Films and Documentaries
- Zoot Suit
The first Chicano play performed on Broadway, Luis Valdez’s ground-breaking masterpiece uses the Sleepy Lagoon murder case to examine the Zoot Suit culture of the 1940s. Playing time 1:52 minutes.
Henry Reyna and the 38th Street Gang are discriminated against and tried for murder after a fight breaks out at a party. Passionate and provocative, Zoot Suit pulses with the beat of big band music and traditional Latin songs. - Under The Same Moon
The parallel stories of nine-year-old Carlitos and his mother, Rosario. In the hopes of providing a better life for her son, Rosario works illegally in the U.S. while her mother cares for Carlitos back in Mexico. Unexpected circumstances drive both Rosario and Carlitos to embark on their own journeys in a desperate attempt to reunite. Along the way, mother and son face challenges and obstacles but never lose hope that they will one day be together again. Riggen's film is not only a heartwarming family story; she also offers subtle commentary on the much-debated issue of illegal immigration. Playing time 109 minutes. - Musical Matters: Latin Artists on Inclusivity
Actress Andréa Burns (In the Heights) and three-time Tony Award-winning actress Chita Rivera (West Side Story, Chicago) discuss how representation has changed throughout their careers, the differences between type casting versus stereotyping, and the relationship between authenticity and artistry. Playing time 41:23 minutes. - Latino Influence on the United States
Uncover the countless ways in which Central and South American civilizations have influenced the U.S. From language to medicine, from food to manufacturing, develop a strong understanding of these influential and ancient civilizations. Learn about the idea of 'Manifest Destiny,' discover Puerto Rico's quest for independence and find out how the 'Little War' affected Mexico. Playing time 16 minutes. - Chavez Ravine: A Los Angeles StoryCHAVEZ RAVINE tells the bittersweet story of how an American community was betrayed by greed, political hypocrisy, and good intentions gone astray. In 1949, photographer Don Normark stumbled on Chavez Ravine, a closely-knit Mexican-American village on a hill overlooking downtown Los Angeles. Enchanted, he stayed for a year and took hundreds of photographs, never knowing he was capturing on film the last images of a place that was about to disappear. Playing time 24 minutes.
- Latino Vote: Dispatches from the BattlegroundThis film follows the efforts of community leaders working to ensure Latino voter turnout. How will these efforts impact the presidential election result, and will 2020 be a tipping point for the impact of the Latino vote? Playing time 55:46 minutes.
- Jovita Idar: Voice of the PeopleImagine throwing shade at a politician online and police showed up to arrest you! It would be un-American, right? In this video, we'll explain the story of Jovita Idar, a Mexican-American journalist who refused to be silenced!
- From Mexico to Vietnam: A Chicano StoryAfter losing her father at an early age, Tina Duran explores the rich history of her father, the story of her ancestors who migrated from Mexico to the United States, and the implications the Vietnam War had on the Chicano & Latino community.