FILM VIEWING ACTIVITY

Spanish Language Films: Fall 2003

The films from which the Fall 2003 MCC Spanish students can choose to watch are the following. Should you have any questions, see your professor. It is suggested that you read these or online commentaries before choosing your film. As in all countries, viewers differ as to their tastes, moral standards, and preferences. Sources might list the films in Spanish or English. Use both in finding copies to view.

1. Buena Vista Social Club (1999) (from Germany, USA, UK, France, Cuba) 101 minutes. Unrated, but for all audiences. This film documents the aging greats of Cuban music, who tell their stories directly to the camera as they wander the streets and neighborhoods of Havana, and the music heard in performance scenes in the studio, in their first concert in Amsterdam, and in their second and final concert at Carnegie Hall. Note: This film is rich in footage of Cuban architecture and music, but the interviews are not easily understood Spanish.

2. La historia oficial (The Official Story) (1985) 112 minutes. MPAA Rating: Not rated. Alicia Marnet de Ibáñez is a high school history professor and a well-to-do housewife in Buenos Aires, circa 1983, after the fall of the "junta militar" that had taken over the government since 1976. She has a husband, Roberto, who is a successful lawyer and a five-year-old adopted daughter. They are forced to come to grips with the secrets of recent history.

3. Como agua para chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate) (1992) (from Mexico) 123 minutes. Rated R for brief nudity and sexual scenes. A compelling drama about the complexities of family relationships, love, and their conflicts within the traditions of rural aristocratic living in Mexico at the time of the Revolution.

4. La lengua de la mariposa (Butterfly) (2000) (from Spain) Rated R for a strong sex scene. 96 minutes. For Moncho, it's an idyllic year: he starts school, he has a wonderful teacher, he makes a friend in Roque, he begins to figure out some of the mysteries of Eros, and, with his older brother, a budding saxophone player, he makes a trip with the band from their town in Galicia. But it's also the year that the Spanish Republic comes under fire from Fascist rebels.

5. Hable con ella (Talk to Her) (2002) (from Spain) Rated R for nudity, sexual content and some language. 112 minutes. A Pedro Almodóvar film about two men who share an odd friendship while they care for their girlfriends who are both in deep comas.

These films are well known and can be found in the MCC Leroy Goode Library on reserve for 24 hours check out. In addition these films are found in many video rental stores. Whether your local video store carries them will depend upon the breadth of their foreign film selection. There are large foreign film selections at the Blockbusters on Jefferson and East Henrietta, Goodman and Monroe near Park Ave, and Monroe Avenue in Pittsford. In addition, the Monroe County Library System carries foreign films that may not be available through your local branch but can be requested online to be sent to your branch: http://mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us/

They can be purchased through amazon.com Barnes and Noble online, etc.

In addition, there will be a film shown in Spanish at the MCC Foreign Film Fest this semester. This film also is acceptable for the film viewing requirement.