Latin American Film Series begins with 'Brincando El Charco'
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The annual Latin American film series presented by Purdue University's Latino Cultural Center will begin Thursday (Jan. 26) with "Brincando El Charco."
The annual event showcases a variety of Latin American films selected by the Latino Student Council, followed by a discussion led by a guest facilitator. All events begin at 6 p.m. and are in Beering Hall, Room 2280. They are free and open to the public. All films in a language other than English have English subtitles.
"Brincando El Charco" tells the story of Claudia Marin, a middle-class Puerto Rican photographer/videographer trying to build a sense of community in the United States. Using a mix of fiction, archival footage, interviews and soap opera drama, the film is a meditation on class, race and sexuality.
Other films to be shown include:
* "My Family." Feb. 23. More than three generations of an immigrant family's trials, tribulations, tragedies and triumphs are traced in this film. Maria and Jose, the first generation, come to Los Angeles, meet, marry and face deportation during the 1930s. They establish their family in East Los Angeles, and their children - Chucho, Paco, Memo, Irene, Toni and Jimmy - deal with youth culture and the L.A. police in the 1950s. As the second generation becomes adults in the 1960s, the focus shifts to Jimmy, his marriage to Isabel (a Salvadorian refugee), their son and Jimmy's journey to becoming a responsible parent.
* "TRUST Documentary - Second Acts in Young Lives." March 29. TRUST begins in a small theater as a group of teen actors receive a standing ovation. It then takes us back to the beginning, when Marlin, 18, from Honduras, tells the traumatic story about her life to the company. The Chicago's Albany Park Theater project members then transform the story into an original play. TRUST is about the creativity and the unexpected resources inside people you might discount because they are poor or young.
* "Yo Soy Boricua, Pa' Que Tu Lo Sepas" (I'm Boricua, just so you know). April 12. Actress Rosie Perez directed this film about the political history between the United States and Puerto Rico, told though personal stories.
The film series also is presented by the Embajadores, Puerto Rican Student Association, Latino Alliance, Sigma Lambda Gamma and the Latino Student Council.
The Latino Student Council is composed of representatives of the 17 Latino student organizations on Purdue's campus. Supported by the Latino Cultural Center, they work to unify Latino organizations on campus and promote collaboration, service and social responsibility.
Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu
Source: Omar Diaz, 765-494-2530, odiaz@purdue.edu