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The Secret in their Eyes Juan Jose Campanella Winner of the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2010, El Secreto de Sus Ojos is no stuffy art-house affair. It's an unrestrained romantic thriller that shuffles back and forth from 1970s Argentina to the present. Back in the days of coups and political violence, a young court investigator (Ricardo Darin) and his sultry supervisor (Soledad Villamil) worked on a rape-murder case that was lost amidst a military takeover. Now retired, Darin looks up his old flame to see if she is willing to help put it to bed...the case. "It finds expressive peaks that other films don't attempt, and it's ambitious in other ways, too, using a long-forgotten crime as a springboard for ruminations on love and memory, on the nature of time and the value of life" (San Francisco Chronicle). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2009, 127 mins. DVD | $37.95
The Aura Fabian Bielinsky A troubled taxidermist dreams of carrying out the perfect heist as he toils away at his repetitive day job. Everything changes when a hunting accident leaves a window of opportunity open for his secret plan. "A gripping crime story" (A.O. Scott, New York Times). Nominated for a Grand Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2005, 128 mins. DVD | $44.95
Autumn Sun Eduardo Mignogna A middle-aged, single Jewish woman takes out a personal ad, hoping to find someone to pose as her fiance and reassure her old-fashioned brother that she is well on the way to a happy marriage. The sole respondent, however, turns out not to be Jewish. They decide to pursue the charade anyway and what begins as an arrangement of convenience quickly turns into mutual affection. "One of the most memorable movie romances in several years...a film to both enjoy and treasure" (Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1996, 103 mins. DVD | $44.95
Bar El Chino Daniel Burak A moving Argentine film about a neighborhood bar with a warmth and spirit that inspires its patrons. The plot centers on Martina, a young network television editor who decides to make a documentary about the bar. Her first night there she meets Jorge Garces--El Chino--who at one time had plans of his own to capture the beloved nightspot on film, but became sidetracked by a lack of finances. When Martina and Jorge team up, a beautiful film and a new relationship are realized. Winner of the Best First Film for Daniel Burak at the 2004 Argentine Film Critics Association Awards. In Spanish without subtitles. Argentina, 2003, 100 mins. DVD | $37.95
Blessed by Fire Tristan Bauer "A visceral force you won't forget," says The New York Times' Stephen Holden of this haunting war film from Tristan Bauer (After the Storm). News of a former soldier's attempted suicide brings back terrifying memories of the savage battlefields in the Falklands where so many of his Argentinean brothers lost their lives. Winner of Best Film at the Tribeca Film Festival. With Gaston Pauls and Pablo Riva. Also known as Iluminados por el Fuego. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina/Spain, 2005, 100 mins. DVD | $44.95
Bolivia Adrian Caetano Director Adrian Caetano explores issues of xenophobia and social violence in Argentina in this realistic story about an illegal immigrant from Bolivia living on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. The winner of the Young Critics' Award at the Cannes Film Festival, Bolivia is "a superbly understated tale of desperation and intolerance" (John Petrakis, Chicago Tribune). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina 2001 75 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Bottom of the Sea Damian Szifron A darkly comic thriller from the New Argentine Cinema, Damian Szifron's film follows an obsessively jealous young architect (Daniel Hendler) who comes undone after discovering that his girlfriend (Dolores Fonzi) is cheating on him. Anguished and filled with rage, he begins stalking her lover over the course of a hilarious and disturbing evening. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina 2003 95 mins. DVD | $44.95
Burnt Money Marcelo Pineyro Eduardo Noriega (Open Your Eyes, The Devil's Backbone) stars in this gripping drama based on a real-life crime spree that dominated headlines in Argentina and Uruguay in 1965. Noriega and Leonardo Sbaraglia are "The Twins," gay lovers already infamous for their own string of criminal activities. They are recruited for a heist involving some other dangerous underworld figures and the volatile mixture almost ensures something will go terribly wrong. "...the bold, confident kind of filmmaking that gets away with everything - think of early Bertolucci, The Conformist in particular" (Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina/Uruguay/Spain, 2000, 125 mins. DVD | $44.95
Camila Maria Luisa Bemberg A young Catholic socialite from Buenos Aires falls in love and runs away with a young Jesuit priest. The two find temporary happiness in a small provincial village, but eventually they are recognized and face the wrath of their families, church and government officials of the De Rosas dictatorship of 19th century Argentina. An Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film. "A bare outline fails to do justice to this powerful indictment of repression..." (Faber Companion to Foreign Films). Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina/Spain, 1984, 105 mins. DVD | $44.95
Campo De Sangre (Fields of Blood) Gabriel Arbos This Argentine thriller is based on a true crime incident. A captain in the Argentine army marries a beautiful wife and hopes to live a wonderful life. Unfortunately, her wife's infertility drives him into a torment of madness relieved only by his love for another woman. When his mistress becomes pregnant, his world completely unravels. With divorce removed as an option, he corners himself with few other choices, leading to a chilling final decision. In Spanish WITH NO ENGLISH SUBTITLES. Argentina, 2001, 95 mins. DVD | $26.95
Cenizas del Paraiso (Paradise Ashes) Marcelo Pineyro Marcelo Pineyro (Wild Horses) directs this Argentine drama of betrayal, revelation and loyalty. A prominent judge commits suicide and the dead body of a young girl with 15 stab wounds is found on the same day. The judge's three sons confess to the girl's murder, but everything is not what it seems as the truth is twisted, secrets are revealed and the connections between the murders grow. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1997, 130 mins. DVD | $44.95
Chiche Bombon Fernando Musa Fernando Musa (Brain Drain) directs this earnest tale of illicit love in a provincial Argentine town. A woman is impregnated out of wedlock by a much younger man, Chiche (Andrea Galante), and as their neighbors' gossip increases, the couple's parents go to great lengths to keep them apart. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2004, 94 mins. DVD | $44.95
The City of No Limits (En La Ciudad Sin Limites) Antonio Hernandez The dying patriarch of a wealthy Spanish family who's living out his final days in a Parisian hospital guards a secret that could forever scar his family. When his son from Argentina tries to help the increasingly confused, incoherent and terrified man uncover answers about a mysterious figure from his past, they encounter opposition from the family and discover terrible truths. Features a fine performance from the ensemble cast of Fernando Fernan-Gomez, Leonardo Sbaraglia, and Geraldine Chaplin - who won the Best Supporting Actress Goya Award. In Spanish and French with English subtitles. Spain/Argentina, 2000, 125 mins. DVD | $37.95
Ciudad del Sol (Sun City) Carlos Galettini Carlos Galettini's mystery probes the ripple effect that a mother's suicide has on her distraught daughter (Jazmin Stuart). When Manuela (Stuart) meets an enigmatic friend of her mother's, she is initially hesitant to reveal her identity. But as their relationship deepens, Manuela turns to the man for answers about her mother's troubled and secretive life. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2003, 101 mins. DVD | $37.95
The Cloud Fernando E. Solanas Fernando E. Solanas directs this Argentine-French-Italian-German drama with allegorical reflections of Argentina's history. A black cloud brings 1,600 days of rain to Buenos Aires; traffic and pedestrians move backwards, unaware that they are regressing within a corrupted system that is the cause of their social woes. Aging actor Max (Eduardo Pavlovsky) is the leader of an eclectic group of actors struggling to save their theater from being demolished and replaced with a shopping mall. With Angela Correa, Laura Novoa, and Franklin Caicedo. The DVD is letterboxed, and includes optional English or Chinese (traditional) subtitles. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina/France/Germany/Italy, 1998, 118 mins. DVD | $44.95
Common Ground Adolfo Aristarain Based on Lorenzo F. Aristarian's novel, Rebirth, this drama follows an aging university professor as he is forced into early retirement and the abrupt lifestyle changes that result. Stars Federico Luppi, Mercedes Sampietro, Arturo Puig, Carlos Santamaria, and Yael Barnatan. In Spanish with English subtitles. Spain/Argentina, 2002, 112 mins. DVD | $44.95
Conversaciones Con Mama Santiago Carlos Oves An 82-year-old mother turns the tables on her 50-year-old son in this topsy-turvy family drama from director Santiago Carlos Oves. When the successful, married Jaime is unexpectedly laid off from his job, he's forced to sell the apartment where his family has been living for years. But when Jaime goes to break the bad news to his mother, he discovers that she has a much more shocking surprise in store for him. With China Zorilla, Eduardo Blanco, and Ulises Dumont. In Castilian with English subtitles. Argentina/Spain, 2003, 90 mins. DVD | $44.95
Crane World Pablo Trapero Winner of multiple international film festival awards, director Pablo Trapero's first feature uses non-actors in a tale that is by turns humorous and heartbreaking. This slice-of-life drama, told in a series of episodes, invites comparisons to the Neo-Realism of 1950s Italian cinema. At the center is Rulo, a one-time rock star and now our overweight middle aged, chain smoking hero, trying to support his aging mother and musician son. As his efforts go increasingly awry, it is the love of family and friends that keeps him hopeful. Beautifully photographed in black and white and directed with a combination of aesthetic freshness and emotional subtlety, Crane World is a key work in the current resurgence of Argentine cinema. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1999, 90 mins. DVD | $44.95
Dark Side of the Heart Eliseo Subiela From the director of Man Facing Southeast comes this parable about a narcissistic poet in search of the perfect woman. Claiming he will not "tolerate a woman who cannot fly," young Oliverio rejects potential lovers. When he meets a prostitute named Ana who can actually fly, she prefers to keep their relationship a business arrangement. Tormented and lovelorn, Oliverio must face the consequences of pursuing his dream. An original work of magical realism by Argentina's talented Subiela. With Dario Grandineti, Sandra Ballesteros and Nacha Guevara. "Intoxicatingly lush and sensual" (Los Angeles Times). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina/Canada, 1992, 127 mins. DVD | $44.95
Don't Die Without Telling Me Where You're Going Eliseo Subiela A magical, time-shifting romance about the power of love and the movies from Argentine director Eliseo Subiela (Dark Side of the Heart). Dario Grandinetti (Talk to Her) stars as Leopoldo, a lonely film projectionist who invents a machine that can record his dreams. The machine reveals Leopoldo to be the reincarnation of one of the inventors of cinema, and it also records the image of a woman from the past with whom he falls deeply in love. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1995, 130 mins. DVD | $44.95
El Polaquito Juan Carlos Desanzo A 13 year-old Argentine street urchin makes his living by busking on commuter trains. While working at the Buenos Aires Central Station one day, the youngster falls in love with a teenage prostitute who is working against her will for the local mob. To rescue her, "El Polaquito" must confront the most violent organization in the city without regard to risk or consequences. Strong performances help bolster Juan Carlos Desanzo's gritty urban drama, which has much to say about the social inequalities in contemporary Argentina. Based on a true story. With Abel Ayala, Marina Glezer, Fernando Roa, and Roly Serrano. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2003, 92 mins. DVD | $37.95
El Regreso (The Return) Hugo Lescano Juan is sent to prison, accused of a crime he didn't commit. Embittered by the injustice, he uses his experience as an assassin and thief to plot his revenge. Once freed, he learns that his accuser has not only become the town commissioner, but has also married his ex-wife. The eventual showdown won't be pretty. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2003, 80 mins. DVD | $26.95
Eva Peron Juan Carlos Desanzo The life of iconic Argentine leader Eva "Evita" Peron is chronicled in this engrossing biography filmed by fellow Argentine, Juan Carlos Desanzo. Peron's stormy life, which tragically ended at age 33, is brought to the screen with the same passion with which she lived it. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1996, 114 mins. DVD | $44.95
Family Law Daniel Burman Argentina's official entry for Best Foreign Language Film to the Academy Awards, Family Law, or Derecho de Familia, is a refreshing drama about a law professor trying to live up to the expectations of his father, a successful attorney, and his own family. "Poignant, compassionate, and sensitive" (Pablo Suarez, Film Comment). Written and directed by Daniel Burman (Lost Embrace), and starring Adriana Alzemberg, Luis Albornoz, Eloy Burman, Julieta Diaz, Damian Dreizek, and Daniel Hendler. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2006, 100 mins. DVD | $44.95
Felicidades Lucho Bender Christmas Eve is anything but merry on a hot and humid night in Buenos Aires when everything seems to be going wrong. The trying times of several characters are followed in this comedy that manages to elicit warm emotions without resorting to cheap sentimentality or diminishing its dark undercurrents. Writer-director Lucho Bender's debut feature was nominated for 10 Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards, winning for Best First Film and Best New Actor (Alfredo Casero). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2000, 100 mins. DVD | $37.95
Fuego/The Female (Seventy Times Seven) Armando Bo/Leopoldo Torre Nilsson Two films starring Argentinean softcore seductress Isabel Sarli. Fuego (Armando Bo, 1969, 81 mins.): One of the most famous of Sarli's many films for Armando Bo, who also co-stars as the wealthy head of an engineering firm, who falls for a faithless, sexually insatiable woman (Sarli). Their carnal compulsions eventually lead to a suicide pact. The Female (Leopoldo Torre Nilsson, 1962, 94 mins.): Sarli plays a prostitute who looks back at her ill-fated romances. An early film in the career of the "Brazilian Bombshell," and one of very few she made without her mentor Bo. Instead she was directed here by the respected Argentinean director of Martin Fierro and Los Siete Locos. The DVD includes theatrical trailer for Fuego and other Argentinean sexploitation films, two grind-house short subjects, and gallery of sexploitation art and radio spots.Dubbed in English. Argentina, 1969/1962, 175 mins. DVD | $44.95
Funny Dirty Little War Hector Olivera An important film from Hector Olivera - a striking parable of events in Peronist Argentina. The film is a comedy about rightist Peronists who plot to oust the leftist mayor of the town. But the mayor refuses to budge, and a "funny dirty little war" ensues. Federico Luppi is brilliant as the mayor. A Silver Bear and FIPRESCI prize-winner at Berlin. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1983, 80 mins. DVD | $44.95
Heroes Y Demonios (Heroes and Demons) Horacio Maldonado How far would you go to fight for justice and a better world? Three psychiatric patients decide to take on societal injustices after a history of mistreatment in their institution. Once released, they begin the struggle but will their noble intentions spiral into insane obsessions? In Spanish WITH NO ENGLISH SUBTITLES. Argentina, 1999, 100 mins. DVD | $26.95
The Holy Girl Lucrecia Martel Lucrecia Martel demonstrates why she's one of cinema's most exciting young directors with this acclaimed follow-up to La Cienaga. A powerful coming-of-age story with bold religious themes, Martel's sophomore drama stars Maria Alche and Julieta Zylberberg as close teenage friends who temper their curiosity about sex with their strict Catholic upbringings. A charged physical encounter with a respected physician (Carlos Belloso) causes the girls to seek salvation for the middle-aged doctor--an endeavor fraught with new discoveries about power, shame, and sexual vulnerability. "A film that defies categorization, but I'm tempted to call it a miracle" (A.O. Scott, The New York Times). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina 2004 106 mins. DVD | $44.95
I Don't Know What Your Eyes Have Done to Me Lorena Munoz/Sergio Wolf Deemed "The Empress of Tango", Ada Falcon's singing reputation was known throughout the world. But in 1942, she vanished from the public eye at the height of her career. Sixty years after Falcon's disappearance, filmmakers Lorena Munoz and Sergio Wolf set out to examine the enigmatic performer's fascinating life. Told in the style of a classic thriller, their film uses footage of Falcon's film appearances and voiceover narration to investigate her legacy. Astonishingly, their film culminates in an appearance by Falcon herself, who agrees to tell her story for the first time. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina 2003 64 mins. DVD | $44.95
I, The Worst of All Maria Luisa Bemberg Based on the book Traps of Faith by Nobel Prize winner Octavio Paz, this film by Maria Luisa Bemberg (Camila, I Don't Want to Talk About It) tells the story of real-life Mexican poet and writer Sister Juana Ines de la Cruz, a target of the Spanish Inquisition, and her passionate relationship with a Viceroy's wife, who protects the nun so that she may continue her work. As the Sister's status begins to grow, the Church attempts to silence the nun. Starring Assumpta Sernea (Matador) and Dominique Sanda (The Conformist, The Garden of the Finzi-Continis). Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1990, 105 mins. DVD | $44.95
Intimate Stories Carlos Sorin Carlos Sorin's aptly titled tripartite drama follows three individuals on separate but intersecting journeys to San Julian, Argentina. Don Justo's (Antonio Benedictis) trip is spurred by the knowledge that his lost dog has been found in the town. Roberto (Javier Lombardo) hopes to woo a recently widowed woman by bringing a cake to her child's birthday. Maria (Javiera Bravo) hopes to win the grand prize on a television game show. All three come away with something similar to what they hoped for, but none of their journeys assumes a straight and simple line. "A fresh, lovingly tender, cinematically shimmering film" (B. Ruby Rich, San Francisco Bay Guardian). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2002, 94 mins. DVD | $44.95
Jews in Space Gabriel Lichtmann "Why is this night different from all the other nights?" The answer to this traditional Passover question lingers throughout this twisted comedy-drama about a Jewish family in Buenos Aires who comes together to celebrate the holiday, despite petty jealousy, mismatched romantic feelings, and a suicidal patriarch. Affectionate yet keenly observed, Jews in Space features a cast of screen veterans, including Axel Anderson and Sammy Lerner. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2005, 89 mins. DVD | $44.95
A King and His Movie Carlos Sorin Winner of Spain's Goya Award for Best Spanish Language Foreign Film and the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, this is a funny, surreal and touching look at the obsessions of a filmmaker. Trying to make a movie about the real-life story of a historical figure who proclaimed himself the King of Patagonia, a film director finds that his own dreams of cinematic grandeur are quick to fall victim to the intrusion of reality. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1985, 104 mins. DVD | $44.95
La Cienaga Lucrecia Martel In her highly accomplished debut film, Argentine director Lucrecia Martel skewers the decadence of the bourgeoisie with an effectiveness rarely seen since Bunuel. As an unbearably hot and sticky summer winds on, a wealthy family and their lower-class relatives come together to try to make the most of a bad situation. Filmed in a probing, expressionist style with a vivid and masterful sound design, "there's a real energy in the way that La Cienaga takes nothing for granted -- except your attention and your intelligence" (Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News). The DVD is letterboxed and includes short film by Lucrecia Martel (Rey Muerto), director's statement, trailer, and liner notes by B. Ruby Rich. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2001, 100 mins. DVD | $37.95
Last Images of the Shipwreck Eliseo Subiela Award-winning filmmaker Eliseo Subiela (The Dark Side of the Heart) directs this eye-opening, metaphysical film about the force of dreams and imagination. Roberto is an insurance agent whose only solace in life comes from writing, but he's experiencing writer's block. His luck changes when he finds the subject for his novel, a prostitute who uses a dramatic technique, a fake suicide attempt, in order to find customers. "Thoughtful, provocative, and highly original" (Chicago Reader). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina/Portugal/Spain, 1985, 127 mins. DVD | $44.95
Life According to Muriel Eduardo Milewicz A critics' favorite in its native Argentina, Life According to Muriel is a moving drama with warm touches of humor. An abandoned wife and mother leaves the hectic life of Buenos Aires behind her, taking her nine-year-old daughter with her to the country. An accident forces them to stay at a run-down hotel, where a cautious friendship with the proprietor - a single mother with children of her own - develops into a makeshift family. The cast includes Jorge Perugorria (Strawberries & Chocolate, Guantanamera). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1997, 97 mins. DVD | $44.95
Lili's Apron Mariano Galperin A refreshing Argentine comedy about a lowly dishwasher named Ramon (Luis Ziembrowsky), who loses his job during Argentina's economic crisis. Though his wife, Lili (Paula Ituriza), is offered a great job as the maid to a rich family, she suffers a nervous breakdown that prevents her from accepting. So Ramon does what any good husband would do. He dons his wife's clothing and gets to work. "[Writer-director Mariano] Galperin approaches this serious tale with humor and charm, balancing the story on the edge of very dark satire" (Museum of Modern Art). Includes discussion guide with director's notes, director bio, and info about Argentina. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2004, 90 mins. DVD | $44.95
Lisboa (Lisbon) Antonio Hernandez Fantasy turns to nightmare in this Spanish road thriller. Segi Lopez (With a Friend Like Harry) stars as a street vendor who gives a ride to a sexy stranger, played by Carmen Maura (Women of the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown), and lives to regret it. Although sexual fireworks do explode, they are followed by extreme danger. In Spanish with English subtitles. Spain/Argentina, 1999, 100 mins. DVD | $44.95
Live-In Maid (Cama Adentro) Jorge Gaggero Winner of the Special Jury Prize for World Cinema at Sundance, this Argentine chamber drama begins as the economy in Buenos Aires plummets. Now the once well-to-do Bebe (Norma Aleandro) is unable to pay her maid, Dora (Norma Argentina), who promptly quits. This lifestyle change forces both to reevaluate their class identities in order to survive the downturn. "...very nearly perfect...achieves a poignant comical clarity" (A.O. Scott, New York Times). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2004, 87 mins. DVD | $44.95
Los Gauchos Judios Juan Jose Jusid Based on a short story cycle by Alberto Gerchunoff, this 1975 film dramatizes the oft-overlooked stories of Russian Jews who fled their country's pogroms to settle in rural Argentina. Once there, many of the settlers assimilated to South American life by becoming "gauchos"--the regional term for cowboys. Full of comedy, music, and pathos, Juan Jose Jusid's film is a colorful celebration of cultural exchange. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1975, 110 mins. DVD | $44.95
Los Muertos Lisandro Alonso Gorgeously shot in the Argentine jungle, Los Muertos is a hypnotic and austere investigation of the boundaries between nature and civilization--and the violence that lurks within both. A man named Vargas (Argentino Vargas) is released from prison and goes into the wild. He methodically relieves himself of clothing and money, allowing the jungle to reclaim him. Filmmaker Lisandro Alonso (La Libertad) refuses to explain his themes (the isolation of the jungle; the path from guilt to absolution; the convict's reintegration into society), preferring to bathe his viewers in the sensual sights and sounds of the tropics, while hinting at the unsettling implications of such a journey. "The Dead is an ironic appellation for a movie so fiercely alive, though perfectly apt for what turns out to be a strange sort of horror film" (Nathan Lee, Village Voice). Winner of the International Critics Prize at the Venice Film Festival. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2004, 82 mins. DVD | $44.95
Los Pintin al Rescate (The Pintins to the Rescue) Franco Bittolo The Pintins are a family of penguins who live near the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of Argentina. When humans kidnap the youngest child and put her in a zoo, the family embarks on an adventure to save her. In addition to being an action-filled romp, this feature also addresses diverse environment and social concerns unlike the average animated fare. Winner of the 2001 Best Animated Film Award by the Argentinean Film Critics Association. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2000, 82 mins. DVD | $44.95
Lost Embrace Daniel Burman Italian, Eastern European, and Korean immigrants converge at a bustling, multi-cultural Buenos Aires shopping mall in this witty and engaging slice-of-life comedy from Daniel Burman. Central to Burman's ensemble cast is Ariel (Daniel Hendler), a brooding young Polish-Jewish man who pursues a love affair with Rita (Silvina Bosco) while weathering the demands of his widowed shopkeeper mother (Adriana Aizenberg) and his tough-as-nails grandmother (Rosita Londnder). Burman chronicles the bustle and melancholy of the marketplace in a casual but penetrating style that illuminates the lives of his characters. "This is a small movie about a small world, but its modesty is part of what makes it durable and satisfying" (A.O. Scott, The New York Times). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2003, 97 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Lost Steps Manane Rodriguez Argentine-born Monica (Irene Visedo) is living in Spain with her parents when she finds that a man claiming to be her grandfather is looking for her, causing much confusion in her life. The story was inspired by the Argentine military government of the seventies and early eighties, which took babies away from their parents and relocated them with the families of various leaders. Also known as Los Pasos Perdidos. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina/Spain, 2001, 104 mins. DVD | $44.95
A Lucky Day Sandra Gugliotta Decades after her grandfather escaped poverty in Italy, Elsa (Valentina Bassi) finds herself struggling against similarly harsh social and economic crises in Argentina. Unwilling to submit to a life of petty crime, she resolves to do whatever it takes to get back to Europe. Grippingly filmed during the Buenos Aires street riots, first-time director Sandra Gugliotta has created an inspirational portrait of one woman's quest for a better life. Also known as Un Dia de Suerte. In Spanish and Italian with English subtitles. Argentina/Spaing/Italy, 2002, 90 mins. DVD | $44.95
Manhunt (Caceria) Ezio Massa Running away from his criminal past, Daniel believes he may have found refuge with his son and a long-lost love. But a betrayal from his past comes back to haunt him and threatens to tear apart his newfound happiness as Daniel is targeted by his former gangster boss. Tense action fare. Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2001, 90 mins. DVD | $44.95
Martin (Hache) Adolfo Aristarain When an accident lands Martin (Juan Diego Botto) on death's door, the boy's estranged father--now living in Madrid--flies to Buenos Aires to see him. Following his recovery, the teen's filmmaker father brings him back to Spain, where he exposes his son to a colorful cast of characters that includes a scandalously young girlfriend (Cecilia Roth), a risk-taking gay actor (Eusebio Poncela), and others. Though at first no one is capable of getting through to the wayward, disillusioned teen, his father's passionate lifestyle slowly catches on. "Sensitive, keenly observed, and beautifully acted" (The New York Times). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina/Spain, 1997, 134 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Method Marcelo Pineyro Based on a play by Jordi Galeceran and swift in intelligence and pace, El Metodo is a Spanish office drama that takes place above the violent streets of Madrid, filled with anti-globalization protestors and police. An unnamed corporation is putting seven candidates through a grueling battery of computer-based tests against one another in the same room, charting their skills, psychology, and wit. And there's a mole that's helping the firm implement "the method." Winner of two Goya Awards. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina/Spain, 2005, 115 mins. DVD | $44.95
Mexico, the Frozen Revolution Raymundo Gleyzer The most celebrated and controversial film by Argentine documentary filmmaker Raymundo Gleyzer, who founded the "third cinema" movement Cine de la Base and was disappeared by Argentina's military dictatorship in 1976. Mexico: The Frozen Revolution is a socio-political analysis of the betrayal of the 1910 Mexican Revolution. The director uses rare newsreel footage of Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata in conjunction with footage of the Tlatelolco massacre at the 1968 Olympic Games in Argentina to comment on the failure of revolution in his own time. A Special Prize-winner at the 1971 Locarno International Film Festival. In Spanish with English subtitles. Mexico, 1971, 65 mins. DVD | $44.95
Muerto de la Pena Maria Victoria Menis Almodovar regular Carmen Maura stars alongside Enrique Pinti in a colorful Argentina comedy about the media circus that's created when a disgruntled accountant willfully flees his job and family. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2001, 103 mins. DVD | $37.95
The Mystery of Eva Peron Tulio Demicheli Veteran Argentine filmmaker Tulio Demicheli directed this illuminating documentary on the life, rise to power, and death of Maria Eva Duarte de Peron, the spiritual leader of postwar Argentina. Through rare film footage and interviews with Evita's acquaintances, critics, and historians, an evenhanded portrait of the actress, politician, and cultural icon emerges. An Official Selection at the Berlin, Toronto, and Montreal film festivals. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1987, 112 mins. DVD | $44.95
Nacidos Para Cantar Emilio Gomez Muriel The legendary singer Enrique Guzman stars in this Spanish-language musical comedy alongside Mario Fortuna. Guzman plays the talent at a Buenos Aires night club. However, his long-distance girlfriend might not survive the heat coming from a young Argentinean singer. In Spanish WITHOUT ENGLISH subtitles. Mexico/Argentina, 1965, 90 mins. DVD | $37.95
Ni Vivo Ni Muerto Victor Jorge Ruiz When Alcides' wife is kidnapped by a hostile gang, he's forced to wrestle with the uncertainty of her fate. But when the gang contacts him years later and solicits his assistance in solving a difficult problem, Alcides must decide whether it's worth the risk. Victor Jorge Ruiz's Argentine drama is a nail-biting thriller that will keep you guessing until the final dramatic twist. In Spanish WITHOUT English subtitles. Argentina, 2002, 95 mins. DVD | $37.95
Night Watch Edgardo Cozarinsky Argentine director Edgardo Cozarinsky returns from a lengthy hiatus in France to helm a gritty, neon-bathed drama about a male hustler's (Gonzalo Heredia) soul-searching odyssey through the seedy underbelly of Buenos Aires. Surreal in tone and menacing in its evocation of the protagonist's paranoia, Cozarinsky's film is a powerful evocation of his native city. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2005, 81 mins. DVD | $37.95
Nine Queens Fabian Bielinsky Nothing is what it seems in this unpredictable film about a veteran thief who enlists a young con artist to assist him in a high-stakes scam involving some rare stamps. The involvement of the sexy sister of one of the thieves adds more layers to a game of constant twists and turns. "Directed with tensile voyeuristic flair by Fabian Bielinsky (it's his first feature), Nine Queens is a caper movie with an implicit, despairing vision of Argentina, yet its ambience of authenticity works on pure edge-of-the-moment dramatic terms as well" (Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly). Starring Ricardo Darin, Gaston Pauls and Leticia Bredice. DVD is letterboxed, 16x9 widescreen, with optional French subtitles. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2000, 115 mins. DVD | $44.95
No Sabe No Contesta Fernando Musa Over the course of a single, wild weekend the teen characters in this breezy Argentine comedy deal with an overwhelming assortment of personal and emotional trials--some of them tragic, many of them hilarious. Karina Dali, Mariano Martinez, and Facundo Espinosa star. In Spanish WITHOUT English subtitles. Argentina, 2002, 90 mins. DVD | $37.95
Nobody's Wife Maria Luisa Bemberg Maria Luisa Bemberg (Camila) directs this stirring film about a woman (Luisina Brando) undergoing a drastic life change after leaving her family due to her husband's extramarital affairs. Deeply wounded emotionally, she struggles to adjust, but eventually finds a new job, new home and new lovers. Regardless, she is still torn between her old existence and her new, independent life. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1982, 98 mins. DVD | $44.95
Nueces para el Amor (Nuts for Love) Alberto Lecchi A vibrant romance that spans three decades of Argentine history. Stars Ariadna Gil (Pan's Labyrinth), Gaston Pauls, Malena Solda, and Nicolas Pauls. In Spanish WITH NO ENGLISH SUBTITLES. Spain/Argentina, 2000, 100 mins. DVD | $26.95
The Official Story Luis Puenzo Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1985, this powerful Argentinean feature is the true story of a comfortable middle-class couple and their adopted daughter. As the film progresses, the couple gradually begin to suspect that their daughter may be one of the many Argentinean children separated from their parents as they are detained or tortured and given away. The wife's journey of self-discovery reveals the horrors of the military dictatorship in Argentina. Directed by Luis Puenzo. With great performances from Hector Alterio and Norma Aleandro. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1985, 112 mins. DVD | $44.95
Ojos Que No Ven Beda Docampo Feijoo Classic mystery elements abound in this contemporary Argentinean thriller. When the publisher of a successful political magazine is murdered in his home, the list of possible suspects includes his lover, his brother, employees, partners and rivals. A dynamite whodunit. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1999, 90 mins. DVD | $37.95
Pizza, Beer and Smokes Adrian Caetano/Bruno Stagnaro An instant cult hit in its native Argentina, this gritty drama captures the chaos of life on the streets of poverty-stricken Buenos Aires. A gang of teenagers roams the slums until Sandra, the only girl in the gang, decides that she's had enough. Pregnant with El Cordobes' child, Sandra threatens to leave the hood if he doesn't straighten up. El Cordobes decides to pull one more heist, but his plans go terribly wrong. Directors Adrian Caetano (A Red Bear, Bolivia) and Bruno Stagnaro offer a brutally real film that's one of the highlights of the bold New Argentine Cinema. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1998, 92 mins. DVD | $44.95
Play for Me Rodrigo Furth A young rock drummer travels to Los Angeles following the death of his adoptive father. His California odyssey is haunted by memories and he sets out on quest for his origins, guided by a prostitute he meets along the way. The appearance of a priest triggers an unexpected turn of events. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2001, 101 mins. DVD | $44.95
A Red Bear Adrian Caetano In Adrian Caetano's exceptional low-budget drama from the new Argentine cinema, Julio Chavez plays Ruben or "The Bear", an ex-con who returns to his hometown following a seven year imprisonment for robbery. In his absence, Julio's wife Natalia (Soledad Villamil) and daughter Alicia (Agostina Lage) have moved in with an unemployed gambling addict, and Natalia is unwilling to extend visitation rights. In an effort to get back on his feet and be a supportive father, Julio agrees to one last job as a getaway driver for a big-time heist. Caetano's film is elegant and heartbreaking, and his camera expressively captures the hard truths of Argentina's sagging economy. His "depiction of small town life is remarkable" (Richard Pena, Film Comment). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2002, 88 mins. DVD | $44.95
Rich Kids Mariano Galperin A couple of very successful young publicists celebrate the first year of running their own agency with a blowout party that includes the Buenos Aires media elite as well as a couple of prostitutes who come with some drug-dealing and thieving pals. Needless to say, some of these guests mean trouble, especially with some undercover cops also in attendance. Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina 2000 98 mins. DVD | $37.95
The Road (El Camino) Javier Olivera In search of the father he has never met, 20-year-old Manuel hits the road, only to find romance, danger, and the unexpected. The heat is immediate between Manuel and photographer Carolina, but there's a different kind of heat to contend with after a fight with a stranger sends the police chasing after the passionate pair. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2000, 107 mins. DVD | $37.95
Rooms for Tourists Adrian Garcia Bogliano Something of a companion piece to Eli Roth's Hostel, this Argentine horror thriller follows five girls who miss a train connection to Buenos Aires and are forced to spend the night at a remote bed and breakfast. Owned by a pair of unusual brothers, the lodge proves to be a hellish pit-stop from which they may never escape. "Scarier than anything that goes bump in the night" (Time Out New York). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2001, 93 mins. DVD | $44.95
Samy y Yo (Samy and Me) Eduardo Milewicz A television writer (Ricardo Darin) channels his ongoing mid-life crisis into his work, producing works that reflect whatever neurosis he happens to be dealing with at the moment. As his ratings and esteem sink, he sees his girlfriend find success with her new novel. He's on the verge of giving it all up when he meets Mary (Angie Cepeda), a bombshell actress with a secret who changes his life. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina 2002 88 mins. DVD | $37.95
Saturday Juan Villegas The lives of six young people intersect one Saturday in a desolate part of Buenos Aires. In the solitude of the city, the six individuals unsuccessfully look for a vision that will bring a change to their routine. Gaston Pauls (Nine Queens) and Daniel Hendler (Lost Embrace) star in a melancholic comedy about dissatisfaction and fear. Reminiscent of the cinema of Eric Rohmer, the film is a benchmark in the vibrant and exciting Argentine New Wave. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2001, 72 mins. DVD | $44.95
Smokers Only Veronica Chen Argentine director Veronica Chen explores the Buenos Aires street life in her debut film. Reni, a singer in a unsuccessful rock band, falls in love with Andres, a bisexual street hustler. They develop an entangled, co-dependent, sexual relationship that knows no boundaries until Reni pressures her new love to give up his chosen profession. "A venturesome, beautifully realized psychological mood piece" (Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times). Argentina, 2002, 87 mins. DVD | $44.95
Son of the Bride Juan Jose Campanella A middle-aged restauranteur's anxiety and stress levels skyrocket when his elderly father decides to give his Alzheimer's disease-afflicted wife the wedding she had always wanted after 44 years of marriage. Arranging the ceremony turns out to be a chaotic, yet heart-warming experience that brings the entire family together. Nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. Stars Ricardo Darin, Hector Alterio and Norma Aleandro. "...brimming with gentle humor, bittersweet pathos, and lyric moments that linger like snapshots of memory" (Jonathan Perry, Boston Globe). In Spanish with English subtitles. Spain/Argentina, 2001, 124 min. DVD | $44.95
Spoils of War David Blaustein An important film detailing the struggle to discover the truth behind Argentine's "Dirty War" of the late 1970s and early 1980s, where tens of thousands of students, leftists, dissidents, and their associates "disappeared" without a trace, most likely abducted, jailed or killed by the Argentine military dictatorship. Confused and afraid, the families of the missing gathered in secret, creating a secret code language to discuss their trauma while under surveillance. Filmmaker David Blaustein spent three years interviewing the group, called the "Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo," who relate the brave actions taken when confronted with the government's refusal to disclose the truth. "Heart-wrenching and necessary" (L.A. Weekly). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina/Spain, 2000, 112 mins. DVD | $44.95
Suddenly Diego Lerman Part of an exciting new wave of fresh, inventive films coming out of Argentina, Diego Lerman's Suddenly follows a frustrated sales girl (Tatiana Saphir) who falls in with a fesity pair of punk lesbians named Mao and Lenin (Carla Crespo and Veronica Hassan). The trio hit the road on a capricious adventure that has them car-jacking taxis, shoplifting, and seeing the ocean for the first time. Lerman doesn't try to explain his characters vagaries, but demonstrates the importance of human connection through their actions. "Suddenly is a sullen, apathetic black-and-white road movie not to be missed" (Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2002, 94 mins. DVD | $44.95
Tango: Our Dance Jorge Zanada The sensuality and stylized rituals popular with the residents of Buenos Aires are part of the complex art form called the tango. Director Jorge Zanada examines the unique role of this dance within Argentina's social and personal landscape, exploring issues of machismo and passion contained within the dance. With a special appearance by Robert Duvall. Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1988, 71 mins. DVD | $44.95
Tangos Are for Two (Doble o Nada) Jaime Chavarri This Argentine musical drama set in the 1930's follows the life of a struggling tango singer who finds fame due to his uncanny resemblance to another celebrated singer. As his popularity grows, he slowly finds his own identity being eclipsed by the man he's being paid to impersonate. Best Screenplay winner at the Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina/Spain, 1998, 91 mins. DVD | $44.95
Taxi, an Encounter Gabriela David Diego Peretti stars as a brazen thief who faces a wrenching dilemma in this stylish work from the New Argentine Cinema. Paid to steal cars and deliver them to a chop-shop, Esteban (Peretti) enjoys flirting with danger by targeting taxi cabs and picking up passengers before he makes his delivery. One night, the thief picks up a beautiful young woman (Josefina Viton) who's bleeding from a gunshot wound. Saving her means putting his own future at risk--a choice Esteban doesn't want to make. "Unpredictable, eloquent, and touching. Diego Peretti has a terrific screen presence" (Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2001, 90 mins. DVD | $44.95
Tell Laura I Love Her (Dile a Laura que la quiero) Jose Miguel Juarez Though Jorge and Laura have what most would consider a great marriage, Jorge has a temporary fling with the beautiful Estrella. Laura discovers his indiscretion and leaves him. Jorge decides he will do whatever it takes to win her back in this screwball comedy. Spain/Argentina, 1997, 93 mins. DVD | $37.95
Today and Tomorrow Alejandro Chomski Short on cash but not on looks, Paula, a 24-year-old aspiring actress, is forced to sell her body on the streets of Buenos Aires. Played by Antonella Costa, Paula must learn to keep her feelings and sense of worth preserved in her new role as a working girl. Indicative of the growing economic and social problems facing Argentineans at the time of its release, Today and Tomorrow is described as "fiercely honest! Astonishing camerawork and a mesmerizing central performance" (Buenos Aires Herald). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2003, 87 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Traitors Raymundo Gleyzer Los Traidores is the only fiction work by Argentine documentary filmmaker Raymundo Gleyzer, who founded the revolutionary film collective Cine de la Base. The film is a compelling political thriller about the life of a trade union militant who is gradually corrupted by union bureaucracy during the Peronist movement. "...genuinely informative...a gracefully made film" (Time Out London). Includes two short films by Gleyzer: Pottery Makers (1965, 25 mins.) and Our Malvinas Islands (1966, 25 mins.). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1973, 105 mins. DVD | $44.95
Valentin Alejandro Agresti A precocious child plays Cupid for the adults in his life in this nostalgic coming-of-age film. Argentine director Alejandro Agresti drew inspirations from his own youth in 1960s Buenos Aires to tell the story of the bespectacled Valentin (Rodrigo Noya), a nine-year-old who takes action to unite his oft-absent father with a new love. Noya is perfect as the wise-beyond-his-years child, who observes life with the wit and sensibilities of an adult. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina/Netherlands, 2002, 86 mins. DVD | $44.95
Vereda Tropical Javier Torre Javier Torre's sensual biopic explores the torrid and intense years that controversial author Manuel Puig (Kiss of the Spider Woman) spent in Rio de Janeiro. Fabio Aste stars as Puig, who pursued whirlwind affairs with older and younger men during his years of exile in Brazil. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina 2004 105 mins. DVD | $44.95
Veronico Cruz Miguel Pereira A fascinating film from Argentina, Miguel Pereira's Veronico Cruz shows how the Falklands (Malvinas) war affected the life of an Indian boy from one of Argentina's most remote regions. Awarded the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, Veronico Cruz also received four Condors - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor - from the Argentine Society of Film Critics. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1988, 106 mins. DVD | $44.95
Waiting for Messiah Daniel Burman This gently funny film looks at the residents of Buenos Aires' thriving Jewish community, particularly two men facing spiritual and personal crises. A young man (Daniel Hendler) begins to question his already planned future when he falls in love with his beautiful co-worker (Chiara Caselli), who is bisexual and Christian. Simultaneously, an unemployed banker (Enrique Pineyro) who lives off of reward money from returning lost and stolen wallets finds slight respite after meeting an attractive, but lonely washroom attendant (Stefania Sandrelli). In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 2002, 97 mins. DVD | $37.95
What Your Eyes Don’t See Beda Docampo Feijoo Classic mystery elements abound in this contemporary Argentinean thriller. When the publisher of a successful political magazine is murdered in his home, the list of possible suspects includes his lover, his brother, employees, partners and rivals. A dynamite whodunit. In Spanish with English subtitles. Argentina, 1999, 90 mins. DVD | $44.95
