The Best Global Movie Directors | A Top 10
As a cinephile, I love watching movies, especially foreign language movies. Because this is what CulturalReads and I are all about. And I love watching
When people talk about Latin American cinema, they usually limit that to Argentinian movies, Mexican movies, or Brazilian movies. It’s because these countries are popular tourist destinations, household names, and they have budgets to make great Latino movies.
But if you check my recent post about the best Latin American movies, I started the list with Peru. It’s because Peruvian cinema is more daring in its exploration of identity, history, and place. Also, its cinema incorporates Indigenous traditions, apart from modern urban stories.
Sadly, many of these Peruvian films never reach mainstream streaming services or festival headlines. Low budgets and limited international marketing have kept them hidden. But that doesn’t mean you can’t watch these famous Peruvian movies.
That’s exactly what makes this list essential. These are the 10 best Peruvian movies you’ve likely never heard of, apart from maybe a few names. And to give you a fuller picture, I’ll also discuss some Peruvian actors and Peruvian actresses.
Retablo is a 2017 Peruvian movie by the director Álvaro Delgado-Aparicio. The unique thing about the movie is that it is in Quechua, an indigenous language of South Americans. The film won the Teddy Award for Best First Feature at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Segundo is a 14-year-old boy who is learning the craft of making religious retablos (altarpieces) from his father. They are close to each other for their generational pride and the practice of a traditional, sacred art. Naturally, Segundo looks up to his father to follow in his footsteps.
But everything changes when Segundo discovers a secret about his father at a community celebration in the Andes. A secret that threatens to dismantle his family, his entire understanding of love, manhood, and belonging. So, what happens when tradition collides with truth?
To find out, you can stream the movie on Amazon Prime. You can also stream this first on Tubi, only if you are in America.
The Milk of Sorrow is one of the famous Peruvian films internationally. The film stars Magaly Solier, who had also worked with Claudia Llosa in Madeinusa. The film takes place during Peru’s internal conflict between 1980 and 2000.
Fausta is a young woman who believes she suffers from a rare condition known as “the milk of sorrow”. It is a psychological illness that has passed from mother to child through breast milk. The disease is common among women who experienced sexual violence during Peru’s civil unrest.
After the death of her mother, she has to raise money for her mother’s burial. She confronts a society that doesn’t fully see or understand her pain. She takes the job as a maid in a wealthy household, which makes life more difficult for her.
And, she must take extreme measures not to follow in her mother’s footsteps. The Milk of Sorrow won the Golden Bear at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival, becoming the first Peruvian film.
You can stream the movie on Mubi, Apple TV+, and Prime Video. You can also stream the movie on YouTube.
Eternity is one of the famous movies in Peru about an elderly couple. Remarkably, it is the first Peruvian film entirely in the Aymara language. The film stars non-professional actors and was shot in Yunguyo Province, near Lake Titicaca, at an altitude of over 5,000 meters.
Willka and Phaxsi are an elderly couple living in isolation, waiting for their only son to return. Their daily life is nothing but silence, ritual, and survival as they attend to their animals and bear the harshness of nature.
Time just doesn’t pass in their remote village, where they are bound by tradition and faith. As the seasons change and their bodies grow weaker, the couple wonders whether their son will come back. And how long can love, memory, and spiritual belief sustain them?
Eternity won the Audience Award at the Lima Film Festival in 2017. It was also Peru’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards.
Magallanes is one of the best drama-thriller Peruvian movies. The film takes place in Lima during Peru’s internal armed conflict, about the people who lived through it.
Magallanes is a former soldier now working as a taxi driver. One day, he picks up a passenger, Celina, an Indigenous woman he recognizes from the days he was in the army.
Their conversations bring long-buried memories. When Celina shares about her financial struggles, he sees a chance to help, as a way to make peace with his past.
But helping her isn’t simple. Magallanes gets in a risky plan of blackmailing a powerful retired military officer from his past to get money. Will Magallanesa redeem himself decades after the damage is done?
Since Celina in the movie is an Indigenous woman from the Quechua ethnic group, you can learn more about other Indigenous people. I recently wrote Indigenous books about different tribes across the globe.
Days of Santiago is the feature directorial debut of Josué Méndez, who also wrote the script. This Peruvian movie is about a young man dealing with traumas after returning from military service. Méndez uses a mix of black-and-white and color to make the movie visually engaging.
Santiago is a 23-year-old soldier who’s trying to reintegrate into civilian life in Lima. He has returned after serving in conflicts against terrorism and in the Cenepa War with Ecuador.
He enrolls in a computer course and works as a taxi driver to forget his violent past. But his martial habits, isolation, and mistrust make it difficult to reconnect with his wife, family, and new acquaintances.
As he looks for purpose, an old military comrade tempts him with the idea of a bank robbery. At the same time, his brother’s girlfriend toys with his emotions. These parallel tensions put him to the brink of extreme measures with far-reaching consequences.
Pietro Sibille, one of the famous Peruvian actors, won the Best Actor award at the Bratislava and Buenos Aires film festivals.
Undertow is a Peruvian film starring Cristian Mercado, Manolo Cardona, and Tatiana Astengo. The film was shot at Peru’s northern coast in Cabo Blanco, and blends stark realism with magical realism.
Miguel leads a quiet life with Mariela, awaiting their first child. However, he also has a secret affair with Santiago. The village’s tight-knit community follows rigid traditions and religion, so Miguel conceals his truth.
Tragically, one day, Santiago drowns.
After Santiago’s death, his ghost begins appearing to Miguel, asking him to find and bury his body at sea according to local rituals. This supernatural twist deepens the emotional stakes, forcing Miguel to face the consequences of his love and secrecy.
It is one of the few famous best Peruvian movies, which won the World Cinema Audience Award (Dramatic) at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Since the movie is in Spanish, you can learn Spanish to enjoy the movie in the native language.
You can stream the movie on Apple TV+.
Don’t Tell Anyone is one of the best Peruvian movies by the director, Francisco J. Lombardi. The inspiration came from the controversial novel by TV host and writer Jaime Bayly. The film was quite a work in 1998, for its portrayal of homosexuality in the upper classes.
Joaquín is a wealthy young man from Lima’s elite, struggling with his sexual identity in a conservative society. From childhood to adulthood, he moves through Catholic school, family pressure, and upper-class social circles, all while hiding his truth.
As Joaquín grows older, he must find a way to conform. To cope, he turns to drugs, casual sex, and emotional detachment. His world appears glamorous, but it all feels fake.
Eventually, Joaquín escapes to Miami, hoping distance might offer clarity or freedom. But the change only deepens his disconnect. So, is freedom possible when survival depends on denial?
The City and the Dogs is one of the classic Peruvian movies by the director Francisco J. Lombardi. The film is an adaptation of The Time of the Hero, a novel by Mario Vargas Llosa.
The story revolves around young cadets at the Leoncio Prado Military Academy, where violence and toxic masculinity are the norm. A group of rebellious students, “The Circle,” engages in cheating and covert operations to survive the institution’s harsh discipline.
When a stolen exam leads to the accidental death of a cadet, the system starts to show its muscle.
As one student tries to expose the truth behind the death, he faces denial and threats from the very institution meant to uphold order. A daunting question haunts the movie: Can justice exist in a system built on violence and loyalty to power?
Since the movie is an adaptation of Mario’s work, I also covered his greatest novel in the best historical fiction movies. You can stream the movie on Mubi.
Song Without a Name is one of the best Peruvian movies by the director Melina León. The film stars Pamela Mendoza and Tommy Párraga. The entire film is shot in stark black-and-white.
During the late 1980s in Peru, when political unrest was on the rise, something strange happened. Georgina’s newborn daughter was stolen during a fraudulent clinic visit. Now desperate in Lima, she seeks help from Pedro, whose investigation exposes baby trafficking.
As Georgina and Pedro dig deeper, they encounter systemic barriers and moral compromise. Now, Pedro must risk his position and safety for redemption, while Georgina must confront her worst fears. The film won the Bronze Horse for Best Film and Best Cinematography at the Stockholm Film Festival, Sweden.
Things have been pretty serious so far. But let’s end the list of best Peruvian movies with a comedic one. I am covering this movie because it stars Ricardo Blume, Carlos Gassols, and Enrique Victoria, all famous Peruvian actors. Below, I will talk more about Peruvian actors.
So, this Peru movie is about three lifelong friends Balito, Domingo, and Villarán, who reunite after the funeral of their fourth friend, Kike. As a final tribute, they decide to steal Kike’s ashes and fulfill his last wish: to scatter them in the ocean at their favorite soccer stadium.
As they travel through Lima and Callao with the stolen urn, they visit places from their youth, drink, bicker, and even sneak into a soccer match at the local stadium. Along the way, they encounter family members and reminders of the past.
Amid all of this, Kike’s widow is furious about the theft, which makes the movie more fun as she is try to recover ashes. Since the movie is about soccer, you can read more about the game in the best soccer books.
Ricardo Blume, Gustavo Bueno, Christian Meier, Salvador del Solar, and Pietro Sibille are some of the most famous Peruvian actors from classic theater to modern film and TV.
Ricardo Blume was/is one of the finest Peruvian actors, with a career of over six decades across theater, television, and film. He studied acting at the Catholic University of Peru and later in Germany.
Ricardo became very famous in Latin America through his work in Mexican telenovelas, particularly Simplemente María, which made him a household name across Spanish-speaking countries. He split much of his career between Mexico and Peru.
In his later years, he returned to Peruvian cinema with a standout performance in Viejos Amigos (discussion is above). He was given Peru’s Orden del Sol (Order of the Sun), the country’s highest civilian honor.
Pietro Sibille is one of the famous Peruvian actors. He made a memorable debut with Proof of Life, appearing alongside Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe.
His breakthrough came with Días de Santiago (discussion is above). He lead role in the movie won him the Best Actor award at the Buenos Aires Independent Film Festival, Argentina.
So, what about one of the famous Peruvian actors who was also the Prime Minister of Peru? Yes, Salvador del Solar is the one.
He gained regional fame as Captain Pantaleón in Captain Pantoja and the Special Services, earning multiple Best Actor awards. In 2015, he made his directorial debut with Magallanes (discussion is above).
He has also had notable roles in international series like Narcos and The Astronauta.
Elvira Travesí, Yvonne Frayssinet, Magaly Solier, Gisela Ponce de León, and Mayella Lloclla are some of the most famous Peruvian actresses. They are famous in telenovelas and films across generations.
Yvonne Frayssinet is one of the celebrated Peruvian actresses and theater directors. She began her professional stage career in 1975 with notable Italian and European plays like Gigi and Equus.
On television, Frayssinet is best known for playing Francesca Maldini on the hit comedy-drama Al fondo hay sitio, winning the El Comercio’s Luces Award for Best TV Actress.
She was given the Personalidad Meritoria de la Cultura distinction from Peru’s Ministry of Culture in 2024.
Magaly Solier is one of the most famous Peruvian actresses internationally, from a Quechua-speaking family. She made her film debut in Madeinusa.
Solier achieved international acclaim with her portrayal of Fausta in The Milk of Sorrow (discussion is above). The film also won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Beyond acting, Solier is an advocate for Indigenous culture and languages. In 2017, she was appointed UNESCO Artist for Peace for her cultural activism and dedication to Indigenous rights.
Mayella Lloclla is one of the versatile Peruvian actresses who began her career as a child. She has worked extensively in film and television, like El vientre, Dos Besos, and the Netflix series El Último Bastión.
Beyond acting, she is also into music, with a debut single coming in 2023. She was also in the H&M Spring/Summer 2024 campaign, becoming the first Peruvian in their global marketing.
You may not have anticipated such a great list of Peruvian movies. But here we are. And interestingly, there are many famous movies in Peru that you can stream on different platforms.
The list of Peru films is an attempt to give you a starting point. And if you are a cinephile who knows Peruvian cinema, please share your favourite Peruvian films.
Meanwhile, you can also check my interview about Peruvian food with Rosario Olivas.
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