Top Ten Movies
about the Indians of Central & South America

CRITERIA:
The film must be moving, thought-provoking, and visually exciting. It should show Native American customs and culture. And of course the Indians should be the main focus. Elsewhere on this site I have included some great movies in which Indians don't appear on screen that much (such as Aguirre), and others in which I wasn't sure if they were Indians (such as El Violin). These are excellent films, but in order to make this Top Ten list here, it must clearly be a Native American movie first and foremost.

Of course, the funnest part about ten ten lists is arguing about them, so if you disagree-- ¡escríbame, cabrón!
slipcat555@yahoo.com

BRAVA GENTE BRASILEIRA ~ Lúcia Murat ~ Brazil ~ 2001 subtle storytelling told mainly through images ~ viewer is invited to wonder & speculate ~ cool tattoos
CABEZA DE VACA ~ Nicolás Echevarría ~ Mexico ~ 1991 incredible story ~ bizarre sights & sounds recreate the strangeness of first contact ~ Oscar-worthy armless midget
CHAC: THE RAIN GOD ~ Rolando Klein ~ Mexico ~ 1975 hypnotic feel ~ many aspects of Mayan culture shown ~ indigenous aesthetic ~ all Indians ~ no White Man, man
THE EMERALD FOREST ~ John Boorman (U.K. director) ~ 1985 environmentalist message ~ action & suspense ~ sexy natives ~ rockin' soundtrack ~ breathtaking cinematography
ERENDIRA IKIKUNARI ~ Juan Mora Catlett ~ Mexico ~ 2007 inspiring character ~ cool body paint & costumes ~ highly original style ~ gratuitous beheadings
JERICO ~ Luis Alberto Lamata ~ Venezuela ~ 1990 bizarre events contrast with philosophical narration ~ subtle & convincing character change ~ ayahuasca freakout scene
THE MISSION ~ Roland Joffé (U.K. director) ~ 1986 gorgeous cinematography of nature and Guarani Indians ~ riveting story told with epic momentum
LA OTRA CONQUISTA ~ Salvador Carrasco ~ Mexico ~ 1999 unapologetic aztlanismo ~ bold visual style ~ powerful performance from Damian Delgado
VERONICO CRUZ ~ Miguel Pereira ~ Argentina ~ 1988 extremely moving story ~ poetic, subtle & understated ~ beautifully developed friendship between boy and teacher
YAWAR MALLKU ~ Jorge Sanjinés ~ Bolivia ~ 1969 shocking story told with militant urgency ~ take-no-prisoners guerilla filmmaking ~ stark black & white cinematography

APOCALYPTO CHAC: THE RAIN GOD THE EMERALD FOREST ERENDIRA IKIKUNARI FITZCARRALDO HOW TASTY WAS MY LITTLE FRENCHMAN THE MISSION THE OTHER CONQUEST PALOMA DE PAPEL VERONICO CRUZ

Paloma de papel