| | |  Entertainment 
U.S. Releases of Latino Cinema Off to Strong Start in New Year
 Pablo Jaime Sáinz - San Diego Union-Tribune
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January 21, 2010
With the release of four Latino films on DVD this month, the year has started out with a bang for Latino cinema in the United States.
The four films are distributed by Maya Entertainment, the company founded by pioneering Chicano producer Moctezuma Esparza.
“The Ministers”: Starring Colombian-American actor John Leguizamo, “The Ministers” hit stores earlier this month. 5. For this thriller, Leguizamo put aside his comic side to play a pair of twin brothers, Dante and Perfecto Mendoza, who are involved in a religious group called The Ministers.
The film tells the story of a New York City police homicide detective, played by Florencia Lozano, who, 13 years after her father was slain by The Ministers, begins to investigate the group, only to become romantically involved with one of the killers.
Directed by Franc Reyes, “The Ministers” also stars Harvey Keitel and Wanda de Jesus. The film, rated R, is in English with Spanish subtitles.
“Máncora”: Also released this month is the Peruvian-American production “Máncora,” a film about the love affair between a man and his stepsister in a small Peruvian coastal town.
With a diverse set of actors from all corners of Latin America, “Máncora” is just a sample of the variety of points of view that exist in Latino cinema, said Oscar Torres, one of the film’s writers.
“ ‘Máncora’ gives a good way to show that Latin America is not only Mexico,” Torres said by phone from his Los Angeles home.
The film is in contrast to Torres’ previous writing credit, 2004’s “Innocent Voices,” an autobiographical film about his childhood in civil war-torn El Salvador.
“ ‘Máncora’ is completely different,” he said. “It is a popcorn romance to have a good time.”
The film, released on DVD on Jan. 12, is in Spanish with English subtitles. Directed by Peruvian Ricardo de Montreuil, who also directed the successful “La mujer de mi hermano,” includes a cast from the United States, Mexico, Spain and Brazil.
“Once Upon a Time in Rio” and “Sultanes Del Sur”: These films were released Tuesday. The first one is a dramatic love story between a young man and woman from different social classes in Rio de Janeiro. Although they come from different backgrounds, they decide to break the social barriers that separate them. “Once Upon a Time in Rio” is in Portuguese with English subtitles.
The second film is Mexico’s “Sultanes Del Sur,” a heist thriller centered on a bank robbery that takes a group of Mexican criminals to Argentina. It stars Ana de la Reguera, one of Mexico’s most prominent young actresses. It’s in Spanish with English subtitles.
SAN DIEGO
LIVE
Ozomatli: Latino rock. Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Tomorrow and Saturday. 9 p.m. $30. (858) 481-8140 or bellyup.com.
Coral MacFarland Thuet: Mexican jazz singer. Villa Capri Family Trattoria, 2330 Proctor Valley Road, Suite 101, Chula Vista. Tomorrow and Jan. 29. 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Free. (619) 216-5900 and dolcechulavista.com.
Tango nuevo: Classical music ensemble Camarada presents tango music. Various San Diego venues. Tomorrow and Sunday. Various times. $25. Camarada.org.
Caballero’s Latin Jam: Latino jazz. Voz Alta, 1754 National Ave., Barrio Logan. Thursdays. 7-10 p.m. Free. caballeromusic.com.
Noches latinas: Latin music. Oasis Lounge, Harrah’s Rincon Casino, 33750 Valley Center Road, Valley Center. Thursdays. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Free. harrahsrincon.com.
“Sizzling Salsa Thursdays”: Four Points by Sheraton, 8110 Aero Drive, San Diego. Thursdays. Salsa classes begin at 8:30 p.m.; music and dancing from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Free. (562) 572-4403.
Exhibitions
“Gods and Gold”: A collection of Mexican, Central and South American archaeological objects. San Diego Museum of Man, Balboa Park. $5-10. (619) 239-2001 and museumofman.org.
TIJUANA
Movies
“El gran cañón”: A tour of the Grand Canyon in IMAX format. Cecut, Paseo de los Héroes and Mina, zona Río. 011-52-664-687-9600; cecut.gob.mx.
“Momias”: This IMAX film gives a tour of ancient Egypt. Cecut, Paseo de los Héroes and Mina, zona Río. 011-52-664-687-9600; cecut.gob.mx.
Live
“Una rosa para Rosina”: Local artists and musicians raise funds for noted writer Rosina Conde, who has cancer. Multiforo del Instituto de Cultura de Baja California, Paseo Centenario. Saturday. 7 p.m. 100 pesos. icbc.gob.mx.
“Tardes de jazz”: Local jazz bands perform at Cecut, Paseo de los Héroes and Mina, zona Río. Every Wednesday afternoon. 011-52-664-687-9600; cecut.gob.mx.
“Tijuana Latin Jazz Project”: Pianist Turiya Mareya plays with a collective at Dragón Rojo Bar, Calle Primera, between Revolución and Constitución, in front of Plaza Santa Cecilia. Thursdays at 8 p.m. 011-52-664-685-3067; dragonrojobar.com.
“Corridos de la Revolución”: Songs from the Mexican Revolution performed by Agustín Sánchez. Cecut, Paseo de los Héroes and Mina, zona Río. Sundays at 1 p.m. Free, 011-52-664-687-9600 or cecut.gob.mx.
“Rock acústico”: Music from 1960s and 1970s. Cecut, Paseo de los Héroes and Mina, zona Río. Sundays in January at 2 p.m. Free. 011-52-664-687-9600 or cecut.gob.mx.
John Milton: Hypnotism show. Cecut, Paseo de los Héroes and Mina, zona Río. Through Jan. 31, various times. 011-52-664-687-9600 or cecut.gob.mx.
LOOKING AHEAD
Banda Pioneros: Jan. 29-30. Sinaloa band. Las Pulgas, Avenida Revolución 1127, zona Centro, Tijuana. 011-52-664-685-9594 or laspulgas.info.
Los Lonely Boys: Feb. 13. Latino rock. Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach; 9 p.m. Presale $45, event day $47. (858) 481-8140 or bellyup.com.
El Recodo: Feb. 12. Sinaloa band. Las Pulgas, Avenida Revolución 1127, zona Centro, Tijuana. 011-52-664-685-9594 or laspulgas.info.
El Chapo de Sinaloa: March 6. Banda music. House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego. 8 p.m. Presale $40-$60, $45-$70 event day; 4-ticket package $99. (619) 299-2583 or houseofblues.com. |
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