At MFAH in April
Get ready to catch the Latin Wave: Film festival offers something for everypersonality type
Houston's yearly south-of-the-border cinema bacchanal returns April 26 to 29with films in diverse genres, from narrative to documentary to animation.
Think: If you were to dig a hole right through the center of the earth, whatwould you find? ¡Vivan las Antípodas! answers that question.
For most families, the arrival of a newborn is a most joyous occasion. For9-year-old Cayetana in Las malas intenciones, a little girl growing up in aburgeoning Peruvian suburb, the birth means her death, maybe.
In Gordo, calvo y bajito, Antonio grew up thinking that fat, bold and short menlike himself never get ahead in life. That's until he meets his new boss.
A Latin Wave of sizzling films is coming Houston's way.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's yearly south-of-the-border cinema bacchanal returns April 26 to 29 with films in diverse genres, from narrative to documentary to animation, hailing from artists representing Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru — this reporter's home town.
Remember last year's saucy, late night dance rave? That's not in the books for the Seventh Annual Latin Wave screening binge. Sure, the high-decibel fete will be missed, but that shouldn't deter anyone from basking in four days of motion picture action.
Festival director Monika Wagenberg curates a lineup with strong emphasis on operas primas — Spanish for a filmmakers's first opus — with most films making their Houston premiere.
Festival director Monika Wagenberg curates a lineup with strong emphasis on operas primas — Spanish for a filmmakers's first opus — with most films making their Houston premiere.
"These films take us into the intimacies and intricacies of bourgeois life in Peru, university politics in Argentina, a forgotten town in Brazil and the social milieus of Colombia," Wagenberg said in a statement.
Though some film lovers will attempt to catch all eight films in four days, with each film showing twice, CultureMap has broken down each feature by personality types for others that just prefer a lighter sprinkle of movie magic, so mark your calendar.
For the romantic at heart: Las acacias from Argentina
When an unkempt, rough-around-the-edges truck driver on a long route from Paraguay to Buenos Aires agrees to give young Jacinta a ride, he didn't count on taking her baby on board as well. Through the 1,000-mile journey, they become close. Without spoiling the end, the road trip love story has quite a satisfying ending.
April 26 at 5 p.m. and April 28 at 1 p.m.
For the kind and conscientious: Gordo, calvo y bajito from Colombia
Antonio grew up thinking that fat, bold and short men like himself never get ahead in life. That's until he meets his new boss, who teaches Antonio that physical appearances do not have to get in the way of success. For those familiar with Richard Linklater's Waking Life and Through a Scanner Darkly, filmmaker Carlos Osuna uses the same rotoscope animation. Osuna will be in attendance.
April 26 at 7 p.m. and April 29 at 3 p.m.
For the serious poet: Found Memories (Historias que so existem quando lembradas) from Brazil
Julia Murat's fictional narrative began with her discovery that a local cemetery in the southwest province of Mato Grosso, Brazil, had closed. She then creates an imaginary village where an elderly woman is trapped in the memories of her past, only to be unlocked by an unlikely friendship that develops with Rita, a younger photographer.
April 26 at 9 p.m. and April 29 at 9 p.m.
For the thrill seaker: Mis Bala from Mexico
Remember Miss Congeniality? This is nothing like it. Though Mis Bala is set amid a beauty pageant, the protagonist finds herself trapped between the violent activities of a Mexican gang and her desire to wear the top tiara.
April 27 at 5 p.m. and April 28 at 9 p.m.
For the closeted activist: El Estudiate (The Student) from Argentina
Not to be confused with the Robert Girault movie of the same title, Argentinean Santiago Mitre's much darker setting made quite a splash at the 2012 Buenos Aires Independent Film Festival. El Estudiante unfolds after a young man moves from a small provincial town to the capital city in his quest for higher education. When an assistant teacher introduces him to the activities of a political group, he finds his calling along with strong sexual urges and greed for fame.
April 27 at 7 p.m. and April 28 at 5 p.m.
For the dark and mysterious type: Las malas intenciones from Peru
For most families, the arrival of a newborn is a most joyous occasion. For 9-year-old Cayetana, a little girl growing up in a burgeoning Peruvian suburb, the birth means her death, maybe. Katerina D'Onofrio plays Ines, the pregnant mother. She will be in attendance.
April 27 at 9:30 p.m. and April 29 at 7 p.m.
For the curious, trendy and creative: ¡Vivan las Antípodas! from Argentina and Chile
Think: If you were to dig a hole right through the center of the earth, what would you find? Victor Kossakovsky answers this question by comparing people and life in Shanghai, China; Entre Rios, Argentina; the Chilean Patagonia; Lake Baikal, Russia; Big Island, Hawaii; Kubu, Botswana; Miraflores, Spain; and Castle Point, New Zealand.
April 28 at 3 p.m. and April 29 at 5 p.m.
For the desperate lover: Bonsái from Chile
Julio will do just about anything for love. In fact, he lies about his writing work to his neighbor, Blanca, in hopes of keeping her interested in their sultry affair. Chilean director Cristián Jiménez spoils the ending, but it's the journey that some critics have hailed as "honest" and "skillful."
April 28 at 7 p.m. and April 29 at 1 p.m.
Tickets for each screening are $7 for adults, $6 for MFAH members and seniors and $5 for Film Buff members.
