From non-existence to international revival
The first major film shot in Nicaragua was probably La Llamada de la muerte, by Mexican filmmaker Antonio Orellana (1960). A crime thriller firmly rooted in its time, the film narrates the misadventures of Bronco Joe, a bank robber on the run who tries to hide from the police and his pursuers. A performance by actor Carlos López Moctezuma, one of the great names of Mexican cinema, shot mainly in Managua. At the same time, Nicaraguan director Benjamin Zapata made El Nandaimeno, the first feature film in the country's history. A romance that highlights the social class differences so prevalent in the Nicaraguan countryside, the film heralded the political tone to be adopted by the country's filmmakers.
In the 1980s, production increased and several initiatives were set up around committed, militant filmmakers. At this time, Chilean director Miguel Littin became one of the leading figures in Nicaraguan cinema with Alsino et le Condor (1982), a co-production between Cuba, Mexico, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, starring Dean Stockwell in the title role. A politically powerful film dealing with American interventionism and Nicaragua's desire for independence, which led to revolution. A poignant film that earned its director an Oscar nomination the following year. But while the Nicaraguan film industry was booming, instability and restrictions due to the U.S. embargo nipped these initiatives in the bud, leaving cinema a poor art form in Nicaragua. So it's mainly documentaries and amateur films that you'll discover as you immerse yourself in contemporary Nicaraguan cinema. Nevertheless, a few films have been made since then, such as Walker (1987), in which Ed Harris plays the American brigand turned Nicaraguan president William Walker, after a fantastic invasion of the country. It's a nervous, captivating piece of entertainment, based on one of the most violent episodes in the country's history. War was also on the agenda in Carla's Song in 1996, one of British director Ken Loach's first films, shot largely in Nicaragua. A romantic drama, the film features George, a bus driver traumatized by his military past in Nicaragua, and Carla, a Nicaraguan refugee in Glasgow. Touched by Carla's story, George decides to help her in her quest for truth and justice. Together, they embark on a journey to Nicaragua, delving into a country scarred by war and revolution. The film explores the devastating consequences of war in Nicaragua, and the bond that forms between George and Carla as they confront their past and seek redemption and healing in a battered country. A great critical success, it won numerous international awards.
Most recently, director Claire Denis set foot in Nicaragua for Des étoiles à midi (2022). The story of a young American journalist stranded in modern-day Nicaragua who falls in love with an enigmatic Englishman who seems to be her best chance of escaping the region. A romantic drama reflecting one of the country's realities, hidden behind the postcards. Behind the postcards too, but perhaps even more to your liking: take a look at Managua's Cinémathèque Nationale, its programming and catalog. A great way to discover the nuggets of the region's cinema.
