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Recommended because deadly embrace of the video’s title refers to the post-Sandinista government’s acceptance of the structural adjustment policies of the World Bank and IMF, which have devastated Nicaragua’s economy at least from the standpoint of the vast majority of the people. According to the video, unemployment has rocketed to 60%, credit to small farmers has been slashed, public school teachers work in deteriorating conditions for $60 to $70 a month, and public programs of all kinds have been eliminated. Meanwhile, free trade zones welcome transnational corporations who pay pennies an hour to desperate workers.
Review from Rethinking Schools/Rethinking Globalization Resources Page, 07/2002.

Recommended because this video is a primer on the history and social consequences of the Third World debt crisis and structural adjustment programs, especially focusing on the Caribbean. It has something of a homemade feel to it and lacks the polish that students are used to, but it is a clear and hard-hitting overview of the severe difficulties the debt crisis creates in poor countries. One of the videos strengths is that it is entirely narrated, and the skits acted, by Caribbean people themselves. The Debt Crisis covers much the same ground as Banking on Life and Debt, although its Caribbean focus is narrower. However, the playfulness (some might argue, silliness) of its skits and its concentration on a smaller geographic area probably make this more accessible for many students.

Recommended because Where Are the Beans? is a kind of detective story and an excellent classroom resource. Linda Shelly, of the Mennonite Central Committee, lived in La Esperanza, Honduras for several years. While there, she loved to eat red beans, a staple of the Honduran diet. But when she returned in 1993, she found that no one ate beans any longer. Where are the beans? is the question that Shelly pursues as she visits old friends to learn about how their lives have changed. Shelly discovers the answer in the structural adjustment policies that the International Monetary Fund pressed the Honduran government to adopt: fewer subsidies to the poor, currency devaluation, no more government loans to small farmers, and increased exports of … you guessed it: red beans. The small Honduran farmers have been pulled into the global economy pulled in at the bottom, says Shelly. Their new position in this system demands more and more from them and offers them less and less. Review from Rethinking Schools/Rethinking Globalization Resources Page, 07/2002.

Recommended because directed by Ana Luisa Azevedo and produced by Casa de Cinema, Ventre Livre intercuts moving interviews with a range of different women, describing their own experiences with statistics on the poor state of health care for women in Brazil. In Brazil, one of every four women of child-bearing age has been sterilized – often in her teens. And, with no access to other forms of contraception, over two million women resort to illegal abortions every year – leading to an estimated 50,000 deaths. Be aware of the fact that the film deals with mature subject matter. 48 minutes. The film is available for check out at Lord Hall at OSU, and can be purchased for $195.00 through the Latin American, Spanish, and Portuguese Collections at the OSU Library. Reviewed by Stace Rierson, 3/1/02. Kansas.

Recommended because this film, directed by Chico Teixeira (color, 50 minutes), takes viewers into the heart of the Brazilian favelas, the slums that spread uncontrollably through Sao Paulo, Brazil’s wealthiest industrial center. The social reality of this cruel habitat is examined by those who dwell there and by artists, philosophers, educators and sociologists. “…portrays the sadness and hopelessness of life in the favelas…could be used as a starting point for discussions on social responsibility and the economic problems of the disadvantaged.” — Video Rating Guide for Libraries”…sensitive…highly recommended.”–Library Journal Be aware of the fact that the video with Portuguese dialogue and English subtitles. LANIC

Recommended because Living Traditions includes essays and photographs of popular Mexican art.

Recommended because produced by Alfonso Olvera, May Herz, Victor Quiroga (Huntsville, TX) and written and directed by May Herz, this 24-minute video is a matter-of-fact way of presenting Mexican culture. Mexicans have a very special way of seeing the world and themselves, a unique sense of humor and a deep- rooted sense of tradition. They are an artistic and passionate culture. They don?t let time run their lives. Family and community are very important values. Learn about the most characteristic and curious aspects of Mexican culture. Information includes personal space, religion, the importance of family, machismo, and the concept of time. Be aware of the fact that this video is also available in Spanish. Reviewed by Stace Rierson, 1/2002. Kansas.

Recommended because this color, 24-minute documentary (directed by Justin McFadden) examines the human side of Mexico’s informal economy, which is estimated to comprise some two-thirds of the country’s working population. Featuring interviews with five street vendors and a resident economics scholar, the video will stimulate discussion on government regulation, economic sustainability, environmental health, and the NAFTA debate. LANIC

Recommended because it introduceds mini-history of colonial Mexican Society; Tulane University.

Recommended because directed by Saul Landau and Sonia Angulo (color, 55 minutes), this video examines the impact of corporate globalization on Mexico, focusing on the maquiladoras, U.S.-owned factories employing cheap Mexican labor. Archival footage and interviews provide historical background to the present crisis, involving the displacement of peasant farmers who migrate to northern border cities such as Juarez and Tiajuana, where they endure dangerous working conditions in the maquilas for starvation wages. The film also reveals other aspects of the present crisis, including the environmental disasters generated by these factories, their unsafe environment, which has resulted in an unsolved series of brutal rapes and murders of young women employees, and violent rural confrontations between the Mexican Army and Mayan peasant farmers as part of the government’s efforts to suppress the Zapatista rebellion. The video features interviews with workers, factory managers, government officials, army officers, indigenous peasants and economists. LANIC.

Recommended because directed by Saul Landau (color, 60 minutes), this video portrays the CIA’s Contra war against Nicaragua’s Sandinista government. LANIC.

Recommended because directed by Doranne Jacobson and produced by The Upper Midwest, the information in this film covers marianismo and machismo in Nicaragua, and is not particularly insightful or exciting for students at the junior high or high school level. It was filmed during the 1980s Anti-Somoza movement. Reviewed by Stace Rierson, 3/1/02.

Recommended because this 20 minute film is a part of the “South America Today series”. The video examines the geography, customs, and cultural heritage of Chile. It explores Santiago, Chile’s largest city and capital, as well as Chile’s primary resources and their importance to the economy. The film also reviews the various economic, political, and historical changes that have occurred, including Salvador Allende’s efforts towards industrialization and Augusto Pinochet’s leadership. Grades Slavic and Eastern Europe-10. Reviewed by Center for Latin American Studies and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) Indiana University at Bloomington. Be aware of the fact that this is a dated film, but it could be a great springboard to evaluate the message of the film and what we now know about Chile and the Allende/ Pinochet history. Tim Dove Aug. 2004

Recommended because this film explores the importance of the Virgin of Guadalupe as a liberating symbol for Mexican women today. Twenty- three women speak out, in traditional testimonial format. The documentary follow an all-women’s pilgrimage from Queretaro state through several arduous but joyful days as it weaves its way through difficult terrain, harsh weather and congested streets to the Virgin’s shrine in Mexico City. Be aware of the fact that it is in Spanish with English subtitles. Be aware that this video is rather sophisticated, and that students should have knowledge of women’s issues in a third world country in order to fully engage in the information. Reviewed by Stace Rierson, 3/1/02. Not from a Title VI site.

Recommended because of being a straight forward documentary on women’s economic issues in Bolivia. Hell to Pay is a moving and politically sophisticated analysis of the international debt-situation through the eyes of the women of Bolivia, one of the poorest countries of Latin America. Although most affected by government austerity programs, peasant women are assumed not to understand the workings of international capital and foreign policy. Hell to Pay poignantly contradicts such assumptions as teachers, textile workers and miners’ wives speak vividly and with great comprehension of the causes of the debt-crisis and the burden they are forced to bear. Be aware of the fact this video is “sophisticated,” and that students should have knowledge about the International Monetary Fund’s policies. Availability: the video is available for check out through the Lord Hall Resource Center on the OSU campus. It is can also be purchased for $295.00 through the Latin American, Spanish, and Portuguese Collections at the OSU Library. Reviewed by Stace Rierson, 1/30/2002.

Recommended because Maria’s Story is an intimate portrait of a thirty- nine-year old mother of three who is a leader in the guerrilla movement in El Salvador. Short and stocky, with ready wit and common sense, Maria Serrano is a down-to-earth woman whose passion for social justice dominates her life. Maria represents a growing number of Latin American women on the forefront of social change. The filmmakers spent seven weeks in Maria’s temporary camp, under mortar fire and helicopter surveillance, to capture the story of the human side of this war. Be aware of the fact that this video is subtitled in English, is rather sophisticated, and that students should have knowledge of women’s issues in a third world country in order to fully engage in the information. Reviewed by Stace Rierson, 3/1/02.

Recommended because this video is recommended for students who are deeply interested in the living conditions of women in Latin America. This tape features interviews with Rigoberta Mench

Recommended because this is a MUST SEE for students studying Latin America. It is a compelling and deeply moving look at the life of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador (played by Raul Julia), who made the ultimate sacrifice in a passionate stand against the injustice and oppression in his country. Ultimately he is assassinted in 1980 at the hands of the military junta. Film guide are available for this film through the Kansas Title VI site. Film guides include background information about the social, cultural, and political environment necessary to understand the film. Also included are sample lesson plans which can assist in classroom use of the video in both language and social science classes. Reviewed by Stace Rierson, 3/1/02. Kansas.

Recommended because this multi-disciplinary documentary examines an ecologically sustainable system of agriculture that has flourished in Mexico for some 2,000 years. Kansas.

Recommended because Turning Tide Productions in association with the Confederation of Indian Nations of Ecuador, National Organization of Indian People in Colombia, and South and Meso American Information Center provide a moving testimony of the impact of the Columbus legacy on the lives of indigenous peoples from across the hemisphere. Native people speak about the devastation of their cultures resulting from the “European invasion,” contemporary struggles over land and human rights, the importance of reviving spiritual traditions, and the need to alert the world to the environmental crises threatening the survival of the planet.

Recommended because Cuba offers an interesting blend of Spanish culture and modern political history of this emerging Hispanic country. Today Havana is a burgeoning metropolis. This video is ideal for teaching students about a nation which will be at the center of Latin American politics in coming years. Teaching guide available. Kansas.

Recommended because it explores the rise and fall of ancient Mesoamerican cultures and civilizations (i.e., Aztecs, Maya, Olmecs, Zapotecs, and Toltecs). The video also traces Spanish conquest of the Aztecs and Mayans. Reviewed by Andre J. Patterson, 06/2002; updated by Tim Dove Sep 2003.

Recommended because this 44-minute video explores the divisions between industrialized nations (former imperialist nations) and underdeveloped nations (former colonies). The video documents in three parts: (1) the history of Spanish rule in Latin America; (2) chronicles the involvement of the British in India; (3) describes the motives behind the colonization of Africa, focusing on the origins of apartheid. The video comes with a supplemental guide. Reviewed by Andre J. Patterson, 06/2002; updated by Tim Dove Sep 2003.

Recommended because in a career that spanned 50 years, Cuban bandleader Frank “Machito” Grillo embodied Latin Jazz, influencing several generations of musicians and contributing to a cultural explosion on the international music scene. Machito, a prize winning documentary (1989 Festival Latino, 1988 San Juan Film Festival), weaves together vintage film clips and recordings, Hollywood production numbers, and one-of-a-kind street performances from 1920s Cuba to contemporary New York. Sensational shows at such hot spots as the Cotton Club highlight the golden era of Latin Jazz in the 40s and 50s. Kansas

Recommended because in this 21 minute film it discusses the mixture of races, customs, traditions, and religions in South America. The video also introduces a variety of people, and shows how they are affecting, and being affected by, their resources, agriculture, industry, and urban or rural life. Grades 4-10. Reviewed by Center for Latin American Studies and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) Indiana University at Bloomington.

Recommended because it explores the origins of Aztec culture and civilization from ancient times to the coming of the Spanish conquistadors. Reviewed by Andre J. Patterson, 06/2002; updated by Tim Dove Sep 2003.

Recommended because directed by Michael Engel (color, 60 minutes), this video documents daily life in Xingu National Park, situated in Brazil’s Southern Amazon Basin, a 9,000-square-mile natural preserve which is home to 3,500 Native Brazilians comprising fifteen different tribes. Featuring the participation of one of Brazil’s leading anthropologists, Joao Americo, and the Xingu Shaman, Sapain Kamayurah, the video recounts Xingu mythology, and offers an informative view of Xingu life, one which has developed in harmony with their natural environment. We see the daily struggle for food, religious rituals, a marriage ceremony, family relations, and a massive celebration, involving several different tribes, in which wrestling competitions have replaced the intertribal wars of the past. LANIC.

Recommended because this 20 minute video examines the geography, customs, and cultural heritage of Argentina, the second-largest nation in Latin America. Discusses in detail the three periods of Argentinean government, including the leadership of Juan Peron. It explains that one-third of the country’s population lives in the capital city of Buenos Aires and shows the arctic life of the southern Argentinean coast, including Patagonia. Grades 6-10. Reviewed by Center for Latin American Studies and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) Indiana University at Bloomington.

Recommended because this 20 minute film explores the resources, agriculture, industry, and people of Brazil, South America’s largest country. Explains that, although Brazil is a tropical nation, it is becoming one of the most industrially developed nations on the continent. It investigates the many serious problems this rapid industrialization is causing, including pollution and destruction of the large Amazon rain forest. Provides an in-depth view of the lifestyles and heritage of the Brazilian people. Grades Slavic and Eastern Europe-10. Reviewed by Center for Latin American Studies and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) Indiana University at Bloomington.

Recommended because a part of the South American Series, this 18 minute film compares and contrasts the resources, agriculture, industry, and people of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It points out that all have a similar Spanish heritage and their most important industry is raising livestock. It also shows that Argentina, the largest of the three nations, ranges from the cold Antarctic to the subtropical border of Brazil, whereas the two small nations of Paraguay and Uruguay act as a “buffer” between Argentina and Brazil. The video explores the great pampas grassland, which covers much of Paraguay and Uruguay, and the gauchos who live there. Grades 4-10. Reviewed by Center for Latin American Studies and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) Indiana University at Bloomington.

Recommended because directed by Sonia Fritz (color), this short drama portrays the efforts of a young woman photographer to uncover the fragmentary and little-known history of an early nineteenth-century Puerto Rican feminist and political activist who was deported for her nationalist beliefs by the Spanish colonial government of the era. As the historical drama unfolds-and is revealed to involve repression on the grounds of both gender and political beliefs-it is juxtaposed to events in more recent Puerto Rican history. LANIC.

Recommended because narrated by Major Joseph Blair, US Army, this film is a production of Veterans for Peace. For the first time, an insider speaks about the School of the Americas. A twenty-year veteran with two tours of duty in Vietnam believes that the SOA should be “torn down like the Berlin Wall.” Blair states that the SOA no longer serves democratic ends and is a training ground for oppression. “We routinely had students who were known human rights abusers, and it didn’t make a difference to us,” recounts Major Blair in this compelling video. Kansas.

Recommended because this film directed by Monica Frota (1985) (color, 41 minutes), an independent Brazilian filmmaker, collaborated with the Kayapo people of the Brazilian rain forest to develop Mekaron Opoi D’joi (He Who Creates Images), the first Kayapo media project. This video chronicles the Kayapos’ appropriation of video technology as a political and cultural weapon. Using footage shots by the Kayapo, archival footage, stills and computer animation, Taking Aim is a witty and provocative exploration of issues of power and representation, one which challenges the stereotypical portrayals of “traditional societies” perpetuated by conventional ethnographic film and video. LANIC.

Recommended because directed by Nigel Noble, this film by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Nigel Noble documents the workaday lives of Brazilian peasants who cut down trees in the Amazon rain forest and burn the wood in earthen kilns to make charcoal, an essential ingredient for the manufacture of pig iron in the U.S. These “charcoal people,” including children as young as five, live and work in appalling conditions in a toxic environment with no sanitation or potable drinking water. The film graphically details the primitive process of making charcoal, by burning wood in clay ovens, which has not changed since the early nineteenth century. The workers are systematically subjugated by debt, since they are charged more for their food than they receive in wages. The laborers and their families discuss the backbreaking and dangerous work, which involves the despoliation of their natural surroundings, and we witness the toll it takes on their own health and the global environment.

Recommended because constructed almost entirely from film clips – cartoons, newsreels, educational films, home movies and features – it documents the representation of Latin America in U.S. films. Since the turn of the century, popular media in the United States have promoted a stereotyped image of Latin America in order to justify the concept of U.S. dominance in the hemisphere. The “neighbors to the South” depicted here are a fantasy of course, featuring such staple creations as the Latin lover, highway bandits, ignorant peasants and banana republics. Kansas.

Recommended because the Buried Mirror series – Part V. Spain, Latin America and the Hispanic communities in the United States have all undergone enormous changes in this century. Within the lifetime of those born now, half the population of the U.S. will be Spanish-speaking. Every year, half a million brave the border patrols to enter the U.S. illegally. “They are looking for the Gringo gold, but also bringing the Latino gold,” Carlos Fuentes observes. Hispanic immigrants contribute a wealth of traditions: diverse cultural creativity in art, music and dance, and respect for family ties — distinct hallmarks of the Spanish-speaking world. Kansas.

Recommended because this 23-minute video documents the harsh realities of child labor in the clothing and textile industry. The video is recommended as a supplement to the “Child Labor is Not Cheap” curriculum unit also available from the Resource Center of the Americas. Reviewed by Andre J. Patterson (from the Resource Center of the Americas website), 06/2002; updated by Tim Dove Sep 2003.

Recommended because This 240-minute/2-pack video documentary examine the Spanish conquest of the New world and explores the adventures of conquistadors–Cortes, Pizzarro, Orellana, and Cabeza de Vaca. The video documentary supplements Wood’s book Conquistadors and the PBS online learning adventure. Reviewed by Andre J. Patterson (from PBS.org website), 06/2002; updated by Tim Dove Sep 2003.

Recommended because directed by Sergio Giral (100 minutes, Feature), this film is based on the 19th century novel Francisco by Anselmo Su

Recommended because it examines the remarkable changes made by women of the Americas in the last quarter century, as they organized to create better living conditions for themselves and their families. Kansas.