SDLFF 2003 - FEATURES 12 Horas Director: Raul Marchand Sanchez Puerto Rico, 2001, 35mm, 93 min. Spanish with subtitles The steamy nightlife of San Juan, Puerto Rico is the backdrop for this black comedy that intercuts five parallel stories taking place within the same twelve hour period. Complex and comedic situations ensue during the nightly meanderings of three divorcees on the town, a transvestite lounge singer, a taxi driver, a news reporter and a teenager bent on losing her virginity before the night is through. Winner of the Audience Award at the 2002 Chicago Latino Film Festival. Puerto Rico's official entry into the 2002 Oscar competition. For mature audiences. Screenings: THURSDAY., MARCH 13, 7:30 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 4:00 PM Anita No Pierde el Tren Director: Ventura Pons Spain, 2001, 35 mm, 89 min. Spanish/Catal‡n with subtitles 50-year old Anita has been working the box office at the Capri movie theater in Barcelona for 30 years. When her boss sends her off on vacation, she returns to find that she has been forced into early retirement and her beloved single-screen cinema has been destroyed to make way for a new multiplex. Not sure how to deal with the situation, Anita visits the construction site every day. A chance meeting with a bulldozer driver leads to a sudden affair and ruminations on classic films in this award-winning romantic comedy about life, love and new beginnings. Featuring the great Catalonian actress Rosa Maria Sard‡, who herself has spent 30 years as director Ventura Pons' favorite leading lady. For mature audiences. Screenings: SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 4:00 PM TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 8:00 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2:30 PM Antonia Director: Mariano Andrade Chile, 2001, 35 mm, 100 min. Spanish with subtitles A successful female executive navigates through depression, an unexpected pregnancy and the return of an old flame in this suspenseful drama set amidst the hustle and bustle of modern Santiago. Will Antonia trade the comfort of her young, idealistic photographer boyfriend for a chance to rekindle a denied passion with Martin, an activist who left Chile a decade ago under questionable circumstances? This award-winning independent film by the head of Chile's new Escuela de Cine de Chile de Vi–a del Mar addresses the difficult decisions faced by today's working women. Starring Chilean TV stars Carolina Fadic and Jorge Zabaleta. For mature audiences. Screenings: FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 4:00 PM TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 5:00PM SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1:30 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 1:30PM EL BRUTO DIRECTOR: LUIS BU„UEL MEXICO, 1952, 80 MIN. SPANISH with English Subtitles In this classic film from the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema, silver screen siren Katy Jurado stars as Paloma, the hardhearted wife of grizzled and henpecked slumlord Don Andres (Andres Soler). When Paloma prods her husband to evict the working class tenants of one of his apartment complexes in order to build her a new house, he hires a hotheaded but simple slaughterhouse worker named Pedro (played by the incomparable Pedro Amendariz) to rough them up and scare them out of their homes. But when the tenants refuse to be intimidated, Don Andres unleashes strongman Pedro on their leader, the kind Don Carmelo Gonzalez. Meanwhile, Paloma begins to fall for Pedro, who only has eyes for Meche, Don Carmelo's daughter. Raw power, passion and punches intertwine in this follow-up to director Luis Bu–uel's masterwork "Los Olvidados." This gritty urban melodrama is co-written by Bu–uel and his frequent collaborator Luis Alcoriza, who also co-wrote the script for "Los Olvidados" and other Bu–uel classics, including "El Angel Exterminador." FOR MATURE AUDIENCES. Screening Time: SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 5:00PM Una Casa con Vista al Mar Director: Alberto Arvelo Venezuela, 2001, 35mm, 93 min. Spanish with subtitles The year is 1948, and humble farmer Tomas Alonso has just lost his wife. Now it is up to him to raise their only son Santiago. Tomas Alonso thinks of himself as a coward, and he wants Santiago to grow up to be a brave man. A pair of boots, dreams of visiting the sea and Tomas Alonso's violin figure in this moving father and son story set in the mountainous highlands of Venezuela. Beautifully shot and featuring excellent acting, this is the poignant story of a simple man and his son coping with life, loss and loneliness. Starring Imanol Arias, Gabriel Arcand, Leandro Arvelo and Manuela Aguirre. Venezuela's official entry into the 2002 Oscar competition. For mature audiences. Screenings: FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 7:30 PM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 5:00 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 5:00 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 9:45 PM Chasing Papi Director: Linda Mendoza USA, 2003, 90 min. Chasing Papi revolves around three disparate women a buttoned down lawyer from Chicago, a Miami cocktail waitress, and a wealthy, sheltered New Yorker who discover they have something in common: the irresistible lothario who has been three-timing them. They decide to teach their papi chulo a lesson, but instead end up on a wild adventure of their own, which takes them to a beauty pageant, a dance festival, and into some dangerous run-ins with a pair of shady characters. For mature audiences. Screenings: SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 8:00 PM El Cielo Abierto Director: Miguel Albadalejo Spain, 2001, 35 mm, 107 min. Spanish with subtitles Handsome psychiatrist Miguel's wife Sara leaves him for another man on the same day her mother, Elvira, is scheduled to visit them in Madrid for a medical exam. To make matters worse, Miguel's wallet is stolen by Paquito, one of his quirky and quacky patients. Can Miguel play host to Elvira, make sense of Sara's infidelity and track down his wallet all in the same day? Thus begins a series of self-discoveries and searches that lead Miguel to Jasmina, Paquito's spirited and spunky hairdresser sister. A delightfully funny Spanish romantic comedy with hints of Educating Rita. Starring Sergi Lopez, Mariola Fuentes and Maria Jose Alfonso. For mature audiences. Screenings: SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2:30 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 4:00 PM Ciudades Oscuras Director: Fernando Sari–ana Mexico, 2002, 35mm, 113 min. Spanish with subtitles Prolific Mexican producer and director Fernando Sari–ana (Todo el poder, Amarte duele, El segundo aire) returns with a stunning film featuring twelve vignettes about characters interwoven by circumstance in the dingy underbelly of the urban metropolis that is Mexico City. The all-star cast includes Diego Luna (Y Tu Mama Tambien, Frida) Demian Bichir (Sexo, Pudor y Lagrimas), and Zaide Silvia GutiŽrrez (El Norte). Troubled teens, homeless people, junkies, loners, hookers and corrupt cops collide on the mean streets of the Mexican capital in a nightly search for magic, mayhem and meaning. Based on the novel Tales of Dark Madrid by Juan Madrid, Ciudades oscuras guides us through an urban labyrinth of motels, bars, Chinese restaurants, public plazas and dirty sidestreets. For mature audiences. Screenings: SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 7:00 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2:30 PM MONDAY, MARCH 17, 7:00 PM Cuento de Hadas Para Dormir Cocodrilos Director: Ignacio Ortiz Mexico, 2001-2002, 35mm, 100 min. Spanish with subtitles Instant karma strikes a man who must travel through his family's troubled past to unravel the secret of a centuries' old curse in order to save his life and the life of his son. Tracing the footsteps of his father, grandfather and beyond, his search brings him face to face with such historical events as the Reform War and the Mexican Revolution. Caught within a sleepless dream of destiny, he confronts the haunted history not only of a family, but of a nation. This film swept the 2002 Ariel Awards in Mexico. For mature audiences. Screenings: FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 10:00 PM MONDAY, MARCH 17, 8:00 PM FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 7:00 PM El Descanso Director: Ulises Rosell, Rodrigo Moreno and Andres Tambornino Argentina, 2001, 35 mm, 95 min. Spanish with subtitles A pair of buddies on a road trip in Argentina get mixed up in small town politics in this taut yet funny dark psychological comedy revolving around a mysterious abandoned resort known as El Descanso. The stage is set for a showdown with the local authorities when Freddie Fassano teams up with the town's bon vivants to lay claim to El Descanso and restore it to its former glory. Free-spirited bohemians and corrupt local officials tangle with a ten-year old mystery in rural Argentina in this original film that plays out like a modern western. Winner of the "Best Argentine Film" award at the Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival. For mature audiences. Screenings: THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 10:00 PM MONDAY, MARCH 17, 7:30 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 10:15 PM Domesticas Director: Fernando Mierelles Brazil, 2001, 35mm, 90 min. Portuguese with subtitles Cida, Roxanne, QuitŽria, Raimunda and Creo are five feisty Brazilian maids who exchange thoughts about their dreams and the daily drudgery of living and working in Rio de Janeiro. Each one has a different vision of paradise, the perfect man, racial equality and the problem with the government. Five spirited women skewer snobby bosses and search for domestic bliss in a country with more than 3 million maids. A hilarious look at life, love, liberty and dirty laundry from the director of the acclaimed film City of God. Starring Claudia Missura, Graziella Moretto, Lena Roque, Olivia Araujo and Renato Melo. For mature audiences. Screenings: SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 9:45 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 5:00 PM Un Embrujo Director: Carlos Carrera 1999, Mexico, 35 mm, 125 min. Spanish w/ English subtitles Set in the Port of Progresso during the late twenties, Un Embrujo tells the story of Eliseo, the 13 year old son of an impoverished and domineering longshoreman who dreams of leaving his town behind. When he becomes increasingly harassed and abused by his violent father, Eliseo takes refuge at the home of his school teacher, Felipa (played by leading Mexican actress, Blanca Guerra). What begins as a meeting of two lonely people soon becomes a forbidden love affair. As time passes, the two drift apart but they trigger a fateful spell that threatens to unravel the lives they have built. Features the stunning, original lens work of Rodrigo Prieto. From the director of El crimen del Padre Amaro. Part of the Rodrigo Prieto tribute. For mature audiences. Screenings: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 7:30 PM En la Puta Vida Director: Beatriz Florez Silva Uruguay, 2001, 35mm, 97 min. Spanish with subtitles This compelling film deals with 27-year old Elisa, a Uruguayan mother of two who suddenly finds herself without a home and without money when she breaks up with her lover, who is also her boss. Faced with few options, Elisa finds work in a brothel and then eventually slips into prostitution. Seeking a way to earn more money and free herself from the street life, she travels with her friend Lulu and a pimp named Placido to Spain. There she finds that things can always get worse. Filled with tragic as well as humorous and human moments, Beatriz Flores Silva's film exposes the difficulties faced by women working in an increasingly marginalizing and exploitative world economy. Uruguay's official entry into the 2002 Oscar competition. For mature audiences. Screenings: SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 8:00 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 7:30 PM SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 7:30 PM Fidel Director: Estela Bravo USA, 2002, 35 mm, 91 min. English Award-winning filmmaker Estela Bravo covers forty years of the Cuban Revolution and provides a unique opportunity to consider one of the most influential and controversial figures of our time in this fascinating documentary. Using rare archival and interview footage of Cuban leader Fidel Castro and featuring perspectives from such figures as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Nelson Mandela, Angela Davis, Ramsay Clark and Muhammed Ali, Fidel paints an intimate portrait of Castro's transformation from idealistic intellectual to revolutionary leader to politician and finally to anti-imperialist elder statesman. Features exclusive footage spanning Castro's entire life and career culled from ICAIC and the Cuban State archive. For mature audiences. Screenings: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 6:00 PM FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 7:30 PM SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2:30 PM Francisca (...de que lado estas?) Director: Eva Lopez-Sanchez Mexico/Germany/Spain, 2002, 35mm, 100 min. Spanish with subtitles The year is 1971. East German defector Helmuth Busch tries to flee his past by hiding in Mexico City. When he is detained by Mexican secret police, however, he strikes a devil's bargain and agrees to spy on a group of university activists. In so doing, he seals his own fate and the fate of a noble and idealistic generation. A man with a heavy conscience tries to escape the Cold War raging in Europe only to discover an even colder war being waged by Mexico's government against her people. Unreleased in Mexico, this powerful film captures the spirit and turmoil of a heady and heavily-censored period in Mexican history. A fascinating political thriller starring Ulirch Noethen (Comedian Harmonists), Fabiola Campomanes and Rafael Martin Morante. For mature audiences. Screenings: THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 6:00 PM FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 9:45 PM SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1:30 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 9:45 PM Huelepega: La ley de la Calle Director: Elia Schneider Venezuela, 2001, 35mm, 90 min. Spanish with subtitles In Venezuela, one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America, 7 million children live in poverty. Of these, 600,000 live on the street. This gritty film recounts the tough lives of Venezuela's street kids as seen through the eyes of 11-year old Oliver, a boy who enters their world after he is kicked out of the house by an abusive stepfather. Desperate lives filled with drugs, corrupt cops, gang violence and death in a world where children exist on the fringes of a society that has stopped caring. This film is based on actual events that happen everyday on the streets of the big city. For mature audiences. Screenings: SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 12:00 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 7:30 PM MONDAY, MARCH 17, 9:45 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 12:00 PM Los Lunes al Sol Director: Fernando Le—n de Aranoa Spain/France/Italy, 2002, 35mm, 113 min. Spanish with subtitles This powerful film set in a Spanish industrial town follows the daily struggles faced by a working class community when the town's shipyard closes down. Suddenly faced with mass unemployment, the residents gather in a local bar to fend off their growing desperation and maintain a sense of human dignity. A riveting and relevant example of neo-realist cinema, this film, which won five Goya awards, six Premio CEC awards and the Golden Conch award from the San Sebastian Film Festival, is Spain's official entry into the Oscar competition. The excellent ensemble cast includes Javier Bardem (Before Night Falls, High Heels), Luis Tosar, JosŽ çngel Egido, Enrique VillŽn, Nieve de Medina and Aida Folch. For mature audiences. Screenings: FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 8:00 PM SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 4:00 PM Mas Alla del Mar Director: Lisandro Perez-Rey USA 2002, Video, 80 min. English This feature length documentary uses archival footage and contemporary interviews to present the story of the 1980 Mariel Boatlift. What began with a bus crashing through the gates of the Peruvian Embassy in Havana culminated in an exodus in which more than 125,000 Cubans left their homeland in boats bound for Key West. This fascinating moment in the history of the US and Cuba still resonates after more than two decades. For mature audiences. Screenings: SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 6:00 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 6:00 PM Mercano el Marciano Director: Juan Antin Argentina, 2002, 35 mm, 75 min. Spanish with subtitles When an Earth space probe lands on his dog, hotheaded but loveable Mercano sets off from Mars for revenge. His plans are thwarted, however, when his spacecraft crashlands in downtown Buenos Aires. Madcap mayhem ensues involving the internet, 3-D virtual reality and a nefarious multi-national corporation's plan to take over the world using Martian technology. Can Mercano and his new Earth friends save the day? The first Argentine animated feature in 20 years, this is hands-down one of the wildest, funniest and most biting social satires ever. If you see only one film in your life, make sure it's Mercano el marciano. Destined to be regarded as the Holy Grail of Argentine cinema. From the team at www.malcriados.com. For mature audiences. Screenings: SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 10:15 PM MONDAY, MARCH 17, 5:00 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 10:00 PM FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 10:15 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 10:00 PM Mi Casa Su Casa Director: Bryan Lewis USA, 2002, Digital Video, 94 min. English Laura Elena Harring (Mulholland Drive) stars in this zesty comedy about Latinos, love and the lottery. When Anglo restaurateur Donald Chandler's wealthy wife leaves him and takes his restaurant with her, help comes in the unlikely form of Donald's gardener and recent lottery winner Miguel. Miguel offers down-on-his luck Donald a new restaurant if Donald agrees to marry Miguel's beautiful but shrewish sister Catalina so she can get green card. Cultural clashes and role reversals abound in this entertaining comedy of manners that proves that love knows no borders. With cameo roles by Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie) and 70's Mexican movie hunk Jorge Rivero (Rio Lobo). For mature audiences. Screenings: MONDAY, MARCH 17, 6:00 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 8:00 PM Netto Perde Sua Alma Directors: Beto Souza and Tabajara Ruas Brazil, 2001, 35mm, 90 min. Portuguese with subtitles General Antonio de Souza Netto is sent to a military hospital after being wounded in the Paraguayan War of 1861. As he lies there, he is revisited by thoughts of past wars and past loves. A visit from an old comrade-in-arms, the slave captain Caldeira, dredges up memories of the Farroupilha Revolution (1835-1845) and the general's love affair with the Uruguayan aristocrat Maria Escayola. Using flashbacks and shades of the Western genre, this riveting tale of war and remembrance examines the destinies of two men bound by a dark secret during a fascinating period in Latin American history. For mature audiences. Screenings: THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 10:15 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 12:00 PM MONDAY, MARCH 17, 10:00 PM FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 5:00 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 11:00 AM Never Trust a Serial Killer Director: Juan C. Garza USA, 2002, Video, 84 min. English Straight-laced Chicano yuppie Bobby Oregel gets a blast from the past when his bohemian college pal Leroy de la Luna drops in while on the trail of a mysterious serial killer known as "Satan's Hand." When it seems that Leroy knows just a little too much about the killer, Bobby starts to get concerned. This nutty take on middle class Chicano miasma stars Del Zamora (Repo Man), Cris Franco (Latins Anonymous) and Valente Rodriguez (The George Lopez Show). A hilarious whodunnit from the creative mind behind 1993's classic El Luchador Chicano vs. the Border Zombies and the award-winning mockumentary Al Pastor's First Video Project. For mature audiences. Screenings: SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 8:00 PM TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 6:00 PM SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 10:15 PM Por la Libre Director: Juan Carlos de LLaca Mexico, 2000, 35mm, 96 min Spanish with subtitles Rodri and Roco are two cousins unalike in every way except for a shared contempt for their parents' values and a deep connection to their free-spirited grandfather, Rodrigo. When Rodrigo dies unexpectedly, his yuppie children are more interested in quibbling about their inheritance than in fulfilling his last request. Determined to make things right, Rodri and Roco kidnap their grandfather's ashes and set off for sunny Acapulco in a vintage Mercedes. On the way, they learn about life and friendship and realize that their grandfather was more free-spirited than they could have imagined. For mature audiences. Preceded by: Fosfenos (Dir. Erwin Neumaier, 2002, Animation, 35 mm, 2:50 min, Mexico, Spanish) In this animated short, two cars travel down a highway in opposite directions. Which one should we follow in order to understand the nature of the road? Screenings: THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 9:45 PM FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 6:00 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 10:00 PM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 4:00 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 9:45 PM SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 12:00PM Rhythm of the Saints Director: Sarah Rogacki USA, 2002 35mm, 90 min. English This intense film stars Daniella Alonso as young Rena Juarez, a streetwise Puerto Rican teenager living in New York's Washington Heights neighborhood. When Rena's abusive stepfather, Ricky, crosses the line, she asks a friend, Wanda, to cast a santeria curse on him. Ricky's emotional and physical abuse gets worse, however, and Rena and Wanda decide to settle the matter themselves. Their plan goes horribly wrong, resulting in chilling consequences. Sarita Choudhury (Mississippi Masala, Kama Sutra) stars as Rena's working-class mother who learns too late about Ricky's transgressions and their devastating effect on her daughter. A tough and honest film about an abused teen written by Cyn Ca–el Rossi. For mature audiences. Screenings: SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 7:30 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 11:00 AM Sangre Eterna Director: Jorge Olguin Chile, 2002, 35mm, 110 min. Spanish Things go bump in the night in this visually stunning and eerily sexy vampire movie set in the goth community of urban Chile. When college student "M" invites a co-ed to join his group's vampire role-playing game, little does he suspect how realistic the game will become. A fright-filled tour de force featuring fast-paced editing, spectacular visuals and a riveting industrial music soundtrack. This blood-curdling follow-up work from the director of Chile's highly successful horror film "Black Angel" blurs the line between reality and fantasy with lots of blood and gore thrown in for good measure. From shotgun-toting nuns to macabre vampire lust, Sangre Eterna is a distinctly Latin American update of a classic genre. Bela Lugosi would be proud. For mature audiences. Screenings: SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 10:15 PM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 9:45 PM SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 9:45 PM Un Secreto de Esperanza Director: Leopold Laborde Mexico, 2002, 35 mm, 128 min. Spanish Beloved Mexican screen legend Katy Jurado lights up the screen one last time in her final film, the story of a special friendship that develops between a solitary elderly woman and Jorge, a rebellious teen in Mexico City in 1984. Through the use of flashbacks, Jorge, now an adult, learns one last beautiful mystery about the person who played an important role in his youth. Could it be that the old friend who taught him so much about life was none other than Esperanza Malagon Prieto, who, in 1939, was the first Latin-American woman to win a Nobel Prize in Literature? This fascinating film won three awards, including the Audience Award, at the 2002 Trieste Festival of Latin American Cinema. Screened as part of the Katy Jurado Tribute. For mature audiences. Screenings: FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 7:00 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 5:00 PM MONDAY, MARCH 17, 4:00 PM El Segundo Aire Director: Fernando Sari–ana Mexico, 2001, 35mm, 100 min. Spanish with subtitles Fernando Sari–ana's third offering in this year's festival is a delightful romantic comedy about Julia and Moises, a couple in their 30s who realize they didn't become the people they wanted to be when they got married. The resulting quest for the lost romance and dreams of their youth is put to the test when Julia is tempted by the advances of a young student admirer. A funny look at the complexities of modern relationships, passion and idealism. Starring Jesus Ochoa, Lisa Owen, Jorge Poza, Ximena Sari–ana and Fabiana Perzabal. For mature audiences. Screenings: FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 8:00 PM TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 9:45 PM SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 5:00 PM Sin Noticias de Dios Director: August’n D’az Ya–es Mexico/Spain/France, 2001, 35mm, 100 min. Spanish with subtitles Victoria Abril, Penelope Cruz, Demian Bichir and Gael Garcia Bernal star in this wonderfully wicked tale of good versus evil. Nuttiness ensues when God takes a holiday and hell's CEO Jack Davenport (Bernal) sends devilishly sexy secret agent Carmen (Cruz) to seduce Spain's most popular boxer (Bichir) and bring back his soul. Can heaven-sent angel Lola (Abril) save the day, and the fate of humanity, when faced with gangsters, crooked cops and obnoxious supermarket checkout girls? Spanish screen sirens and Mexican movie hunks star in this comedy of cosmic proportions. Did we mention that this film stars Victoria Abril, Penelope Cruz, Demian Bichir and Gael Garcia Bernal? For mature audiences. Screenings: THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 8:00 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 7:00 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 7:00 PM Speaker Phone Director: Paulo Morelli Brazil, 2002, 35mm, 85 min. Portuguese with subtitles Duda, an insecure businessman, decides to break up with his girlfriend Karina after scoring big on a shady bank deal. When Karina insists on an afternoon fling, she accidentally activates Duda's cell phone, which calls the cell phone of his wife, Mari. This sets off a hilarious chain of events overheard by Mari and her friend Deia as they drive around town looking for the philandering Duda. Enter a pair of carjacking ATM thieves and the stage is set for a rollicking comedy of crossed signals and double-crosses. A fast and funny film about guilt, technology and improper transactions. For mature audiences. Screenings: FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 9:45 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 6:00 PM Sudor Amargo Director: Sonia Valentin Puerto Rico, 2002, Video, 120 min. Spanish w/ subtitles An inspiring and realistic portrayal of a group of female cannery workers who learn that the factory where they work is closing down. Set amidst the backdrop of mass layoffs and labor protests, this film is a celebration of the spirit and friendship of working class women struggling to better their conditions. Boricua women stand up for their rights in this brave and impassioned film that walks proudly in the company of films such as Salt of the Earth and Norma Rae. This heartfelt film stars an excellent ensemble cast which includes the film's co-writers Alba Nydia Diaz and Sonia Valentin, who also directs. For mature audiences. Screenings: SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 6:00 PM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 10:15 PM TIEMPO REAL DIRECTOR: FABRIZIO PRADA MEXICO, 2002, 86 MIN. Spanish with Subtitles This intriguing 86 minute caper film about a group of thieves who disguise themselves as security guards to rob a warehouse has been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. Why? Because it is the first movie to be filmed entirely in one shot from one camera in onetake. Surprisingly, this first time feature for director Fabrizio Prada not only works, but also manages to include a lot of action, romance, movement and driving around the Mexican town that had to come to a virtual standstill to accommodate the film's grueling 86 minute shooting schedule. Filmed with stage actors who had never worked in film and co-written by Prada's father Renato, this real time experiment is one for the record books. Obviously producer Hugo Stieglitz, who has acted in more than 180 films, including Invasion de los Zombies Atomicos, Macho Callahan and Cazador de cazadores, knew a good project when he saw one. FOR MATURE AUDIENCES. Screening Times: TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 7:00PM SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 10:00PM El Tigre de Santa Julia Director: Alejandro Gamboa Mexico, 2002, 35mm, 90 min. Spanish with subtitles This sexy, action-packed film set in the early 1900s tells the story of JosŽ de Jesœs Negrete Medina, a would-be Robin Hood who forms an outlaw gang of beautiful women to rob from thieves and give to the poor. Hard luck has followed Jose since the day he was born. One night, however, when he rescues a woman from the clutches of a local desperado, he has the chance to change his destiny. When a pulque-drinking writer starts a rumor about the so-called "Tigre de Santa Julia," Jose decides to live up to his legend. A rollicking revolutionary tale of El Tigre and his band of bawdy bandidas starring Miguel Rodarte, Iran Castillo, Cristina Michaus, Ivonne Montero and Fernando Lujan (El Coronel no Tiene a Quien le Escriba). For mature audiences. Preceded by: Tiro de Gracia (Dir. Jesus Ochoa and Mario Mandujano, 2002, Narratvie, 35 mm, 5 min., Mexico, Spanish with subtitles) A man proves his Mexicanness when he makes a last wish before being executed during the Mexican Revolution. Screenings: THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 5:00 PM SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 10:00 PM TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 7:30 PM Todas las Azafatas Van al Cielo Director: Daniel Burman Argentina, 2002, 35 mm, 98 min. Spanish with subtitles A bittersweet romantic comedy about two people dealing with emotional pain who find each other in the southern tip of Argentina. Julian is a young ophthalmologist whose wife, a stewardess, has just died. Teresa is a stewardess who gets pregnant after a casual encounter and contemplates having an abortion. The two fumble through their respective feelings of pain and isolation until a chance encounter brings them together. This beautifully written film features moving performances from Alfredo Casero and Ingrid Rubio. A tender tale of two pilgrim souls, one unable to fly and the other afraid of touching the earth. For mature audiences. Screenings: SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 1:30 PM TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 4:00 PM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 8:00 PM Vidas Privadas Director: Fito Paez Argentina, 2001, 35mm, 90 min. Spanish with subtitles Starring Gael Garcia Bernal (El Crimen del Padre Amaro) & Cecilia Roth (Todo Sobre Mi Madre). Argentine exile Carmen Uranga returns to Buenos Aires after 20 years in Europe to attend to a family crisis. At 42, she is still scarred and haunted by the traumatic events of 1976 that forced her to flee her homeland. Carmen has always been an enigma to the family she left behind, especially to younger sister Ana, who never fully understood the details behind her older sister's exile. Both sisters must now deal with a past that many would rather and many can never forget. A provocative film about confronting personal and political demons directed by Argentine rock star Fito Paez. For mature audiences. Screenings: SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 7:00 PM Vivir Mata Director: Nicolas Echeverria Mexico, 2001, 35 mm, 90 min. Spanish with subtitles A stellar cast propels this funny romantic comedy about passion, friendship and lies. On a day that seems to be filled with a strange magic, Diego and Silvia meet and fall in love in the whirlwind of metropolitan Mexico City. The only problem is that their whole encounter is based on little white lies. Somehow this doesn't seem to matter on a day where the ordinary rules about life are suspended. Proof that sometimes a lie can be the closest route to the heart. Starring Susana Zabaleta (Sexo, pudor y lagrimas), Daniel Gimenez Cacho (Cabeza de Vaca, Deep Crimson) and Luis Felipe Tovar (Todo el poder, De la calle, Men with Guns). From the director of 1993's incredible Cabeza de Vaca. For mature audiences. Screenings: SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 7:00 PM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 7:00 PM FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 10:00 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 7:30 PM Yo Soy del Son a la Salsa Director: Rigoberto Lopez Cuba, 1997, 35mm, 107 min. Spanish with subtitles Cuban salsa sensation Oscar de Leon escorts us through the vibrant musical history of salsa, one of today's most popular Latin music styles. This musically-charged documentary examines the social, political and cultural realities that gave birth to a sound that has swept across borders worldwide. From the dancehalls of Havana to the nightclubs of New York City in the 1950s, the story of the music is the story of the people. Featuring riveting archival performance footage and interviews with luminaries such as Celia Cruz, Isaac Delgado, Jose "Cheo" Feliciano, Ruben Blades and the late great Tito Puente, From Son to Salsa is a treat for fans of this fiery genre of Latin music. For mature audiences. Screenings: SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 11:00 AM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 10:00 PM SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 11:00 AM La Yunta Brava Director: Federico Garcia Hurtado Peru, 2000, 35 mm, 101 min. Spanish WITHOUT subtitles Captivating period piece about the formative years of JosŽ Carlos Mari‡tegui and Ces‡r Falc—n, two writers who were part of the Peruvian intellectual circles of the early 1920s. Mari‡tegui, who fought for worker and student rights and later founded Peru's Socialist Party, wrote the classic work "7 Ensayos de Interpretaci—n de la Realidad Peruana." Considered to be one of Latin America's greatest thinkers, Mari‡tegui is referred to as "El Amauta," the quechua word for maestro. A faithful recreation of a fascinating period in Peruvian history featuring excellent performances by Carlos Garc’a and Yuri Rojas. The eleventh film from the award-winning cuzque–o director of El Forastero, Kuntur Wachana (Donde Nacen los C—ndores) and the celebrated Tupac Amarœ (El Ultimo Inca). For mature audiences. Screenings: FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 5:00 PM TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 10:00 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 4:00 PM Los Zafiros/The Sapphires: Music from the Edge of Time Director: Lorenzo De Stefano USA, 2002, Video, 90 min. English and Spanish with subtitles A loving documentary tribute to a legendary Cuban band from the 1960s whose infectious mix of Cuban rhythms and American doo-wop became the soundtrack for the post-revolutionary generation. Los Zafiros, whose music blended 50s doo-wop stylings with R&B, Son, Calypso, Bossa Nova and other Latin, African and Caribbean rhythms, were regarded as heroes in Cuba and became a cult sensation in Europe. Though virtually unknown in the United States until the 1998 release of their compilation album "Bossa Cubana," their music has been close to the hearts of many Cuban Americans. This year, Zafiros guitarist Manuel Galban teamed with Ry Cooder to record the acclaimed album "Mambo Sinuendo." Rare documentary performance footage, historical clips and interviews with the two surviving members evoke nostalgia for a simpler and yet equally complex time. Screenings: FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 10:15 PM MONDAY, MARCH 17, 10:15 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 8:00 PM Page 13