiful lady," and never suffers from her illness again. Moreover, a fountain suddenly materializes near her vision that seems to heal visitors who bathe in it. Unspoiled by her apparent gift, Bernadette nonetheless suffers the prejudices of those around her in this extraordinary, inspiring film that also stars Vincent Price, Charles Bickford and Lee J. Cobb. Winner 4 Academy Awards, 1943. Strawberry & Chocolate (R): Meet David -- a naive young college kid who's out on his own for the very first time. With the help of two extraordinary new friends, David soon learns everything there is to know about the things that aren't taught in school. Nominated for the Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film in 1994. Talk to Her (R): Two men (Benigno and Marco) almost meet while watching a dance performance, but their lives are irrevocably entwined by fate. They meet later at a private clinic where Benigno is the caregiver for Alicia, a beautiful dance student who lies in a coma. Marco is there to visit his girlfriend Lydia, a famous matador also rendered motionless. As the men wage vigil over the women they love, the story unfolds in flashback and flashforward as the lives of the four are further entwined and their relationships move toward a surprising conclusion. Todo el Podor (R): When his ex-wife's car is stolen, Mexico City filmmaker Gabriel decides to grab his camera and hunt down the thieves. Enlisting the help of a sexy young actress, he discovers an organized band of robbers operating from within the local police department! And when he gets too close to the truth, it's a tense game of cat-and-mouse to see who will prevail in this entertaining, spine-tingling drama. Toy Story (G): When a resplendent new "space ranger" named Buzz Lightyear arrives in the world of a puppet named Woody, a comic rivalry arises between the two toys. The most important place that Woody occupies is in the heart of his owner, and it is at risk! Thrown out accidentally, Woody and Buzz fall in the hands of an evil neighbor, forcing the two rivals to work together to escape. With the help of Rex, the dinosaur, the green army men and Mr. Potato Head, Woody and Buzz make friends and live through an incredible journey home! Toy Story 2 (G): While Andy is on vacation at summer camp, Woody is kidnapped by Al, an ambitious collector. Before we can say "To infinity and beyond," Buzz Lightyear, Mr. Potato Head, Jam, Rex and Slinky spring into action in an emotional and amusing rescue that delights everybody! Warriors (NR): This action-packed film about a young group of soldiers features stunning cinematography, a hot soundtrack and captivating performances. A Spanish sent to Kosovo in 2000 to help restore the war-torn country's infrastructure finds himself unexpectedly drawn in to combat. Private Soldado Vidal is repeatedly told by his superiors to just "do his job" and ignore the continuing atrocities he sometimes sees around him. Unable to override his conscience, though, Vidal involves himself - and the entire platoon - in well-intentioned missions. To make matters worse, the soldiers discover that they must still fight for their lives at nearly every turn in this gripping, heart-pounding film. Without a Trace (NR): Hoping to outrun a serial killer who's attacking people at the factory in which she works, Aurelia, a young mother of two, steals some cash from her drug-dealing boyfriend and heads south. She comes across Marilu, who's beautiful, well-educated, and a master at selling fake Mayan art to gullible Americans. Although the two women initially blend like oil and water, they realize their common purpose in seeking a better life. Embarking on a road trip to Cancún, they have one adventure after another, exploring a side of their country they've never seen, dodging dangerous pursuers, and learning much about themselves along the way. Y Tu Mamá También (NR): Julio and Tenoch are two teens ruled by raging hormones and a mission to consume exotic substances. But one summer, the boys learn more about life than they bargain for when they set off on a wild cross-country trip with seductive 28-year-old Luisa. Both boys taste forbidden fruit as Luisa schools them in the finer points of passion, but will their mutual desire for her destroy their friendship forever? | 
