Latin American Cinema

Renewed interest in Latin American film industries has opened a host of paths of scholarly exploration. Productions from different countries reflect particular social attitudes, political climates and self-conceptions, and must be considered separately and as a whole. The search for national identity is a key component of Latin American films in a time of decreasing cultural diversity and pressures to westernize. Globalization and falling government support have fueled cross-border collaborations, calling into question the idea of a movie’s “nationality,” and leaving some nations’ film industries on the brink of collapse. Whether thriving or barely surviving, struggling to remain distinct or embracing globalization on its own terms, addressing the government or society, Latin American cinema remains vibrant, offering a wealth of material to scholars of all stripes.

These collected essays explore important elements of Latin American cinema and its associated national film industries. The first section of essays examines the impact of modernization on both Latin American screen images and the industry itself, offering modern and historical perspectives. The second section focuses on filmmakers who deal with issues of gender and sexuality, whether sexual transgression, the role of female characters, or societal attitudes towards sex and nudity. The final section of essays discusses the relationship between national identity and Latin American film industries: how movies are used to create a sense of self; Uruguay’s ongoing identity crisis; and Brazil’s use of Hollywood’s stereotypical depiction of the country to depict itself. Photographs and an annotated bibliography accompany each essay, and an index supplements the text.

Lisa Shaw is a Reader in Portuguese and Brazilian Studies at the University of Liverpool, England.

Stephanie Dennison is a lecturer in Portuguese and Brazilian Studies at the University of Leeds, England.

Edited by Lisa Shaw and Stephanie Dennison
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 228
Bibliographic Info: photos, notes, index
Copyright Date: 2005
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2004-9
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8425-6
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vi
Introduction: Reflections on Modernity, Gender, and Nation in the Latin American Context      1

PART I: MODERNITY AND GLOBALIZATION
1. TV Globo, the MPA, and Contemporary Brazilian Cinema      11
2. Images of Peru: A National Cinema in Crisis      39
3. Crossing the Line in Mexico?: Luis Buñuel’s El ángel exterminador      59

PART II: GENDER AND SEXUALITY
4. Nelson and Nelson: Mirror Images and Social Drama in Boca de Ouro      93
5. María Luisa Bemberg Winks at the Audience: Performativity and Citation in Camila and Yo la peor de todas      110
6. Nelson Rodrigues into Film: Two Adaptations of O beijo no asfalto      125

PART III: NATION AND IDENTITY
7. Born at Last? Cinema and Social Imaginary in 21st-Century Uruguay      137
8. Mulata Cubana: The Problematics of National Allegory      160
9. Brazil through Hollywood’s Gaze: From the Silent Screen to the Good Neighbor Policy Era      180

About the Contributors      209
Index      211

“a superb collection of scholarly essays…well-crafted book…providing fresh insights…in-depth analysis…an important and useful contribution”—A Contra corriente.