Carlos Manuel Álvarez’s Dispatches Reveal the Real Cuba
Cutting through cliché and dogmatism, the Cuban writer’s new collection delivers a “masterclass in creative reportage.”
The Unfinished Business of Brazil’s “New Middle Class”
In a new film, a family runs out of money to build a swimming pool—revealing personal tensions and a society plagued by broken promises.
Is Alejandro Zambra a Genius—Or a Gimmick Artist?
A new translation of the Chilean writer’s debut novel raises the question: Does he live up to the hype?
Caribbean Art Under the Shadow of Tourism
The curator of a new exhibition highlights artists’ response to an economic regime geared to serve visitors first.
Brazil’s Improbable Journey to Win the 1970 World Cup
The story behind victory in Mexico City shows that then, as now, politics is never far from the “beautiful game.”
A Cuban Puppet Opera Comes to Life in Brooklyn
Pioneering modernists included the full sweep of Cuban culture in this 1934 work, now performed for the first time outside Cuba.
The Peruvian Town Haunted By a Famous Poet
In a new film, a young man tries to escape Santiago de Chuco—just like the town’s biggest hero once did.
A Guatemalan Classic On the Nightmare of Dictatorship
Miguel Ángel Asturias’s masterpiece achieved lasting fame by trading political specifics for tragic grandeur.
AQ’s Summer Playlist: Shagrada Medra’s Independent Rhythms
In a rural corner of Argentina, this music label has spent decades cultivating a unique sound.
Reimagining Shakespeare’s Misunderstood Women
An Argentine director’s film series turns the Bard’s plays inside out to find new roles for female characters.
AQ’s Spring Playlist: Cataloging the Virtues of a Brazilian Favorite
Will Marisa Monte’s latest album open a door to greater recognition for Latin American artists?
The Critics Are Coming for Roberto Bolaño
After decades of praise, some are souring on the late literary icon. A new book defends his legacy.
Caio Fernando Abreu’s Legacy Is Thriving in the Internet Age
Brazilian millennials love this writer from the 1980s—and his tender depictions of queer life in the big city.
AQ’s Winter Playlist: Two Musicians Turning Tradition Inside Out
A pyrotechnic Brazilian pianist and a transgender Mexican “witch” put daring new twists on established musical convention.
Film Review: One Woman’s Intimate Rebellion
A Swedish–Costa Rican director takes an unexpected approach to themes of sexuality and religious devotion.
