Latino Film Celebration: Love, Lies, and Romance

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The quality and impact of Latino cinema continue to grow, and Cinequest takes pleasure, once again, in presenting the best of the best in this year's Latino Filmmakers's Tribute. Features and shorts representing Spain, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Cuba, and the United States comprise this year's tribute, and it's a fine collection indeed. Another from Spain is Tu Nombre Envenena Mis Suenos (Your Name Poisons My Dreams) by director Pilar Miro. Murder, suicide, two hard-boiled detectives, and a beautiful woman-it's quite a combination. Camilo Luzuriaga's Entre Marx y Una Mujer Desnuda (Between Marx and a Naked Woman) is a farcical and magical comedy that reflects on life in the 60s-distinctly different in Ecuador. From Chile is Mi Ultimo Hombre (My Last Man), director Tatiana Gaviola's commentary on Chile's political state of affairs, set in the near future. Showing with My Last Man is the short film Holy Tortilla about a family's life changes after a tortilla reveals the face of Jesus. From Cinequest favorite Eliseo Subiela (Dark Side of the Heart, Don't Die Without Telling Me Where You're Going) comes another touching and magical film from Argentina, Pequenos Milagros (Little Miracles), a story of fantasy, love, and an earth-bound fairy, Rosalia-or is she? Finally, in this year's competition is another film from Argentina, Historias Clandestinas en la Habana (Clandestine Stories in Havana). Writer/director Diego Musiak presents a delightful series of inter-related stories of love and romance in Cuba. LATINO CELEBRATION EVENT: Screen the award winning film Adosados and party afterwards at Emma's. From Spain is director Mario Camus' Adosados (Suburbs), a disturbing and revealing exploration of the "nonsense of suburban life," triggered by, of all things, the death of the family dog. With Adosados is the short Luismi, a surreal comedy about a dead man preparing for his final trip. - Jeffrey Vargas. Latino Celebration Event Screening: Monday, Feb. 2, 7pm. Party follows at Emma's Restaurant Santa Clara & Almaden Ave. Screening & Party: $15 (No screening-only tickets)