In The Community
At Luz, we champion these less-explored narratives and unheard voices. Today, we present a handpicked list of films that fuse queer narratives with Latine creativity, spanning stirring coming-of-age stories to compelling dramas, all poised to inspire, move, and provoke thought.
Mosquita y Mari (2012)
Image Credit: IMDB
Directed by the gifted Aurora Guerrero, "Mosquita y Mari" is a coming-of-age tale that brings to life the complexities of adolescence, identity, and blossoming queer romance. The film's protagonists, Yolanda, an excellent student, and Mari, a rebellious newcomer, meet as high school friends in their Huntington Park neighborhood in Los Angeles. Their relationship evolves, subtly and authentically, eventually challenging their traditional expectations of friendship and compelling them to reflect on their ambitions and dreams.
A Fantastic Woman (2017)
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Directed by Sebastián Lelio, "A Fantastic Woman" is a Chilean film that tells the story of Marina, a transgender woman who faces prejudice and discrimination after her partner's death. The film is notable for its delicate handling of transgender identity and for its lead, Daniela Vega, a trans woman, adding authenticity and depth to the character. The movie won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, reinforcing its critical and cultural significance.
The Garden Left Behind (2019)
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"The Garden Left Behind" is a sensitive and thought-provoking film directed by Flavio Alves. This independent film centers around Tina, a young, undocumented Mexican trans woman, as she navigates her daily life in New York City. As Tina struggles with societal acceptance and battles the bureaucracy of healthcare, she finds strength in her community and her relationship with her grandmother. "The Garden Left Behind" provides a rare look into the lives of undocumented, transgender, and immigrant communities, offering a nuanced depiction of resilience and identity.
Sand Dollars (2014)
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Co-directed by Laura Amelia Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas, "Sand Dollars" is a nuanced drama exploring a transactional queer relationship. The film focuses on Noeli, a young Dominican woman and tourist escort, involved in a complex relationship with an older French woman, Anne. Amidst the power dynamics and emotional complexities, Noeli plans to use Anne to secure a visa to reunite with her mother in Barcelona. Based on Jean-Noel Pancrazi's novel, the film stands as a unique addition to queer, Latine cinema with its impending sequel, "Noelí Overseas".
XXY (2007)
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Directed by Argentine author, screenwriter, and film director Lucía Puenzo, “XXY” explores the rarely depicted life of an intersex teenager. Inés Efron stars as Alex, a 15-year-old intersex person living in Uruguay as a girl, suppressing her masculine features with medication. As Alex navigates the complexities of her identity amidst societal pressures and her mother's desire for her to get sex reassignment surgery, she starts a relationship with the son of a visiting surgeon. The film is a poignant critique of the need to conform to social norms and how parents’ need to define their children by a specific gender can be more harmful than supportive. These topics are still relevant today. This wouldn’t be the last time Puenzo explores queer experiences through her work, which brings us to…
The Fish Child (2009)
Image Credit: IMDB
In “The Fish Child,” Lucía Puenzo continues her exploration of queer themes with a thrilling narrative. The film stars Inés Efron as Lala, a wealthy girl who gets involved in a murder that threatens to incriminate her and her girlfriend, Ailin. As they plan to escape to Paraguay, their journey becomes a tense fight against societal injustices and personal secrets. Combining film noir with magical realism, “The Fish Child” touches on themes like class, abuse, and misogyny, with a focus on the resilience of the lesbian couple at the center of it.
Extra-Terrestrials (2016)
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Puerto Rican director and screenwriter Carla Cavina's “Extra-Terrestrials” is a sci-fi dramedy featuring one of the first same-sex couples in Puerto Rican cinema. Teresa, played by Marisé Álvarez, returns home to Puerto Rico with her partner Daniela, aiming to reveal her sexuality to her family. The film dives into the secrets and complexities within Teresa's family, highlighting the universal struggle for acceptance and connection that many LGBTQ+ people go through, especially within Latino culture.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (2023)
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Directed by Cuban Aitch Alberto, “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” is a touching coming-of-age story set in 1987 in El Paso, Texas. The film follows two Latino boys, Aristotle and Dante, as they explore their feelings for each other amidst societal and internalized homophobia. Alberto did a wonderful job at capturing the tender, profound emotions of self-discovery and the challenges of being Latine and queer in the 1980s.
In the shared language of emotion and empathy, cinema has the power to unite diverse experiences. These films represent an important segment of queer, Latine-directed cinema, each offering a unique lens into the realities of queer lives within the Latine context. As the world of cinema grows more inclusive and diverse, we look forward to more such narratives that continue to break barriers and celebrate the diversity of the human experience.
"Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Image credit: Editorial Simon & Schuster
This beautifully written coming-of-age novel follows the story of two Mexican-American boys, Aristotle and Dante, as they navigate the challenges of growing up, friendship, and falling in love. “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” is a tender exploration of identity, family, and self-acceptance, so it will open your eyes to many aspects of the queer experience. It also has a 2022 movie adaptation directed by Cuban Aitch Alberto that you can watch when you’re done!
"Brief Story from the Green Planet" (2019)
Image credit: IMDB
Speaking of movies, “Brief Story from the Green Planet” is the first one on the list. Directed by Argentine filmmaker Santiago Loza, this is a sci-fi adventure movie that follows Tania, a transgender woman who recently lost her beloved grandmother and is grieving. Soon after this sad news, she accidentally discovers that her grandmother was hosting an alien at her home. With the help of two friends, Tania goes on the journey of returning the alien where it belongs. The characters are vulnerable and resilient, and the movie presents a metaphor that’s for viewers to unravel for themselves.
“Juliet Takes a Breath” by Gabby Rivera
Image credit: Editorial Riverdale Avenue Books
The next book on the list is written by Gabby Rivera and it’s a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story about a gay Latina from the Bronx. The book follows Juliet as she grapples with her identity and goes on a journey of self-discovery when she interns for a feminist writer she admires. Juliet’s journey in “Juliet Takes a Breath” is a raw portrayal of intersectionality, feminism, and queer identity. It’s an important read not only for queer Latinos but also for people who want to understand queer experiences a bit better.
"Gentefied" (2020-2021)
Image credit: Netflix
If you’re in the mood for binging a good show, “Gentefied” has two seasons you can dive into. This is a dramedy show that follows three Mexican-American cousins in East Los Angeles as they navigate the challenges of gentrification, family, and their own identities. The show includes queer storylines, notably featuring Ana, a queer artist who struggles to balance her passion with her family's expectations. It’s an enjoyable show that will make you laugh but it also delivers important messages about life, family, love, and the Latino experience.
"The Grief Keeper" by Alexandra Villasante
Image credit: Editorial Putnam
Written by Alexandra Villasante of Uruguayan descent, “The Grief Keeper” is a YA novel that follows Marisol, a Salvadoran refugee who agrees to participate in a secret government experiment to keep her sister safe. The experiment consists of becoming a grief keeper, someone who takes another person’s grief into their own body to save a life. It’s a risky experiment, but Marisol didn’t expect that one of the risks would be falling in love. It's a powerful story about trauma, love, queer love, and the lengths we'll go to protect the people we love.
"Vida" (2018-2020)
Image credit: IMDB
“Vida” is a must-watch that will make you feel and also break you a little. Created by Tanya Saracho, a talented Mexican-American actress, playwright, dramaturge, and screenwriter, “Vida” draws inspiration from the short story “Pour Vida” by Richard Villegas Jr. This Starz series is boldly queer with elements of magical realism and it follows the journey of Emma (Mishel Prada) and Lyn (Melissa Barrera) as they return to their Boyle Heights home after their mother's death. Their return forces them to confront their past and how much they’ve changed since they left. At its core, Vida is about peeling back the layers to discover our true selves, making it quite relatable. It only has two seasons, so it's perfect for a good TV show binge session.
“They Both Die at the End” by Adam Silvera
Image credit: Harper Collins Publishers
Written by Adam Silvera of Puerto Rican descent, “They Both Die at the End” is a YA, LGBTQ+ novel that follows Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio as they face their final day on Earth. They don’t want to spend it on their own, so they use an app to search for people to share their last few precious hours alive and they find each other. It’s a groundbreaking story about two Latino gay boys and the power of love, which is very important to highlight in the Latino community as it sometimes struggles with LGBTQ+ acceptance.
"The Firefly" (2015)
Image credit: IMDB
“The Firefly” is known as the first Colombian movie ever made about lesbians. Even though it’s a bit of an oldie, it’s worth a watch. It’s a romance, fantasy, and drama film directed by Colombian director, screenwriter, and producer Ana Maria Hermida. “The Firefly” follows Lucia who has been married to a banker for 4 years but she’s just not happy. One day, she gets the news that her estranged brother died in a car accident on his wedding day. Lucia visits her brother’s grieving fiancée, Mariana, and they strike up an unexpected bond that soon turns romantic. Will she continue in a loveless marriage or be with Mariana? It’s quite an exploration of grief, coming to terms with one’s identity, and love.
“Loving in the War Years” by Cherrie Moraga
Image credit: South End Press
Cherrie Moraga is a Chicana writer, feminist, and activist who published “Loving in the War Years” in 1983, a time when gay Chicano identities were being censored. It’s a classic Chicano feminist work that explores themes like Chicano identity, white-passing privilege, LGBTQ+ identity and unapologetically embracing it, feminism, and solidarity with women of color. It’s a classic for a reason and it has been a validating read for countless Chicanos since its publication.
"Love, Victor" (2020-2022)
Image credit: IMDB
Last but not least, “Love, Victor” is a teen comedy-drama inspired and set in the same world as “Love, Simon,” the 2018 movie. “Love, Victor” follows Victor, a teen of Puerto Rican and Colombian descent who’s struggling with his sexual orientation. While “Love, Simon” deals with the struggles of coming out to others when you’re not ready, “Love, Victor” deals with coming to terms with your sexuality and navigating the challenging aspects of that. It has 3 seasons you can binge and you’ll definitely enjoy Simon’s journey.
