Hispanic Heritage Month officially kicks off on September 15 and concludes on October 15. In honor of the countless artistic contributions of Hispanics from across the Spanish-speaking diaspora, we’re highlighting a few films and television shows that put their many talents on full display. And though organized religion is on the decline in Latin America—as it is in many other places—a recent Pew Research poll suggested that about 69 percent of the population of Latin America identifies as Catholic. In these films and television shows, there’s a good chance you’ll encounter the spark of the Catholic imagination at play.
Under the Same Moon
A mother and her child. It’s quite possibly the deepest and most intense bond two humans can share. And the lengths that one will go to for the other throughout life are staggering and a testament to the sacredness of that bond. This fundamental human relationship is the center of Under the Same Moon, a 2007 film starring Kate del Castillo, Eugenio Derbez, and America Ferrera.
Del Castillo’s character, Rosario, makes the almost impossible decision to leave her young son, Carlitos, behind in Mexico with her aging mother so that she can go to the United States to make more money to send home. Rosario and Carlitos speak by phone every week, and she describes the new world around her in great detail. When Rosario’s mother dies, Carlitos’ aunt and uncle consider taking custody of him—mainly to get the money his mother is sending every week.
Paying coyotes with his mother’s money, Carlitos runs away to the United States in a desperate attempt to find Rosario. The unexpected help of Enrique (played by the usually comedic Eugenio Derbez) gets Carlitos closer to home, which this film shows not to be a place, but a state of mind, a profound and unbreakable connection with another.
Children of Men
This 2006 masterstroke by Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón—and adaptation of the novel by P.D. James—landed at #13 on a recent New York Times list of the best films of the 21st century so far. I might have placed it higher. Children of Men is set in an apocalyptic future where a child hasn’t been born in over 18 years and a totalitarian police state is brutally cracking down on refugee groups. As a socio-political warning and a philosophical meditation on the nature of what makes a healthy society, it’s also a white-knuckle thriller that builds in momentum from the first frame.
When a political resistance group discovers that a young, Black refugee named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) is pregnant, a spiritually broken man named Theo (Clive Owen) is tasked with getting her to a ship called the Tomorrow, crewed by a group working to reverse the global infertility crisis.
Speaking of the Catholic imagination, this film certainly leans into it. The Tomorrow is reminiscent of Noah’s Ark, while Kee—being an at-risk, non-White, pregnant teenager looking for a safe place to give birth as the hope of humanity rests squarely on her shoulders—might sound a tad familiar. Themes such as justice for refugees and displaced peoples, the dangers of othering, and the evils of racism help to shape the film’s ultimately moral message. —Daniel Imwalle
Much has been written about how Lucille Ball revolutionized television with her groundbreaking I Love Lucy—and it is well-earned. But less deference, historically, has been paid to her husband, costar, and collaborator, Desi Arnaz. As Lucy’s loving (albeit long-suffering) husband, Ricky, Arnaz was more than a match for his fame-famished wife. Always on point with his comedic delivery, he knew how to zig when she zagged.
Is this the greatest villain in television history? Certainly, in the last quarter century! Esposito’s stateside cartel kingpin Gustavo Fring, introduced in AMC’s Breaking Bad and then in its prequel, Better Call Saul, provided both shows with an irresistible blend of charm and real danger—all brimming beneath a benign surface.
For a generation, Sonia Manzano was our entry into Latin culture. Sesame Street, in fact, provided the Spanish language for the first time to many young ears. Manzano, among a diverse cast of luminaries, helped to elevate American educational programing to a family-friendly art with her work here. Part actor, part teacher, part beloved aunt, Manzano was a warm and relevant touchstone to millions of young viewers.
Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett | Modern Family
Called the Latina Lucille Ball for good reason! As Gloria, the second wife of Ed O’Neill’s Jay in ABC’s Modern Family, Vergara provided a (let’s be honest) lily-White show with much-needed comedic spice. But in retrospect, it was the Colombian’s effortless physical comedy that made her a standout among this talented ensemble cast.
Three-dimensional and deeply funny, Gloria is what keeps fans coming back to this familia.
The storied production journey of this television reboot is too complicated to explain here, but the central premise is simple: Penelope, a Cuban American mother (played to perfection by Justina Machado) raises her two children with her mother, Lydia (Oscar-winner Rita Moreno), while dealing with career stresses and the weight of single parenthood. Adapted from the popular ’70s sitcom of the same name, this incarnation offers a fresh perspective on the intergenerational family dynamic against the backdrop of 21st-century life.
The ensemble cast shines, and it tackles issues such as loneliness, identity, and social issues like PTSD with depth and intelligence. The first three seasons are available to stream on Netflix. —Christopher Heffron
Celebrating Hispanic Culture
Hispanic Heritage Month officially kicks off on September 15 and concludes on October 15. In honor of the countless artistic contributions of Hispanics from across the Spanish-speaking diaspora, we’re highlighting a few films and television shows that put their many talents on full display. And though organized religion is on the decline in Latin America—as it is in many other places—a recent Pew Research poll suggested that about 69 percent of the population of Latin America identifies as Catholic. In these films and television shows, there’s a good chance you’ll encounter the spark of the Catholic imagination at play.
Under the Same Moon
A mother and her child. It’s quite possibly the deepest and most intense bond two humans can share. And the lengths that one will go to for the other throughout life are staggering and a testament to the sacredness of that bond. This fundamental human relationship is the center of Under the Same Moon, a 2007 film starring Kate del Castillo, Eugenio Derbez, and America Ferrera.
Del Castillo’s character, Rosario, makes the almost impossible decision to leave her young son, Carlitos, behind in Mexico with her aging mother so that she can go to the United States to make more money to send home. Rosario and Carlitos speak by phone every week, and she describes the new world around her in great detail. When Rosario’s mother dies, Carlitos’ aunt and uncle consider taking custody of him—mainly to get the money his mother is sending every week.
Paying coyotes with his mother’s money, Carlitos runs away to the United States in a desperate attempt to find Rosario. The unexpected help of Enrique (played by the usually comedic Eugenio Derbez) gets Carlitos closer to home, which this film shows not to be a place, but a state of mind, a profound and unbreakable connection with another.
Children of Men
This 2006 masterstroke by Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón—and adaptation of the novel by P.D. James—landed at #13 on a recent New York Times list of the best films of the 21st century so far. I might have placed it higher. Children of Men is set in an apocalyptic future where a child hasn’t been born in over 18 years and a totalitarian police state is brutally cracking down on refugee groups. As a socio-political warning and a philosophical meditation on the nature of what makes a healthy society, it’s also a white-knuckle thriller that builds in momentum from the first frame.
When a political resistance group discovers that a young, Black refugee named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) is pregnant, a spiritually broken man named Theo (Clive Owen) is tasked with getting her to a ship called the Tomorrow, crewed by a group working to reverse the global infertility crisis.
Speaking of the Catholic imagination, this film certainly leans into it. The Tomorrow is reminiscent of Noah’s Ark, while Kee—being an at-risk, non-White, pregnant teenager looking for a safe place to give birth as the hope of humanity rests squarely on her shoulders—might sound a tad familiar. Themes such as justice for refugees and displaced peoples, the dangers of othering, and the evils of racism help to shape the film’s ultimately moral message. —Daniel Imwalle
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Hispanic Legends
Desi Arnaz as Ricky Ricardo | I Love Lucy
Much has been written about how Lucille Ball revolutionized television with her groundbreaking I Love Lucy—and it is well-earned. But less deference, historically, has been paid to her husband, costar, and collaborator, Desi Arnaz. As Lucy’s loving (albeit long-suffering) husband, Ricky, Arnaz was more than a match for his fame-famished wife. Always on point with his comedic delivery, he knew how to zig when she zagged.
Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo Fring | Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul
Is this the greatest villain in television history? Certainly, in the last quarter century! Esposito’s stateside cartel kingpin Gustavo Fring, introduced in AMC’s Breaking Bad and then in its prequel, Better Call Saul, provided both shows with an irresistible blend of charm and real danger—all brimming beneath a benign surface.
Sonia Manzano as Maria | Sesame Street
For a generation, Sonia Manzano was our entry into Latin culture. Sesame Street, in fact, provided the Spanish language for the first time to many young ears. Manzano, among a diverse cast of luminaries, helped to elevate American educational programing to a family-friendly art with her work here. Part actor, part teacher, part beloved aunt, Manzano was a warm and relevant touchstone to millions of young viewers.
Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett | Modern Family
Called the Latina Lucille Ball for good reason! As Gloria, the second wife of Ed O’Neill’s Jay in ABC’s Modern Family, Vergara provided a (let’s be honest) lily-White show with much-needed comedic spice. But in retrospect, it was the Colombian’s effortless physical comedy that made her a standout among this talented ensemble cast.
Three-dimensional and deeply funny, Gloria is what keeps fans coming back to this familia.
For Your Consideration . . .
One Day at a Time
The storied production journey of this television reboot is too complicated to explain here, but the central premise is simple: Penelope, a Cuban American mother (played to perfection by Justina Machado) raises her two children with her mother, Lydia (Oscar-winner Rita Moreno), while dealing with career stresses and the weight of single parenthood. Adapted from the popular ’70s sitcom of the same name, this incarnation offers a fresh perspective on the intergenerational family dynamic against the backdrop of 21st-century life.
The ensemble cast shines, and it tackles issues such as loneliness, identity, and social issues like PTSD with depth and intelligence. The first three seasons are available to stream on Netflix. —Christopher Heffron
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