Letter to Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress and The Film Preservation Board - Rep. Castro and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Nominate 25 Latino Films for National Film Registry

Letter

Dear Dr. Hayden and Members of The Film Preservation Board,
Thank you for receiving the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' nomination of
Selena to the National Film Registry and for your thoughtful response. I know
we share many of the same goals, chief among them ensuring that the
National Film Registry's selection reflect the diversity of American culture
and include important examples of Latino artistic and cinematic achievement.
The National Film Registry's very existence speaks to the importance of film
in American culture and society. Hollywood is the main image-defining and
narrative-producing industry in the United States. As you know, Latinos
remain dramatically underrepresented in this influential industry,
contributing to the misperceptions and stereotypes about Latinos in our
society. In effect, when we cannot tell our stories, others will tell stories about
us. We believe this is a significant factor motivating ongoing anti-Latino
sentiment in American society, one which negatively impacts Latinos in all
aspects of society, from immigration law to the education system to the
current public health crisis.
In order to assist the National Film Registry in selecting Latino films for the
Registry both this year and in the future, we would like to nominate an
additional 25 Latino-focused films -- enough for an entire year's selection --
that we feel are worthy of inclusion in the National Film Registry. These films
were selected with feedback from the public including from Latino arts and
media advocacy groups, and they reflect the diversity of Latino identities,
histories, geographies, and political perspectives. We hope you will give each
of these films listed below careful consideration and that we will see many of
them included in the National Film Registry, both in 2021 and in years to
come.
Our list of additional nominations for the National Film Registry is as follows:
* My Family (1995) by Gregory Nava. The generational epic of one Mexican-American
family through the 20th century.
* Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982) by Robert Young. A Western telling the true story of a
Mexican farmer turned outlaw hero in turn-of-the-century South Texas.
* Under the Same Moon (2007) by Patricia Riggen. A Mexican boy's journey across the
border to reunite with his mother in Los Angeles.
* Lo que le pasó a Santiago (1989) by Jacobo Morales. A widower in Puerto Rico begins a
new relationship with a mysterious woman.
* Don't Let Me Drown (2009) by Cruz Angeles. The love story of two Latino teenagers in
New York amidst the aftermath of 9/11.
* The Milagro Beanfield War (1988) by Robert Redford. The story of a small New Mexico
town's confrontation with powerful business interests.
* Raising Victor Vargas (2002) by Peter Sollett. A Dominican-American teenager in New
York coming to terms with his family and romantic relationships.
* Frida (2002) by Julie Taymor. A biopic following the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
* Walkout (2006) by Edward James Olmos. The true story of the 1968 Chicano High School
Walkouts.
* A Better Life (2011) by Christopher Weitz. An undocumented Mexican worker in Los
Angeles searches for his stolen truck alongside his son.
* Gun Hill Road (2011) by Rashaad Ernesto Green. A father recently released from jail
comes to terms with his Trans daughter's coming out.
* Spy Kids (2001) by Robert Rodriguez. Two children discover their parents are superhero
spies and join them.
* American Me (1992) by Edward James Olmos. The story of a Mexican-American man's
experience with prison and discrimination.
* Romero (1989) by John Duigan. A biopic following Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero
during the Salvadoran Civil War, leading up to his assassination in 1980.
* Hermanas (2005) by Julia Solomonoff. Two Argentine Sisters reunite in Texas and relive
traumatic family memories of the military dictatorship they fled.
* Blood In, Blood Out (1993) by Taylor Hackford. The tragedy of 3 Chicano cousins who
are divided by their divergent life choices amidst gang conflict in East Los Angeles.
* Nothing Like the Holidays (2008) by Alfredo De Villa. A Puerto Rican extended family
gets together for the holidays.
* Latino (1985) by Haskell Wexler. A Mexican-American Green Beret sent to train Contras
in Nicaragua questions his mission.
* The Lost City (2005) by Andy Garcia. A family is divided by the Cuban Revolution, leading
one brother to join the revolution, the other to flee to America.
* Down for Life (2009) by Alan Jacobs. Follows one day in the life of a Latina high school
student as she struggles to make it to college.
* Tortilla Soup (2001) by María Ripoll. The story of 3 adult sisters and their father, a retired
chef, who insists they all gather every Sunday for dinner.
* The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) by Walter Salles. A road movie following Ernesto
Guevara's formative motorcycle journey across South America in the early 1950s.
3
* 12 Horas (2001) by Raúl Marchand Sánchez. 12 hours in the life of a taxi driver and other
characters in Santurce, Puerto Rico amidst the reality of the night life.
* Viva Cuba (2005) by Juan Carlos Cremata. Two Cuban friends run from home when they
discover they will be separated by one of their family's emigration to America.
* Maria Full of Grace (2004) by Joshua Marston. A pregnant woman from Colombia lands
in New York and becomes an undocumented immigrant.
We also look forward to continuing to work together to expand diversity and Latino representation
on the National Film Preservation Board, and across the Library of Congress. Please do not hesitate
to get in touch with our staff if we can ever be of assistance to the Library of Congress. Your
mission -- of telling and preserving American stories -- has never been more important.
Sincerely,

Source