Although it's sadly not always recognized as such, the Mexican film industry has an intricately rich and interesting history. It grew up alongside Hollywood, having even had a Golden Age not too dissimilar from its big brother's in the North.Despite having issues of its own nowadays, Mexican cinema continues to thrive. Mexico City is the fourth largest film production center in North America, and the country produces dozens of great films every year, from widely-known dramas like Roma (2018) to much smaller indie comedies like The Amazing Catfish (2013).
Closure Is a Privilege of the Few — 'Identifying Features' (2020)
Identifying Features follows a woman, Magdalena (Mercedes Hernández), as she traverses the Mexico-US border in search of her son, who she hasn't heard of since he tried to cross the border months prior. It's a gut-wrenching experience with a lead performance full of quiet and subdued pain.
Director Fernanda Valadez perfectly captures the landscape of impunity and indifference in the film's subject matter. The film studies the neverending cycle of violence and how closure — real, genuine closure — is a privilege not granted to many. You can stream Identifying Features on HBO Max in the US.
Politics, Drugs, and Poverty — 'Hell' (2010)
Luis Estrada has built quite a name for himself as a daring filmmaker who isn't afraid to critique the Mexican system and government in his films. Many say that his masterpiece is Hell, about the recently deported man Benny (played by Damián Alcázar) who gets involved in the drug business and finds delight in it.
The movie (which you can rent on Amazon) is a dark comedy full of irony and satire which brazenly mocks and criticizes the state of modern-day Mexico. It speaks out against corruption and crime, holding no punches when it comes to depicting the lifestyle of people like Benny.
A Warm Hug for the Soul — 'Esmeralda's Twilight' (2018)
A life of focusing on the future is a lonely life, as portrayed by director Ehécatl García in this tender story about an elderly widow who finds her only companion in a piglet, who reignites the spark of her hope and joy.
This life-affirming movie is like a warm, tight hug for audiences' souls. It's a bittersweet tearjerker, a beautiful real-world fable, and a comforting reminder that no one is ever quite as alone as they might think. It's a tiny and tragically underappreciated film, which you can help rectify by renting it on iTunes or Google Play.
You Don't Choose Your Family — 'Biutiful' (2010)
Alejandro G. Iñárritu's fourth feature film, Biutiful, is a poignant story about a man connected with the afterlife, which allows him to sense the danger of death. This darkness guides his life and that of his children.
Javier Bardem's heartbreaking lead performance earned him an Oscar nomination, and the movie was also nominated for Best Foreign Film. It's a sad and melancholic story that will leave no dry eyes in the house, but it is also full of tiny glimpses of hope, redemption, and beauty. You can stream it on Prime Video.
A Road Trip to Maturity — 'Y Tu Mamá También' (2001)
Y Tu Mamá También (which literally translates to "and your mom, too") follows a pair of teenage best friends as they embark on a road trip with an older woman. They learn how to love another person, and she knows how to love herself. Its sex scenes are rather...graphic, but it's all in service to the plot.
You will find an earnest discussion of life, death, and sex if you look beneath the surface. Director Alfonso Cuarón finds in Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, and Maribel Verdú three fascinating protagonists who masterfully function as vehicles for the film's many messages. You can stream the movie on The Criterion Channel.
Timeshares Are Hell — 'Time Share' (2018)
Timeshares and cults are not so different as you might think. For proof, look at Sebastián Hoffman's Time Share, where a man staying at a resort becomes convinced that the American company that runs it has plans to take away his family.
It's hard to box this horrifying masterpiece within a single genre. It's as much of a wacky, dark comedy as it is a nail-biting dramatic thriller, often employing Lynchian surrealism to build a deeply unsettling atmosphere. You never know whether to laugh or squirm at the protagonist's misfortunes, and the ending is just as head-scratchingly baffling. Want to see Breaking Bad's RJ Mitte play an evil capitalist? Then watch Time Share on Netflix.
The Sweetness of Goodbyes — 'The Amazing Catfish' (2013)
Spending the night at the hospital with appendicitis, young orphan Claudia (Ximena Ayala) meets HIV patient Martha (Lisa Owen) and her four children, who tacitly bring her into their family. This is the premise of The Amazing Catfish, which may sound quirky and corny but is full of complexity and rawness.
Writer-director Claudia Sainte-Luce employs clever camera tricks, airtight dialogue, and subtle symbolism to craft a touching tale about family, community, death, and grief. The characters feel so authentic and endearing that it genuinely feels like their story will go on when the credits roll. Experience it yourself by renting the movie on Amazon.
Black-And-White Memories — 'Roma' (2018)
Alfonso Cuarón was the director, writer, producer, director of photography, and editor (multi-talented much?) in this Oscar-winning film about Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), the domestic worker of a middle-class family in '70s Mexico City.
Partly autobiographical, Roma is an ode to a city, a family, and a time gone by. Slow and poetic, it finds beauty in even the smallest of moments. You can watch Cuarón's magnum opus on Netflix.
If You Want to Make God Laugh, Tell Him Your Plans — 'Amores Perros' (2000)
It's rare for a director's first film to be considered their best, but some argue that Iñárritu peaked with Amores Perros. The film sees the life of three people launched into uncertainty, a fate set in motion by the seemingly insignificant destiny of a dog.
Earning a Best Foreign Film Oscar nomination, the non-linear narrative of this movie helps it tell a riveting story of massive scope but intimate themes; with thrilling storylines and characters, it's hard not to love watching. You can watch the film on Mubi.
When Make-Believe Believes It's Real — 'Pan's Labyrinth' (2006)
No one does it quite like Guillermo del Toro. What many believe to be his best film tells the story of 10-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), the stepdaughter of a bloodthirsty Spanish general, as she retreats into an eerie but captivating world of fantasy.
This Mexican-Spanish co-production is a gorgeously told fairy tale. Exploring the horrors of warfare and the wonders of childhood imagination, Pan's Labyrinth makes perfect use of each intricate detail, nuanced character, and purposeful subplot to craft an unforgettably macabre but beautiful story. You can watch it on Starz.