Reports from reputable medical sources reveal a statistical correlation between healthcare issues and poor academic performance in Hispanic communities nationwide. In this program, the National Council of La Raza's Raul Yzaguirre, former Surgeon General David Satcher, the Hispanic Dental Association's Nelson Artiga, and other experts address the pervasive health concerns-most notably dental problems and pediatric obesity-and insufficient access to...

It took seven years for Wang Runqing to get his diploma from the Conservatory of the Beijing National Opera. Descended from a family of actors, he had no illusions about the hardships that awaited him. This program follows his rigorous training in a variety of the arts besides singing and acting. His story is all the more interesting because it took place while traditional opera-which had been banned and replaced by politically correct works during...

This program examines the lives and lifestyles of the descendants of the ancient Mayans in present-day Guatemala. From the western mountains to the subtropical region, we explore the persistent Mayan influence on Guatemalan religion, festivals, crafts, and manufacturing. Several archaeological sites and ruins of Tikal are examined, and the regions of Selva Maya and Lake Atitlan are highlighted.

Filmmaker Pedro Almodovar's ability to shock and provoke is legendary. In this program, the director traces his colorful career from obscure independent filmmaker, to his 1988 Oscar nomination for Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and beyond. Using scenes from this and other major films-Folle, Folleme Tim; Pepi, Luci y Bom y Otras Chicas del Monton; Laberinto de Pasiones; Entre Tinieblas; Matador; Tacones Lejanos; and La Flor de Mi Secreto-Almodovar...

The Mexican writer and journalist Carlos Monsivais has frequently examined social and political issues at the heart of Latin American culture-and, in the process, the spiritual dilemmas of 21st-century modernity. This program introduces Monsivais' views on the growing disconnect between urban and rural life, the destructive impact of pervasive technology on language and conversation, and the increasingly precarious conditions faced by migrants to...

It is said that to know the history of Toledo is to know the history of Spain. Using beautiful aerial and ground-level photography, this timeless program traces the chronology of that unique city, beginning with its mythical origins. Toledo's successive places in the Celtic, Roman, Visigothic, Moorish, Castilian, and modern Spanish civilizations are all explored. In addition, the city's status as a cradle of European learning and a religious melting...

An award-winning novelist and regular contributor to the newspaper El Pais, Antonio Munoz Molina is also the youngest member of the Spanish Royal Academy. This program presents an in-depth interview with Molina. The writer discusses a number of works from across his career, including Der Putsch, Der Nie Stattfand; Beltenebros; Los Misterios de Madrid; and Ardor Guerrero.

In Andalusia and all around the world, the sensual rhythms of flamenco ignite the blood with joy and sorrow. This program helps make accessible the mysterious, intimate, plaintive form of music known as flamenco, promoting a deeper appreciation of Spanish culture. Background information on Moorish Spain and a chronology of Gypsy history provide the context for generous footage of a juerga-an informal flamenco performance-that includes a full complement...

The numbers alone are stunning: 8 million inhabitants, 70 percent of whom live below the poverty line; a life expectancy of 50 years; a 65 percent illiteracy rate; and a 70 percent unemployment rate. Such is the recent population in Haiti, which ironically had its origins cast in optimism: the Haitians were the first people to abolish slavery in 1797 and establish a black republic. Yet the following years have brought the island a succession of violence,...

Eva Maria Duarte was born in 1919, the youngest child of poor, unmarried parents. Before her death in 1951, she had transformed herself and the nation of Argentina by politically organizing and empowering women and working-class people, as well as creating a foundation that built hundreds of schools and hospitals. This program beautifully illustrates her journey, including her early days as a film and radio actress, her marriage to War Minister Juan...