San Diego Latino Film Festival continues the 10th Annual 2009 Cinema en Tu Idioma Film Series showcasing two critically acclaimed Latin American feature films. This month will feature screenings of the Argentinean film LEONERA and the Chilean film TONY MANERO, October 9-15 at UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center (off 163 Freeway & Friars Rd.). Cinema en tu Idioma is funded by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.


LION’S DEN / LEONERA. Directed by Pablo Trapero (Mundo Grua, Nacido y Criado, El Bonaerense, Familia Rodante). Starring Rodrigo Santoro (Lost, Che Part 1 & 2, 300, Carandiru) and Martina Gusman. Run time: 113 minutes.
Produced by Walter Salles (Motorcycle Diaries, Central Station), Leonera, the official Argentinean selection for the Cannes Festival, tells the story of Julia, a 25 year-old university student, two weeks pregnant, with no criminal record, who wakes up one morning surrounded by the bloody corpses of her lovers- Ramiro and Nahuel. Charged with murder, she is sent to prison to wait for trial. Her fellow inmate Marta becomes her ally; her mother Sofía, her opponent. The duel between Julia and her mother expresses the dilemma of what is better for the child, to be brought up next to his mother in prison, or without her, but in freedom. This story addresses motherhood, love, confinement, justice and hope; but above all it deals with Julia and her son, Tomas, as she struggles to raise her son from prison. Hollywood Reporter states, “Powerful, emotional filmmaking, and acting”. Screening days and times are: Frid. 10/9, Sun. 10/11, Tues. 10/13, and Thurs. 10/15 at 10:30 am, 3:30 pm, & 8:30 pm. Sat. 10/10, Mon. 10/12, and Wed. 10/14 at 1:00 pm, 6:00 pm, & 10:45 pm (Sat. only)
TONY MANERO. Directed by Pablo Larrain (Fuga - SDLFF 07). Run time: 98 minutes.
Scarface meets Saturday Night Fever in this critically acclaimed Chilean film. In the midst of the tough social context of Pinochet’s dictatorship, Raúl Peralta, a man in his fifties, is obsessed with the idea of impersonating Tony Manero, John Travolta’s character in Saturday Night Fever. Dreaming of winning a Tony Manero look-and-dance-alike contest, Raul devotes most of his time to perfecting his act. But his urge to reproduce his idols likeness drives him to commit a series of crimes and thefts. “a brusque black comedy—at times shocking and, in some ways, sui generis.”- J. Hoberman, Village Voice. “Few would describe the late Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet as a homicidal disco dancer, but Pablo Larrain’s period allegory makes a stunning case for comparison.” - Kevin B. Lee, Time Out New York. Andrew O’Heir is calling it “brilliant… one of the biggest surprises at Cannes this year.” Screened at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Screening days and times are: Frid. 10/9, Sun. 10/11, Tues. 10/13, and Thurs. 10/15 at 1:00 pm, 6:00 pm, & 10:45 pm (Frid. only). Sat. 10/10, Mon. 10/12, and Wed. 10/14 at 10:30 am, 3:30 pm, & 8:30 pm.
Tickets are $9.50 General Audiences / $7.50 Students, seniors & MEDIA ARTS CENTER SAN DIEGO members. Individual tickets can be purchased prior to each screening at the UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center box office (7510 Hazard Center Dr., SD, CA 92108). Become a member today to start receiving discounts and even some free tickets.

The 2009 Cinema en tu Idioma Film Series is made possible with funding by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. Sponsors include: Univision KBNT 17, Telemundo 33, El Latino Newspaper, KPBS, Radio Latina 104.5, Uniradio Group, Azteca America San Diego 15, ABC10, El Mexicano Newspaper, Yolanda S. Walther-Meade, Sé San Diego, the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, Neighborhood House Association, Blindajes Goldman, My 13 TV, La Mejor 99.3, The Keating Hotel, El Vitral Restaurant, and EXA FM Radio.