Join the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago in celebrating the 21st Chicago Latino Film Festival through April 20. The venues are Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St. (at Diversey Ave.); Facets Cinematheque, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave.; and Pipers Alley, 1608 N. Wells St. (at North Ave.).
For a daily schedule of films, visit latinoculturalcenter.org or simply call the Festival Hotline at (312) 409-1757. All films are presented in Spanish or their original language with English subtitles unless otherwise noted. Tickets for all films can be purchased 30 minutes before the first show each day. All theaters accept cash only and tickets are non-refundable. The prices are: General Admission $10; Students, Seniors, & Disabled $9; International Latino Cultural Center Members or Gene Siskel Film Center Members $8.
Don't miss the comedy "Jesús, the Driver," to be screened at 9 p.m. Sunday, April 17, and at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, both at Facets. Jesús, a Mexican day laborer, is engaged to Rosa, and is not well liked by her family because of his low economic status. In the meantime, Jerry and Lance, a couple of drifters, need a driver for the get-away car in the hold-up they are planning, and they hire Jesús. The film tells the story of the developing relationship between Jesús, naďve, and the two outlaws, the impact of the whole situation on Rosa, her friends and family, and Jesús’ growing fame as a folk hero.
Made in the United States, the 2004 film is directed by Bradley Battersby, with screenplay by Tom Hughes and Bradley Battersby, and cinematography by Jeffrey Seckendorf. The cast features Jesús "Chuy" Pérez, Roxanne Dawson, Ivonne Coll, Dayton Knoll and J. W. Wolterman. The comedy, fresh from the Phoenix Film Festival, runs 93 minutes. Both Jesús Pérez and Dayton Knoll will be at the screenings.
From projecting 14 films on a concrete wall to presenting more than 100 films at theaters, community centers and universities throughout Chicago, the Festival continues to break the barriers of stereotypes and provoke the audience to challenge mainstream ideals of the Latino identity by showing, through film, that Latinos are defined by more than 20 Iberoamerican countries and come from all social and racial backgrounds. |
