Looking for a good reason to watch TV? Amazon Prime Video has partnered with American Family Insurance to help raise money for the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, and all you have to do to contribute is is watch movies.
Amazon Prime Video has selected nine titles for which every hour streamed, Amazon and American Family Insurance will donate $1 to the Hispanic Heritage Foundation – up to $50,000 through September 30th, 2021.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 — October 15, and celebrates the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans. From food and travel to art and music, there’s a lot to be thankful for. We wouldn’t be the country we are today without the influence that Latin culture has had on us, and we’re happy to celebrate this month with American Family Insurance by donating to the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.”
The selected titles include:
1. Gina Brillon: The Floor is Lava
In this 1-hour stand-up special from Bronx Puerto Rican, Gina Brillon, we hear her talk about her life. From growing up in the Bronx to settling down with a Midwestern white man, she (hilariously) describes the different tastes of life she’s experienced. This special has already won a 2021 Gracie Award and is nominated for an Imagen Award.
2. Truly Texas Mexican
This documentary is all about Texas Mexican food — not to be confused with Tex-Mex. In fact, we’ll learn about true indigenous Texas Mexican food that helped carry the Native American memory and identity. Travel though Texas, learn the history of Native Americans in Texas and understand how women led a resistance through cooking.
3. The Boy From Medellin
In this documentary from Academy Award® nominated and Emmy-winning director, Matthew Heineman, we follow J Balvin home to Medellin, Columbia for a sold out show in November 2019. However, it’s not as simple as a homecoming concert. In Colombia, protests have erupted against the government under President Iván Duque. We see J Balvin struggle with his duties as a superstar to speak up while his country faces turmoil.
4. The Perfect Game
This feel-good sports movie is the story of the 1957 Little League World Series. The true story follows the players from the Industrial Little League of Monterrey, Mexico. Who manage to convince César Faz, once part of the MLB, to coach their team. The movie follows them as they make it to America for their shot to be the first team outside of the United States to win the Little League World series.
5. Shades of Blue
If you love cop shows and Jennifer Lopez, then Shades of Blue is your perfect show. In this series from NBC, we see Harlee Santos (J.Lo) as a New York City detective. However, Santos is originally on the corrupted side before being forced by the FBI to turn on her team. So, it’s not as plain and dry as good cop versus bad cop in this three season series.
6. Chavela
This documentary explores the life and death of Chavela Vargas, a Costa Rica-born, Mexican singer. Chavela was a ranchera singer, but was able to infuse her own interpretation into the song, taking it deeper than the genre had previously gone. She suffered stage-fright, fought against the norms for her gender, and at the age of eighty-one — came out as gay. This documentary shows the trailblazing she did and the impact she left behind.
7. Pati’s Mexican Table
This series stars Pati Jinich, a James Beard award winning chef. She explores different parts of Mexico, highlighting its history, culture, and food. Meet local chefs, learn recipes, and discover parts of Mexico you may have not been familiar with. This Emmy nominated winning series mixes travel and cooking, and even gives you recipes to cook at home in your own kitchen.
8. Pan y Circo
Hosted by actor Diego Luna, this Mexican talk show series takes place at the dinner table. Every episode, six guests will sit down and discuss current social issues. It’s almost like a live podcast, but with every episode an established Mexican chef is cooking dinner. The food is good, the topics are hot, and the show aims to bring people (literally) together at the table.
9. East Side Sushi
Last on our list, but certainly not least is East Side Sushi. A movie about a single Mexican-American mother, taking a job at a local sushi restaurant. Working there, she quickly realizes her dream of becoming a sushi chef and we see her strive to make that dream come true. Fusing two very different cultures together, this indie film is definitely one to watch