The most exciting sights, sounds and stories to be born from the finest Latin American cinema will be on display for all to see at the Cine Latino Film Festival at Palace Cinemas in Brisbane from Friday, August 12.
The first national festival dedicated to exploring the diversity of Latin American cinema, Cine Latino will bring together some of the most exciting titles from Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Cuba, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Guatemala and Puerto Rico. The program is designed to broaden the tastes of Australian audiences with unique films that they may never get to experience anywhere else.
Opening night will be one to remember with a taste of Latin American culture accompanying the premiere of Cannes Film Festival highlight “Neruda”, a stunningly inventive comedic drama mixing French and Spanish language together. Headlined by Gael Garcia Bernal (pictured), this gripping title is set amongst the 1940’s where Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda is forced into exile in his home country due to his alliance with the Communist Party.
Other highlights peppered throughout the festival include “The Womb”, Peru’s first bonafide horror film that is sure to go down as not only Cine Latino’s scariest entry but 2016’s as well. Detailing the dangerous obsession a 45-year-old widow has with having her own child, the film spirals horrifically out of control when she hatches a plan to claim the young baby of her female employee for herself and a violent struggle between the two women ensues.
Chile’s “Endless Poetry” is sure to be one of the most visually arousing titles on offer as it tells the tale of a young conservative Jew in 1940’s Chile who defies his family’s wishes by following his dream of becoming a poet. Immersing himself in the scene of Latin American literature, the young protagonist is introduced to an experimentive and seductive world he never dreamed was possible.
For those seeking something a little more grounded, Peru’s road movie “Solos” is worth a look. The film follows a quartet of thirtysomethings who travel through the lush Peruvian jungle in a bid to screen a film for villages that are completely unaccustomed to the idea of cinema. A beautifully shot drama that reflects on love, life, loneliness and cinema, “Solos” is undoubtedly one of the festival titles that will resonate with film lovers the most.
The Argentinian comedy “Amore Etc” provides the kind of sex appeal one would assume Latin American cinema produce effortlessly as it explores the oft-bumpy road towards true love between a young couple who aren’t sure if they’re ready to devote their lives to one another despite their intense love for one another. Posing the question of whether or not love can ever truly last, “Amore Etc” is a playful romp brought to life by the vibrant performances of newcomers Maria Canale and Alberto Rojas Apel as the lovers at the film’s core.
Whether you want to laugh, cry, be challenged or terrified, Cine Latino has all your emotional responses at the ready.
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