Movies like Maria Full of Grace

City of God plunges viewers into the violent, impoverished favelas of Rio de Janeiro, following two boys as their paths diverge—one becoming a photographer, the other a drug dealer. Fans of Maria Full of Grace will appreciate the raw and uncompromising look at the societal pressures that push people into a life of crime.

From Alejandro González Iñárritu, Babel intricately intertwines four disparate narratives across different countries, reflecting on communication barriers and the interconnectedness of humanity. Admirers of Maria Full of Grace's intense emotional journey and global perspective will find a kindred spirit in this film.

North Country deals with a woman's fight against sexual harassment in the workplace as she starts working at a mining company. While dealing with different subject matters, like Maria Full of Grace, it's a poignant and powerful drama about a woman's struggle in a male-dominated environment.

Frozen River, set along the US-Canada border, follows two women drawn into the world of illegal immigrant smuggling to survive. It shares a common thread with Maria Full of Grace in its exploration of the lengths to which people will go to provide for their families in the face of poverty.

A Better Life is a touching story of a Mexican immigrant father in Los Angeles, who works tirelessly to provide for his son and keep him away from gangs. Those moved by Maria Full of Grace's narrative of sacrifice and parental responsibility will relate to this film's themes.

Sin Nombre, like Maria Full of Grace, delivers a harrowing narrative of Latin American individuals embroiled in a life of crime and the dire search for a better future. If the gritty, poignant realism of Maria Full of Grace captured your attention, Sin Nombre's exploration of gang life and the perilous journey on top of a freight train towards the United States will resonate with you.