El Canto del Colibri

Director Marco Castro-Bojorquez's El Canto del Colibri (which translates as “song of the hummingbird”) examines relationships between immigrant Latino fathers living in the United States and their LGBTQ children. Men who hail from a variety of Latin American countries relate their experiences as fathers of gay children here in honest, emotional interviews (one senses that many are sharing these intimate details for the first time). They speak of learning about their offspring's homosexuality, with some confessing to initial trepidation and a struggle to understand, while others embraced their kids from the outset. All are now fiercely supportive and protective, wanting their children to live happy and full lives—a point that leads to discussions of machismo, religion, and other beliefs in the Latino community that could stand in the way of those goals. Interviews with the children provide an interesting counterpoint to the fathers' testimonies, revealing the other side of a very personal struggle. But ultimately both generations come together in this powerful documentary about healing, understanding, and love. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Morehart)