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Lumi Cavazos Movies

One of Mexico's most acclaimed actresses, Lumi Cavazos first grabbed the attention of U.S. critics and filmgoers with her portrayal of Tita, the heroine of Alfonso Arau's celebrated 1993 adaptation of Laura Esquivel's Como Agua para Chocolate. The star of numerous Mexican films, Cavazos has also done a fair amount of work in the States, appearing in such independent dramas as Sugar Town.
Born in Monterey, Northern Mexico, in 1969, Cavazos was raised the youngest of nine children. She began her acting career at the age of 15, performing with an avant-garde theater company in Guadalajara for three years. Cavazos made her film debut in Busi Cortes' 1988 El Secreto de Romalia and again worked with the director when she starred in Serpientes y escaleras (1992). Cavazos' true breakthrough came courtesy of her portrayal of Tita, a young woman who expresses her love and passion through her cooking in Como Agua para Chocolate. In addition to winning her Best Actress awards at the Tokyo Film Festival and Brazil's Festival de Gramado, the film also provided Cavazos with an introduction to co-star Marco Leonardi, whose role as her onscreen love interest soon crossed over into real life.
Cavazos did more work in her native country, but eventually relocated to Los Angeles. After her arrival she starred in the independent drama Land of Milk and Honey (1995) and had a supporting role as the hotel maid who falls for Luke Wilson in Wes Anderson's celebrated independent comedy Bottle Rocket (1996). Continuing to work in Mexico in such films as Viva San Isidro (1995) and Fibre Optica (1998), Cavazos was also visible in such stateside dramas as Allison Anders' and Kurt Voss' Sugar Town (1999), which cast her as a Latina singer,and in 2000 moved into the mainstream film arena with a part as a nun in Bless the Child, a supernatural thriller also starring Kim Basinger, Rufus Sewall, and Sir Ian Holm.

~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi
2006  
 
Add Contra Todo...Against All Odds to Queue Add Contra Todo...Against All Odds to top of Queue  
Directors Michel Franco, Karim Raoul, Dora Pena, and Yuri Makino all pool their talents to craft this Amores Perros-style omnibus detailing the experiences of Latino Americans in the United States. The first tale, entitled "Cyclone," follows a young boy named Miguel as he attempts to navigate the treacherous streets of New York City. Later, after a Los Angeles native weighs her ability to distinguish right from wrong due to falling in love with the wrong man in "Crazy Life," a distinguished doctor puts his career on the line to save the life of his ten year old son in "Entre Dos." "El Soldado" follows a man whose car breaks down in a bad section of the titular town during a trip to Mexico City, and the final tale, entitled "Night Breeze," finds a young girl's origins brought into question when she is confronted by border patrol agents. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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2006  
 
Add Las Calles del D.F. to Queue Add Las Calles del D.F. to top of Queue  
Average everyday citizens face such obstacles as corruption, kidnapping, violence, and racism in an affecting collection of nine stories of survival on the streets of Mexico City. In the world's most densely populated city it's easy to fall through the cracks. Though the people who walk these streets remain determined to overcome any challenge that arises, sometimes people of all ages and social circumstances find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of life's many obstacles. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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2005  
PG13  
Add 7 Days to Queue Add 7 Days to top of Queue  
A guy on the lower rungs of the music business shoots for the moon by bringing one of the biggest bands in the world to his hometown in this drama. Claudio (Eduardo Arroyuelo) is a music promoter who is tired of living in the shadow of his successful brother, who came to dominate the business before his untimely death. Claudio has decided he wants to stage a concert that will earn him a reputation all his own, and pulling in every favor he has, he attempts to pull off a major coup -- bringing U2 to Mexico City for a series of concerts. However, he'll need nearly half a million dollars in seed money to make the shows a reality, and coming up with that kind of cash will require little short of a miracle. 7 Días also stars Julio Bracho, Jaime Camil, and Martha Higareda. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Eduardo ArroyueloMartha Higareda, (more)
 
2003  
R  
Add Exposed to Queue Add Exposed to top of Queue  
The time has come for the annual Woman of Distinction award to be bestowed upon the most compelling female personality in media, and as the ceremony looms on the horizon and each of the three nominees practice their acceptance speeches, entertainment news television show host Bob Smith probes mercilessly into the personal lives of all three women to seek out scandal and boost ratings by any means necessary. From Martha Stewart wannabe Susan Andrews (Brenda Strong) to sensationalist-minded British talk-show host Jade Blake (Gia Carides) and Mexican-American morning show co-host Laura Silvera (Lumi Cavazos), it seems that each of the distinguished media personalities have something to hide. As the wheels of the media keep turning and everyone looks to exploit someone else for their own personal gain, the struggle to earn the Woman of Distinction award finds each woman taking a look inside themselves to find out just what it really takes to stay on top in a career where there's always someone waiting on the sidelines for you to stumble. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Starring:
Tate DonovanGia Carides, (more)
 
2001  
 
Add Atlético San Pancho to Queue Add Atlético San Pancho to top of Queue  
When a football-loving janitor assembles a ragtag team of small-town players into an unlikely team, the stage is set for hilarity in this south-of-the-border take on baseball's Bad News Bears. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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2000  
PG13  
Add In the Time of the Butterflies to Queue Add In the Time of the Butterflies to top of Queue  
Based on the book by Julia Alvarez, this fact-based drama tells the story of a woman who, along with her family, found the courage to defy a corrupt dictator -- and paid a fearful price for their actions. Minerva Mirabal (Salma Hayek) and her sisters Patria (Lumi Cavazos), Mate (Mia Maestro), and Dede (Pilar Padilla) are the daughters of Enrique (Fernando Becerril), a man who owns a plantation and a small store in the Dominican Republic during the rule of the despotic Rafael LeónidasTrujillo (Edward James Olmos). When several members of her family are killed by Trujillo's forces, Minerva pledges that she will some day win revenge against the dictator, though when the leader first encounters Minerva, it's after she helps foil a friend's poorly planned assassination attempt. After completing her schooling, Minerva meets Virgilio Morales (Marc Anthony), a professor of law at a state university who also works with an underground rebel group attempting to overthrow Trujillo. The two fall in love, and Virgilio helps to open Minerva's eyes to the extent of Trujillo's crimes; when Virgilio is forced to go underground as a result of his actions against Trujillo, Minerva pledges to follow his example and become a lawyer. However, Trujillo's head has been turned by the lovely Minerva, and the more he learns about her, the more he wants to seduce her, hoping to crush her fiery spirit. In time, Minerva attends law school, hoping to challenge the system from within, but upon graduation she discovers Trujillo has been keeping tabs on her actions and isn't about to allow her to practice law; an outraged Minerva vows to fight the corrupt dictator by any means necessary. Produced for the Showtime premium cable network, In the Time of the Butterflies first aired on October 21, 2001; leading lady Salma Hayek also served as executive producer. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Salma HayekMarc Anthony, (more)
 
2000  
R  
Add Bless the Child to Queue Add Bless the Child to top of Queue  
In this supernatural horror story, Jenna (Angela Bettis), an unstable young woman, gives birth to a girl named Cody who proves to be autistic; unable to care for her properly, she turns Cody over to her sister, psychiatric nurse Maggie O'Connell (Kim Basinger). Maggie raises Cody as her own, but when the child (now played by Holliston Coleman) turns six, Jenna and her new husband Eric (Rufus Sewell) forcibly take back the child. Maggie believes Jenna and Eric are not fit parents, but when she takes the matter up with detective John Travis (Jimmy Smits), they discover that a number of children born on the same day as Cody have also been abducted recently. Even worse, it seems that Cody may now be in the hands of Satanists who, in accordance with Biblical prophecy, believe the little girl may be mankind's last line of defense against ultimate evil. Based on a novel by Cathy Cash Spellman, Bless the Child also stars Christina Ricci and Ian Holm. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Kim BasingerJimmy Smits, (more)
 
1999  
R  
Ten years after Allison Anders and Kurt Voss collaborated on Border Radio, a gritty and evocative look at life along the margins of the L.A. punk rock scene, the two have reunited for another look at the California music biz, this time aiming their sights considerably higher up the ladder. Sugar Town follows the interconnected lives of a handful of power brokers, wanna-bes and has-beens. Gwen (Jade Gordon), a self-centered would-be rock star who will do anything to further her career, is working as an assistant to production designer Liz (Ally Sheedy), but when Gwen discovers Liz has a date with famous producer Burt (Larry Klein), any loyalty she has to her boss immediately goes out the window. Burt's latest project is a comeback attempt from three aging Brit-rockers, Nick (Michael Des Barres), Clive (John Taylor), and Jonesy (Martin Kemp). Clive is married to Eva (Rosanna Arquette), an actress and one-time sex symbol depressed over her latest job offer -- playing Christina Ricci's mom. Nick has a dilemma of his own -- the band is strapped for cash, and Jane (Beverly D'Angelo), a potential investor, will write them a check only in exchange for sex with Nick... who unfortunately is only attracted to teenage girls. On the other side of town, Carl (John Doe) is a session musician with a pregnant wife (Lucinda Jenney), a flock of kids to support and bills to pay. When he's offered a spot in the touring band of a popular Latina singer, Rosio (Lumi Cavazos), Carl is torn -- his wife wants him to take the job, but Carl knows Rosio wants him for sex as much as music. Sugar Town, which premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, is authentically cast with many real-life rock musicians, including Doe (a member of L.A. punk legends X, and co-star of Border Radio), Taylor (from Duran Duran), Kemp (ex-Spandau Ballet), Des Barres (who has sung with Silverhead, Chequered Past and The Power Station) and Klein (a bassist and producer who's worked with Peter Gabriel and Joni Mitchell). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Jade GordonMichael Des Barres, (more)
 
1999  
R  
Add Mascara to Queue Add Mascara to top of Queue  
In Linda Kandel's comedy-drama Mascara, three friends find themselves dealing with the not always enjoyable prospect of turning 30 at a time when their lives are already unstable. Rebecca (Ione Skye) has trouble holding a steady job and has gone though a long series of affairs with older men. Her latest boyfriend, Nick (Steve Jones), is a middle-aged photographer who shows a less than wholesome interest in his ripening teenage daughter. Laura (Lumi Cavazos) has just ended a seven-month marriage with Donnie (Steve Schub), who helpfully maxed out all her credit cards before she dumped him. Laura works as a therapist, but she doesn't have much patience with other people's problems at the moment. And Jennifer (Amanda de Cadenet) has separated from her husband after discovering he had a mistress for a short time. Jennifer's response is to throw herself into a series of one-night stands with casual acquaintances and relative strangers -- one of whom she beats when their lovemaking gets too rough for Jennifer's liking. Mascara also features a supporting performance from Karen Black as Rebecca's Aunt Eloise, who has a habit of telling her what she either already knows or doesn't want to hear. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Lumi CavazosIone Skye, (more)
 
1999  
 
Add Entre la Tarde y la Noche to Queue Add Entre la Tarde y la Noche to top of Queue  
A author preparing to pen her masterwork returns to her small Mexican town in search of inspiration, only to discover just how her secret-shrouded past has molded her into the woman she became in this Spanish-language drama from director Oscar Blancarte. Minerva (Angelica Aragon) has achieved great fame thanks to talented abilities as a writer, but upon stumbling into a series of facts that would have changed her life considerably had she been aware of them as a young child, she soon finds herself questioning everything, and everyone, she ever knew. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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1998  
 
Add Fibra Optica to Queue Add Fibra Optica to top of Queue  
This second feature from writer-director Francisco Athie (Lolo) carries a stylish cyber-candescence throughout, courtesy of techno-twists added by production designer Chu Uroz (cables, surveillance cameras, TV monitors, and other electronic gear). Athie's tense politico-thriller begins with a trade-union chief's murder. His Brazilian mistress Claudia is framed, with bumbling Magana on as her defense lawyer and reporter Marco doing a journalistic investigation. As it becomes evident that both Magana and Marco are pawns and Claudia's innocent former lover is set up as the murderer, the web of intrigue expands. Shown at the 1998 Rotterdam Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Starring:
Roberto SosaLumi Cavazos, (more)
 
1996  
R  
Add Bottle Rocket to Queue Add Bottle Rocket to top of Queue  
A bright, optimistic caper comedy from first-time director Wes Anderson, Bottle Rocket focuses on a group of young Texans aspiring to become master thieves. Their leader is Dignan (Owen C. Wilson, who also co-wrote the screenplay), an upbeat if naive charmer who convinces his friends Anthony (Wilson's brother Luke Wilson) and Bob Mapplethorpe (Robert Musgrave) to enter the crime business. After their first heist, a bizarrely-executed robbery of a local bookstore, the trio goes on the lam, taking up residence in a border hotel where Anthony falls in love with a maid played by Lumi Cavazos. When the three buddies decide that they need to return to the real world, they hook up with a master con-man (James Caan) who sends them on a daring -- if ill-concieved -- mission. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

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Starring:
Owen WilsonLuke Wilson, (more)
 
1995  
 
When the wife of a former political radical dies after surgery, the man goes over the edge and decides to make society pay for her passing in this Italian crime melodrama. The unhinged widower Amos leaves his job as a watchmaker and begins plotting to punish another ex-radical who sold out and became a government official. Amos enlists the aid of his young apprentice and two other old radicals and together they kidnap the minister and kill his bodyguard. They then hide out in an abandoned seaside mansion. Amos sends David, his assistant, back to the minister's residence to keep watch upon his beautiful daughter Chiara, a student of anatomy, who spends her time dissecting corpses. Eventually, these two disparate young people fall in love. Meanwhile the captured minister begins playing dangerous mind games with the other three. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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1995  
 
In this psychological drama, Sam has come to work on a dairy farm in Marin, California. He had been living in New York, but found himself tormented with terrible nightmares. On the farm he works closely with his friend Danny. Not long after his arrival, Sam gets in trouble with Robert, the owner. He is also in trouble with Danny's daughter, Rosie who wanted the job Sam filled. The trouble with the owner comes when Sam begins trying to save poor Rachel, the dairyman's daughter whom Robert keeps locked in the house. Thinking she is being abused, Sam talks to her. She shows her gratitude sexually. Now Sam becomes even more determined to save her. Unfortunately, Rachel isn't as much abused as she is dangerously unstable. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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1995  
 
In this quirky comedy, a farmer living in a remote, primitive Mexican village finds a downed plane and assumes the fine, white powder inside is fertilizer. The tale begins as the villagers are celebrating a football victory with their star soccer player, Quintino, who scored the winning goal. The town leaders hold a meeting and then sternly instruct Quintino to go home and rest before the next big game. Unfortunately, when Quintino meets the coach's lovely daughter, he and she end up spending the entire night making mad love. The day of the big game arrives; because there is no lime available to mark the field boundaries, the villagers convince the cranky farmer, Don Alvaro, to donate some of his white fertilizer. The exhausted Quintino arrives and tries to play. He does terribly until he falls face first and gets a snootful of "fertilizer." Suddenly he is tremendously energetic and runs off to win the game. Later, he convinces Alvaro to show him where the plane went down. Real trouble ensues when the inept drug lord, the pilot, a petty drug dealer, and the federal police come to town. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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1995  
R  
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This romantic musical drama centers on handsome mambo dancer Miguel as he endeavors to get a U.S. visa and leave the Dominican Republic. After numerous rejections, the desperate Miguel stows away on a cargo plane to Puerto Rico where he teams up with an Italian, Carmello, who has come to find a son he has never met. The two masquerade as tourists and are able to slip past Immigration officers into New York where they find lodging in a ramshackle Bronx boardinghouse filled other illegal aliens. Miguel spends his days cruising Broadway in hopes of landing a dancing gig. But for a part-time job as a janitor at a dance academy owned by ex-dancer Susan, he has no luck. Susan finds herself attracted to Miguel and his intricate dance moves. Meanwhile he and Carmello continue their search for the boy. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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1993  
R  
Add Like Water for Chocolate to Queue Add Like Water for Chocolate to top of Queue  
Based on the best-selling novel by Laura Esquival, this internationally popular romantic fable from Mexico centers on a young woman who discovers that her cooking has magical effects. The tale's heroine, Tita, is the youngest of three daughters in a traditional Mexican family. Bound by tradition to remain unmarried while caring for her aging mother, Tita nevertheless falls in love with a handsome young man named Pedro. Pedro returns her affection, but he cannot overcome her family's disapproval, and he instead marries Tita's elder sister. The lovestruck young woman is brutally disappointed, and her sadness has such force that it infects her cooking: all who eat it her feel her heartbreak with the same intensity. This newly discovered power continues to manifest itself after the wedding, as Tita and Pedro, overcome by their denied love, embark on a secret affair. Director Alfonso Arau, Esquival's husband at the time, presents the acts of love and cooking with the same glossy, sensual sheen. Indeed, despite occasional digressions into a magical realist tone, the film often takes on the gloss of Hollywood romance. This combination of traditional melodrama and exotic fairy tale proved extremely popular with audiences, particularly in the United States, where it became one of the highest grossing foreign language films at the time. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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Starring:
Lumi CavazosMarco Leonardi, (more)
 
1993  
 
This soapy Mexican melodrama chronicles two young women and their long-term friendship. The story is set in the city of Guanajuato after the revolution. The friends, Rebeca and Valentina have known each other since they were children. Rebeca and her mother are thrown out of their home after her father dies. It is then that Rebeca learns that she was born out of wedlock. Valentina's father Gregorio offers to help Rebeca reclaim her house. He is a gubernatorial candidate and knows much about politicking. Unfortunately, Gregorio is also a womanizer. Rebeca falls for his seduction and winds up pregnant. He eventually has to face up to his moral and political corruption. He must also confront his conflicting feelings about love and betrayal. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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Starring:
Hector BonillaDiana Bracho, (more)
 
1989  
 
Romelia's granddaughters have always believed that granny (Dolores Beritain) was a widow. When they accompany her to her hometown to look over a property she has recently inherited, they are surprised to discover that for all those years she was only separated from from her husband, Dr. Roman (Pedro Armendariz, Jr.), and that it is he who has only recently died and left her the inheritance. There is a mystery here that goes back to the 1930s, and through a series of flashbacks, the story is told. This multi-generational drama of revenge and honor is based on Roman, The Widower, by Rosario Castellanos. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

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Starring:
Diana BrachoPedro Armendariz, Jr., (more)