10 must-see films directed by Latin American women

From north to south, from east to west, regardless of their country of origin, women in the film world continue to take firm steps that have led to international success and recognition. And we are not only talking about actresses or producers but more specifically about directors, those who take the lead in a project to bring it to life with their visionary magic.

Examples of this case abound in Latin America. The rise of women behind the camera has reached such a point that it is now more common to see them in that important role, participating in festivals and receiving awards for their work. Given this, and as a way to pay tribute to these directors, we present a list of ten must-see films from different countries. The message at this point is to continue giving that valuable support, both to them and to the national cinema itself.

Paraguayan hammock (2006), by Paz Encina / Paraguay

This director and screenwriter with an incredible career have up to 10 productions between films and short films under her belt. Precisely, this film won an award at the Cannes Film Festival, which also has the peculiarity of being spoken in Guaraní. The story takes place during the last hours of the Chaco War, which was fought between Paraguay and Bolivia in 1935.

XXY (2007), by Lucía Puenzo / Argentina

Writer, director, and screenwriter of Argentine cinema. Lucía has directed a total of five films, this being her first and the most successful, as she won the Goya Award for Best Ibero-American Film. The film narrates the life of a 15-year-old intersex person who flees with her parents to a small beachfront village to avoid being rejected by society and to learn to accept her condition.

The scared tit (2009), by Claudia Llosa / Peru

Peruvian cinema is fortunate to have a great director and writer like Claudia, who has won several awards and distinctions throughout her career. This film, which was nominated for the Goya Awards and the Oscars, focuses on the fears of women who were raped during Peru's era of terrorism in the last two decades of the 20th century.

El Bella Vista (2012), by Alicia Cano / Uruguay

It is the first film by this young director. Alicia used a note published in a newspaper in her country about the ups and downs of the Bella Vista Club, something that motivated her to travel to town to record the different life stories. The film, which goes between reality and fiction, tells how the headquarters of a football club became a brothel and later a Catholic chapel.

Bad Hair (2014), by Mariana Rondón / Venezuela

Mariana is one of the many Venezuelan filmmakers who have stood out in the last decade. There is no better example than this film, winner at the San Sebastian Festival, which tells the story of a 9-year-old boy who has "bad hair" and wants to straighten it to take his school photo, however, this causes a strong conflict with his mother who will seek ways to re-educate him.

Also read: 13 films that have represented Latin America at the Critics Choice Awards

Tomorrow at this time (2016), by Lina Rodríguez / Colombia

This director, producer, and screenwriter has been behind the camera in two films and several short films. It stands out for its critical vision of Colombian society, portraying stories of a family crisis like the one in this film, which takes us to the calm and balanced life of Adelaida, a young woman who after repeatedly arguing with her mother will start a series of events that will put to test the union of all at home.

Vazante (2017), by Daniela Thomas / Brazil

Very few know that Daniela was one of the creative directors behind the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Among her extensive filmography, you can find this interesting story, which focuses on the most intimate of colonial Brazil and that step by step he shows us how little progress has been made on social issues in that country.

Vuelven (2017), by Issa López / Mexico

The Mexican writer, producer, and director is widely recognized for her comedy films. However, he surprised locals and strangers when he made this horror story, which presents a group of children who must deal with organized crime and supernatural creatures. To date, it has a 97% approval rating according to the Rotten Tomatoes portal.

Too late to die young (2018), by Dominga Sotomayor / Chile

If we talk about the promises of Chilean and Latin American cinema, Dominga undoubtedly stands out among the first, as she has the honor of being the first woman to receive the award for Best Director at the Locarno Film Festival (Switzerland). The film in question is this, which narrates the life of a girl who faces adolescence in a rural community in Chile in 1990, just before the return to democracy in the country.

The awakening of the ants (2019), by Antonella Sudasassi / Costa Rica

Emerging talent has a great example in Costa Rica. His debut on the big screen has given much to talk about, as it caused such an impact that it became the first film to represent his country at the Goya Awards. The story follows the marriage of Isabel and Alcides who have two young daughters. Although the husband insists on having a boy, Isa does not want to because he wants to focus on his work, so he must change the rules of the game.