One winter night in mid-January, I was bedridden with the flu and scrolling through the TV channels. At this point, I had already missed two days of school and had no intention on finishing my make up work. With nothing but late night shows on, I turned off the TV and scrolled through my phone. One way or another, I ended up watching this Peruvian film called Milk of Sorrow, as I hid under my comforter not wanting to wake up my sister sleeping right beside me. Looking back on it, the film dealt with themes, that as an eleven year old, I was too young to comprehend; however, I was moved by it. Milk of Sorrow was my first introduction to foreign films and I loved everything about it.

As I write this, I am reminded of Bong Jong Ho’s acceptance speech at the Golden Globes for Parasite:

“Once you overcome the 1-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”

Many countries have experienced film movements that result in masterpieces that everyone should see at least once. They offer unique voices and artistry that is unparalleled. Here is one of my favorite film movements because it hits close to the heart as a Mexican immigrant: Nuevo Cine Mexicano.

Nuevo Cine Mexicano (New Mexican Cinema) refers to the renaissance of Mexican cinema that started in the early 1990s after decades of low budget productions that were mainly forgotten as audiences preferred the blockbusters coming from Hollywood. This rebirth of Mexican cinema is in reference to the The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema that occurred between the 1930s and 1960s.

This “new wave” catapulted Mexican filmmakers into international prominence like Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Guillermo del Toro--sometimes referred to as “The Three Amigos” by US media and press.

Between 2013 and 2019, these three dominated the “Best Director” category at the Academy Awards, and produced some of the best films of the decade. As they continue to make waves alongside popular Mexican actors like Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal in Hollywood, the Mexican film industry continues to produce powerful films that continue the legacy of these early 90s films that started it all.

The movement brought refreshing change into the industry as it tackled contemporary issues by portraying both the political and societal issues in Mexico in a raw way that oftentimes uses satire, black humor and violence to construct its message.

With a range of genres, the following films are sure to captivate you.

Después de Lucía (2012)

After the death of her mother, Alejandra and her dad move to Mexico City to start anew. Soon, Alejandra starts being bullied at school; however, refuses to tell her dad, to not worry him. This film explores the relationship between father and daughter and the repercussions of bullying and teenage violence.

I watched this movie quite recently without any knowledge about it. The themes it dealt with and the execution of the film was very strong. It was controversial when it came out and at times I was unsure as to whether I liked it or not. I’m still not sure to this day if I do or not. If anything, it is the final scene of the film that made it so memorable and the reason why I felt the need to put it on this list.

Los Insólitos Peces Gato (2013)

Directed by Claudia Sainte-Luce. Image via

A heart warming film about two women, Martha and Claudia, who meet while recuperating in the same hospital. Martha allows Claudia to move in with her and her four kids. They soon take a trip as Martha’s health continues to deteriorate. I went into this film without any real expectations, but it quickly became one of my favorites. The performances by the two actresses are so powerful and captivating, that I regularly watch this movie from time to time.

Cronos (1993)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro. Image via

Cronos is Guillermo del Toro’s first film and one that presents the magical touch that only del Toro’s films have. Cronos is a horror film about an antique dealer who comes across an ancient scarab that gives him eternal youth. It is a dark and deep film that perfectly captures the creative and fantastical vision of del Toro, and a perfect film to watch for anyone who's a fan of his work. After watching Pan’s Labyrinth and Pacific Rim, I was captivated by del Toro’s work so much so that I felt the need to watch all his filmography. Cronos is by far in my top two (Pan’s Labyrinth will always be number one) and just shows the brilliancy of Guillermo del Toro as a filmmaker.

Y tu mamá también (2000)

This was the first foreign film I watched. Coming from a Mexican household, Arguably one of Alfonso Cuarón’s best films and one of the best Mexican films of all time, Y Tu Mama Tambien depicts the friendship between two teenage friends who meet a woman in her late 20s.The movie is a perfect blend of commentary about Mexico’s socio political realities while also maintaining a light hearted tone with lots of comedic fluff. Alfonso and Carlos Cuarón’s screenplay elevates this film past your standard coming of age film and make this a memorable film to enjoy.

A true masterpiece, Y Tu Mama Tambien is a must see film. After seeing Milk of Sorrow, the very next night I looked for a new film to watch. This was the very first one to pop up in my recommendations. I put it on without any hesitation. As an eleven year old, I quickly became bored and stopped a quarter into the film. It wouldn’t be until six years later that I would sit down and watch it in its entirety. I’m glad I came back and watched it properly because I would have done it a disservice if my only viewing of it was as an 11 year old. It still remains one of my favorites to this day and peaked my interest in screenwriting.

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