The Oscar-nominated Colombian film 'Embrace of the Serpent' marks the comeback of a nation and its cinema

The line snaking down a sidewalk in downtown Washington one night last month was as sinuous as an Amazonian tributary. Pre-Oscar buzz and Latin American pride -- especially orgullo Colombiano -- drew a large and hopeful international crowd to catch a free screening of one of the contenders for best foreign language film. The auditorium at the Inter-American Development Bank quickly filled, as did an overflow hall outfitted with a smaller screen. The doors closed and a couple dozen people never m...