This thesis examines the relationship between the increasing canon of Latin American road movies and national identity. Although the genre and its North American roots are discussed, the current paper focuses on and analyzes two Latin American films: Central do Brasil (Brazil, 1998) and Y tu mam tambin (Mexico, 2001). Each films representation of the nation and national identity is examined using postcolonial theory and its dynamic definition of national identity. It is proposed that the road movie genre and its focus on quest, journey and the road are especially appropriate for an exploration of the nation. Furthermore, certain parallels between the two films are discussed, including their use of the older woman and adolescent/child dynamic as well as their use of a female figure to represent the nation.