Film Series
¡Sí Se Puede! Pioneers of Chicano Cinema
The Chicano Movement that burgeoned in the 1960s gave rise not only to a wave of Mexican-American political activism, but to an entire cultural renaissance that empowered Chicano artists to tell their own stories. The path-breaking filmmakers who emerged in the 1970s and 80s represented onscreen, for the first time, a community hitherto ignored—or misrepresented—by mainstream media. Defying the odds, these directors created a counter-cinema that spoke to the unique experiences of Chicano life. Their films are chronicles both of struggle—against racism, economic exploitation, police abuse—and of a vibrant culture's history and traditions.
The first Chicano film produced by a major studio is a politically charged musical.
Lou Diamond Phillips stars as Chicano rock ‘n’ roll legend Ritchie Valens.
Jennifer Lopez is luminous as the Tejano music icon.
Empowering odes to Chicano culture and 1960s-70s political resistance.
A landmark of independent cinema and a profoundly moving look at the immigrant experience.
A powerful portrayal of Mexican-Chicano workers' solidarity.
The very first Chicano feature ever made is a miracle of regional independent filmmaking.
Innovative explorations of Latinx life from a feminist, activist point of view.
A boldly original documentary murder mystery.
A celebration of the history, richness, and diversity of Chicano culture.
Crucial looks at the important role of Chicana activists throughout history.
Gregory's Nava's novelistic epic traces three generations of a Chicano family.