Top Ten Movies
about the Indians of Central & South America
Top Ten Movies
about the Indians of Central & South America
CRITERIA:
Of course, the fun part about ten ten lists is arguing about them,
so if you disagree-- ¡escríbame, cabrón!
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.
slipcat555@yahoo.com
ALTIPLANO ~ Peter Brosens & Jessica Hope Woodworth ~ 2009 ~ Perú poetic & symbolic ~ both a work of art and an urgent call to action ~ unique blend of indigenous tradition & high modernism | |
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APOCALYPTO ~ Mel Gibson ~ 2006 ~ México pulse-pounding edge-of-your-seat action ~ amazingly detailed costumes & sets ~ funky hats | |
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BRAVA GENTE BRASILEIRA ~ Lúcia Murat 2001 ~ Brasil subtle storytelling told mainly through images ~ viewer is invited to wonder & speculate ~ cool tattoos |  |
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CHAC: THE RAIN GOD ~ Rolando Klein ~ 1975 ~ México hypnotic feel ~ many aspects of Chamula culture shown ~ indigenous aesthetic ~ all Indians ~ no White Man, man | |
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THE EMERALD FOREST ~ John Boorman ~ 1985 ~ Brasil environmentalist message ~ action & suspense ~ sexy natives ~ rockin' soundtrack ~ breathtaking cinematography | |
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ERENDIRA IKIKUNARI ~ Juan Mora Catlett ~ 2007 ~ México inspiring character drawn from oral tradition ~ cool body paint & costumes ~ highly original style ~ gratuitous beheadings |  |
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THE MISSION ~ Roland Joffé ~ 1986 ~ Paraguay gorgeous cinematography of nature and Guarani Indians ~ riveting story told with epic momentum | |
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SANTO LUZBEL ~ Miguel Sabido ~ 1997 ~ México fascinating assortment of realistic, fleshed-out characters ~ spot-on portrait of modern México ~ full of life and humor | |
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TAMBIEN LA LLUVIA ~ Icíar Bollaín ~ 2010 ~ Bolivia riveting story of the Bolivian water wars of the 90s juxtaposed with the filming of the Spanish conquest of the Tainos | |
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VERONICO CRUZ ~ Miguel Pereira ~ 1988 ~ Argentina extremely moving story ~ poetic, subtle & understated ~ beautifully developed friendship between boy and teacher | |
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CABEZA DE VACA ~ Nicolás Echevarría ~ 1991 ~ México incredible story ~ bizarre sights & sounds recreate the strangeness of first contact ~ Oscar-worthy armless midget | |
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IN NECUEPALIZTLI IN AZTLAN ~ Juan Mora Catlett ~ 1989 ~ México churns forward with mythic weight and a feeling of inevitability ~ dream-like quality ~ may induce visions | |
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JERICO ~ Luis Alberto Lamata ~ 1990 ~ Venezuela bizarre events contrast with philosophical narration ~ subtle & convincing character change ~ ayahuasca freakout scene | |
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A LENDA DE UBIRAJARA ~ André Luiz Oliveira ~ 1975 ~ Brasil pre-Columbian adventure simmering in testosterone ~ hilarious dialogue full of Homeric pomposity ~ skimpy thongs | |
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EL REGALO DE PACHAMAMA ~ Toshifumi Matsushita ~ 2008 ~ Bolivia beautiful recreation of a vanishing way of life ~ a love poem to the earth and to a community who respects it | |
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TERRA VERMELHA ~ Marco Bechis ~ 2008 ~ Brasil intense conflict between Indians and landowners ~ no easy answers ~ unique characters | |
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YA-KOO ~ Franco Rubartelli ~ 1985 ~ Venezuela jungle romp provides an affirmation of Yanomami knowledge & culture ~ ridiculously cute kid | |
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YAWAR MALLKU ~ Jorge Sanjinés ~ 1969 ~ Bolivia shocking story told with militant urgency ~ take-no-prisoners guerilla filmmaking ~ stark, iconic black & white cinematography | |
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