The Milagro Beanfield War (1988)
Directed by Robert Redford. Hispanic farmers, water rights, and social class in the American southwest. Based on the book by John Nichols.

Como Agua para Chocolate (1992)
Directed by Alphonso Arau. The love story of Tita and Pedro in which magical things happen when Tita cooks. Based on a book by Laura Esquivel.

Selena (1997)
Directed by Gregory Nava. The true story of a Texas born tejano singer who rose to stardom only to be murdered by a fan.

Maria Full of Grace (2004)
Directed by Joshua Marston. The story of a pregnant Columbian girl who illegally transports drugs to raise money for her family.

Raising Victor Vargas (2002)
Directed by Peter Sollett. A sweet love story set in a Dominican neighborhood on the Lower East Side of New York.

Before Night Falls (2000)
Directed by Julian Schnabel. A touching bio-pic about the Cuban poet, Reinaldo Arenas, and how his homosexuality got him into trouble with Castro's government.

Frida (2002)
Directed by Julie Taymor. A bio-pic starring Salma Hayek about the Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo.

Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
Directed by Wim Wenders. Aging Cuban musicians are brought out of retirement by Ry Cooder. This was also made into a very successful recording.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
Directed by Walter Salles. The dramatic retelling of a motorcycle trip Che Guevara took with his best friend. It was on this trip that Che reshaped the direction of his life.

Spanglish (2004)
Directed by Albert Brooks. A story about the immigrant experience of a mother and daughter and their relationships with the wealthy family the mother works for.

Pedro Almódovar
All of this Spanish director's movies are great. They can be quirky and sometimes dark but they are always interesting.

Real Women Have Curves (2002)
Directed by Patricia Cardoso. The story of a first generation Mexican-American girl living in East L.A. The movie tells of the young girl's struggles between family loyalty and her chances at a better future.

Y Tu Mamá También (2001)
Directed Alfonso Cuaron. Set in Mexico, two teenage boys take a road trip with a sad older woman.

Il Postino (1994)
Directed by Richard Radford. A bio-pic about the friendship between an aging Pablo Neruda and the local postman.

Central Station (1998)
Directed by Walter Salles. The story of a Brazilian woman who writes letters for illiterate people and a boy who has recently lost his mother. The woman and the boy travel together in search of the boy's father.

The Dancer Upstairs (2002)
Directed by John Malkovich. Set in a turmoil-ridden, unnamed Latin American country, a detective meets a ballet teacher who seems to represents everything good and beautiful in his corrupt country. This may not be the case.