September & October 2018

“I think cinema, movies, and magic have always been closely associated. The very earliest people who made film were magicians.”

Francis Ford Coppola

I have been an avid moviegoer since I rode the 24 Sherbrooke bus to downtown Montreal, by myself, at the tender age of seven to see a Sunday matinee. You may think I am exaggerating, after all what seven-year old is allowed to ride downtown by herself? Well, me. Continue reading Editor’s Letter →

By Julie Etra

To improve my Spanish and understanding of other Spanish-speaking cultures, I am always in search of good Spanish language films (with English subtitles so hubby can enjoy). El Último Elvis (The Last Elvis), a 2011 Argentinian film written, produced, directed, and edited by Armando Bo, who won an Oscar in 2014 for Best Original Screenplay for Birdman.  The Last Elvis was a 2012 Sundance Film Festival selection suggested by linguist Olivia Beauford at The Language Connection in Reno, NV.  I watched the trailer on line, and it looked intriguing enough to order the DVD, which, by the way, took a month to arrive, and was not readable on my TV DVD player (watched on computer). And it came with French subtitles. (It can be ordered from Amazon with English subtitles.) Continue reading The Last Elvis →

Eugenio Derbez: Named by Variety as one of the most influential Latin-American actors, Derbez attained fame on the TV series La Familia P. Luche (2002-12).   His films include Sangre de mi Sangre, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 2007, and La Misma Luna (2007).  In 2013 he starred in and directed Instructions Not Included, the most successful Spanish-language film in the U.S. and worldwide. Continue reading Five Mexican Actors you should have heard of: →

By Marcia Chaiken and Jan Chaiken

Chavela Vargas, the iconic Mexican singer, captured the heart of Mexico and much of the world and, through the documentary bearing her name, our love.  The film is, as was Chavela herself, gritty, funny, and hauntingly beautiful.  In a nonlinear format, it follows her life from her childhood in Costa Rica in the 1920s and 1930s to her death in Mexico six years ago at the age of 93. A rich and controversial life it was. Continue reading Chavela: Our Choice for the Best Documentary Film of 2017 →

Karla Souza: Like many actresses Souza made her debut in telenovelas before starring on the big screen. Her film credits include Nosotros los Nobles (2013) and Instructions Not Included (2013). You may recognize her from the Shonda Rhimes hit TV show How to Get Away with Murder. Continue reading Five Mexican Actresses you should have heard of: →

Publishers know that September to December is a prime book-buying period and therefore the créme de la créme of new novels by best-selling authors will begin to appear on bookstore shelves in the next few weeks. Continue reading Ten Highly Anticipated Novels for Year-End Reading Pleasure →

By Deborah Van Hoewyk

Although the U.S. film industry’s Oscar ceremonies may be fading – the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has just come up with a new category, “Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film,” to gin up attendance – few American movie-goers have missed the fact that four out of the last five Oscars for Best Director went to Mexican-born filmmakers, and two of them also picked up the Oscar for Best Picture:

• 2014, Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
• 2015, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman; also won Best Picture
• 2016, Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant
• 2018, Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water; also won Best Picture

Continue reading Want to See a Mexican Oscar-Winning Film in Mexico?  It’s Complicated … →

By Alvin Starkman, M.A., J.D.

It is a privilege, not a right, to be able to visit or reside in Huatulco, Puerto Escondido, the state capital, or elsewhere in Oaxaca as a non-Mexican. We are here at the whim of the government of Mexico. Many forget this and believe they can do whatever they want (of course legally) while in Oaxaca, no strings attached. While, subject to Mexican law, this may be true, each and every American, Canadian, Brit or otherwise does indeed have an ethical or moral obligation to contribute to the broad betterment of the people of this part of southern Mexico.  Continue reading Your Obligation to Oaxaca as a Frequent Visitor, Snowbird or Resident →

By Carol Watts

In June 2010 my husband and I visited Oaxaca for the first time. We found accommodation for a month at The Oacaxa Learning Center (TOLC) in their B&B. We stayed in the lovely garden apartment on the roof! In Canada, we have over the years given support to various nonprofit organizations but at times wondered what portion of our support actually made it to those in need and did it make a difference. For us the Oaxaca Learning Center (TOLC) was the first time we had direct contact with a nonprofit organization like this. Continue reading Be a Part of Responsible Tourism with The Oaxaca Learning Center! →