Cristian Gonzalez
An element that has been necessary to create the best Hispanic American films in the past is to understand that Hispanics or Latinos don’t fit in the same bag, and therefore, each story varies according to where it takes place, the origins of its protagonists and how culturally they will all react to certain situations, but somehow they have in common the fact of being far from their lands in search of the “American dream”.
Something that has happened when talking about Hispanic Americans is to generalize the concept to the term “Latinos”, perhaps because in the eyes of many, speaking Spanish simply makes us people who come from far away or because it is a shorter word.
However, speaking of Hispanic Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, something unquestionable and indisputable is the impact that our growing population in the North American continent has had, impregnating in some way the Hispanic culture within the Anglo-Saxon country.
Best Hispanic American Films in History to See During Hispanic Heritage Month
JefeBet brings you a list of Hispanic American movies that tell the story of the Hispanic community in the United States, ranging from tragedies to illusions worthy of the great American dream:
Selena
We believe that this list of Hispanic American films could not begin without this one. Based on true events, specifically on the life of Hispanic singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, who was and still is a music phenomenon, emerging from the town of Texas, becoming the most representative “Chicana” singer of all time. This film tells us from the beginning of her career at the age of 10, discovered by her father, until her tragic death at the age of 23.
The Mambo Kings
This film tells a story based on true events, of brothers César and Néstor Castillo, two Cubans who arrive in New York to try to make it in music.
The two are very different because while César is a womanizer and party animal, Néstor is much more shy and nostalgic, he is also the trumpet player and composer of the songs they play. But their whole story takes a tense turn, as they clash with the local gangster culture because of Cesar’s behaviors.
Spanglish
Here we have the story of Flor (played by Paz Vega), a Mexican woman who emigrates to the United States in search of the American dream in order to improve her daughter’s life. Once there, she manages to get a job in the home of a fairly well-to-do family, the Claskys (played by Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni).
But Flor begins to feel the shock of change as she doesn’t have a clue about English. However, this film is a rather tender comedy that tells the story of the first culture shock that language brings.
Sugar
This is a fictional story produced by HBO in which many of the real factors of Spanish-speaking athletes in the United States are captured. All this is narrated from the life of a Dominican baseball player, who throughout the plot must face in the best way the sometimes really difficult cultural crossings.
La Bamba
Based on the real life of Mexican-American Ricardo Valenzuela, known worldwide as Ritchie Valens, the legendary rocker of the 1950s who had an ascending career in the music world as a singer, guitarist and rock composer.
This artist went from earning his living in the fields, where he worked with his mother, to becoming a Rock and Roll star, until his tragic death in a plane crash at the age of 17.
Real Women Have Curves
This film tells the story of a young and mature Mexican woman in a sewing workshop in Los Angeles, USA, confronting the stereotypes of beauty and going beyond them, and leading the plot towards the path of independence, security and feminine power, through the right strokes of humor and in a sympathetic way.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
The importance of this Spider-Man movie within the Marvel Universe is due to the fact that the protagonist of this animated movie is a New York teenager, Miles Morales, has a father of African descent and a Puerto Rican mother, portraying the important Hispanic influence within the United States.
In this movie, 4 alternate versions of Spider will appear and seek to return to their universe before all of the reality collapses.
The Infiltrators
This film tells the story of Claudio Rojas, who is detained by a group of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers while he was outside his home in Florida, all without warning.
Once arrested, Claudio is sent to a detention center where prisoners who are to be deported are sent and his family is terrified that they may never see him again, but a group of activists enter the plot to investigate these suspicious detentions of undocumented people.
Paraíso Travel
This film tells the story of a Colombian engaged couple who travel illegally to the United States to pursue the American dream. However, the opinions of both are divided, Reina thinks that this dream is real, while Marlon believes that this will bring nothing but misfortune to their lives.
Upon arriving in the Big Apple, they have an argument and their paths diverge. We can see in the development of the plot how Marlon represents the hardships that many illegal immigrants experience within the United States.
Don’t Let Me Drown
In the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy, two Brooklyn teenagers meet just one month after the event. Lalo is a young Mexican-American who finds love in Stefanie.
Stefanie’s family suffered a family loss on the day of the tragedy, while Lalo’s father was the janitor at the World Trade Center and after the bombing, he was involved in helping with all the clean-up efforts at Ground Zero.
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