What Latinx Content To Watch On Netflix By: Rose Heredia
It’s Latinx Heritage Month and you know what that means? Time for everyone (including us) creating lists for films and television shows to watch for celebrating the stories across the landscape that make up the Latinx culture! While there is a large library of Latinx and Hispanic content on Netflix, I only selected a few titles for your pleasure.
Series
In Los Angeles, a Mexican-American family has to deal with the reality of gentrification as they fear losing their restaurant. Resident gringo of the Morales family, Carlos, tries his best to bring his culinary skills to help keep the restaurant in business. This will keep you invested with their commitment to each other and neighborhood.
If you haven’t made the time to watch this series (three seasons and an upcoming one next year), now is the time to meet the group of teenagers living in South Central Los Angeles, just trying to make it as teenagers. With a subplot about stolen treasure, a drive-by, and a case of PTSD, you’ll get sucked in and binge this show in mere days. You might even have a favorite character. Mine is Jamal. 😀
This series premiered on The CW in 2014 and made Gina Rodriguez a star. For those that don’t know, the show was adapted from a novela of the same name for American audiences. Think of this as dramatic as a novela with a Latinx family at its center. I watched for the surreal situation in which Jane becomes artificially inseminated with someone else’s sperm and stayed for Rogelio De La Vega (and everyone else) but really for the pronunciation of his name. Jaime Camil is one of my new favorite actors. Oh and the narrator! You gotta watch it. It’ll warm your heart.
This Spanish series, based on the novels En los zapatos de Valeria written by Elísabet Benavent, is about a female writer and her best friends, living their best (or worst) lives in their twenties. Any show about female friendships and relationships will entice you. Watch for the female friendship and stay for the eye candy that is Maxi Iglesias. WTF?!
I’ll be honest. I’m not a fan of sitcoms with laugh tracks. I tolerated them as a grown adult and I don’t watch contemporary sitcoms with this format. This show, however, really keeps me coming back for the acting and the characters. While the issues and themes are heavy-handed in some episodes, it reminds me sitcoms do this! Remember, I don’t watch these on purpose very often. Nonetheless, this show is worth the hype and I hope more people watch it.
Film
This poetic film, based on the gorgeous book written by Justin Torres of the same name, is about a young Afro-Latinx boy discovering his sexuality amidst family hardship. Beautifully shot, this movie will linger long after the credits have rolled.
Cassandra Ciangherotti (Los Espookys) stars in this film as Ana, the single woman who is desperate enough to pay a professional to help her find a husband. Think 40-Year-Old Virgin with more heart, less bro-y, and also just better than that film overall. Watch this one instead.
If you have not had the opportunity to watch this engrossing documentary about the late astrologer Walter Mercado, this should be added to the queue. Almost every Latino/x identifying person on the planet has heard of Walter Mercado and his insightful and optimistic horoscopes. A memorable profile of one of the Spanish speaking world’s biggest celebrity. You’ll fall in love all over again.
Parents will recognize his voice as Sid from the Ice Age films, but the rest of us remember him from Romeo & Juliet, The Pest, and the most recent Netflix series When They See Us. What some of y’all don’t know is Leguizamo made a name for himself on the stage with such one-man shows like Freak and Ghetto Klown. This special, inspired by his son’s school project, is about the unsung Latinx heroes in American History not written in textbooks. He sings, he dances, and he makes you laugh all the while teaching you something new. It’ll make you laugh and you’ll be a little smarter after too.
If you’ve ever seen Cube or Resident Evil, this Spanish science-fiction thriller will keep you intrigued because of its strange plot. Residents in this voluntary prison are fed leftovers from a platform that rises every day. What ensues is a commentary on capitalism and the ills of society. I’m still thinking about this film as I write this. Not for the squeamish, it is a good film to begin your yearly Halloween spooky film season, if you’re into that sort of thing.
So cuddle up, grab your favorite drink, and indulge yourself in some amazing content.
