© NL Beeld

'Pan's Labyrinth' (2006) -

A film by Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro, this dark fantasy picture is one of the most popular Spanish-language films around the world. Taking place in Spain during the Francoist period, it centers around a young girl who encounters magical creatures in a labyrinth.

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'The Mole Agent' (2020) -

The Oscar-nominated film tells the story of an 83-year-old man who poses as a resident in a Chilean nursing home in order to figure out if his client’s sister is being abused by staff.

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'Volver' (2006) -

A hit from Pedro Almódovar, 'Volver' is a story of intergenerational trauma about murder mysteries and the ties that connect generations of women together.

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'La Llorona' (2019) -

A film that perfectly blends Guatemalan history, politics, and the supernatural, this movie tells the story of an aging former dictator who is haunted by the ghosts of his past war crimes.

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'Mondays in the Sun' (2002) -

Starring Javier Bardem, this film tells the story of a group of men left unemployed after the closure of their shipyard in Northern Spain. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

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'Maria Full of Grace' (2004) -

'Maria Full of Grace' follows a pregnant Colombian girl who becomes a drug mule for a trafficking ring. The 2004 drama earned its lead actress Catalina Sandino a Best Actress Academy Award nomination.

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'Y tu mamá también' (2001) -

This Mexican film follows three characters on a coming-of-age road trip in search of an isolated beach. The movie earned US$2.2 million on its box-office opening weekend in Mexico and was nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe.

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'Welcome Mr. Marshall!' (1953) -

Made during the height of the Franco regime, this flick is a light-hearted comedy that highlights the stereotypes held by both the Spanish and the Americans regarding each other's cultures. It also displays social criticism of the regime.

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'All About My Mother' (1999) -

Another film by Pedro Almodóvar, one of Spain’s most celebrated modern directors, this movie tells the story of a mother who loses her son after a car accident. She seeks out his other biological parent, a transgender woman named Lola, who never knew about her son's existence.

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'Roma' (2018) -

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, this Academy Award-winning film tells the gut-wrenching story of a housekeeper’s life in 1970's Mexico City. Yalitza Aparicio starred, and became the first Indigenous actress nominated for an Oscar for her role.

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'The Orphanage' (2007) -

There's nothing scarier than ghosts, and this thriller will certainly give you the shivers. It follows a woman named Laura who returns to fix the now-abandoned orphanage where she was raised. Her son, Simón, makes new friends, who happen to be non-living people.

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'Sin Nombre' (2009) -

This 2009 film does a phenomenal job capturing one of many immigrant stories. It follows a boy trying to leave his involvement with the notorious MS-13 gang behind, and the Honduran girl who befriends him along the way as they head towards the US border.

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'Amores perros' (2000) -

The debut of famed Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu remains among the most praised Spanish-language films of all time. With an ensemble cast including Gael García Bernal, the film takes place across three main storylines that combine crime, drama, and comedy.

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'The Skin I Live In' (2011) -

Starring Antonio Banderas, this psychological thriller by Pedro Almodóvar follows a plastic surgeon, haunted by past tragedies, who creates a type of synthetic skin. His guinea pig is a mysterious woman who he holds an obsession for.

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'Bad Hair' (2013) -

A Venezuelan film that tackles issues of homophobia and anti-Blackness in Latin America, it tells the story of a young boy who hates his Afro-textured hair and does everything he can to straighten it.

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'Viridiana' (1961) -

After years of making films in exile in France and Mexico, Luis Buñuel returned to Spain to make 'Viridiana.' Filled with surrealist imagery and anticlerical themes, the film was quickly banned in Spain when it came out.

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'Open Your Eyes' (1997) -

You're probably familiar with the 2001 film 'Vanilla Sky,' but what you might not know is that it's a remake of the Spanish sci-fi thriller 'Open Your Eyes.' Penélope Cruz even stars in both versions.

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'Talk To Her' (2002) -

Winning both a Golden Globe and an Oscar, this critically-acclaimed Almodóvar film follows two men who strike up an unusual friendship while looking after two women who happen to both be in comas.

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'Los Olvidados' (1950) -

A true classic of Spanish-language cinema, Luis Buñuel's 'Los Olvidados' bring us the story of a group of indigent children surviving within Mexico City in the 1950s.

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'The Motorcycle Diaries' (2004) -

Based on a true story, this 2004 biopic is about the journey 23-year-old Che Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado took across South America in 1952.

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'The Spirit of the Beehive' (1973) -

Set in pre-war Spain, this film follows a young girl who mistakes a wounded Republican soldier for Frankenstein’s monster. The film is a strong critique of the Spanish oppression during Franco’s regime.

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'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown' (1988) -

Featuring drugged gazpacho, numerous affairs, and a young Antonio Banderas, this Almodóvar classic is a cinematic gem, filled with neon aesthetics and dynamic female characters.

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'The Crime of Padre Amaro' (2002) -

This controversial film shows the problematic relationships and abuses of power by priests within a small Mexican town. Starring Gael García Bernal, it was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 75th Academy Awards.

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'Cría Cuervos' (1976) -

A drama by award-winning writer and director Carlos Saura, this film follows a young orphan and her sisters who find shelter at their aunt's during the end of Franco's dictatorship.

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'Death of a Cyclist' (1955) -

A drama by Juan Antonio Bardem, it follows two wealthy people who drive away from the place of their affair after fatally hitting a cyclist with their car. They run away from the scene of the crime, but the repercussions follow them.

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'The Holy Innocents' (1984) -

Based on the Miguel Delibes novel of the same title, 'The Holy Innocents' revolves around two families in rural Spain, one rich and the other poor. The movie illustrates the extreme inequality and the relationship between the different social classes of the time.

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'The Day of the Beast' (1995) -

Co-written and directed by Álex de la Iglesia, this black comedy includes a Catholic priest, a Black Metal aficionado, and an Italian connoisseur, who have to commit as many sins as possible to avert the birth of a beast.

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'The Sea Inside' (2004) -

Starring Javier Bardem, this film is based on the real-life story of Ramón Sampedro, who battled for 29 years for his right to an assisted suicide after becoming a quadriplegic following a diving accident.

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'Juan of the Dead' (2011) -

This hilarious flick takes place in Cuba and tells the story of Juan, a slacker who’s trying to reconnect with his daughter when zombies  suddenly begin to appear and take over the island.

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'Innocent Voices' (2004) -

Set in 1980's El Salvador during a civil war, this film shows the brutal impact of war on kids. It’s based on the real-life experiences of the film’s co-writer, Oscar Torres.

Sources: (Parade) (Oprah Daily) (Screen Rant) (The Culture Trip)

© NL Beeld