Best Puerto Rican documentary movies

A journey through customs and traditions such as the promise of the Kings, Virgen del Carmen festival, the rosaries, Christmas' parrandas, and the voices of people retelling their memories of history.

This autobiography of Hector Delgado runs from his childhood to become one of the greatest exponents of the urban genre, but the results of that life did not please him and led him to try to take his life .After being victim of a firefight at a service station in Aguada, a city hall in Puerto Rico, he stopped earning at least two hundred American dollars for presentation and being "devout of Jesus"

The deeds of a professional musician who abandons his trumpet and family to live the clandestine life of an armed revolutionary for Puerto Rican independence.

The documentary features the diversity of backgrounds, philosophies, and motivations of a representative sample of the new strain of agroecological farmers in Puerto Rico.

The daily experiences of three land cultivators in Puerto Rico.

A documentary about the iconic Puerto Rican revolutionary Ramón Emeterio Betances and his effect and validity in Puerto Rican 21st century.

PsiQuis: Un Giro Decolonial is a documentary that presents and discusses the psychological impact that colonialism has had on the Puerto Rican people. The director analyzes the traumas generated in Puerto Rican society by that colonial experience.

This gritty documentary takes you inside the legendary Oso Blanco, the most feared prison of Puerto Rico and one of the most notorious in the Caribbean. It is the birthplace of two of the most dangerous Latino gangs: "Ñeta" and "Los 27" (aka "Los Insectos") and the scene of hundreds of murders.

The story of the basketball players that represented Puerto Rico at the San Juan's 1979 Pan Am Games.

On the Puerto Rican diaspora, which includes renowned artists who have converted New York, Florida, Chicago, Hawaii, Santa Cruz and Dominican Republic into their second home, but with Puerto Rico in their hearts.

Human trafficking is the second most lucrative crime in the world. This terrible crime is an international phenomenon. Based on the testimony of survivors, social researchers, volunteers and employees of various organizations, we are able to present the dimensions of human trafficking in Puerto Rico. A phenomenon that for many it is still difficult to recognize.

Combines animation, documentary footage, and hand-painted film as well as slide projections, a painted 12" x 24" backdrop, and sculptural palm tree to create a kaleidoscopic portrait of the Puerto Rican psyche.

Contemplates the contribution of Puerto Rican artist Cossette Zeno.

A journey through the capital of Puerto Rico which documents and reflects on its transformation.

Bad Bunny’s 23 minute long music video for his song 'El Apagón', from his fourth studio album 'Un Verano Sin Tí'. 'El Apagón' is a song criticizing the governments of Puerto Rico and of the United States, and tells the story of the daily life and suffering of Puerto Ricans under those corrupt governments, their colonial status, and the island's atrocious-on-purpose power grid. The music video transitions into a documentary by independent Puerto Rican journalist Bianca Graulau, where she reports on the recent protests, the displacement of Puerto Ricans from their homes and from the island, the millionaires that are happily blocking access to public beaches, the beneficiaries of the controversial Act 22 / Act 60 "law" that has turned the island into a tax haven for the rich and much more.

First documentary about surfing in Puerto Rico. It is a journey through the most notorious 'spots' from the North to the West of the island. Includes interviews with surfing pioneers.

Súperaquello is an alternative rock band that marked a milestone in the independent music scene in Puerto Rico. Its music peers augured its commercial success and its loyal fans gave it cult status. Emergencia (Emergency) is an intimate look at the interactions between Eduardo Alegría, Francis Pérez, Patricia Dávila, Jorge Castro, and Pablo Santiago and how their personalities created the band's greatness -- which in turn led to its dissolution.

Hurricane María abated, the news crews packed up and left Puerto Rico, and the interest of the international community turned elsewhere. What happened next?

Field workers in Puerto Rico want to have a night school.

Two tons of snow—flown from New Hampshire to Puerto Rico in 1952 in order to “gift” Puerto Ricans a “white Christmas”—become a metaphor for the colonialist paternalism of America’s relationship to Puerto Rico.

Zoilo Cajigas y Sotomayor is a carver of wooden models of saints. Don Zoilo is one of Puerto Rico's best-known artisans and was 96 years old at the time of the filming. The film shows the elaborate process behind his craftsmanship.

Five Puerto Ricans, who participated in the Nationalist Insurrection of 1950 to gain Puerto Rico's independence from the United States, reflect in their old age on the history of this forgotten struggle and the consequences it had on their lives to defy the world's most powerful government.

Culebra, an island off Puerto Rico, is used by the USA as a target area for bombing practice with live ammunition. The documentary depicts the struggles of the people of Culebra as they take increasingly militant action to put a stop to the target practice bombing of the area.

Documentary about how the arrival of the railway industry impacted Puerto Rican culture economically, socially, and humanistically during the first half of the 20th century. It includes photos by Jack Delano, among others, and scenarios to reconstruct the experience of what could have been the last trip made by train from San Juan to Ponce in 1953.

The documentary examines two phenomena in the history of Puerto Rican television: the "Súper Xclusivo" program, which remained number one in the ratings for 14 years, and the abrupt manner it went off the air, which also represents an unprecedented event on Puerto Rican television.

The efforts of a community to build a bridge which would allow their children to go school during the rainy season.

This documentary examines the musical tastes of Puerto Rico's youth. The terms "cocolos" refers to those who prefer salsa music, and "rockeros" to those who prefer rock music. Through interviews and an array of musical settings, the film explores the young people's feelings in a humorist yet serious manner, bringing to the forefront issues of biases and national identity inherent in this innocent yet very powerful form of social entertainment.

New documentary by Mexican filmmaker Sonia Fritz about a forgotten town in Puerto Rico.

The life and work of Puerto Rican painter and print-maker Myrna Báez are explored in this documentary.

Historical documentary about the peaceful resistance movement against the bombing practices of the US Navy in Vieques, including the arrests of more than 200 civil disobedients.

Abelardo Díaz Alfaro visits the places that inspired him to write his book "Terrazzo". His life and work is explored through interviews with friends and colleagues.

This film examines the effects of the U.S. Navy presence on Vieques and its people. It includes footage of mass protests, as well as interviews with family members of civilian David Sanes, who was killed as a result of the U.S. naval bombings.

In the midst of the African American civil rights struggle, protests to end the Vietnam War and the women's movement for equality, Puerto Rican and Latino communities fought for economic and social justice. From Chicago streets to the barrios of New York City and other urban centers, the Young Lords emerged to demand decent living conditions and raised a militant voice for the empowerment of the Puerto Rican people in the United States. Palante, Siempre Palante documents the history with on-camera interviews, archival footage, photographs and music. The documentary surveys Puerto Rican history, the Young Lords' activities and philosophy, the torturous end of the organization and its inspiring legacy.

Traces the economic history of Puerto Rico in the sugar plantations, and the closing of the last one in 1990.

This 1980 documentary presents an account of the life of Luis Muñoz Marín and an account of what happened during his death and burial.

Through photos of the time and recording of the writer, this documentary tells the story of Juan Ramón Jiménez in the light of his work.

Documentary on the town of Arecibo that presents a historical background and its economic and social development to this date.

Documentary on the town of Cabo Rojo, proving relevant data on its foundation and the different social and economic activities in which it developed.

Three community projects in Naguabo, Fajardo, and Río Grande.

An artistic short on the floral beauty of Puerto Rico set to folk music.

José Raúl Ramírez explains the way an electrical organ works and – more than forty years before he recorded his work – plays a selection of "danzas" on the organ, including "Felices días" by Morel Campos and "Tus caricias" by José Enrique Pedreira.

Documentary on Puerto Rican pianist Elisa Tavárez.

Details of the life of Juan Ponce de León, founder of the city of San Juan and first governor of Puerto Rico.

Presents general shots of the central mountain range of Puerto Rico.

Aimed to educate the people, and especially those who lived in the most vulnerable areas, about important safety measures to be taken before, during, and after a storm. The film takes a decidedly modern, scientific approach in its discussion of hurricanes, and it goes to great lengths to dispel popular lore that many of the island’s under-educated inhabitants still relied on for weather predictions.

The Cordillera de Puerto Rico is presented while Gala Hernández and his group, together with Juaniquillo, perform melodies as part of a traditional Puerto Rican Christmas party.

The role that women should play in the modern-day Puerto Rican family is discussed. The discussion is dramatized by a rural husband and wife involved in a domestic dispute.

Biographical documentary on the life and work of Pedro Flores, internationally renowned Puerto Rican musician.

The documentary promotes and demonstrates the process of blood donation and even depicts a cesarean section to convince the public of the urgency to donate blood.

Documentary about some of the most popular songs of this famous Puerto Rican musical trio.

It presents the problem of physically disability through a young crippled and the attitudes of the community towards them.

Presents several activities in celebration of the traditional Christmas holidays such as the birth of Jesus, peasant parrandas, the traditional roasted pig, and people dancing and singing Puerto Rican décimas.

Explores concerns about uterine cancer and the value of the Pap Test in detecting this serious type of cancer.

Meant to inform rural communities about the legacy of the Taínos, the indigenous inhabitants of Puerto Rico, or Borikén, as they called the island.

In Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, a group of environmentalists have occupied Camp Pa'l Pueblo Beaches for over six years to prevent the expansion of a hotel chain from limiting public access to the beach and impacting the region's natural resources.

Experimental film about rhythm as corporal expression of a culture. Presents various choreographies and does not include the participation of men.

A father reflects on his strict upbringing in early 1960’s Puerto Rico, as Hi8 videos - filmed by his son - reveal his son's fascination with violence during his carefree, playful youth.

A look at the prevailing myth of the apparition of St. James in the town of Loíza, Puerto Rico and a reminder of the character, vitality and role Loíza women have as pillars of the community.

Following the life of artists Eric Adamsons (Puerto Rico) and Heins Kim (New York), with their Icelandic colleague Samúel Hjaltalín, as they immerse themselves into the cultural and scientific understandings of the Aurora Borealis. The artists document their collaborations with international institutions, both educational and private enterprise, and individuals alike in an attempt to send cutting edge imaging equipment into heart of the Aurora at an altitude of approximately 300 km. The film chronicles their successes and challenges provoking conversations concerning how we as a society define achievement, while addressing humankind's pensive effort to coax the marriage between faith (mythology, religion) and empirical evidence.

Presents the Spanish classical guitarist Regino Sáinz de la Maza, playing classical pieces such as "Preludio ensueño" by Francisco Tárraga.

Documentary on Pablo Casals first visit to Puerto Rico.

One of the DivEdCo's films that best depicts the history and evolution of another genre of popular music from the coasts and of African origin: the plena. It presents sequences of interpreters of those rhythms in Ponce, in the dances of the coastal areas, and the fusion of popular and refined genres in presentations by Ballets de San Juan of the ballet-plena by Amaury Veray, "Cuando las mujeres" ("When the Women").

A DIVEDCO film that is about the DIVEDCO program

Documentary about the annual athletics event held in Coamo, with the participation of the world's best long-distance athletes.

Through dramatization and interviews with her colleagues, this film captures the life and work of famed Puerto Rican poet Mercedes Negrón Muñoz (also known as Clara Lair).