In an effort to understand the incredibly complexities of life in Colombia, I’ve been searching for Colombian movies and documentaries to help answer questions I have about the culture, history and people of this amazing country. Although I realize I’ll never truly understand what it means to be Colombian, these 5 movies have helped me gain prospective on what it means to be Colombian. If you know of any other good movies or documentaries about Colombia (or other South American countries) please comment below, especially if you know of any that portray the brighter side of life in South America. I swear its not all drugs, oppression and violence.
5 Must See Colombian Movies:
Los Colores de la Montaña
I took a date to this movie in Medellin and couldn’t talk for an hour after it finished. Eye opening. Heavy. “A modern-day portrayal of daily life in a remote part of the mountainous Colombian countryside, set around the friendship between Manuel and Julián, his best friend. One day, while playing a game of football, they kick the ball into a minefield. Accompanied by Poca Luz, they do everything they can to recover their prized belonging, an essential part of their everyday lives and dreams.” – via YouTube.com
The Two Escobars
The fascinating tragic stories of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and soccer player Andres Escobar. Pablo Escobar was the richest, most powerful drug kingpin in the world, ruling the Medellín Cartel with an iron fist. Andres Escobar was the biggest soccer star in Colombia. The two were not related, but their fates were inextricably-and fatally-intertwined. Pablo’s drug money had turned Andres’ national team into South American champions, favored to win the 1994 World Cup in Los Angeles. It was there, in a game against the U.S., that Andres committed one of the most shocking mistakes in soccer history, scoring an “own goal” that eliminated his team from the competition and ultimately cost him his life. The Two Escobars is a riveting examination of the intersection of sports, crime, and politics. For Colombians, soccer was far more than a game: their entire national identity rode on the success or failure of their team. Jeff and Michael Zimbalist’s fast and furious documentary plays out on an ever-expanding canvas… – via YouTube.com
Leccion Para un Beso
A look into the lighter side of Colombian life. Based in beautiful Cartagena, Colombia, a young boy falls in love with a stunning girl, who simply ignores him. But three men with different strategies in the art of love romance, lies and money, come to the rescue to try to lead the young boy to his dream: a kiss on the lips. – via YouTube.com
La Vendedora De Rosas
13-year-old Monica leads a street life, making her living by selling flowers to couples in local nightspots, she is joined by 10-year-old Andrea who runs out of her house after her mother beats her. – via IMDb.com
Plan Colombia: Cashing-In on the Drug War Failure
Plan Colombia: Cashing in on the Drug War Failure documents what many believe to be dangerous hypocrisy on the part of the American government. The film gives particular attention to the reasons behind the drug trade (Colombia is the world’s biggest cocaine exporter), which include illegal trade funded by radicals, the corrupt government, and the simple fact that most farmers harvest coca because they can’t survive on the profits of legitimate food crops. Ungerman also explores the link to America’s notorious School of the Americas in Georgia and how targeted aerial fumigation has destroyed perfectly legal natural resources in the mission to eradicate drug crops. The film concludes that the U.S. military-industrial complex is cashing in on the violence they themselves perpetrate, while doing little to actually stem cocaine production. – via Youtube.com
Maria Full of Grace
A pregnant Colombian teenager becomes a drug mule to make some desperately needed money for her family. – via IMDb.com
What other good Colombian movies or documentaries can you recommend?
18 Responses
saddly most of these movies only portray the sad and violent side of Colombia , where I grew up….there is much more to it.
Another movie you might enjoy is “La Estrategia del Caracol”. It is hard to get, but is worth it.
There was a movie shown at the 2010 San Francisco International Film Festival from Columbia about a man, a boy, and a lost accordian. They traverse many parts of the country from the Ocean to the Mountains. It shows the many faces of the Columbia people. It was a great stroy and a better look at the country and it’s people. Too many people get fixated on drugs and Columbia. There is so much more……………………..
That movie is The Wind Journeys (los Viajes del Viento). It is a great story and show the amazingly beautiful countryside of Colombia.
I read through and thought, “HOW has he not included Maria Full of Grace?!?!”…and then I got to the end. It’s a great movie.
Honestly though – I don’t know any other Colombian movies! Gonna check out the ones you posted about here though – thanks for the tips! 🙂
a good movie to watch is PERRO COME PERRO
last night on sundance channel i watched a colombian movie i believe it was called PCV 1, cant find it on you tube, great movie about a colombian woman who had a bomb put around her neck by some banditos.
Thanks for these. Someone also told me about Cities on Speed, a documentary series about rapidly changing cities — the Bogota one is available in 6 parts on YouTube. Suuuuper interesting.
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Rosario Tijeras. It was originally a movie and now a novela as well.
Paraiso Travel. A movie about a couple who travels to the U.S. illegally, both with different agendas. The girl to find her lost mother, the boy to get into his girlfriend’s pants.
La virgen de los sicarios: An old hitman returns to the city of medellin where he returns and finds the city he once loved to be appalling to him.
La virgen de los sicarios
Rodrigo D. No futuro.
Paraíso Travel.
Satanás.
Mateo. I believe it’s a relatively recent movie about a teenager living in a small community on the Magdelena River who tries desperately to resist involvement in his uncle’s violent gang. He’s supported by the new Priest in town who helps Mateo and other youth to have strength through theatre and self-expression, while he tries to mobilize the adults to rise up against to the tyranny. Very, very good movie. Sad, but inspiring. I saw it at the Cine Las Americas Film Festival in Austin, not sure how easily accessible it is.
we dressed up like kiss for halloween in 1978
La Estrategia del Caracol is marvellous. Cóndores no entierran todos los días isn´t bad, either
La Sierra. A very tragic look into the lives of young paramilitary members growing up in a war zone in Medellin.
Entre Nos is a beautiful and very up lifting movie with a great story line. Based on a true story about a Colombian family who comes to the United States and find that thier lives will never be the same. How they survived and succeded despite all of the challenges and struggles they faced living in Queens, New York. Incredible.
I have watched these movies, and love them all, but I learned more about Colombia and Colombians watching telenovelas: La Pola, Joe Arroyo, La Seleccion , Alla te espero El Mexicano, etc. There are too many to remember, but often they are better than the movies. After living in Colombia and marrying a Colombian I returned to the states where I continue to learn Spanish, and culture through watcing Spanish Channels.
Thanks for sharing this list of movies along with their brief summary. Will definitely be watching some of these movies.