7 pm Born in Costa Rica to pious parents who were embarrassed by their boyish daughter, Isabel Vargas Lizano ran away to Mexico City to sing on the streets. At the peak of her initial popularity in the 1950s, dressed in a poncho, she interpreted the mournful, yearning repertoire of canción ranchera without altering the female pronouns. Her Madrid concert premiere in the 1990s, following years in rural isolation as an impoverished alcoholic, brought her into contact with Pedro Almodóvar, who helped his “idol” fulfill a dream (more...)

7 pm There is a long and surprising history of women fighting in the Spanish bullring—and fighting to have the chance to do so. Maripaz Vega, a Spaniard, is currently the world's only professional female matador and is on the verge of achieving top ranking. Eva Florencia, a young runaway from Italy, is a neophyte driven by a childhood dream. Both women must deal with the legacies of sexism in Spanish bullfighting, yet the passions that propel them are similar to those of male bullfighters—a drive to (more...)

7 pm One of the most important, yet least known activists of our time, Dolores Huerta was an equal partner in founding the first farmworkers’ union with César Chávez. Tirelessly leading the fight for racial and labor justice, Huerta evolved into one of the most defiant feminists of the 20th century—and she continues the fight to this day, in her late 80s. Dolores chronicles Huerta’s life from her childhood in Stockton, California to her early years with the United Farm Workers, from her work with the headline-making (more...)

7 pm A documentary recounting the history of César Chávez and the farmworkers’ movement—a story of hope and courage against overwhelming odds, and a story of poor people taking control of their lives. Chávez, the charismatic co-founder, with Dolores Huerta, of the United Farmworkers Union, inspired a nonviolent movement that touched the hearts of millions and confronted both conservative politicians and the powerful Teamsters Union. The Fight in the Fields is the first film to cover the full arc of César Chávez’s life, using archival footage, newsreel, (more...)

7 pm An innovative, genre-defying look at the life of radical Chicano lawyer, author and countercultural icon Oscar Zeta Acosta. Best known for his volatile friendship with legendary journalist-provocateur Hunter S. Thompson, who used him as inspiration for the character Dr. Gonzo in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Acosta was himself the author of two groundbreaking autobiographical novels, The Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo and The Revolt of the Cockroach People. His powerful literary voice, brash courtroom style, and notorious revolutionary antics made him a revered (more...)

7 pm Based on Federico García Lorca’s play Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding), La Novia, set in Spain in the early decades of the 20th century, is the story of a multi-family, multi-generational blood feud that is about to be settled by a wedding uniting two of the families. But Fate and Death have other plans, as an ill-starred love triangle precipitates an impetuous act, and sets into motion a chain of events that will have devastating consequences. From Instituto Cervantes’ Espacio femenino series; presented in partnership (more...)

7 pm Four short films curated by the online magazine Cortosfera.es and demonstrating the growing importance of female directors in this genre. From Instituto Cervantes’ Espacio femenino series; presented in partnership with Instituto Cervantes as part of the Bank of America Free Thursday Film Series; Spanish with English subtitles. Free ticketed event; tickets available one hour before show Miss Wamba A woman tormented by her past meets an old man with whom she immediately connects. 2017; directed by Estefanía Cortés; 17 minutes; not rated. Oasis Nieves gets (more...)

7 pm Maria has turned 30 years old, and now she has an immediate goal in life: to become a normal person, rather than the peculiar person she considers herself to be. But first she has to discover what this implies. Is she already a normal person? What, exactly, does it mean to be normal? As she ponders these questions, she creates a list of the requirements, and embarks on a journey to attain them all. From Instituto Cervantes’ Espacio femenino series; presented in partnership with Instituto (more...)