The San Diego Latino Film Festival (SDLFF) is presenting a rock-banging program of films in music from today's brightest Latino filmmakers. This year’s lineup gives music the starring role with titles like, "Mexico’s Most Wanted," about a real-life bank robber who moonlights as a lucha libre-masked singer, or the biopic on controversial Latina pop icon, Gloria Trevi. Too cool, right? Wait until you see the rest of this list containing totally awesome must-watch films that will make you laugh and cry into your cheesey nachos.
"Eddie Reynolds y los Angeles de Acero" (Mexico)
Directed by Gustavo Moheno
Rock & roll dreams are truly magical. For rockero Eddie Reynolds (Damian Alcazar), this dream has almost died. Then a second chance at rock & roll fame comes his way, and he needs to mend some much-needed relationships, especially with his estranged daughter. With redemption to the tune of a loud guitar, this film plays like a great rock anthem. Get ready to raise your lighters. [Showtimes: March 13 at 4:30 p.m., March 16 at 7 p.m., and March 19 at 7 p.m.]
"Mexico’s Most Wanted" (Mexico)
Directed by Jose Manuel Cravioto
From producer Fernando Rovzar ("Casa de Mi Padre") comes the story of Alfredo Rios Galeana (Tenoch Huerta), Mexico’s public enemy number one during the 1980s. When he wasn’t sticking up banks, Alfredo spent his time singing charreadas wearing a Mexican wrestling mask. The film’s narrative seems too far-fetched to be factual, but ultimately proves that truth is indeed oftentimes stranger than fiction. [Showtimes: March 13 at 7:30 p.m., March 17 at 9:30 p.m., and March 22 at 6 p.m.]
"El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco" (Mexico)
Directed by Gregory Allen
This concert documentary follows superstar rock group Cafe Tacvba as they record their most recent album. The film merges live concert footage with the band’s philosophical musings on the methods they’re utilizing to record their album. What results is pure visual lyricism as the music comes to life, and the audience is engaged with the intimate creative process of Cafe Tacvba. [Showtimes: March 15 at 1 p.m., March 19 at 9:45 p.m., March 21 at 6 p.m.]
"Playing Lecuona" (Spain)
Directed by Pavel Giroud, Juan Manuel Villar Betancort
A journey through the work and living spaces of pianist and composer Ernesto Lecuona, considered the most universally beloved of Latin America’s pianists. Three outstanding Latin Jazz piano players will guide us in this odyssey: Chucho Valdes, in Lecuona’s native Havana, who fuses jazz with Afro-Cuban rhythms; Michel Camilo in New York, who creates elegant soundscapes; and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, who fuses Latin Jazz with Flamenco. [Showtimes: March 17 at 8 p.m., March 22 at 12:45 p.m.]
"Gloria" (Mexico)
Directed by Christian Keller
One of the most controversial pop icons to ever exist finally receives the bio-pic treatment we have all been waiting for. Gloria Trevi’s rollercoaster life is on full display in Christian Keller’s debut feature film. Whatever you know about Gloria won’t prepare you for what you’re about to see. [Showtime: March 21, 7 p.m.]
The 22nd annual San Diego Latino Film Festival runs March 12-22 now at its new home, AMC Fashion Valley. For more info and directions go here.
Dita Quinones is a multimedia journalist born in Tijuana with a passion for Latin alternative and hip-hop music news. Her main goal is to uplift and inform so that the Latino, Filipino and hip-hop community get knitted into the fabric of American history. In addition to SoundDiego, she contributes to Latina, Fox News Latino, Poder, VidaVibrante, San Diego CityBeat and HipHopDx. She is also the founder of the infamous music and politrix blog GN$F! Follow Dita on Twitter or on Facebook.
