The Blue Butterfly

This Costa Rican movie is based on real events. “The Blue Butterfly” tells the story of a nine-year-old child dying of a brain tumor. His last wish is to catch a blue butterfly for his collection. To locate the butterfly, he and his mother seek the assistance of a renowned entomologist who leads them into the forest. They spend many days looking for the butterfly and they come across several dangerous situations. Everyone gains a greater understanding of life and their environment. Although the landscape is beautiful, the film goes slowly in many places. It is heartwarming, with the exception of a few sluggish parts. The acting is excellent as well.

Voces Inocentes

“Voces Innocents” is a strong, well-directed—yet difficult—story about a group of pre-teenage youngsters caught up in the chaos of El Salvador’s civil conflict. The Salvadoran film revolves partly around Chava, a 12-year-old at risk of being recruited by the military in the horrific civil war, and partly around his mother who has been abandoned by her husband and is trying to keep her family together. The characters are faced with awful choices throughout the war but their moral judgments show an indomitable spirit and grace that inspires the viewer. As the film alternates between joyful images of children playing and staccato bursts of machine gun fire, the viewer gets the feeling that things will end tragically.

Quién dijo miedo

“¿Quién dijo miedo?” is a complex and chaotic documentary about the 2009 coup d’état in Honduras. The coup was an outgrowth of the constitutional crisis, which was essentially a political struggle between the ruling party and the reform-minded people. It began when the Honduran military exiled former president Manuel Zelaya for advocating for a constitutional referendum. “We Are Not Afraid” was founded in the immediate aftermath of the exile and follows a group of activists that support Zelaya and want the coup to be recognized globally. Even though the coup occurred over a decade ago, it is worth reflecting a key period in Honduran history as it unfolded.

Las Sandinistas

 “Las Sandinistas” is an excellent documentary that provides a lot of information on the Nicaraguan women’s movement and their role in the revolution. I was particularly interested in the information regarding sexism inside the revolution itself and how women, even while fighting alongside males, were still subjected to gender role restrictions. The film is well-edited and it uses a mix of contemporary and historical material to great effect. The music, editing and amazing narrative resurrects the revolution through the eyes of these determined ladies. For anyone interested in grasping the intricacy of societal change, this film is highly recommended.

Ixcanul 

Ixcanul is a unique film that provokes spectators to think. This film is mostly about a young girl called Maria as she prepares for her marriage arranged by her parents, while encountering unexpected difficulties along the road. Although this film is sluggish and lacks action, it taught me a great deal about Mayan culture and customs in Guatemala. Due to the film’s mystery and lack of sound, it was unlike anything I’ve ever watched. This picture has virtually no music which is fascinating and gives it an element of distinctiveness. The camera angles and views were also very distinct