Latin America On Screen was the first site of any kind to link to filmschoolx, and did so without even asking for a return link. We respect and appreciate that.

Latin America On Screen

Run by a well-spoken and knowledgeable cineaste, Latin America On Screen is a tightly focused and content-rich blog about exactly what its title says — at least in a narrow sense. In a broader sense:

“Latin America On Screen is concerned with the ways in which Latin America has figured in Hollywood and European cinema. Rather than lamenting the distance between stereotype and reality, I am interested in the functions served by the innumerable projections of fantasized Latin Americas onto the silver screen.”

The second sentence of that description nails exactly what makes Latin America On Screen such a fascinating and informative read. The blog tosses the brainless “politically-correct” whining about ethnic portrayals out the door, and replaces it with an exploration of what actually matters; the “why?” and “so what?”.

For a taste of what you’ll face, here’s the conclusion to a post about South of the Border and its star, Gene Autry:

“Autry has his cowboy code, which includes the mantra that he “must be a good worker,” must “keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits,” and that “the Cowboy is a patriot.” But Autry’s special virtue is that he doesn’t need a code: he simply, simplistically, thoughtlessly, and innately incarnates diligent obedience to US Realpolitik.”

While there are plenty of film blogs on the web, not many discuss cinema in an academic or serious way. Finding one that does is a victory for any film viewer who goes to the movies for more than entertainment.