movie reviews in spanish

Review: In art-world comedy ‘Problemista,’ it’s all about surviving Tilda Swinton at her scariest

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The sharpest movies about New York’s art scene — including 1996’s “Basquiat,” starring future “American Fiction” grump Jeffrey Wright — capture something relentless about the city. Desperation isn’t far from mind, nor the disparities of wealth and power between artists, critics and, up in the clouds, collectors and dealers. Maybe there’s a way to navigate it all, if you have the right strategy. Or several.

“Problemista,” the first feature of its writer, director and star, boyish comedian Julio Torres , adds a whole new wing to this tiny gallery of movies. (They come around so infrequently, it’s exhilarating to see one this confident.) Deliriously weird yet relatable, the film is, at root, an immigration tale, more autobiographical than semi: Alejandro (Torres), from El Salvador like his creator, dreams of making weird toys for Hasbro, but faces the ticking clock of an expiring visa and deportation.

It’s Ale’s detour through the catty art world, though — and into the orbit of the film’s alternately frightening and recognizable title character — that transports “Problemista” to a rarely explored realm of devilish mentorship. Here he’ll be tasked with the impossible. He will also find self-worth, a strange, ferocious kinship and maybe even a sponsor. If I call the movie a love story, don’t laugh. Torres has made it with love in his heart.

Julio Torres survived the visa office and the art world. His first film skewers both

The actor-comedian’s first feature film, ‘Problemista,’ draws inspiration from his own byzantine immigration experience as well as surrealist paintings.

Feb. 28, 2024

From the start, we’re in the company of a filmmaker who wants to try things. A prologue in a grassy magical playground (the movie is narrated by Isabella Rossellini , supplying instant cool) leads to a trash-strewn New York marked by ominous signs: a dangling purse trapped in the jaws of a subway door, prescription vials spilling out; an immigration office where rejected applicants simply vanish mid-conversation. Cowed by his own backpack, Alejandro tiptoes through America timidly, afraid to announce himself. Torres gives his character constant bedhead and it makes sense: He’s in a waking nightmare no less warped than the one from “Beau Is Afraid.”

Then she arrives: Elizabeth ( Tilda Swinton ), her hair and eyes in a perpetual code-red meltdown. The fury is palpable. No waiter is safe. No tech-support guru is helpful. Her purse contains a tangle of keys, adapters and what looks like a half-eaten chicken sandwich. To call it the most unhinged performance in a career that already contains “Trainwreck,” “Michael Clayton” and “Snowpiercer” is almost doing Swinton dirty.

Elizabeth’s husband, we learn, was a gentle artist, Bobby (a persuasive RZA), who painted unsalable oils of eggs but opted for premature cryogenic freezing, hoping to be revived in a future era in which he and his work would be better understood. Ale is getting laid off from the freeze lab when Elizabeth seizes on him, a potential helper. Could he carry Bobby’s canvases back to her ’80s-era studio loft? Could he co-curate a show of Bobby’s work? Could he soothe the rift with one of Bobby’s former lovers ( Greta Lee ) and get a missing egg painting back in the collection? Could Elizabeth, in turn, become his lifesaving signature? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

A man holding a painting of an egg stands next to a woman with red hair.

The plot develops in this vaguely Faustian way, always with the threat of incipient catastrophe, and it allows Torres to get at something not often seen in these art-world movies — an entitled hauteur that also, somehow, contains an invitation for comradeship. Ale will become Elizabeth’s project, so long as he can hold her attention. His status as an unpaid freelance assistant is made wobbly by a secret inability to operate FileMaker Pro and, worse, the arrival of a languorous, handsome intern, Bingham (James Scully), who comes from a place of such ridiculous privilege he seems to float. (Of a past car accident, Bingham purrs, “I probably ran over somebody, but my dad just fixed it.”)

Race plays an undeniable part of “Problemista” and Torres, formerly a writer for “Saturday Night Live,” has gone fearless when he could have just made something funny. It brings to mind another New York art movie, “Six Degrees of Separation,” which had the elegance of John Guare’s play to bind its elements more firmly. Torres gets at serious ideas via occasionally unserious methods. Turning the want-ads-site Craigslist into a whispering junk-heap demon (Larry Owens) is inspired; turning Elizabeth into a mythological hydra that Ale must slay in a cave feels like cosplay.

But what Torres nails is breathtaking, especially that midnight anxiety at the ATM, the scanning for sketchy cash jobs online and, most sneakily and warmly, a blooming connection. Elizabeth sees Ale, sees him fully, and, in a lovely, utterly unsentimental moment, advises him, “Get a name and become a problem for them.” He, in turn, learns to defuse her rages, standing agog at her rants, hypnotized by her force of nature. Eventually, he adopts her ways. She has made him a New Yorker — a gift, if you know how to use it.

'Problemista'

In English and Spanish, with subtitles Rating: R, for some language and sexual content Running time: 1 hour, 38 minutes Playing: Now in limited release

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Joshua Rothkopf is film editor of the Los Angeles Times. He most recently served as senior movies editor at Entertainment Weekly. Before then, Rothkopf spent 16 years at Time Out New York, where he was film editor and senior film critic. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Sight and Sound, Empire, Rolling Stone and In These Times, where he was chief film critic from 1999 to 2003.

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Spanish to Go

Movie Reviews Written in Spanish

Introduction.

Movie reviews play a vital role in helping audiences make informed decisions about the films they choose to watch. In this article, we will explore the significance of movie reviews written in Spanish. From the impact on Spanish-speaking audiences to the cultural perspectives reflected in these reviews, we will delve into the value they bring to the world of cinema.

The Importance of Spanish Movie Reviews

Movie reviews written in Spanish serve as a valuable resource for Spanish-speaking audiences. They provide critical insights, opinions, and analyses that assist viewers in understanding the strengths, weaknesses, and overall quality of a film. Spanish reviews offer a platform for cultural expression and evaluation, catering to the specific needs and preferences of Spanish-speaking moviegoers.

Cultural Perspectives

Spanish movie reviews offer unique cultural perspectives that may differ from reviews in other languages. They consider the cultural context, social issues, and artistic elements that resonate with Spanish-speaking audiences. These reviews provide a lens through which viewers can appreciate the cultural nuances, references, and themes portrayed in films from Spanish-speaking countries or those that explore Spanish-speaking cultures.

Enhancing Film Appreciation

Movie reviews written in Spanish enhance the appreciation of cinema by providing in-depth analysis and critique. They explore the technical aspects, performances, narrative structures, and thematic depth of films. Through these reviews, audiences gain a deeper understanding of the artistic choices made by filmmakers and can engage in discussions and debates about the merits and impact of the movies they watch.

Promoting Spanish Language and Culture

Spanish movie reviews contribute to the promotion and preservation of the Spanish language and culture. They showcase the richness and diversity of Spanish-speaking countries’ cinematic achievements and highlight the talent of actors, directors, and filmmakers from these regions. By supporting Spanish films and discussing them through reviews, the importance of Spanish language and culture in the global film industry is reinforced.

Accessibility and Inclusivity

Movie reviews written in Spanish provide accessibility and inclusivity to a wider audience. They cater to Spanish-speaking individuals who may have a stronger connection to the language or prefer consuming content in their native tongue. These reviews create a space where Spanish-speaking viewers can engage in meaningful discussions, share opinions, and contribute to the global film discourse.

Movie reviews written in Spanish serve as a valuable resource for Spanish-speaking audiences, offering critical insights and cultural perspectives on films. They enhance the appreciation of cinema, promote the Spanish language and culture, and foster inclusivity within the global film community. Through these reviews, audiences can make informed choices about the movies they watch and engage in meaningful discussions about the art of filmmaking. Let us celebrate the importance of movie reviews written in Spanish and the impact they have on the world of cinema. The Shining Online Subtitles Spanish Talk Spanish 1 Audio Download Mcgraw Hill Companies Spanish Workbook Answers Mcdougal Littell Spanish 1 Workbook

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Encanto Reviews

One of Disney's most magical animated movies yet

Full Review | Jul 26, 2023

A heartfelt watch that families will undoubtedly latch onto.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 25, 2023

To cap it all off, the story by Jared Bush, Bryon Howard, and Charise Castro Smith focuses on empathy perfectly. It’s a wonderful watch for the whole family.

Full Review | Feb 10, 2023

What makes this particular instalment of Disney dream-weaving a little bit different is texture. Pulling from a colourful Central American tradition that features brilliant cotton and woollen embroidery, we can almost feel the threads of every garment...

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 5, 2022

By exploring the traditional and non-traditional nature of family, their most common modern go-to theme, they keep connected to their familiar and beloved roots while taking audiences on unfamiliar journeys.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 26, 2022

It is in its overall focus that Encanto grasps at richer themes about how the family's magic is only part of what defines them.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 23, 2022

Absolutely a must if you’re into this sort of thing, and it’s a very easy, engaging sit even if you aren’t.

Full Review | Aug 20, 2022

The screenplay has dark undertones, as all good magic realism does, but this is rooted in the troubled social history of Columbia.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 16, 2022

Encanto is one of the most aesthetically arresting and epically emotional animated features of the year, complete with a cast of colorful and captivating characters who are sure to become new fan favorites.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Jul 14, 2022

Vibrant, rich, tender, sincere and lively.

Full Review | Jul 8, 2022

A fun and dazzling musical adventure that celebrates the power of familia.

Full Review | Jun 23, 2022

At its best when it's intimate and warm, Encanto's fast-paced adventure sequences and rampant physical comedy can be hit or miss. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Jun 22, 2022

An impactful view of generational trauma told through impeccable songs, beautiful animation, and a moving story.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Apr 4, 2022

ENCANTO is a visually stunning animated film with wonderful songs and score, a deep, resonating emotional core and just a very positive, charming vibe to it.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Mar 15, 2022

Love the music and the cultural urgency and accuracy of Encanto. The richness, poetry, [and] resiliance of the Colombian culture... makes Encanto such a refreshing thrill.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 4, 2022

Encanto is a Disney film that delights without smashing expectations. Its easy to forget that the target audience for this genre are simply interested in fun and wonder, something that this movie delivers in spades.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 3, 2022

Gorgeously animated, relatable narrative, and admirable themes!

Full Review | Original Score: B | Feb 27, 2022

"A spirit of communal celebration persists even after a first-act ceremony takes a turn for the ominous, and fleeting moments of chisme between cousins provide the movies breakneck pacing with instantly relatable doses of Latino-family bonding."

Full Review | Feb 21, 2022

Surface Pressure unlocked the movie for me and made it more compelling than what I thought it would be - the inevitable discovery of Mirabel's gift... it's a discovery borne out of a family's denial.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Feb 18, 2022

Disney deserves some credit for abandoning its typical formula with Encanto. You wont see a princess sing songs about personal actualization. The film celebrates community and doesnt even have a villain.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Feb 17, 2022

How Do You Say Movies in Spanish: A Quick Guide

Written by Diana Luciana

December 6, 2022.

Do you like watching movies or going to the cinema? 🍿 Talking about movies in Spanish (or películas ) is a recurring topic of conversation. Whether you’re with your friends or spending the night out, there’s bound to be someone who will mention the latest Netflix show. No matter what your movie preferences are, you can always start a conversation by asking someone ¿Qué tipo de películas te gustan? (What kind of movies do you like?) So let’s talk about movies… in Spanish. Action!

Talking about movies in Spanish

Imagine you’re having a conversation with a friend and they want to know what’s your favorite genre. Here’s a list of the most popular movie genres ( tipos de películas ) in Spanish:

ciencia ficción (science fiction)
fantasía (fantasy)
la película romántica (romance)
la acción (action)
aventuras (adventure)
musical , de vaqueros (western)
la comedia (comedy)
el documental (documentary)
la histórica (historical)
suspenso/el thriller
terror (horror)
misterio (mystery)
dibujos animados (cartoons)
animación (animation)
la película bélica/de guerra (war)
espias/espionaje (spy)
la película clásica (classic)

Types of movies

Which one is your go-to movie genre? Another way of categorizing movies is…

con subtítulos (subtitled)
doblada (dubbed)
extranjera (foreign)
muda (silent)

Talking about your movie preferences in Spanish

Improve your conversation skills and master the art of small talk in Spanish. Here’s a quick guide on talking about movies with other Spanish-speakers:

Me gustan/Me interesan/Me encantan las películas. – I like movies.
¿Qué tipo de películas te gustan? – What kind of movies do you like?
¿Cuál es tu tipo de película favorita? – What is your favorite type of movie?
¿Cuál es tu película favorita? – What’s your favorite movie?
Mi película favorita es… – My favorite movie is…
¿De que se trata la película? – What’s the movie about?
La película es sobre… – The movie is about…
(No) Me gustan… las películas románticas/las romanticas. – I (don’t) like… romantic movies.
Las películas de suspenso están llenas de intriga. – Thrillers are full of intrigue.
A los niños les gustan mucho las películas de animación y dibujos animados. – Children really like animated films and cartoons.
¿Estás viendo una película musical? – Are you watching a musical?
A mí me parece que esta película es/está… – I think this movie is…

By the way, also check out how to talk about music in Spanish .

Have a conversation about movies in Spanish:

Ana: ¿Te gustan las películas… de acción? (Do you like… action …movies?)

Juan: Si, por supuesto. Me encantan. (Yes, of course. I love them.)

Ana: Esta película es muy buena. Es una película de acción muy famosa. (This movie is very good. It’s a very famous action movie.) Mi género favorito de película es terror, ¿a ti te gusta? (My favorite movie genre is horror, do you like it?)

Juan: No me gustan las películas de terror, prefiero las románticas. (I don’t like horror movies, I prefer the romantic ones.)

Ana: Siempre me han gustado las películas extranjeras. (I’ve always liked foreign movies.)

Juan: ¿Qué miras?/¿Qué estás viendo? (What are you watching?)

Ana: Una película de terror sobre fantasmas. (A horror movie about ghosts.)

Here’s a quick movie guide and chart you can also download :

Infographic on talking about movies in Spanish

Going to the movies

¿Quieres ir al cine mañana? – Do you want to go to the movies tomorrow?
Si, me encantaría. – Yes, I’d love to. OR No puedo mañana. – I can’t go tomorrow.
¿A qué hora empieza/termina la película? – What time does the movie start/end?
¿Dónde podemos comprar las entradas? – Where can we buy the tickets?
En la página web del cine. – In the cinema website.
¿Cuánto cuesta la entrada al cine? – How much does the ticket cost?
Quiero dos entradas para la película Dune. – I want two tickets for Dune movie.
Yo pago las entradas. – I’ll pay for the tickets.
Mi butaca es la J2. – My seat number is J2.
¿Cuánto dura la película? – How long does the movie last?
¿Cuál fue tu parte favorita de la película? – What was your favorite part of the movie?

Movie reviews in Spanish

¿Qué piensas de la película? – What do you think about the movie?
Me gustó mucho porque fue graciosa y amena. – I really liked it because it was funny and enjoyable.
El argumento de la película es muy bueno/malo. – The movie plot is really good/bad.
Hace tiempo que no veía una película tan buena. – It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a good movie.
Es una película realmente muy buena/mala. – It’s a very good/bad movie indeed.
Es una película muy interesante/divertida/reconfortante. – It’s an interesting/a funny/a heart-warming movie.
Es una película que te mantiene en el borde del asiento. – It’s a movie that keeps you at the edge of your seat.
Es una película aburrida/llena de acción/conmovedora. – It’s a boring/an action-packed/a gripping movie.
Es una película para morirse de risa. – It’s a hilarious movie.
Ví el corto. – I saw the trailer.
No me des adelantos de la película. – No movie spoilers.

Now you’re ready to talk about movies as much as you want and share ideas about your favorite movies with your Spanish friends.

If you’d like to boost your Spanish skills, book a free consultation and also check out my YouTube channel for more free Spanish lessons and language resources. 🎬

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Let’s talk about the weather in Spanish

Dec 12, 2023

Work on your language skills and learn how to talk about the weather in Spanish. Whether it’s small talk or striking up a new conversation, these Spanish dialogues will help you improve your Spanish.

What’s the difference between “un” and “uno” in Spanish?

Dec 5, 2023

Do you know what’s the difference between un and uno in Spanish? Let’s work together on your Spanish skills with these dialogues!

Do You Know How to Use “Me Gusta” in Spanish?

Nov 16, 2023

Do you know how to use “me gusta” in Spanish? Test your Spanish with these conversations and learn how to say “I like” in Spanish.

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11 Spanish Family Movies Beloved by Both Kids and Adults

From fantastic adventures to gorgeous animations, Spanish family movies make for a great movie night .

They’re appropriate for kids but also fun for the parents to watch.

And, they pack a language learning punch!

Whether you’re learning Spanish as a family or just want to watch a wholesome Spanish-language film , these Spanish family movies will hit the spot.

“Capitán Avispa” (Captain Wasp)

“Inspector Sun”

“llenos de gracia” (full of grace), “el camino de xico” (xico’s journey), “la leyenda del charro negro” (the legend of charro negro), “coco”, “un gallo con muchos huevos” (a rooster with many eggs), “zipi y zape y el club de la canica” (zip & zap and the marble gang), “anina”, “las aventuras de tadeo jones” (tad, the lost explorer), “nocturna”.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

“Capitán Avispa” (Captain Wasp)

Year: 2024 Genre: Action/Adventure Length: 1h 28m Where to watch: Not available for streaming (yet!)

“Capitán Avispa” is a Dominican animated film directed by Jean Guerra and Jonathan Meléndez. In it, Captain Wasp, the hero of Avispatropolis and the Honey Kingdom, faces off against his evil arch-nemesis Jacques Poison and his henchmen.

The movie features music by the renowned Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra, who also voices one of the characters. It also boasts a star-studded Latin American voice cast, including Luis Fonsi as the titular character, Joy Huerta (from Jesse & Joy) and Juanes. “Captain Wasp” hits theaters in April 2024.

Year: 2022 Genre: Mystery Length: 1h 28m Where to watch: Amazon , Apple TV , Google Play , Hulu , YouTube

This period piece mixes anthropomorphic characters with a noir-style 1930s animation. Renowned spider detective Inspector Sun is looking forward to his vacation. However, his relaxation is interrupted when a millionaire passenger on his plane, Dr. Spindlethorp, receives a death threat. Inspector Sun is pulled back into action to solve the case before it’s too late and finds himself once again at odds against his nemesis, the Red Locust.

Year: 2022 Genre: Comedy/Sport Length: 1h 49m Where to watch: Amazon , Roku , Sling TV , YouTube , Vix

The free-spirited nun Sister Marina is sent to El Parral, a troubled boys’ orphanage facing closure in 1994 Spain. Despite initial pranks from the boys, Sister Marina’s warmth and resourcefulness shine through. She helps them form a football team, building a sense of community and purpose. “Llenos de gracia” is a heartwarming comedy that blends humor with touching moments, exploring themes of hope, overcoming adversity and finding family in unexpected places.

Note that this movie has a slightly higher rating (PG-13) than the others in this list, and is more appropriate for older kids and teens.

Year: 2020 Genre: Adventure Length: 1h 26m Where to watch: Netflix

In this beautifully animated film, a young girl named Copi and her loyal dog Xico team up to save their mountain home. A greedy corporation threatens to destroy the mountain in search of gold, putting their town and the environment at risk. Copi and Xico embark on a daring adventure into the mountain’s heart, encountering fantastical creatures and facing plenty of challenges along the way.

Year: 2018 Genre: Horror Length: 1h 25m Where to watch: Amazon , Apple TV , Google Play , Pluto , Vix , YouTube

“La leyenda del Charro Negro” is a stylized Mexican animated film that reimagines the classic folktale. It follows Leo San Juan, a brave boy searching for his missing father. On his journey, he encounters the chilling Charro Negro, a ghostly figure known for dark bargains. Charro Negro offers Leo a chance to find his father, but only if he completes three impossible tasks. Thrown into a moral dilemma, Leo must decide if his father’s return is worth risking his soul.

This movie is part of a series of Mexican folkloric legend retellings , which currently has seven movies.

Year: 2017 Genre: Fantasy/Adventure Length: 1h 45m Where to watch: Disney+

Miguel, a 12-year-old boy in Santa Cecilia, Mexico, dreams of becoming a musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. However, his family has a generations-old ban on music stemming from a mysterious ancestor. During the vibrant Day of the Dead celebration, Miguel accidentally ends up in the Land of the Dead. There, he seeks his deceased musician great-great-grandfather’s blessing to return home and pursue music. His journey becomes a heartwarming exploration of family traditions and the enduring power of music to connect generations.

Pixar’s “Coco,” though originally made in English, has a special place in the hearts of Spanish speakers. Unlike most Hollywood films dubbed in Spain, the Spanish version of “Coco” uses the Mexican Spanish dialect to honor the film’s cultural setting. This decision was praised for its authenticity, allowing the characters’ emotions and the film’s themes of family and tradition to resonate even more deeply with Mexican and Latino audiences worldwide.

Year: 2015 Genre: Comedy Length: 1h 38m Where to watch: Amazon , Apple TV , Google Play , Hulu , YouTube

Known in English as “Huevos: Little Rooster’s Egg-cellent Adventure,” this Mexican animated film stars Willy, a scrawny little rooster with a big dream: to compete in the prestigious National Cockfighting Championship. Despite his limitations and the mockery of others, Willy embarks on a hilarious and heartwarming journey. With the help of his friends, a wise old hen and a fighting spirit that won’t be crushed, Willy trains relentlessly to prove himself and defy the odds.

And if you like this family movie, you’re in luck: This is actually the third movie in a trilogy. Also check out “A Movie with Eggs” (2006) and “Another Movie with Eggs and a Chicken” (2009). Also worth noting that this film has a PG-13 rating and a couple of double-entendre scenes, so it’s best for older kids.

Year: 2013 Genre: Adventure/Comedy Length: 1h 46m Where to watch: Amazon , Apple TV , Google Play , YouTube

In this live-action Spanish family film, mischievous twins Zip and Zap are sent to a boarding school called Esperanza (Hope) with extremely strict rules. Even games are forbidden! Refusing to give up their playful spirit, Zip and Zap form a secret club, the Club de la Canica (The Marble Gang), where they and their friends can play and have fun. Their adventures take an exciting turn when they discover a mysterious secret hidden within the school walls.

The movie is an adaptation of the long-running “Zipi y Zape” comic strip created by Spanish cartoonist José Escobar. First appearing in the 1940s, the comics continue to be popular with readers of all ages in Spain and Latin America. A sequel titled “Zipi y Zape y la Isla del Capitán” (Zip & Zap and the Captain’s Island) was released in 2016.

Year: 2013 Genre: Adventure/Comedy Length: 1h 20m Where to watch: Amazon , Tubi

“Anina” is a beautifully illustrated Uruguayan film that tells the story of a 10-year-old girl named Anina Yatay Salas. Anina dislikes her name because all its parts are palindromes (words that read the same backward and forward), making her a target for teasing, especially from her classmate Yisel.

One day, a playground fight between Anina and Yisel lands them in the principal’s office. Their unusual punishment involves each receiving a sealed envelope they’re forbidden to open for a week. The mystery of the unknown contents adds to the tension between the girls, forcing them to confront each other and their own anxieties. Anina’s quest to understand what’s in the envelope becomes a journey of self-discovery and a chance for her and Yisel to form an unexpected connection.

Year: 2012 Genre: Adventure/Comedy Length: 1h 32m Watch it on: Amazon , Pluto , Roku , Tubi

Tadeo Jones is a charming 3D-animated film that follows Tad Jones, a bricklayer who dreams of becoming an archaeologist. One day, he’s mistaken for a professor and takes his place on a flight to Peru in search of the Lost City of Paititi. Along the way, Tad must overcome his own clumsiness and the machinations of a villainous rival archaeologist to find the city and save the day.

“Tad, the Lost Explorer” was the highest-grossing Spanish film of all time until it was surpassed by “Ocho apellidos vascos” (“Spanish Affair”) in 2014. The film was praised for its animation, humor and action sequences, and was nominated for a Goya Award for Best Animated Film. There are two more movies in the series , if you can’t get enough of the titular Tad.

Year: 2007 Genre: Fantasy Length: 1h 20m Where to watch: Amazon , Apple TV , Google Play , Tubi , YouTube

Tim, a young orphan, discovers a magical rooftop portal leading to Nocturna, a hidden world inhabited by fantastical creatures who control the night. Hairdressers specialize in bedhead, dream writers craft nightly visions and giant cats patrol the darkness. However, Nocturna is in danger. The stars are disappearing, causing restless nights for children, and a mysterious shadow creature threatens to extinguish all light. With the help of the Cat Shepherd, Tim embarks on a quest to overcome his fear of the dark and defeat the shadowy villain, ultimately saving Nocturna and restoring nighttime magic.

These Spanish family movies will make a great addition to your roster for family movie night!

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‘Madre’ Review: A Tense Depiction of a Mother Undone

Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s feature about a mother in Spain whose son disappears is a compelling and unsettling character study.

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By Glenn Kenny

A parent’s worst nightmare, unfolding in real time, opens this Spanish drama. Elena (the superb Marta Nieto) gets a call from her young son, Iván. He’s vacationing in France with his father, from whom Elena is estranged. Iván’s dad went to their camper to fetch something, supposedly, and the 6-year-old boy is alone on a deserted beach. The bars on his cellphone are going down, he says. And so is the sun.

The motherly concern turning to terror is captured in a single shot lasting more than ten minutes. It’s a dizzying feat that “Madre,” directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen and extended from his short that was nominated for an Oscar in 2019, never tries to top, although subsequent events certainly do not lack for tension.

Without further exposition, the movie moves ahead ten years. Elena now lives in the French beach town where Iván disappeared, and she works in a bar. One afternoon an attractive French teenager, Jean (Jules Porier), comes into the place. A series of close-ups tells us that Elena sees something unusual in him.

But this is not an unsolved-mystery-solved story. Jean, the teen, is not Elena’s missing son. She’s rational enough to understand that immediately. But she’s not rational enough to push back against his flirtations. Her attraction to him mixes uncomfortably with her concern over how he’s treated by his own family. In her confusion, Elena gives in to a number of lures of irresponsibility.

The result is an unusually compelling character study, one that, commendably, opts to end on a humane note rather than a dark judgment.

Madre Not rated. In Spanish and French, with subtitles. Running time: 2 hours 8 minutes. In theaters, virtual cinemas and available to rent or buy on iTunes , Google Play and other streaming platforms . Please consult the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before watching movies inside theaters.

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Talk About Movies In Spanish

Learn spanish online.

Talking about películas is a recurrent topic of conversation. It is also a good icebreaker. No matter your movie preferences, there are many expressions in the Spanish language for you to talk about any movie genre or género cinematográfico . If you are visiting a Spanish speaking country, you’ll need to know movie related vocabulary since going to the cinema is a popular free time activity in Spain and Latin American countries.

Talking about movies is the perfect topic for beginners. You simply ask:

to start a conversation about this topic. However, it is not enough. You also need to learn basic vocabulary in order to communicate at the cinema to buy tickets or popcorn, to ask for movie suggestions or give an opinion on a movie you’ve already seen.

Expressions About Movie Preferences in Spanish

Talking about movie preferences is an excellent conversation starter no matter your level of Spanish. The verbs gustar (to like) , encantar (to love) , interesar (to be interested) are the most suitable to talk about preferences. Of course, you need to conjugate these verbs to match the 3rd person in plural since we will talk about movies. You simply say Me gustan las películas, me interesan las películas, me encantan las películas .

¿Qué tipo de películas te gustan? = What kind of movies do you like?

Listen to spanish Audio translation of What kind of movies do you like?

Me gustan las películas románticas = I like romantic movies

Listen to spanish Audio translation of I like romantic movies

Me gustan las romanticas = I like comedies

Listen to spanish Audio translation of I like comedies

¿Te gustan las películas de acción? = Do you like action movies?

Listen to spanish Audio translation of Do you like action movies?

Spanish Movie Genres

Géneros cinematográficos or tipos de películas (literally types of movies) are terms to talk about movie genres in spanish. The latter expression is the most common in everyday conversations. If someone asks you ¿Qué tipos de películas te gustan?, you simply use Me gustan las películas de acción or you can omit las películas and say Me gustan las de acción.

Una de acción = An action movie

Listen to spanish Audio translation of An action movie

Una comedia = A comedy movie

Listen to spanish Audio translation of A comedy movie

Una de romance = A romantic movie

Listen to spanish Audio translation of A romantic movie

Un drama = A drama movie

Listen to spanish Audio translation of A drama movie

Movie Categories in Spanish

Besides movies genres, there are many types of movies. You simply say Es una película …. or It’s a … to describe what kind of movies you like or are watching right now.

Es una película muda = It’s a silent movie

Listen to spanish Audio translation of It’s a silent movie

Es una película para mayores de 18 años = It’s a movie for people over 18 years old

Listen to spanish Audio translation of It’s a movie for people over 18 years old

Going to the Movies Expressions

If you are in a spanish speaking country and want to ir al cine or go to the cinema, you can use one of these expressions. In this case, you need to conjugate the verb querer in the 2nd person singular when addressing tú. You simply use ¿Quieres ir al cine?. As a suggestion you simply use ¿Vamos al cine? or ¿Y si vamos al cine?

¿Quieres ir al cine mañana? = Do you want to go to the movies tomorrow?

Listen to spanish Audio translation of Do you want to go to the movies tomorrow?

Si, me encantaría = Yes, I’d love to

Listen to spanish Audio translation of Yes, I’d love to

At the Cinema or Movie Theater in Spanish

Once you are at the cinema you need to know key phrases to buy tickets or some sweets or soda. Again, you’ll use the verb querer to buy tickets but this time it is conjugated in the 1rs person singular. You simply use Quiero 1 entrada/2 entradas/ 3 entradas …

Quiero dos entradas para la película X = I want two tickets for the X movie

Listen to spanish Audio translation of I want two tickets for the X movie

¿Cuánto cuesta la entrada al cine? = How much does the ticket cost?

Listen to spanish Audio translation of How much does the ticket cost?

Giving Movie Reviews in Spansih

Once you’ve already watched a movie, you’ll want to recommend it or make a review. To do so, you need to learn some adjectives to describe the movie. You simply say Es una película ...or It’s a …..movie. In spanish, adjectives go after the object you’re describing.

Es una película realmente muy buena = It’s a very good movie indeed

Listen to spanish Audio translation of It’s a very good movie indeed

Es una película muy mala = It’s a very bad movie

Listen to spanish Audio translation of It’s a very bad movie

Talk About Film Characters, Director, Cast & Crew etc

There are many other expressions that you need to learn to talk about movies. Most of them are related to el director or film director, la actriz or actress, el actor or actor or el argumento or plot. If you like an actor or director in particular you simply say: Antonio Banderas hace muy buenas películas or Antonio Banderas makes very good movies. If you are interested in the schedule of a movie , you simply ask: ¿A qué hora….? or What time….?

¿A qué hora empieza la película? = What time does the movie start?

Listen to spanish Audio translation of What time does the movie start?

¿A qué hora termina la película? = What time does the movie end?

Listen to spanish Audio translation of What time does the movie end?

Related Lessons in Beginner Course, to further your understanding.

Talking Money In Spanish

Talking Money In Spanish.

Feelings And Mood In Spanish

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‘while at war’ (‘mientras dure la guerra’): film review | tiff 2019.

THR review: 'While at War,' Alejandro Amenábar’s first all-Spanish film since his Oscar-winning 'The Sea Inside,' explores a fascinating footnote to the Spanish Civil War against the wider backdrop of Franco’s rise to power.

By Jonathan Holland

Jonathan Holland

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Aside from delivering terrific work in a range of genres, Alejandro Amenábar — best known for the Nicole Kidman starrer The Others — has often sought to deliver on-message food for thought. The Sea Inside ’s moving reflections on assisted suicide won him the 2005 foreign-language film Oscar, while the feminist-philosophy mashup of Agora (2009) divided viewers.

Now comes While at War , a classically put-together study of the Spanish philosopher and writer Miguel de Unamuno that doubles as an up-to-date warning against the dangers of political passivity. Ambitious in scope, carefully crafted and featuring several fine performances, the film’s depiction of a frail old man realizing that a world changing for the worse is rapidly leaving him behind could have delivered the emotional punch of The Sea Inside . But despite the worthy seriousness of its intentions and the parallels with the present it cleverly draws at every turn, the final impression is of dramatic opportunities left unexplored. While War ’s dutiful sense of responsibility to its source material is laudable, it feels limiting.

At home, the film’s balanced view of left- and right-wing — unusual in Spanish films — will raise debate as well as the standard (and falsely grounded) complaints that this is one more Civil War movie we don’t need. Internationally, auds may respond to the fact that this very Spanish tale is one Civil War movie that we do, in fact need, right now — one that warns us that tyrants who are initially a bit of a joke often end up quickly wiping the smiles off people’s faces, and how compassion and dialogue are fragile virtues that should not be taken for granted.

These are the lessons painfully learned by the film’s aging central figure. In 1936, soon after the start of the Spanish Civil War, the ailing Unamuno (Karra Elejalde) made a legendary speech at the University of Salamanca, warning the Francoist Nationalist forces in the audience that they could “vencer, pero no convencer” (“win, but not convince”). Chaos and public humiliation for Unamuno were the result.

War opens with the fluttering flag of Spain’s Second Republic, whose decline the film will go on to chart. A beautifully staged first scene set in July 1936 shows Nationalist troops moving into the square of the cathedral city of Salamanca to declare a state of war before arresting the city’s mayor for the crime of being Republican.

The viewer knows that he will die, but many at the time could not believe in such a possibility. Awakened from slumber by the sounds of gunfire, one of them is the elderly Unamuno, the former rector of Salamanca University and thus one of Spain’s leading intellectuals. Unamuno dons his trademark beret and heads out to meet up with Protestant priest Atilano (Luis Zahera) and his young Marxist protege Salvador (Carlos Serrano-Clark). Salvador, along with Unamuno’s daughter Felisa (Inma Cuevas), is adamant that fascism is on its way, but Unamuno is skeptical.

Meanwhile, trouble is brewing over in Morocco, where Francisco Franco (Santi Prego) is preparing, aided by the Germans, to fly to Spain to support the coup. This second, somewhat livelier strand of the film essentially deals with the establishment of Franco as the Nationalist leader, accompanied by his faithful follower, Millán de Astray (Eduard Fernandez), the populist, one-armed, one-eyed character who founded the Spanish Foreign Legion, who revels in his nickname of “the Mutilated” and who invites Fernandez to spiritedly chew up the scenery on his every appearance. (It was Millán de Astray, both in life and in the film, who shouted “Death to intellectuals!” during Unamuno’s final speech.)

Franco, whose portrayal in Spanish films has tended toward caricature, is a challenge for an actor, since by all accounts the dictator who ended up ruling over Spain for nearly 40 years was a dull little man with a high voice. Prego skillfully and compellingly twists this dullness into creepiness, peppering the role with half-smiles and silences that last a beat too long, all the while suggesting that behind the facade there is desperate ambition. Historically, there is the suggestion that Franco may have been behind the plane crashes that coincidentally killed two of his rivals as Nationalist leader, and this is dealt with here merely via a furtive, across-the-table glance between Franco and his politician brother: To this extent, While at War holds up to historical scrutiny.

All of this complex history is smoothly foreshortened by the script, though as ever in military dramas a few too many of the chaps in uniform are simply anonymous, while much of the background — including, crucially, Unamuno’s own history — goes largely unexplored, thus robbing the character of depth. While at War ’s problems are thus more with the strand that deals with its hero.

If foreign audiences are familiar with Elejalde at all, it’s for his role in the massive comedy hit Spanish Affair . Here, buried under makeup, he is wonderfully credible as the irascible, sentimental old genius fighting bravely not to be dragged in on the side of the Nationalists.

But the script never ekes out the full force of the drama playing out inside the old philosopher, who is driven by a combination of intellectual arrogance and romantic innocence. With practically everyone telling him that times have changed and accusing him of complicity in the Nationalist cause, and with his friends being dragged off to be executed, Unamuno still refuses to believe the evidence confronting him; despite Elejalde’s best efforts, his stubbornness veers into dithering stupidity, making him a remote and frustrating figure.

The man who wrote Tragic Sense of Life thus lacks the sense of tragic grandeur the character is crying out for, while unfortunately and clumsily, Unamuno’s past is represented by repeated, short, quasi soap-opera sequences of him lying on a mountain as a young man sleeping with his now-dead wife, at one point accompanied by too-syrupy strings. (Amenábar himself composed the orchestral score, which is generally more effective than this.)

The women in the film are secondary characters but are quick to spot the truth of what’s going on, and are morally more even-handed than all the power-hungry males. Even Carmen Franco, the dictator’s wife, is carefully shaded, and if While at War has one point to make, it’s that the division between good and evil is rarely so neat as many would insist on believing.

Salamanca is a beautiful city to have as a backdrop, and Alex Catalan’s photography recognizes that without ever making things purely scenic. One beautifully composed scene has Unamuno and Salvador furiously arguing in silhouette as the sun goes down behind them, the point being that as long as people are still listening to one another despite their differences, there’s still hope. But soon, both the speakers are gone — two months after making his speech, which is the film’s wonderfully staged climax, Unamuno was dead.

The editing is not without subtlety, one scene, for example, featuring opera that segues into another with the crude hymn of the Spanish Foreign Legion. And though it offers too little in the way of dramatic light and shade, this is a cannily structured script. As Millán Astray’s convoy of legionnaires disappears into the distance, the camera lingers quietly on an anonymous, forgotten dead body in a ditch. In the years following the end of While at War , this will be the fate of not only Castro, Atilano and others in the film, but of hundreds of thousands more.

Production companies: Movistar +, Mod Producciones, Himenóptero, K&S Films Cast: Karra Elejalde, Eduard Fernández, Santi Prego, Luis Bermejo, Tito Valverde, Patricia López, Inma Cuevas, Carlos Serrano-Clark, Luis Zahera Director: Alejandro Amenábar Screenwriters: Alejandro Amenábar, Alejandro Hernández Producers: Fernando Bovaira, Domingo Corral, Hugo Sigman, Alejandro Amenábar Executive producers: Guillermo Vidal-Folch, Gabriel Arias-Salgado, Simón de Santiago Director of photography: Alex Catalan Production designer: Juan Pedro de Gaspar Costume designer: Sonia Grande Editor: Carolina Martínez Urbina Composer: Alejandro Amenábar Casting directors: Eva Leira, Yolanda Serrano Venue: Toronto International Film Festival (Special Presentation) Sales: Film Factory

107 minutes

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“Radical,” a Spanish-language movie from Mexico, is based on the true story of an innovative and inspiring teacher in a poor community. Chucho ( Daniel Haddad ) runs an elementary school in a very poor community with corrupt officials and constant violence from gangs of drug dealers. Sergio ( Eugenio Derbez ) is the new teacher, brought on at the last minute when a faculty member quit just a day before school started. One of the other teachers scoffs that the only requirement for the faculty is a pulse.

Chucho has all but given up on giving the children a meaningful education because the students walk past yellow crime scene tape and murdered bodies on the way to school, the library’s encyclopedia is 30 years old, and the computer lab has been out of service for four years. Most students drop out after sixth grade to help their families or to join gangs. The bored students suffer through lectures, memorization, and busy work.

The school is often derisively referred to as “a place of punishment.” As the students line up in their uniforms for the first day of school, Chucho barks at them, “Silence is the foundation of obedience; obedience is the foundation of discipline, and discipline is the foundation of learning.” He has no interest in challenging established procedures or authorities. If the funding for the computer lab somehow disappeared and the teachers get early copies of the standardized tests so they can be sure to get bonuses when the students memorize the answers, all he can say to Sergio is, “No one gives a damn what happens here ... don’t kick the hornets’ nest.”

Sergio Juárez Correa’s work at the José Urbina López Primary School in Matamoros, Mexico, was the subject of a 2013 Wired Magazine article titled, A Radical Way of Unleashing a Generation of Geniuses . One of the students was on the cover with the headline, "The Next Steve Jobs ?" Correa was inspired by the ideas of Sugata Mitra, a British professor of educational technology, who proposed student-led learning, an updated, computer-enabled version of the ideas popularized in the 1960s by Summerhill founder A.S. Neill. “What do you want to learn?” Sergio (as he insists the students refer to him) asks. He encourages them not to worry about grades and not to be afraid of mistakes. “Who wants to be wrong first?”

When they first come to his classroom, the students pause at the door because he has turned the desks upside down and piled them in groups. He calls out to them that they are underwater, the desks are boats, and the students will drown if they cannot climb on board. But if there are too many people in a boat, it will sink. How can they determine the right number in each boat to save the most people? This makes the students want to learn about flotation, which means math and physics. It leads one student to ponder how we decide who to save when there is not enough room. Sergio tells her she is a philosopher, like John Stuart Mill. Another student, Paloma ( Jennifer Trejo ), becomes interested in math and astronomy. Sergio tells her she could be an aerospace engineer. Soon, Sergio has the students out on the playground, each a planet orbiting and spinning.

Derbez, always a charismatic screen presence, is at his best interacting with young people, as he did playing the music teacher in “Coda” and the quirky doctor in “ Miracles from Heaven .” The young actors are exceptionally expressive, particularly Jennifer Trejo as Paloma, the WIRED cover model, a gifted young mathematician who lives with her father next to the garbage dump they glean to support themselves; Mia Fernanda Solis as Lupe, who goes to the college library to check out philosophy books but is forced to drop out of school to care for her baby brother; and Danilo Guardiola as Nico, whose brother has involved him in drug smuggling but who has begun to wish for a life of learning—and a closer relationship with Paloma.

Sergio wants to challenge the school’s systems, but most of all, he wants to challenge his sixth graders. He knows that what matters more than memorizing facts is to make them want to learn, to teach them how to learn, and to show them how capable and curious they can be. He does that for Chucho as well.

One of the movie’s most meaningful moments is when the two men sit down for a quiet talk. As Sergio and Chucho share the names of the teachers who inspired them, we see Chucho begin to reconnect with what led him to become an educator. If we are lucky, we have at least one teacher in our past who showed us what we are capable of. If not, Sergio can help remind us that it is never too late.

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Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com.

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Film credits.

Radical (2023)

Rated PG-13 for some strong violent content, thematic material and strong language.

127 minutes

Eugenio Derbez as Sergio

Daniel Haddad as Chucho

Jennifer Trejo as Paloma

Mia Fernanda Solis as Lupe

Danilo Guardiola Escobar as Nico

Gilberto Barraza as Papa Paloma

Víctor Estrada as Chepe

Manuel Márquez as Enrique

Christian Gonzalez as Jaime

Xochiquetzal Martínez as Maria

Christopher Zalla

Writer (based on article by)

Joshua Davis

Cinematographer

Mateo Londono
Eugenio Richer
Pascual Reyes
Juan Pablo Villa

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Cast & crew
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Step Family

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Stills By Alan
Gianna Dior
Natasha Nice
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Stepdaughter
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Mar 26, 2024
March 25, 2024 (United States)
Gamma Entertainment
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Technical specs

Runtime 1 hour 31 minutes