Your Mexican Cinema Lockdown Recommendations
By David Martinez – Raindance Film Festival
When you are a film lover, the bright side of this lockdown is that you can finally watch all those films and series you were not able to watch before. But after 3 months of lockdown you may now be wondering: Y ahora que veo?
It is not easy to navigate through all the content that is now available online…but worry not! There are some Mexican gems you can discover on various platforms available in the UK.
Those that have been to the Raindance Film Festival already know our hand-picked selection of Mexican films every year. Now we want to help you pick your next Mexican movie to watch while stuck at home.
Museo
Dir by Alonso Ruiz Palacios
Available for free on Morelia Film Festival Website
Until May 31
Starring Gael Garcia Bernal, the film depicts the most spectacular crime is Mexican cultural history: 160 pieces stolen from the National Museum of Anthropology. This film is only available until May 31…so put this first on your list! Trailer
Mr. Pig.
Dir by Diego Luna
Available on Netflix
Road-trip film directed by Diego Luna that will transport you back to the winding roads of Mexico. Starring Danny Glover and Maya Rudolph, the film is about a father/daughter relationship forced to live a joint adventure to sell their trophy pig (yes pig) in Mexico. Trailer
I Am no Longer Here (Ya no estoy Aquí)
Dir by Fernando Frías
Available on Netflix
Raindance alumni Fernando Frias brings us this urban drama about Ulises, a boy who is forced to go on an adventure to the US after a misunderstanding with a local cartel. However, the american dream is not always the answer to what you need. Trailer
Me and the Alien (El Alien y Yo)
Dr by Jesus Magaña
Available on Netflix
There’s got to be an uplifting and happy ending. This family film narrates the story of a punk band that isn’t very successful, so in order to renew their sound, they accept a talented keyboard player who has Down´s syndrome, known as “The Alien”. Winner of Best International Film at Raindance with a great message about inclusion and friendship. Trailer
The Incident (El Incidente)
Dir by Isaac Ezban
Available on Netflix
How would you feel like living an infinite deja vu day after day. Oh, wait a minute, sounds familiar? Part of Raindance Official Selection in 2017, The Incident is a treat for those sci-fi thriller lovers. The whole film feels like a great episode of the Twilight Zone. Trailer
Ayotzinapa: El Paso de la Tortuga
Available on Netflix
Produced by Guillermo del Toro, this celebrated documentary depicts a very dark episode in Mexican history: the 43 disappeared students. This documentary seeks to give justice and a voice to the victims and their families. Trailer
Siblings (Hermanos)
Dir by Laura Plancarte
Available on Amazon Prime
London-based filmmaker and visual artist Laura Plancarte traveled to the U.S. and to Mexico to document (for two years) what the American dream really meant in a post-Trump era. The film takes us to an emotional journey of acceptance and understanding from both sides. Trailer
The Chosen Ones (Las Elegidas)
Dir by David Pablos
Available on Netflix
Winner of the Un Certain Regard in Cannes 2016, this film depicts teen sex trafficking in Mexico in a despairing, immaculately composed film. Not a family film but a real gem of contemporary Mexican cinema. Trailer
Hasta los Dientes (Documentary)
Documental del CCC
Available on Netflix
Premiered in FICG in 2019, the documentary takes us to 2010 on the case where two outstanding students from Tec de Monterrey were framed as criminals and killed by the Mexican army. Trailer
Beauties of the Night (Bellas de Noche)
Dir by Maria Jose Cuevas
Available on Netflix
Now this is a nostalgic treat, the documentary portraits a group of famous vedettes who started out in Mexico’s burlesque culture scene in the 70s. The film explores the current lives of five of the top vedettes of the golden years: Olga Breeskin, Lyn May, Rossy Mendoza, Wanda Seux and Princesa Yamal. Trailer
AND COCO! On Disney+ treat yourselves
About David Martinez
Festival Producer at London’s Raindance Film Festival and promoter of Mexican and Latin Cinema in the United Kingdom. International advisor on Mexican cinema for various festivals and events.
Communications graduate at the National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM. After his approach in film studies at the University of California in Santa Barbara he accomplished his Master in Arts in Film Studies at the University of Leicester.