Be careful what films you choose

This weekend I have seen three wonderful films. Alas, they are from Chile and Spain, and there is little escapism in any of them. What is it about Spanish and Latin American nations that needs to be tragic?

In the last two weeks I've read a good deal of a book that deals with just that: Forgotten Continent - the battle for Latin America's soul, by Michael Reid. The history and the heritage of Latin America includes much tragedy; it really matters little, in one sense, what the cause is: tragedy is simply a part of the history of Latin America.

These three films testify to, and demonstrate that. El Viaje de Carol (2002) is a story about a Spanish mother and daughter returning -- from New York -- to the mother's native village, somewhere in Spain, in 1938. The Spanish Civil War in nearing its end; Madrid is under siege, and may fall at any moment. Ay, Carmela (1990) takes place during the Spanish Civil War also. The protagonists are entertainers, Republican sympathizers, who happen to be fall into the hands of Fascists. Machuca (2004) takes place in pre-1973-coup Santiago de Chile.

There are deaths, tragedy, sadness. Next time, I wanna choose upbeat cinema.