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I don't know why the authors of PoliLingua act as if Trump's verbal misogyny and racism wasn't very much part of his "original intent".

Okay here’s a brief summary of some interesting movies I’ve seen, hopefully you guys can find something you like and practice your Spanish:  

Amores Perros (2000). dir. Iñárritu. This one isn’t optional, if you haven’t seen it, you MUST. Seriously this is one of my favorite movies of all time, saying that it’s about relationships in Mexico City doesn’t even BEGIN to cover it. The cinematography, the music, the plot, the acting–everything is fantastic.

¡Átame! (1989). dir. Almodóvar. This is…an interesting (infuriating?) film. Basic plot: Guy gets out of a psychiatric institution, becomes obsessed with a woman, kidnaps her, Stockholm Syndrome. I think it’s supposed to be edgy with its sort of BDSM-esque aesthetic, and in 1989 Spain (Franco died in 1975) it definitely was. The ending of this film would make for some interesting classroom debates, that’s for sure. 

Babel (2006). dir. Iñárritu. Another wonderful film by Iñárritu (my fave), this isn’t completely in Spanish but definitely deals with some Hispanic themes, namely Mexican/American, and also deals with much broader international themes–the film follows three different story lines, similar to Amores Perros, except all are in different countries instead of in the same city–yet they are all still connected. Really interesting and visually gorgeous film.   

Bajo la misma luna (2004). dir. Riggen. This is… a sweet, feel-good film about an incredibly (unbelievably?) intelligent and motivated young boy who crosses the Mexican-American border looking for his mother.  

Biutiful (2010). dir. Iñárritu. This film is also incredibly gorgeous (have I said I love Iñárritu yet?)–very sad film but super interesting, takes place in Spain, highly recommended. 

Como Agua para Chocolate (1992). dir. Arau. This fits in with the “magical realism” genre, if that’s your thing. It’s a Mexican film based on a book by Laura Esquivel, and a love story, very dramatic. 

Crónica de una fuga (2004). dir. Caetano. This is a really interesting film based on a true story about “the disappeared” youth in Argentina. 

Cronos (1993). dir. Guillermo del Toro. This is a vampire movie, very del Toro in style, if you like his work and fantasy/horror stuff you might like this. 

Cuatro Lunas (2014). dir. Velarde. WELL I watched this movie just because it was gay but it actually had kind of a surprisingly cute plot line (exploring 4 different phases ‘moons’ of the life of different gay men) so if you want a gay movie, I recommend it, it’s on Netflix.  

Danzón (1991). dir. Novaro. Good movie from a female director (!) that explores some themes of gender, I remember having interesting conversations in class about the gendered “gaze” of the camera, and it’s a fun dancing/music related film theme-wise.  

El ángel exterminador (1962). dir. Buñuel. Okay this movie is definitely an “art film” and may be difficult to understand on the first watch, but it’s actually great. Black and white, some really interesting camera shots, explores themes of the helplessness of bourgeois society, if you like film history or technique, give this a shot. 

El laberinto del fauno (2006). dir. Guillermo del Toro. Everyone loves this movie, and if you haven’t seen it, you should. It’s dark fantasy mixed with Spanish history. 

El lugar sin límites (1978). dir. Ripstein. This is based on the novel by Donoso, it’s basically about a transgender* [*this may not be the best term–the term I would use is ‘travesti’ which is closer to ‘transvestite’ but this is one of those cases where because of the differences in culture/language it’s hard to translate exactly] woman and the dynamic between the travesti community and ‘macho’ gay men, and is the origin of an archetypal character [’La Manuela’]. If you’re interested in LGBTQ+ themes/history, this is an interesting watch.     

Evita (1996). dir. Parker. This is a musical about Evita, Antoni Banderas is in it (idk why but this is hilarious to me he’s so Spanish?)–if you like musicals or are interested in Argentinian history, it’s not a bad film (though I don’t think this should be your only source to learn about the Perón family).  

El secreto de sus ojos (2009). dir. Campanella. The ending of this movie is so amazing. There is a fairly graphic rape scene so be aware of that. It’s basically a detective film from Argentina, with all of the local accents and slang (which for me at least is fun).   

El último verano de la Boyita (2009). dir. Solomonoff. Okay, I watched this movie because it’s the only movie I’ve ever seen or heard of about an intersex child, and it was actually quite good.  

Il Postino (1994). dir. Radford. This film takes place in Italy but I’m including it because it’s basically about Pablo Neruda, so if you want to watch a film about the poet, this is your film. 

La batalla de Chile: El poder popular (1979). dir. Guzmán. This film comes in three parts, and it’s a documentary about Chile surrounding the rise and fall of Allende and life under Pinochet. Quite good if you like history.  

La hora de los hornos (1968). dir. Getino & Solanas. Also a documentary, about Argentina. Very good, deals with a lot of historical issues. 

La Lengua de Mariposas (1999). dir. Cuerda. I LOVE this movie, it’s so sweet, it’s basically about a little boy and his relationship with his teacher with the Spanish civil war looming in the background. Watch this.  

La ley del deseo (1987). dir. Almodóvar. This is actually my favorite Almodóvar film, maybe it’s because Antonio Banderas is very young and gay in it, but in terms of the cinematography it’s also got some quite pretty shots. 

La Zona (2007). dir. Plá. This is about violent crime and…basically about class differences in Mexico and the family issues that can cause. 

Little Ashes (2008). dir. Morrison. This film is mostly NOT in Spanish, but I thought I’d include it because it is about Lorca and deals with very Spanish themes, and hilariously also has Robert Pattinson playing Salvador Dalí. Really.  

Los olvidados (1950). dir. Buñuel. This is about juvenile delinquents in Mexico City, basically, and deals with issues of class and is known for its surrealism (kind of an interesting thing for a film of that era). 

Machuca (2004). dir. Wood. This is a film about class tensions during the 1973 coup in Chile, as seen from the perspective of two young boys. A very watchable movie on the topic. 

Mar Adentro (2004). dir. Amenábar. This is about the legal question surrounding euthanasia, very touching, interesting film. Javier Bardem is in it and is great as usual.    

Maria Llena de Gracia (2004). dir. Marshton. This is about drug smuggling and shows the grim reality of that life and why some women might chose to become ‘mulas.’ Hard to watch but very good. 

Memorias del subdesarrollo (1968). dir. Alea. I hated the attitude protagonist of this movie but the actual film was so interesting, it’s about Cuba during the era where Soviet/US conflict was high and visually is a very gorgeous movie. 

Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (1988) dir. Almodóvar. This is probably one of Almodóvar’s most famous films and deals with the relationships between women, and was pretty interesting because when we watched this in class half the class thought this was a very feminist movie and half the class thought it was very sexist, so… decide for yourself, I guess.  

Nostalgia de la luz (2010.) dir. Guzmán. This is a gorgeous movie about astronomy and the “disappeared” in Chile (and yes, they are related, sort of), it’s sort of a documentary but doesn’t feel like a documentary. Highly recommended for anyone interested in history.    

Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón (1980). dir. Almodóvar. This Almodóvar film is probably the one that most explicitly explores the sexual revolution during la movida madrileña. 

Sin dejar huella (2000). dir. Novaro. This is a roadtrip movie, featuring two women who explore Mexico. Definitely explores the variety of cultural and geographical landscape in Mexico.  

También la Lluvia (2010). dir. Bollaín. Watch this. Gael is great in this movie (as always) and it’s very compelling plotwise. Essentially, this movie uses a Spanish film company making a movie about Columbus/Bartolome de las Casas/etc. during the Cochabamba protests in Bolivia to make a statement about neoimperalism/neocolonialism.  

¡Qué viva México! (1979). dir. Eisentein. This was a film project began in the ‘30s and then later abandoned because of funding issues, but watching the surviving footage is super neat for anyone interested in the history of Mexico.  

Soldados de Salamina (2003). dir. Trueba. This film is about a frustrated writer (ahhh, #relatable) investigating the Spanish Civil War. I liked this movie for having an (ambiguously) bisexual main character, and for how it weaved storylines from two different time periods together.   

Todo sobre mi madre (1999). dir. Almodóvar. This is about a grieving mother and her attempt to come to terms with some tough issues, mainly what happens when a parent is transsexual. 

Un Mundo Maravilloso (2006). dir. Estrada. I actually hated this film because it felt like it was beating me over the head with a hammer (having the leader of what was essentially the World Bank cackle and say “let’s kill poor people” is not v. subtle) but I wanted to mention Estrada because he’s made a number of films dealing with Mexico that I haven’t seen, and if Mexico interests you especially I would check out some of his other films or even give this one a try (the ending is kind of interesting).  

Violeta se fue a los cielos (2011). dir. Wood. Watch this. I loved this film, it’s about one of the leaders of the “nueva canción” movement in Chile, which is like folk song revival, but it’s a dramatization of her life (not a documentary). It features some great music and the heroine is just… a fascinating human being. 

Volver (2006). dir. Almodóvar. Another Almodóvar film, not my favorite by him but if you like his style I’d recommend it. Basically about a mother-daughter team building a much more awesome life after…an incident. 

Y tu mamá también (2001). dir. Cuarón. This is…a very sexy roadtrip/coming-of-age movie that takes place in Mexico. Fair warning, this film is pretty explicit, and I think became well-known just for that. It has some interesting themes though, particularly regarding male sexuality and where the line is (culturally) for what is/isn’t appropriate between male friends or what is/isn’t considered “homosexual.” 

42. Mala Educación (2004). dir. Almodóvar. This is an Almodóvar film that features Gael García Bernal in drag. The main topic is sexual abuse under Franco-era religious schooling.  

43. Fresa y Chocolate (1993). dir. Alea. Okay, so I thought this was going to be essentially the same movie as El Beso de la Mujer Araña, but it’s so delightfully Cuban. Similar premise – young Communist develops a strange relationship with an older gay man – but it’s lovely if you are interested in Cuba, and it doesn’t end quite like I expected.     

44. Esteros (2016). dir. Curotto. This is about two childhood friends who encounter each other and re-connect in adulthood. It’s not a masterpiece, but if you like Argentina and want something gay (with no death) or have a thing for your platonic friend, it hits the spot.  

45. El Beso de la Mujer Araña (1985). dir. Babenco. Okay, the movie is inferior to Puig’s novel. But this is still a culturally important an layered story that is a lot more complex than most gay romances. If you like politics and unusual love stories, watch (or better, read) this.   

46.  El Espíritu de la Colmena (1973). dir. Erice. How could I forget this charming Spanish film about a little girl and her relationship to Frankenstein? This is a beautiful film if you love Spain–elegant, subtle, it feels like watching a memory. 

47. Tristana (1970). dir. Buñuel. I would really only recommend this film if you like Buñuel or have an interest in 1960s/70s Spain. Basically a young woman gets taken advantage of by her guardian. It’s melancholic and surrealist.  

48. Blancanieves (2013). dir. Berger. This is such a strange a beautiful movie. It’s made to look like an old silent film, and it’s basically the story of Snow White–except she is a Spanish bullfighter. 

49. Cría Cuervos (1976). dir. Saura. The music and the strange young protagonist in this movie are unforgettable. A young girl must navigate the death of her father and life with extended family. Its very much a reflection of Spain at that time, and one of very layered those movies you could easily write pages about. 

50. Peppermint Frappé (1967). dir. Saura. I found this movie very disturbing; everything is so idyllic and beautiful on the surface but it really reveals some messed up beauty standards of the time period, and, uh, Catholic repression.  

51. Azul y no tan rosa (2012). dir. Ferrari. This Venezuelan gem is wonderful and interesting because it’s perhaps the only gay movie I have ever seen that focuses on the relationship between a gay parent and a straight child. My only critique is that it is certainly a movie that is trying to do many (perhaps too many) things at once, and the “message” is very much spelled out haha. There are also some very hard to watch (violent) scenes in this movie, just FYI. Still, I quite liked it - and we get to see a lot of topics covered in one film.  

52. Desde Allá (2015). dir. Vigas. This is the previous film’s sadder cousin. It explores issues of fatherlessness, age gaps in gay relationships, and poverty in Caracas. If you are interested in Venezuela, though, it’s not bad. 

53. El Libertador (2013). dir. Arvelo. This is a historical drama about Venezuela’s national hero, Simón Bolívar. It’s a very beautiful and moving movie about freedom, and fighting for justice.    

54. La Casa del fin de los Tiempos (2013). dir. Hidalgo. This is a scary Venezuelan movie about a haunted house and time traveling. I didn’t even finish it, I was so scared. If you like horror, you’ll like it.   

55. Sexo, Pudor, y Lágrimas (1999). dir. Serrano. This is, for some reason, a very high grossing and famous Mexican movie. To me, it was basically a lot of boring, heterosexual drama. Still, it had its funny moments. 

56. XXY (2007). dir. Puenzo. This is an amazing and very forward-thinking Argentinian movie about an intersex child, and how the best way to treat them (socially and medically) might be. I loved… how this movie is one of the few movies that incorporate a more trans-masculine perspective. 

57. Wakolda (2013). dir. Puenzo. This is an amazing true story of an Argentinian family and their relationship with a German doctor who was part of the “final solution” during the Holocaust. This film is so unsettling–the doctor is someone who saves lives and yet also kills others–and also a needed exposé of the strange Nazi community in Argentina post WW-II. 

58. Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados (2013). dir. Trueba. This is such a cute story of an English teacher in 1960s Spain who takes a road trip in the hopes of meeting John Lennon. Some unlikely companions join him. It’s a rare feel-good movie (in this list, anyway).  

60. Muerte en Buenos Aires (2014). dir. Meta.  This movie is a fun mix of Argentinian slang, great ‘80s music, detective/mystery vibes, and surprise ending. Honestly, I enjoyed this movie a lot, particularly the striking visual choices–like having a bunch of white horses running through Buenos Aires at night. 

61. Una mujer fantástica (2017). dir. Lelio.  Really proud of this movie - a Chilean film about a transgender woman - winning an Oscar in 2017. This film was an interesting break in the stereotypical “transgender” genre - the focus is not on physical transition, but on institutional and social barriers that pop up after the death of her partner (due to lack of civil protections).

62. No (2012). dir.  Larraín. While I have a hard time accepting the casting choice of Gael Garcia Bernal as a Chilean advertising guru, this is truly a fantastic movie. No explores the 1988 plebiscite as to whether or not to continue under Pinochet, but it also explores a very interesting (and relevant) political trend: the idea that political campaigns should be sold on icons and slogans, and not ideas. Instead of addressing the horrors that occurred under dictatorship, the No campaign decides to take notes from the advertising strategies of Coca-Cola, to immense success. 

63. 43 (2019). This short Netflix series explores the likely murder/coverup by the Mexican government of 43 students who disappeared on their way to commemorate the 1968 Tlatelolco killings. 

64. 1994 (2019). This Netflix documentary series explores the turbulent year of 1994 in Mexican history, with the signing of NAFTA, the beginning of the Zapatista movement, and the assassination of Luis Donaldo Colosio. 

65. Roma (2018). dir. Cuarón. This is a stunningly gorgeous film that absolutely deserved its Oscars. What I loved about Roma was its focus on the live-in housekeeper, the mixteco language, the fact that women drive this entire film. A must-see for anyone interested in Mexico. 

66. La dictadura perfecta (2014). dir. Estrada. While to me, this movie felt a bit like a metaphor that is a little too obvious and hard-hitting, it does represent a reality about Mexican politics. Essentially, it takes media monopoly, corruption, and presidential politics in Mexico with a healthy dose of very dark humor. 

67. Doña bárbara (1943). dir. de Fuentes. The main actress in this movie, María Félix, was an icon in Mexican cinema. This movie, while much older than most on this list, is interesting for a lot of reasons: firstly, you could easily teach this film in a gender studies class, as the doña in this movie breaks a lot of gender norms, is fiercely independent, and takes revenge on men who have hurt her in the past. Secondly, you get a glimpse of Mexico from 80 years ago - which, in itself, is an interesting starting point for more sociological study.

68. Frida (2002). dir. Taymor. Disappointingly, this movie is originally in English, and does have a very Hollywood-take-on-Mexico kind of feel to me. However, I’m including it because there are some enjoyable moments in this film, and if you’re interested in surrealism and Mexican art (and who isn’t..!), it could be worthwhile. Frida Kahlo certainly has an amazing personal story. 

69. Papita, maní, tostón (2013). dir. Hueck. This is a cute, easy to watch Venezuelan rom-com that is from a simpler time. Basically, a man and a woman who are fans of rival baseball teams fall in love - and a lot of awkwardness ensues. 

70. Relatos salvajes (2014). dir. Szifron. This is an absolutely wild, hilarious, bizarre Argentinian film that explores six short stories of people in distress - it’s truly filled with a lot of unforgettable moments. If you like black humor, or watching people absolutely lose it at their wedding, you’ll like this movie. 

71. La historia oficial (1985). dir. Puenzo. This is one of my all-time favorite Latin American movies - it takes place in an Argentina trying to both deny and come to terms with the atrocities of the ‘70s and the desaparecidos. This story follows a young history teacher and her “adopted” daughter - who both struggles with how to portray history in her classes, and the reality that her daughter may have been stolen from her parents and “re-homed” by the government - something that really happened in Argentina at that time. As she realizes her young daughter’s family may be searching for her, she is faced with some very difficult (and dangerous) decisions about what to do. Aesthetically, this film is beautifully shot and incredibly memorable. 

72. Diarios de motocicleta (2004). dir. Salles. This is a fun road-trip movie that also hides some very interesting historical tidbits, as it follows the young Che Guevara on a journey through South America, where he begins to develop a political consciousness. This is a wonderful movie to learn about South America, and really addresses the idea of a pan-American consciousness, a mestizo identity that transcends artificial national boundaries.                 

73. Tango feroz (1993). dir. Piñeyro. If you like rock nacional, or are interested in the origins of Hispanic rock, this is a great movie. It follows the life of Tanguito, one of the pioneers of Argentinian rock, under a violent and repressive regime.

74. Contracorriente (2009). dir. Fuentes-León. This is a Peruvian ghost story that takes place in a small, conservative fishing town. Essentially, a married man must deal with the death of his (male) lover, and process those emotions in secret. Something about this film - the ocean setting, or perhaps the fact that this village seems lost in time - strikes a chord.

75. En la gama de los grises (2015). dir. Marcone. This is a Chilean movie that addresses bisexuality - the protagonist does not so much discover that he is gay, as much as that sexuality is a spectrum (hence, the title). 

76. Who is Dayani Cristal? (2013). dir. Silver. This is a great but tragic documentary about the epidemic of people going missing in the Arizona desert while trying to cross the border. I was thrilled to see Gael pushing for this story to be told, and I think this is mandatory viewing for anyone interested in U.S.-Mexico relations. 

78. Pelo Malo (2013). dir. Mariana Rondón. This Venezuelan film was very difficult to watch. In essence, it’s about a young boy who thinks his curly/natural hair is “bad,” and wants to straighten it, but his mother becomes concerned that this is a sign her son is gay. The film shows the intersection of racism, homophobia, and poverty, and of course the backdrop is a country known for its focus on beauty and obsession with beauty pageants.      

79. Bajo la Sal (2008). dir. Mario Muñoz. This Mexican horror-mystery movie feels like it’s trying to tackle a lot of things at once: the disappearance, abuse, and murder of young women, which is a very real and current problem in Mexico that recently sparked a long string of protests earlier this year; but it also seems to deal with corruption, small-town life, and being an outcast. 

80. Vuelven (Tigers Are Not Afraid) (2017). dir. Issa López. This is another Mexican horror-mystery film that deals with issues related to disappearing women. What was unique about this film was that it follows a gang of young children trying to survive and take care of each other in an environment of poverty, gang/drug wars, and absent parental figures. The film uses a lot of magical realism that reminded me of Pan’s Labyrinth, and the use of children and magic made this movie interesting, different, and impactful (even if it was quite dark).

81. Los Fuertes (2020). dir. Omar Zúñiga. This is a cute gay Chilean film that tugged at my heartstrings. I don’t have any major TWs for this film; it’s melancholic at times but not majorly violent or sad, as gay films often are. In fact, it was really quite sweet, and I loved seeing shots of somewhere I used to live. The film follows a young gay couple in Southern Chile as they navigate their relationship and try to figure out the future. Reminded me of cute dates in Valdivia, made me very sentimental. 

82. Plan B (2009). dir. Marco Berger. Another queer film, this time in Argentina. I actually thought this movie was hilarious, because the premise was so crazy. This movie follows a guy who is upset that his girlfriend left him, and who decides to seduce his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend so that they will break up. Honestly, this is a great, fun movie to watch with queer friends.

83. Ya No Estoy Aquí (2019). dir. Fernando Frias. A Netflix movie! I watched this movie because Netflix recommended it to me, and while it was not life-changing, I did enjoy it. The movie is about a young boy obsessed with cumbia, and caught up in difficult circumstances immigrating from Mexico to the United States. Cumbia is a style of music I had a difficult time understanding for a long time, but it has grown on me as I’ve been exposed to it in different situations. Recommended if you like music. 

Okay! that’s all for now. When I get paid next I’m going to order some more films on my list and I’ll let you guys know how they are! In the meantime, check some of these out if you’re still quarantining like me.    

84. Madres Paralelas (2021), dir. Pedro Almodóvar. This felt like a classic Almodóvar film to me: strong but troubled female leads, surprising queerness, and issues around sex, fidelity, motherhood. Interestingly, the film works in a subplot about disappeared victims being exhumed from mass graves in Spain. However, to be honest I think this theme could have been better integrated. The connection between child and parent is clearly highlighted as a strong force - so strong that people are still searching for their relatives years after their forced disappearances - but visually there was not a lot connecting the two themes. 

85. El Silencio de los Otros (2018), dirs. Bahar & Carracedo. This film follows the Argentinian lawsuit trying to get justice for the families of victims of the disappeared under Franco. I would like to have seen more in-depth interviews comparing this process to, for example, what Garzón did with Pinochet. Most of this movie is interviews of the families, which are touching, albeit not always easy to watch.      

86. Retablo (2017), dir. Delgado. While I was delighted that one of my friends did theater in Peru with the lead actor in this movie, and that finally we have a movie shot entirely in Quechua with queer themes, this one was a difficult watch. Incredibly beautiful scenery, incredibly realistic, tragic, heartbreaking. A must-watch for anyone interested in queer Peru and/or Quechua, but major trigger warning here. 

87. Cesar Chavez (2014), dir. Luna. This is a dramatized version of Chavez’s life during the California grape strikes and nascent latino labor unions. Personally, this film felt very Hollywood to me. It could be appropriate for a younger audience, and I do wonder why the U.S. seems to gloss over Latin activists. However, I did not consider this a masterpiece by any means (sorry Diego). 

88. Luis Miguel: La Serie (2018-2021), dir. Beristáin. Is it cheating to include a series? I actually enjoyed this series more than I expected - at least the first two seasons. They really captured the 80s look and feel, and I was surprised at how invested I became in the subplot of his abusive father and disappeared mother. And the music, of course, is iconic.  

89. La Casa de las Flores (2018-2020), dir. Caro. More cheating. I felt immediately hooked by this series and this family’s crazy fresa Mexico City life. This has all the makings of a crazy telenovela, but since it’s produced by Netflix, it’s really well done. Lots of queer characters, but also just hilarious situations. 

90. El Crimen del Padre Amaro (2002), dir. Carrera. Gael is so young in this movie, it must have been shot directly after finishing Amores Perros. This film is about a forbidden love affair between a priest-in-training and a very pious girl. Honestly, some of the shots in this film are beautiful - particularly when the lead actress dons a shroud and poses as the Virgin Mary. I think it holds up well.  

91. Viva (2015), dir. Breathnach. I watched this ages ago and forgot to add it, because frankly, it is forgettable. This is a movie that explores drag culture in Havana and father-son relations. But, I would not put this anywhere near the top of good queer choices, unless maybe you just love drag. 

92. El Cuento de las Comadrejas (2019), dir. Campanella. No one has ever heard of this movie for some reason, but I thought it was hilarious. Basically… a bunch of old Argentinian retired people try to sabotage some real estate agents who want to sell their house. Hilarity ensues.  

93. El Baile de los 41 (2020), dir. Pablos. Okay, this movie got to me. This is a dramatization of a real political/social scandal in Mexico in 1901 where a (relatively large) group of politically and socially connected men were arrested for going to an underground gay “club,” to put it that way. This is a major/iconic story in Mexican history, and the film was well done. 

94. Los Carcamales (2020), dir. Ruiz. Three vigilante Chilean senior citizens try to fight crime. Need I say more. The humor might be a little local for a general audience, though. 

97. Amanece que no es poco (1989), dir. Cuerda. This film is so quotable and so Spanish. This is definitely an “advanced” film in the sense that it’s very humorous, but the humor may be difficult to understand linguistically and culturally for beginner and intermediate students. It’s very absurdist humor, and a cult classic in Spain.

98. Los santos inocentes (1984), dir. Camus. This film is super famous and based on the novel by Miguel Debiles. I found this film difficult to watch at times; it is a slow film, and deeply engaged with the issue of rural poverty and income inequality in Francoist Spain.

99. Ocho apellidos vascos (2014), dir. Martínez-Lázaro. This is the highest-grossing Spanish film in Spain of all time, which is … interesting. It’s a comedy about a love affair between a Basque woman and an Andalusian man. It’s not deep and at times it felt extremely ridiculous to me. I would not say it’s “good,” but it is popular and, I suppose, quite revealing about stereotypes and expectations in modern Spanish society.

100. Tesis (1996), dir. Aménabar. I thought this would be a university related film, but boy, was I wrong. Yes, this kept me on the edge of my seat and yes, it was disturbing. Only recommended for horror fans. However, I was pleasantly surprised by a very young Diego Luna appearance in this otherwise Spanish film.

101. Sex and Lucía (2001), dir. Medem. This was a strange film, and felt very “European” to me. It was, I think, largely forgettable; it wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t amazing.

102. Hable con ella (2002), dir. Almodóvar. This film won a lot of accolades, but I have to admit, I don’t understand why. It has the typical Almodóvar elements - this sort of interest in sexual problems and flawed characters - but I just found the main characters to be too heinous and difficult to sympathize with. Out of all the Almodóvar films, this is the only one I would really not recommend, unless you’re a hardcore Almodóvar lover.

103. My dearest señorita (2026), dir. González Molina. This is a remake of an older film (which I haven’t seen), but that said, I thought it was wonderfully done. This story follows an intersex person navigating their identity and figuring out what they want from life. The main character is sympathetic, and I found the side characters to be charming and realistic.

104. El conde (2023), dir. Larraín. Pinochet as a vampire? The metaphor is a little on-the-nose. However, if you can overlook that, I actually really enjoyed the cinematography of this movie. There’s a beautiful shot of a female vampire learning to “fly,” and that made the film for me. Its weakest point is that it hits you over the head with the point it’s trying to make, even including a moralizing voice-over at the end.

105. Yo, galgo (2018), dir. Lopez Portillo. This is a very well-made documentary about the treatment of greyhounds (galgos) in Spain. Parts of it were difficult to watch as an animal lover, but overall the film has a strong narration and message. I was surprised at the quality of filming on some of the shots, which included scenes of hunting.

Work hard, play hard