To celebrate the art that Hispanic & Latinx culture has offered to the world, I asked students what their favorite Hispanic & Latinx shows and movies are. The following are some awesome recommendations, one of them I actually claim is my favorite show ever. Keep reading to find out which one.
Movies:
Grecia Castillo (junior, communication) - Bajo la misma luna (movie directed by Patricia Riggen)
This film presents the parallel stories of nine-year-old Carlitos and his mother, Rosario. Rosario, who hopes to provide a better life for her son, works illegally in the U.S. while her mother cares for Carlitos back in Mexico.
You can find Bajo la misma luna on Hulu.
Hannah Cruse (junior, psychology and Spanish) - Roma (movie directed by Alfonso Cuarón)
“It tells the story of Cleo, an indigenous woman, who is a maid of a family of European descent. This movie shows the disparities of the indigenous and European Mexicans in the 1970s. I love this movie because it represents a pathway for indigenous people in cinema and shows a more accurate representation of what they have had to deal with in history.”
You can watch Roma on Netflix.
Jem Curameng (junior, medical-lab science) - Selena (movie directed by Gregory Nava)
This biographical drama tells the story of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, played by Jennifer Lopez. The movie spans her journey of her talent being discovered by her father at a young age and trying to find success in the music industry as a Hispanic singer.
Curameng says about the film, “It was an enriching biopic that masterfully portrayed the soul and beauty of Latin-American music.”
You can rent Selena on platforms such as Amazon Prime and Youtube.
Carlos Tavárez Miqui (graduate, psychology) - John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons
“Leguizamo got the idea for “Latin History” after his son, Lucas, was being bullied by classmates because he was Latino. So, basically, he wants Lucas to be proud of his Hispanic heritage. While doing his research, Leguizamo found out that his knowledge of Latino history was incomplete. The reason why I like that stand-up show so much is that he talks about individuals and cultural contributions that are always overlooked in regular history classes.”
You can find John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons on Netflix.
Shows:
Cameron Mayer (junior, speech-pathology and audiology) - Jane the Virgin (created by Jennie Snyder Urman)
This American telenovela, loosely based on the Venezuelan telenovela Juana la Virgen, is about a devout 23-year-old Latina virgin, played by Gina Rodriguez, who becomes pregnant after her gynecologist accidentally artificially inseminates her.
Mayer raves about the show, “I love the Narrator aspect of the show. It really ties in the telenovela style and makes the show unique from other dramas on TV. I also love how Spanish is at times spoken on the show because it makes me more familiar with the language as I am working on learning Spanish.”
Shows like this help people outside of the Hispanic community experience aspects of the culture so tangibly. As someone who has also watched this show, I know that it is absolutely hilarious but also finds balance in exploring issues such as immigration, work-life balance, and the concept of self-discovery. Of course, it wouldn’t be a telenovela if it didn’t have some murders and romance, this show really has it all. If you’re looking to watch something that keeps you on your toes, you’ve come to the right place. And if you haven’t figured it out already, this is my favorite show, ever.
You can watch all five seasons of Jane the Virgin on Netflix.
Emma Tennyson (junior, psychology) - La Casa de Papel aka Money Heist (created by Álex Pina) and Grand Hotel (created by Ramón Campos)
La Casa de Papel, which grew international fame from Netflix, is a Spanish heist crime drama set in Madrid, Spain. The series so far has unearthed two thoroughly planned heists led by the Professor, who recruits eight other criminals to execute his plans. Grand Hotel is a drama set in the early 1900s and follows the inner workings of a fancy and prestigious hotel. It is centered around the family who owns it and will stop at nothing to keep it.
Tennyson says she likes Spanish shows in general because “It makes me listen to the language in a more natural way compared to learning in class. Also, the shows I watch take place in Spain and I really like their accents. Because Spanish is such a beautiful language, I feel like it makes the scenes more dramatic and interesting.”
You can watch La Casa de Papel and Grand Hotel on Netflix.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by taking a look at at least one of these recommendations, you may find a new show to binge. But be careful, you need to study for that test.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.