Author: Mark Saldana

Cine Las Americas 17: HABLA WOMEN (WOMEN SPEAKING)

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) This HBO Latino documentary film features a multitude of Hispanic and Latina women from different generations and all walks of life offering insight and perspective as women in their respective careers and cultures. Director Alberto Ferreras keeps it simple, focuses his camera on his individual subjects and… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 17: HABLA WOMEN (WOMEN SPEAKING)

Cine Las Americas 17 Review: JIRAFAS (GIRAFFES)

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) From Cuban director Enrique Alvarez and writer Claudia Muniz, comes this film about three “roommates” connecting, though they don’t verbally communicate often. Tania (Olivia Manrufo) works as a seamstress out of her home, but can barely make ends meet. She has received various eviction notices and… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 17 Review: JIRAFAS (GIRAFFES)

Cine Las Americas 17 Review: SEX, LOVE & SALSA

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Written and directed by Adrian Manzano, this festival entry is very much the epitome of modern filmmaking. Sex, Love, & Salsa is a faux documentary about Julian Suarez (Manzano), a smooth-talking salsa dancer who prides himself as a ladies man and wants to capture his daily… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 17 Review: SEX, LOVE & SALSA

Cine Las Americas 17 Review: MUJER CONEJO (RABBIT WOMAN)

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) I found this film to be the most stylistically interesting film of the festival.  Written and directed by Veronica Chen, a talented filmmaker of Chinese ethnicity, but born in Argentina and raised in Texas, Mujer Conejo shows the influences of Chinese, Argentine, and American cultures in… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 17 Review: MUJER CONEJO (RABBIT WOMAN)

Cine Las Americas 17 Review: LOS INSOLITOS PECES GATO (THE AMAZING CATFISH)

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Another import from Mexico, this film is a beautiful celebration of life, love and family, and how the heart and familial bond prevails in the face of distress.  Los Insolitos Peces Gato tells the story of a young lonely woman named Claudia (Ximena Ayala) who gets taken in… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 17 Review: LOS INSOLITOS PECES GATO (THE AMAZING CATFISH)

Cine Las Americas 17 Review: TERCERA LLAMADA (LAST CALL)

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) The annual Cine Las Americas International Film Festival kicked off its seventeenth year with a doozy of a comedy which both celebrates and lampoons the theater. Tercera Llamada focuses on a theater production of Caligula where the director’s (Carina Gidi) personal crises affect her creative juices,… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 17 Review: TERCERA LLAMADA (LAST CALL)

Local Events: FESTIVAL DE LOS NINOS (CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL)

This Saturday, April 26, starting at 10:00 a.m. El Mundo Newspaper is hosting a festival for children at the North Austin Event Center. This totally free event will have games, prizes and surprises for the kids attending. The North Austin Events Center is located at 10601 N. Lamar Blvd. Should be lots of fun for… Continue reading Local Events: FESTIVAL DE LOS NINOS (CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL)

Local Events: AUSTIN EARTH DAY FESTIVAL

Celebrate Earth Day and Austin culture at the Austin Earth Day Festival.  The event, which takes place this Saturday, April 26, from noon to 6:00 p.m. will feature over 75 exhibits, food and entertainment at the Historic Browning Hangar at Mueller. For more information including directions, go to http://earthdayaustin.com/ .

Local Events: WIENER DOG RACES

The Buda Lions Club is hosting the 17th Annual Buda Wiener Dog Races this Saturday and Sunday (April 26 & 27) at the Buda City Park. Admission is three dollars, but admission for children under 12 is free. For more information on the event, including directions go to http://www.budalionsclub.com/ for all the details.