Día de los Muertos Tuesday Night Film Picks

In the spirit of our Tuesday night films & dinners, we’ve put together a short list of films to watch and celebrate Día de los Muertos.

The Book of Life
The Book of Life is a refreshingly original animated film that takes viewers to the underworld and back. This is a beautifully animated film that combines essential Mexican folklore, ancient mythology, and pop culture. It’s also an invitation to explore and learn more about other traditions and beliefs, from the Day of the Dead celebrations to legendary creatures like Chupacabras.
Available on Amazon Prime

Coco
Coco is a vibrant Disney/Pixar film that explores the traditions of the Day of the Dead, a child’s desire to become a musician despite his family’s wishes, and the power of unconditional love. Told from the point of view of Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez), a young boy who ends up in the Land of the Dead, the movie—which features an all-star Latinx voice cast (including Gael García Bernal and Benjamin Bratt), as well as a Latinx co-director and many Latinx crew members—is a tribute to Mexican traditions and customs. It also has powerful themes of perseverance, teamwork, and gratitude and encourages audiences to love and appreciate their family and always follow their dreams.
Available on Netflix

Roma
This drama, in Spanish and Mixtec (a native dialect used in some parts of Mexico) with English subtitles, from Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuaron, tells the story of a maid and the troubled family she lives with, circa 1971-1972. It’s a gorgeous, moving masterpiece.
Available on Netflix

Macario
Three mysterious deities visit impoverished peasant Macario (Ignacio López Tarso) when his wife (Pina Pellicer) prepares for him his favorite meal, a whole turkey. After withholding the succulent bird from both God (José Luis Jiménez) and the Devil (José Gálvez), Macario finally offers half to Death (Enrique Lucero), hoping the gesture will stave off his own demise. As a reward, Death offers Macario healing water that will work only at the discretion of Death himself.
Available on YouTube

Hasta los Huesos
A dead man follows the path from his burial site to the underworld, where he is refused  until he embraces his own death in this short animated film from 2002.
Available on YouTube