Best Dominican documentary movies

Romeo Santos: King of Bachata (2021)

KING OF BACHATA, directed by Charles Todd and Devin Amar, and produced by Sony Music Latin, Chimby Productions and Scheme Engine, combines the making of and best moments of this ambitious concert with the travels of Dominican late-night host, writer and comedian, Joel “The Kid Mero" Martinez as he journeys to the Caribbean nation to find the soul of bachata. Mero’s journey takes us to the restaurants and bars of the countryside of the Dominican Republic, where the sound originated and retraces its rise to international recognition. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at Santos’ creative process, his inspirations, and his tireless work in the studio. This documentary film and concert is a love letter to the genre, inspired by Romeo’s Utopia album. Featuring surprise performances from Cardi B and Aventura, the concert is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of Latin culture and a defining moment in the history of Latin music.

El Campeón (2020)

Interview about the life of Horacio Vásquez.

Cinema Verité (2023)

Balaguer: La violencia del poder (2003)

Highlights the most important political and social events in the Dominican Republic during the period from the first of July 1966, the date of the inauguration of Dr. Balaguer as Constitutional President of the Republic, up to August 16, 1974, the day he was sworn in for a third term. Using narrative images and sounds of the era, the documentary highlights the climate of disrespect for the most basic human rights that prevailed during the administrations of Dr. Balaguer, and the violent repression that this President used to unleash against their opponents.

Santo Domingo Waltz (2021)

Three teen ballet students — Raymundo, Angel and Victor — are the only boys in a class of twenty. In a country where dance is mostly considered an activity for women, they are determined to follow their dreams and challenge traditional gender roles. Like a waltz, music played in triple time, the three boys move through Santo Domingo while confronting, yet sometimes abiding by, the Dominican machismo culture.

Ramona (2023)

Preparing for a role, an actress holds conversations with pregnant young girls. Throughout the process, the girls lay out the stories of their own lives on camera, changing the course of the production of the film.

Renacer (2023)

The story of Dominican Paralympic swimmer Patricio López.

Sugar Cane Malice (2021)

A documentary about a case of modern slavery in one of the largest sugar cane plantations in the world, located in the Dominican Republic and belonging to the Fanjul Family, one of the most powerful families in America.

Camino a Higüey (2016)

Trujillo: El poder del jefe I (1991)

The first part of the trilogy shows the political, economic, and social conditions that made Trujillo's dictatorship in the Dominican Republic possible. It offers a stirring vision of more than twenty years of Dominican history, from 1916 to 1937, using for such aim contemporary films, pictures, documents, and audio recordings of speeches.

Trujillo: El poder del jefe II (1994)

The political and social events in the Dominican Republic are happened more important during period 1938-1952. The actions of the Trujillo's dictatorship during the Forties and the efforts of the refugees ones to overthrow it, are dialed with with details in this second documentary part of the series about "The Power of Generalissimo" . The invasions of Cayo Confite and Luperón, Juventud Democrática and the different conspiracies, as well as the relations of Trujillo with the United States before the beginning of the "Cold War", occupy a good part of this documentary one. In this occasion there are more approximate advantage to the rigor of the documentary one notices, through its voice over and other lines.

Trujillo: El poder del jefe III (1996)

The third and last documentary part of the series of that began in 1991 with the "The Power of Generalissimo", first part. Here are the happened most important events in the Dominican Republic in the period between the 16 of August of 1952, date of the arrival to the of Negro Trujillo like President of the Republic, and the 8 of November of 1961, day of the exit of the country of Ranfis Trujillo and their family. Between the events treated in this part they stand out the trip from Trujillo to Spain, the Fair of La Paz, the kidnapping of Galíndez, the invasion of the 14 of June, the death of the sisters Mirabal, the execution of the dictator, and the death in which they participated in the plot against Trujillo, among other subjects. René Fortunato concludes therefore an historical revision that would be added to many others of equal magnitude in the literary order, but that in the audio-visual area has become the document more taken advantage of in terms its educative value.

Balaguer: La herencia del tirano (1998)

The documentary describes the events that occurred since the death of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo in 1961, until the inauguration of Juan Bosch y Gaviño as president of the Dominican Republic on February 27, 1963. It also narrates the violence which distinguished the presidency of Balaguer and his efforts to remain in power.

Tras las huellas de Palau (1985)

Explores the life and work of Francisco A. Palau, believed to have been the first Dominican filmmaker.

Frank Almánzar: Imágenes de un artista (1987)

Explores the life and work of Frank Almánzar, a visionary Bauhaus-trained engraver, illustrator, and cultural animator who left an indelible mark in the cultural life of the country.

Caribbean Fantasy (2016)

The life and love of Ruddy the boatman and his married Evangelist lover, Morena, at the banks of the Ozama river, the lowest part of Santo Domingo.