COLECCION CESAR E. CHAVEZ/CESAR E. CHAVEZ COLLECTION VIDEO COLLECTION MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES Collection Librarian: Diana H. Rivera COMPILED JULY 1995
(rev. 1/98) The following videos/films are available at the Michigan State University Main Library. The videos/films represent a wide range of subject areas and topics within Latino studies particularly Chicano and Puerto Rican studies. We hope you will take advantage of this material in your classrooms and independent educational projects. The list will be updated periodically as we expect the video/film collection to grow along with the other materials included in the Chavez Collection. Compilation of this video/film collection began in July 1995, our goal is to someday represent the
best collection of Latino studies videos/films in the state of Michigan. A la Guerra (1979) - A poem dramatically read by actor/poet Bimbo Rivas. Available on VHS, Color (10 mins.) A Bailar! The Journey of a Latin American Dance Company (1988) -Tells the story of Eddie Torres who for more than a decade nurtured the dream of establishing a Latin dance company on the scale of what Alvin Ailey did with Afro- American dance. The film documents Eddie's recruitment of the best of New York's salseros-Hispanic club and street dancers-and how, with the musical collaboration of Tito Puente, he molds them into a professional dance troupe. Directed By: Catherine Calderon Available on VHS, Color (30 mins.) Adelante Mujeres (1992) - The most comprehensive video ever produced foucsing on the history of Mexican American women. The major themes, organizations, and personalities are introduced chronologically in a tribute to the strength and resilience of women at the center of families, as activists in their communities and as contributors to American history. Produced By: National Women's History Project Narrated By: Maria Cuevas Available on VHS, Color, B/W (30 mins.) Agueda Martinez: Our People, Our Country (1977) - Agueda Martinez is a 77-year old woman whose harmonious subsistence lifestyle in Mendenales, New Mexico reflects her Navajo-Mexican heritage Directed By: Esperanza Vasquez Available on VHS, Color (17 mins.) AIDS in the Barrio (1990) - Examines the impact of AIDS within Latino communities, focusing on the specific economic, social and cultural factors which influence perception of the AIDS crisis, including "macho" attitudes about sexuality, traditional relations between men and women, prejudices against homosexuality, and the prevalence of drug abuse. Directed By: Peter Biella and Frances Negron Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) AIDS, Teens and Latinos (1993) - A Hispanic teenager with AIDS tells his story and warns his peers about high risk sexual behavior. A woman talks about the uncomfortable responsibility of the Hispanic wife and mother to combat the spread of AIDS. The Healy Murphy Center provides a way for pregnant teenagers to continue their high school education. Narrated By: Celso Martinez and Linda Cuellar Available on VHS, Color (26 mins.) American Me (1992) - Inspired by a true life story, this is the story of a vicious Chicano prison gang leader, doomed by his past to a life of harsh, unforgiving violence after his release from jail. Directed By: Edward James Olmos Available on VHS, Color (125 mins.) Ano Nuevo (1981) - Describes the living and working conditions of undocumented Mexican agricultural workers at the Ano Nuevo flower ranch in San Mateo County, California. Documents the efforts of a group of these workers, fired when they attempted to join a union, to reach a settlement with the Ano Nuevo owner through the U.S. legal system. Available on VHS, Color (55 mins.) Art of Resistance, The (1994) - Seven Chicano artists talk about their work and how it has contributed to the civil rights movement for Mexican-Americans. Available on VHS, Color (26 mins.) Ballad of an Unsung Hero (1983) - This film chronicles the life of Pedro J. Gonzalez from his youth while fighting with Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution to his days as a radio personality in the 1930's to his experience as an inmate in the San Quentin Prison. Available on VHS, Color (30 mins.) Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982) Bamba, La (1987) - Musical-biography of recording artist Ritchie Valens, a poor Mexican-American who became a rock-n- roll star at the age of 17. Starring Lou Diamond Phillips and Esai Morales. Directed By: Luis Valdez Available on VHS, Color (103 mins.) Battle of Vieques (1986) - Examines the U.S. Naval use of Vieques, a municipality of Puerto Rico, as a military training, exercise and deployment base. Directed By: Zydnia Nazario Available on VHS, Color (40 mins.) Biculturalism and Acculturation Among Latinos (1992) - Explores difficulties and challenges Latinos face in assimilate into the dominant American culture. Narrated By: Celso Martinez Available on VHS, Color Bilingual Americans (1990) - Explores the "melting pot that never happened" in America and the bilingual-bicultural nature of American society. Presents ethnic festivals of Hispanic, Asians, Italians, and other minority groups as they express their pride in their dual heritages. Available on VHS, Color (55 mins.) Bilingual Education (19??) Examines Latino consensus on bilingual education while also looking at efforts to increase literacy levels and English language skills among Latinos. It also looks at both the use of non-Spanish speakers as bilingual education teachers in some parts of the country and the increasing opportunities for Spanish speakers in the general workforce. Available on VHS, Color (26 mins.) Bilingualism: A True Advantage (1994) - This program looks at the nationally recognized bilingual education program at San Antonio's De Zavala Elementary School, where Spanish-speaking are being prepared to compete in the market place by developing new skills in English while maintaining their skills in Spanish. The program also follows a group of college students who are realizing the professional and personal benefits of being able to speak two languages. It concludes with a converssation with Cheech Marin, who shares his views on the importance of cultural identity. Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) Birthwrite: Growing Up Hispanic (1989) - Hosted by Cheech Marin, this documentary examines the owrk of several Hispanic-American writers and how their poems, short stories and novels reflect what it means and what it's like to grow up Hispanic in America. The authors profiled in the video discuss the influences on their writing (including the rich oral tradition of the Hispanic community), their creative methods, and the specific themes they explore. Produced By: Jesus Trevino Directed By: Luis R. Torres Available on VHS, Color (57 mins.) Bombing L.A. (1990) - Film surveys different viewpoints on graffiti in Los Angeles through interviews with graffiti/street artists, property owners, police and citizens of Los Angeles. The question of graffiti as a public art form or a disfigurement of public property is investigated. Film also examines the role graffiti plays in Los Angeles youth gangs. Directed By: Gary Glaser Available on VHS, Color (35 mins.) Born in East L.A. (1988) - Cheech Marin is accidentally deported to Mexico without I.D. or knowledge of Spanish, and can't convince U.S. officials to let him back in. Follows Cheech's repeated comic attempts to et back home. Available on VHS, Color (85 mins) Break of Dawn (1988) - Drama based on the true life story of Pedro J. Gonzales who introduced Spanish language radio to the United States in Los Angeles in the 1930's. Available on VHS, Color (103 mins.) Carlos Santana Influences (1995) - Carlos Santana pays tribute to three guitar players who were major influences on him. Of Wes Montgomery, Carlos says, "his fingerprints are so big...you hear two notes and you know who it is... What I learned from Wes was how to embrace the listener and make them feel alright." Of Brazilian-born Bola Sete, Carlos says, "Very few musicians have the passion, the gift, the joy or the electricity that Bola Sete had." And, of Gabor Szabo, Carlos states, " Gabor opened my eyes up to a new world of possibilities on the guitar." "Influences" is a rare look into the mind of Santana. You'll see rare performance footage by each of these great guitarists, along with passionate commentary and inspired playing by Santana which demonstrates their impact. Available on VHS, Color and B&W (60 mins.) Cesar Chavez: Mexican-American Labor Leader (1995) - The biography of a labor activist who organized and led the migrant farm workers, both immigrants and local workers, in their struggle for better working conditions. Dedicated to non-violence, Cesar Chavez also founded the United Farm Workers union. Narrated By: Roger Pretto Available on VHS, Color (30 mins.) Chicano Park (1985) - This multi-award winning documentary on contemporary Latino history explodes with music, colorful murals, and other expressions of Hispanic pride and heritage. Barrio Logan, the Mexican-American community in San Diego, experienced a decline through the 1950's until a spirited struggle in 1970 led to the creation of Chicano Park. The park, now famous for its giant murals painted on freeway pillars, became the focus for community revitalization in the 1970's and 1980's. The film highlights som eof teh artists, musicians, and activists that were keys to this inspiring story. Directed By: Marilyn Mulford Available on VHS, Color (60 mins) Chulas Fronteras and Del Mero Corazon (1976) - Two documentaries about Mexican-Americans in southern Texas. "Chulas Fronteras" features their music and culture, showing social activities. "Del mero corazon" explores the Mexican- American Nortena music tradition, showing various performers in dancehalls and cantinas. Directed By: Les Blank Available on VHS, Color (90 mins.) Cinco de Mayo (1994) - Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of Mexico's military victory over the French in 1862. This video investigates the holiday's history, and observes preparations being made to make occasion festive, highlighted by the sounds of a Mexican mariachi band. Directed By: Rhonda Fabian Available on VHS, Color (30 mins.) Corridos de la Revolucion Mexicana (1991) - In this spirited program, one of Mexico's most beloved actors, Ignacio Lopez Tarso, tells in song of the struggles and triumphs of the Mexican Revolution. The songs tell the stories of battles fought and lives lost, and of the men who changed the course of Mexican history. Available on VHS, Color (56 mins.) SPANISH Cultural Bias in Education (1992) - This program examines roadblocks to Latino academic advancement as well productive educational models; explores the relationship between standardized testing and cultural diversity and questions whether cultural bias can be eliminated from standardized testing; and looks at early childhood education programs and the factors that deter Latino families from participating in them. Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) Culture Clash's A Bowl of Beings (1992) - The cutting edge comedy trio Culture Clash are "confused and full of rage." A no-holds-barred look at Latino icons and stereotypes. Experience "The Return of Che Guevara", "Stand and Deliver Pizza", and "Chicanos on the Storm." Get ready to laugh and learn from these ambassadors of Latino comedy in this wickedly delicious, hilarious and outrageously funny video. Directed By: Bruce Logan and Jose Luis Valenzuela Available on VHS, Color (58 mins.) Culture of Poverty, The (199?) - Many Latino families are caught in the cycle of poverty: unemployment, and poor education, create a self-perpetuating cycle. The task of educating the children of poverty puts added strain on an already burdened school system. This program explores emerging strategies for meeting the needs of these children, and profiles an independent effort to keep kids off the street and instill them with a sense of pride. Available on VHS, Color (26 mins.) Danzante (1992) - Three men and two women in northern New Mexico constitutes the dance troupe Danza Azteca de Anahuac which preserves the ancient cultural traditions of Mexico. Trhe dancers describe the meaning of the rituals and beliefs they depict in performance, share their feelings as artists, and talk about the influence of this cultural history on their daily lives. Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) De Mujer a Mujer (1994) - In candid interviews, Latina women of varying ages convey personal feelings and experiences regarding sexuality. Revelations concerning first menstruations, adolescent stirrings of sexual awakening, the pain of sexual abuse and problematical male-female relations coming with the participants' collective call for an end to culturally engineered gender strictures. Skits created by young playwrights that focus on issues of teen pregnancy and gay identity reinforce the women's comments. A folkloric skeleton attired in woman's clothing links the various discussions to the universalities voiced in myth and archetype. Available on VHS, Color (45 mins.) Dolores (1988) - Presents a dramatization, which portrays the problem of domestic violence in the Latino community. Available on VHS, Color (52 mins.) Donde Digo Diego Rivera (1993) - Rivera's murals are a pictoral history which recount the struggle of Mexico's people for spiritual and economic liberation. This program visits the Rivera Museum, which contains his works as well as his own superb collection of pre-Columbian artifacts. Available on VHS, Color (56 mins.) SPANISH Flyin' Cut Sleeves (1993) - Examines the history of street gangs in New York City, contrasting video interviews with Bronx gang members made twenty years ago with contemporary interviews. Directed By: Henry Chalfant Available on VHS, Color (60 mins.) Folklorico: Ballet Folkorico de Mexico (1989) - Production of the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez, filmed in the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City in 1989. Includes 12 dances which represent the culture of different regions of Mexico, including four pre-Columbian dances. Narrated By: Edith Montenegro Available on VHS, Color (113 mins.) Frame Up! (1974) - Martin Sostre imprisoned in Attica State Prison for drug and assault charges in Buffalo, NY. He claims he was framed. While some speak in his behalf and some against him, he appeals for a new trial based on new evidence presented by Arto Williams, a former witness, but is denied. Available on VHS, Color (30 mins.) Francisco Oller (198?) - The life and works of the 19th century Puerto Rican master who frequented the French Impressionists painters. Narrated By: Renee Channey Available on VHS, Color (25 mins.) Frida Kahlo (1983) - A unique and powerful, first-rate painter overshadowed by her lionized painter-husband, Frida Kahlo lived a life of physical and spiritual hardship. This program provides personal insights into her work and her art. It offers a portrait of the woman and of the social and cultural roots of her painting. Available on VHS, Color (20 mins) Fruit of Dreams (1995) - Chronicles the experience of Mexican farmworkers in the Traverse City, Michigan area from the 1920s to the 1970s. Narrated By: Luis Valdez Available on VHS, Color/B&W (28 mins.) Gathering Up Again: Fiesta en Santa Fe (1992) - A documentary representing the history and the performance of ethnicity in light of the 1992 Columbian Quincentenary. Focuses on the ethnic identity of Santa Fe, NM and the impact of Spanish-Americans and Native Americans. Directed By: Jeanette De Bouzek Available on VHS, Color (47 mins.) Guide to Tex-Mex Cooking (1985) - Cookbook author Jane Butel demonstrates a variety of Southwestern America's favorite dishes, including chili, enchiladas, guacamole, tacos, and nachos. Directed By: Lee Kraft Available on VHS, Color (90 mins.) Heart of Loisaida (1973) - Documents housing struggles by Latino residents of New York's lower east side who take over their buildings after they have been abandoned by their landlords. Narrated By: Sandy Esteves Available on VHS, Color (30 mins.) Hispanic Excellence Guide (1993-1994) - Dedicated to the belief that children need positive role models in order to learn and grow. This three-part video series introduces Hispanic students to prominent Hispanics who have attained success in a range of fields. Available on VHS, Color (3 videos, 105 mins.) Homeboys (1978) - Portrait of a Chicano youth gang as seen through the eyes of the gang members themselves. Available on VHS, Color (60 mins). House of Ramon Iglesia - The complexities of assimilation and intergenerational conflict are poignantly dramatized in this American Playhouse adaptation of Jose Rivera's stage play. After his eldest son, Javier, graduated from college, and his middle son, Julio, joined the marines, Ramon Iglesia is determined to sell the Long Island home he lived in for 19 years and return to his Puerto Rican birthplace. Directed by: Luis Soto Available on VHS, Color (55 mins.) How Else am I Supposed to Know I'm Still Alive (1993) - Adapted from the award-winning stage play by Evelina Fernandez, for the Hispanic Media Coalition/Universal Hispanic Film Project. A hilariously entertaining & poignant story about two middle aged Latinas named Nellie and Angie. This universal story of friendship between two women, with dissimilar and confrontational personalities, reflects the honesty and bonding that seems common to women. Directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela Available on VHS, Color (33 mins.) Hunt For Pancho Villa (1993) - In 1916, legendary outlaw Pacho Villa led a column of Mexican guerrillas across the border into New Mexico, an action that brought Mexico and the United States to the brink of war. President Wilson sent General John Pershing and his cavalry troops to hunt down Villa in Mexico, but they were never able to even catch sight of him. Narrated By: Linda Hunt Available on VHS, Color (60 mins.) I Am Joaquin (19?) - Rudolfo "Corky" Gonzales' historical poem of the Chicano experience is dramatized and accented by the music of modern mariachi brass and ancient temple drums. Produced By: Teatro Campesino Available on VHS, Color (20 mins.) Images of Faith (1992) - Discusses the creation and use of santos in Christian worship in Puerto Rico. Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) Immigration Backlash (1994) - Most Americans are descended from immigrations who came to this country in search of a better life. How can Americans argue against immigration? This specially adapted Phil Donahue program sets forth the dilemma, as the Immigration and Naturalization Service estimates that over three million illegal immigrants live in the United States, 40% of them in California. People are angry, claiming that immigrants, legal and illegal, are putting Americans out of work; the number of immigrants in the 1980's -- about nine million -- is roughly the same number of Americans employed today. Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) Joan Baez: Mexican-American Folksinger (1995) - The biography of a singer who used folk music to lead a nonviolent fight for the protection of basic human rights. A leader of civil rights marches and protests, she also organized the first anti-Vietnam War demonstration at the White House. After the war, she has continued her commitment to music and social justice. Narrated By: Roger Pretto Available on VHS, Color (30 mins.) Julio Rosaldo del Valle (1970) - This video shows artist Julio Rosado del Valle in his studio in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Narrated By: Luis Vivas Available on VHS, Color (13 mins.) Latina Women (1993) - Looks at the differences between the U.S. Latina and her Latin American counterparts. It also examines how Latino men regard successful, professional Latina women, and the myth of machismo among Latinos in the age of two-income families and shared child-rearing responsibility. The video also profiles a Latina feminist. Available on VHS, Color (26 mins.) Latino (1985) - The adventure of a Chicano Green Beret who, while fighting a covert U.S. military action in war-torn Nicaragua, begins to rebel against the senslessness of the war. Available on VHS, color (108 mins.) Latino Art and Culture in the United States - Presents contemporary Latino artists from three communities in the United States talking about themselves and their work. Narrated By: Michael de Lorenzo Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) Latino Employment and Unemployment (1993) - Looks at where Latinos work and what they are paid, the income differential and unemployment rates between Latinos and others, the prominence of Latinos in unions, and the institutional roadblocks and personal obstacles that prevent Latino entry into the workforce. A focus on the Rio Grande Valley as a case study of human toll of under- and unemployment. Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) Latino Family, The (199?) - Program shows both the changes in and the endurance of traditional Latino families. In following the paths of three generations of one Mexican American family, it traces the patterns of migration and cultural change. It shows how the traditional roles of the Latino elderly are being altered by their families' needs, and also how the traditional pleasures can still be celebrated on a Sunday in the park with la familia. Available on VHS, Color (28 minutes) Latino Parents as Partners in Education (1994) - Latino families are often doubly disadvantaged: beset by problems of alcoholism, gang involvement, and school drop-out, they often find language and cultural differences standing between them and the help they need. This program looks at how counseling can make a dramatic difference, how Latino parents' participatipation in their children's schooling can improve the Latino drop-out rate -- the nation's highest -- and how an "at risk" student made it to college with the help of the business community. Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) Latino Voting Behavior (1993) - This video explores teh so-called "Hispanic" voting bloc: changes in voting trends, reasons for the traditionally low Latino voter turnout, the likely effect of an increasingly diverse Latino community; it also examines the younger Latino politicians of the 1990's and compares them with the civil rights era politicians of the 1960's. Available on VHS, Color (26 mins.) Latinos: The Life of the Spirit (1993) - Latinos and Catholicism are no longer synonymous. This program explores the recent trend among Latinos to leave the Catholic Church for Evangelical or Protestant religions; the rediscovery by Chicanos of native spiritual and religious rituals that predate the arrival of Columbus; and the traditional Good Friday pilgrimage to the sanctuary at Chimayo, New Mexico, which shows that traditional spirituality is alive in modern times. Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) Lemon Grove Incident (1985) - Docudrama recreates the events surrounding the Lemon Grove, California School Board's decision in 1930 to have Mexican American students attend a segregated school. Available on VHS, Color (58 mins.) Life and Poetry of Julia de Burgos (1979) - This docudrama portrays the life and work of the great Puerto Rican poet, from her impoverished childhood in Puerto Rico, to her political involvement as a young woman in the nationalist movement, to her subsequent exile in Cuba and New York where she died in 1953. Spanish dialog with English subtitles Directed By: Jose Garcia Torres Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) Luis Valdez and Teatro Campesino (1992) - Video focuses on Luis Valdez, founder of Teatro Campesino, the West Coast theatrical group that has given voice to the struggles of Chicano farm workers. As a child, Valdez picked fruit alongside his father in California's fertile valleys. In this program, he describes how he overcame the handicaps of migrant life to become a playwright and director and explains how his plays retrace the experiences of Chicano families as they contend with the adversities of rural life or the equally squalid and deprived circumstances of the city. Available on VHS, Color (26 mins.) Luisa Capetillo: A Passion for Justice (1994) - This program dramatizes the life and work of Luisa Capetillo (1879-1922), a Puerto Rican journalist, writer, suffragist, and labor organizer. An outspoken feminist, Capetillo preached equality of the sexes, denounced the conventions of marriage and religious rituals, and shocked public opinion of the time by dressing in male attire. The daughter of anarchist parents, Capetillo worked with the Federation of Laborers, traveling through-out Puerto Rico to organize exploited tobacco and sugar cane workers. Her political activities led her to New York, Tampa and Havana, where she also continued to write books, essays and plays. Available on VHS, Color (42 mins.), Spanish with Subtitles Mambo Kings (1992) - With a suitcase full of songs and hearts filled with passion, two brothers come to America in search of the American dream of fame and fortune. Directed By: Arne Glimcher Available on VHS, Color (104 mins.) Mambo Mouth (1991) - John Leguizamo's monologues illustrate six fierce and funny Latin characters: Agamemnon, Loco Louis, Pepe, Manny the Fanny, Angel, and the Crossover King. Available on VHS, Color (58 mins.) Manos a La Obra: Story of Operation Bootstrap (1983) - A documentary on Puerto Rico's "Operation Bootstrap," an economic development plan undertaken in the 1950s which was to attract US capital and serve as a model for the Americas. Using newsreels, archival photographs, and excerpts from government propaganda films, the video examines the background and many problematic issues posed by the plan. Available on VHS, Color (60 mins.) Mariachi, El (1993) - All he wants is to be a mariachi, like his father, his grandfather and his great grandfather before him. But the town he thinks will bring him luck brings only a curse-of deadly mistaken identity. Forced to trade his guitar for a gun, the mariachi is playing for his life. Directed By: Robert Rodriguez Available on VHS, Color (81 mins.) SPANISH w/ English Subtitles Mexican People & Culture (1989) - Relates a brief history of Mexico up to present day. Describes its land and people. Emphasizes the role and situation of Mexicans at home and of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the United States. Available on VHS, Color (55 mins.) Mi Puerto Rico/My Puerto Rico (1996) - A personal journey through Puerto Rico's rich cultural traditions, revealing the remarkable stories of its revolutionaries and abolitionists, poets and politicians, whose struggle for national identity unfolds within the dramatic history of relations between Puerto Rico and the United States. Directed By: Sharon Simon Available on VHS, Color (90 mins.) Milagro Beanfield War (1988) - Based on John Nichol's novel about a small New Mexican village threatened by development, and how a single act of rebellion rekindles its pride and strength of spirit. A Capra-esque ensemble piece, with strainingly magical fantasy elements. Starring Ruben Blades and Sonia Braga. Directed By: Robert Redford Available on VHS, Color (118 mins.) Mineros, Los (1991) - Shows and tells the history, spanning nearly fifty years, of the Mexican American miners in the Morenci and Clifton region, AZ, and their union's battle non-discriminatory, fair labor practices in the copper industry. Narrated By: Luis Valdez Available on VHS, Color/B&W (58 mins.) Nationalists (1973) - This documentary chronicles the activities of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party in the 1950s. Includes also: Lolita Lebron, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Irving Flores, and Andres Figueroa Cordero. Directed By: Jose Garcia Torres Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) Neighbors: The United States and Mexico (1985) - An in-depth look at economic relations between the U.S. and Mexico, including banking, trade and illegal immigration, and the impact of maquiladoras--labor intensive factories owned by U.S. firms but located in Mexico-- and how these 'offshore' operations affect American consumers and workers. Directed By: Jesus Salvador Trevino and Jose Luis Ruiz Available on VHS, Color (60 mins) Nine Artists of Puerto Rico (1970) - Visits the studios of Puerto Rico's most important artists. Narrated By: Jose Ferrer Available on VHS, Color (16 mins.) Ofrenda, La: The Days of the Dead - In a rich mosaic of festive and warmly intimate scenes, La Ofrenda takes a non-traditional look at the Mexican tradition of Days of the Dead, evoking Mexican and Mexican-American attitudes towards death. It celebrates living by cultivating the awareness of death and capturing the intensity and plentitude of the Mexican and Chicano soul. Directed By: Lourdes Portillo and Susana Munoz Available on VHS, Color (50 mins.) Operacion, La (1982) - Discusses the issue, of sterilization of women as a form of birth control, in Puerto Rico. Directed By: Ana Maria Garcia Available on VHS, Color (40 mins.) Oxcart, The (1970) - Based on the play by Puerto Rican playwright Rene Marques, this video portrays the migration of a Puerto Rican family fro mthe countryside to the San Juan ghetto and eventually to Spanish Harlem in New York City. Directed By: Jose Garcia Torres Available on VHS, Color (20 mins.) Spanish dialog with English Subtitles Palabra: A Sampling of Contemporary Latino Writers (1993) - A literary video anthology of Latino writers reading their own works. Narrated By: Rosemary Catacalos Available on VHS, Color (52 mins.) Pan Nuestro, El (19??) - A fascinating look at the traditions of Mexico traced through the staff of life, bread. Pre-Hispanic, Spanish, and French influences and linguistic, cultural, and geographic patterns combined to make the civilization of Mexico -- and its bread -- what they are today. Available on VHS, Color (56 mins.) SPANISH Pancho Villa: Mexican Revolutionary (1995) - Pancho Villa is remembered as both a force of destruction and an agent of reform who fought oppression and brought justice to the people of Mexico. Narrated By: Roger Pretto Available on VHS, Color (30 mins.) Pancho Villa's Columbus Raid (1983) - Examines an unusual episode of the Mexican Revolution, on March 9, 1916, when Pancho Villa's guerrilla band attacked the small border town of Columbus, New Mexico. In response, the U.S. Army launched a 10,000 man, eleven month punitive expedition into northern Mexico to capture Villa and his men. These events are recounted through interviews with survivors and archival photos and footage. Produced By: William Clark and Jack Parsons Available on VHS, Color (26 mins.) Pastorela, La (1991) - A Christmas fantasy musical retelling of the sheperds' journey to Bethlehem. Directed By: Luis Valdez Available on VHS, Color (78 mins.) SPANISH Plena is Work, Plena is Song (1989) - Examines the cultural and political history of plena, a Puerto Rican musical blend of African and Spanish idioms in which romance, personal tragedy and daily news become target of satirical humor. The great performers of the past are seen in rare performance footage and contemporary attempts to perserve plena in New York and Puerto Rico are discussed. Directed By: Pedro A. Rivera and Susan Zeig Available on VHS, Color (29 mins.) Power, Politics and Latinos (1992) - Presents the historical background of Latino efforts towards political awareness, participation, and empowerment in the political arena. Focuses on the 1992 national campaign. Narrated By: Carmen Zapata Available on VHS, Color (57 mins.) Puerto Rican Mambo (Not a Musical) (199?) - So, what's it like to be Hispanic? Puerto Rican comedian Luis Cabellero tells all and tells it like it is in this hilarious social satire. Cabellero, a self-described "little brown person," aims his sardonic wit at everything you always wanted to know about Latinos and more. Pinata Films Inc. Written By: Luis Caballero Produced and Directed By: Ben Model Starring: Luis Caballero, Howard Arnesson, and John Fulweiler. Available on VHS, Color Puerto Ricans (1993) - This is one of a 15-part series that celebrates the heritage of different cultural groups by tracing the history of their emigration to North America. Adapted from the "Peoples of North America" series of books by Chelsea House Publishers. Directed By: Rhonda Fabian and Jerry Baber Available on VHS, Color (30 mins.) Puerto Rico Art and Identity (1991) - Surveys the work of plastic artists in Puerto Rico during the 20th century, as well as several significant forerunner in the 18th and 19th centuries, focusing on the artists' expression of national identity. Video combines illustrations of hundreds of art works with interviews with a dozen major contemporary artists and commentary by art critics, revealing the artists' concern for the people, culture and natural beauty of Puerto Rico as well as the relationship of their work to social and political events. Directed By: Sonia Fritz Available on VHS, Color (56 mins.) Puerto Rico: History and Culture (1990) - Surveys Puerto Rico's history, from the 15th century to the present, and gives examples of the wide variety of cultural and artistic talent of the Puerto Rican people. Available on VHS, Color (45 mins.) Puerto Rico: Our Right to Decide (1981) - Utilizes interviews, historical footage, and stills to examine Puerto Rico today, with an emphasis on how its past shaped its present. Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) Puerto Rico: Paradise Invaded (1977) - Surveys the history and contemporary reality of Puerto Rico. Examines the historical background and present-day relationship between Puerto Rico and the US, the impact of industrialization on the island, the historical background of the independence movement, and Puerto Rican life in New York City. Available on VHS, Color (30 mins.) Ragged Revolution, The (1981) - An incisive look at the realities behind the romantic myths of the Mexican Revolution. Utilizing rare photos and archival footage, this film brings vividly to life the momentous events and leading personalities of the first great revolution of this century. Produced By: Tony Essex Available on VHS, Color (37 mins.) Requiem 29 - This riveting and now famous film documents the chilling, inhuman treatment of 50,000 Chicanos by police, and the death of L.A. Times jounalist Ruben Salazar at the Chicano National Moratorium in Los Angeles on August 29, 1970. It interweaves footage of the mass march, police tactics used to disorganize and disperse the demonstrators, scenes from the inquest hearing into the death of Ruben Salazar, and interinquest with then "La Raza" editor Raul Ruiz. Directed By: David Garcia Available on VHS, Color Retratos (1980) - Follows the life stories of four individuals from New York City's Puerto Rican community. Directed By: Stewart Bird Available on VHS, Color (53 mins.) Richard Rodriguez: Victim of Two Cultures (1994) - Presents Rodriguez' experience of growing up in America as the son of immigrants, the loss of his "Mexican soul," and his first exposure to American culture. Discussion focuses also on the differences between Mexican and American cultures, including Rodriguez' observations on America's growing sense of loss and the essence of American society today. Available on VHS, Color (50 mins.) Rising Voice (1991) - Explores the culture and legacy of Hispanics living in Utah. Also discusses how they are succeeding in a state where the majority does not share their religion, culture, or language. Examines, finally, the history of Hispanic immigration, the rich diversity of culture and its contributions, as well as the challenges facing Hispanic Utahns today. Narrated By: Linda Galindo and Martin Gonzalez Available on VHS, Color (58 mins.) Roberto Clemente: A Video Tribute (1993) - A tribute to one of baseball's greatest players. Featuring music by his son, Luis Clemente Zabala. Narrated By: Hector Elizondo Available on VHS, Color (40 mins.) Roberto Clemente: Puerto Rican Baseball Great (1995) - A biography of the Hall of Fame baseball player from Puerto Rico. Narrated By: Roger Pretto Available on VHS, Color (30 mins.) Salsa: Latin Music of New York and Puerto Rico (1988) - Explores the origins of Salsa, the exuberant dance music of Latino communities in New York, as well as Puerto Rico and Cuba. Includes performances, interviews, and recording sessions with Salsa stars such as Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Ruben Blades, Charlie Palmieri, and Ray Barretto. Available on VHS, Color (52 mins.) Seguin (1982) - The story of Juan Seguin, an unsung hero of the Texas Wars for Independence and one of the Mexican defenders of the Alamo. Son Erasmo Seguin, along with Stephen Austin, brought the first Anglo settlers to help develop the Mexican state of Texas. His son, Juan, came into conflict with his father because he sympathized with Mexico and the American colonists' struggle for possession of Texas. Directed By: Jesus Slavador Trevino Available on VHS, Color Songs of the Homeland - Filmed on location throughout Texas, Songs of the Homeland tells the compelling history of Tejano music. This critically acclaimed documentary features images of the past and present and includes performances and interviews with the musical pioneers of Tejano music. Produced By: Hector Galan Available on VHS, Color (60 mins.) Spanish Speakers and Bilingualism (1993) - Focuses on the different kinds of Spanish spoken in the U.S. and on the interchangeable use, or code switching, of English and Spanish by bilinguals in South Texas. Hosted By: Marina Pincus Available on VHS, Color (19 mins.) Stand and Deliver (1988) - The true story of Jaime Escalante, a math teacher at Garfield High School in East L.A., who inspires 18 inner city youths to study hard and take the Advanced Placement exam in Calculus. Starring Edward James Olmos Directed By: Available on VHS, Color (103 mins.) Sures, Los (1983) - A documentary portrait of one of New York City's poorest neighborhoods, the primarily Hispanic community of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, known as Los Sures. Five residents reveal what life is like for them in Los Sures. Available on VHS, Color (56 mins.) Tex-Mex: Music of the Texas-Mexican Borderlands (1994) - Tex-Mex music is an exuberant style with a Mexican soul and a rock'n'roll heart. It combines styles of corrida, norteno, and others, is full of joy and energy, but carries significance through its lyrics about social problems. Available on VHS, Color
Three Stages of Latino Life, The (1993) - Birth, adulthood, death -- the stages are the same for all humans, but Latinos celebrate them in their own way. This program follows a Mexican American mother through the final stages of pregnancy and birth; examines the replacement for the traditional milestones which mark maturity among Latino youth; observes how modern-day Latinos faced with a death in the family are adapting traditional mourning customs. Available on VHS, Color (28 mins.) Through Young People's Eyes (1983) - The advantages and disadvantages of adolescence in a poor urban neighborhood are examined in a series of candid interviews on the daily lives of Black and Hispanic teenagers, primarily girls. Available on VHS, Color (29 mins.) Tradiciones Navidenas (1991) - With the former Convent at the Desierto de los Leones as the backdrop, this program lets viewers take part in a traditional posada. The songs, the pinata, the litany, the lights, the candlelit walks through the historic buildings and grounds, bring this Christmas fiesta to life. Available on VHS, Color (56 mins.) SPANISH Trail North (1983) - Follows anthropologist Robert Alvarez and his ten-year-old son Luis as they re-create the journey which their family's ancestors made coming north from Mexico several generations ago. Narrated by Martin Sheen, the film captures a rare view of teh U.S.-Mexico border, a personalized view of the back and forth movement of family members over the course of several generations. Produced By: Paul Espinosa Directed By: Thomas Karlo Available on VHS, Color (20 mins.) Unwanted, The (1975) - This landmark documentary was the first network television program to explore the problem and issues of illegal immigration. Stands as one of the most outstanding works of Chicamo filmmaking. The fact that it remains timely and relevant is in itself a great achievement, but also a haunting reminder of what little has changed. Produced By: Jose Luis Ruiz Available on VHS, Color (60 mins.) Viva la Causa! 500 Years of Chicano History (1995) - An introduction to the history of the Mexican American people from their origins in Europe's invasion of the American continent up through World War II, through the Chicano Movement years to the present day. Includes archival footage and lively music ranging from corridos to rap. Directed By: Elizabeth Martinez Available on VHS, Color (2 videos, 60 mins.) We are hablando (1991) - This experimental documentary offers a multi-layered examination of personal, artistic, and global censorship. Cuban-American artis Roly Chang Barrero recounts two occasions when his work was censured. Roberto Rodriguez recalls his initial subjection to censorship when, he was forbidden by family members to speak English at home, a censoring similarly invoked at school where he was discouraged from speaking Spanish. Their testimonies are intertwined with videotext concerning the sexual ethnic identity of the videomaker, culturally informed footage of a Latino celebration and the media-cencored broadcasts of the Gulf War. Available on VHS, Color (15 mins.) West Side Story (1961) - Gang rivalry on New York's West Side erupts in a ground-breaking musical that won ten Academy Awards. The Jets and Sharks fight for their own turf and Tony and Maria fight for their own love. Won the 1961 Academy Award for Best Picture. Starring Rita Moreno (Best Supporting Actress) and Natalie Wood. Available on VHS, Color (151 mins.) Yo Soy (1985) - Examines the key issue, problems and concerns of the Mexican-American community in teh U.S. Through interviews with prominent Chicano leaders and activists, this video reviews the progress Chicanos have made during the past two decades in politics, education, labor and economic development, and summarizes the ways that Chicanos are responding to the challenges of the future. Directed By: Jesus Salvador Trevino and Jose Luis Ruiz Available on VHS, Color (60 mins) Yo Soy Chicano (1972) - Portrays the Chicano experience, from its roots in pre-Columbian history to Mexican-American struggles in the early seventies Directed By: Jesus Salvador Trevino Available on VHS, Color (60 mins) Spanish dialog with English subtitles. Zoot Suit (1981) - Adaptation of the staged play based on the actual Sleepy Lagoon murder case and the zoot suit riots of the 1940's in Los Angeles. Starring Edward James Olmos and Tyne Daly. Directed By: Luis Valdez Available on VHS, Color (104 mins.) Back to Coleccion Cesar E. Chavez Home Page at MSU