Join us for another edition of Bridging Worlds: Exploring Latin American and Latinx Stories Across Borders and Cultures, co-curated with Cinema Tropical. This week, we are delighted to showcase two exceptional films that offer contrasting perspectives on aging in Cuba and Colombia..

La Lectora, a short film by Yulia Piskuliyska, takes us to a cigar factory on a Caribbean island where the time-honored tradition of la lectora is kept alive. Through the voice of the reader, we are transported into the world of the cigar makers and get a glimpse into the importance of storytelling and entertainment in their daily lives. La Casa de Mama Icha, by Óscar Molina, follows a Colombian elder migrant who, after years of living in the U.S., decides to return to her hometown of Mompox, having sent money to build her dream house there. Now, at the end of her life, Mama Icha boards a plane and flies back to Colombia where she bravely struggles with her loved ones.

These award-winning documentaries are available for streaming on pov.org and the PBS App, providing a unique opportunity to explore the rich diversity of Latin American and Latinx stories.