Must-See Mexican Films

Ostensibly a search for a mythical beach paradise, this 2001 Mexican road movie becomes a meditation on maturity, friendship, love, loss, and personal discovery between the two male leads, played with beautiful innocence by Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna.

Gerardo Naranjo's 2011 film about a beauty queen-turned-drug mule may sound like an esoteric gangland tale gone awry, but star Stephanie Sigman plays her role with such grace, anyone who's ever felt marginalized or powerless will instantly identify with her will to survive.

The three queer films released by this reclusive gay filmmaker -- A Thousand Clouds of Peace (2003), Broken Sky (2006), and Raging Sun, Raging Sky (2009) -- reflect a refined aesthetic that nevertheless adds up to a serious sexual epic. (Raging Sun, Raging Sky is available to purchase or stream.)