Plot
A physician in Michoacán, Mexico leads a citizen uprising against the drug cartel that has wrecked havoc on the region for years. Across the U.S. border, a veteran heads a paramilitary ... See full summary »
Release Year: 2015
Rating: 7.8/10 (105 voted)
Critic's Score: 75/100
Director: Matthew Heineman
Storyline
A physician in Michoacán, Mexico leads a citizen uprising against the drug cartel that has wrecked havoc on the region for years. Across the U.S. border, a veteran heads a paramilitary group working to prevent Mexico's drug wars from entering U.S. territory.
Country: Mexico, USA
Language: English, Spanish
Release Date: 3 July 2015
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The Autodefensas group shown in the film was created by civilians to stand up against the cartels because the government is overrun with corruption. Individuals speak about how little the Mexican president (Enrique Peña Nieto) is doing. In the film, the Autodefensas is shown celebrating its one year anniversary on February 24, 2014. On that exact same day, TIME Magazine ran an issue with the Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto with the headline "Saving Mexico." Nieto reportedly paid TIME $44,000 for this cover article coincidentally released on the same day as the Autodefensas anniversary. See more »
User Review
Author:
Rating: 7/10
Greetings again from the darkness - from the Dallas International Film
Festival. Even in this digital age where information exists from all
sides of a conflict … often with corresponding video, the general
public somehow remains complacent to issues that don't directly and
obviously affect their lifestyle. Skilled documentarian Matthew
Heineman ignores the rhetoric of political speeches and plops the war
against drug cartels right into our lap.
This is a different approach to a topic with which we are all at least
somewhat familiar. The involved parties include the affected
communities (in Mexico and Arizona), the governments and affiliated
agencies (DEA, Border Patrol), the ever-expanding vigilante groups of
citizens (Arizona Border Recon, AutoDefensas), and of course the
cartels (focus on Knights Templar).
Intimacy is the key here, as Mr. Heineman takes us inside these groups
with an up-close look at leaders. Especially fascinating is Dr. Mireles
who is the face of the AutoDefensas – a group he pledges will protect
communities from the cartels, who clearly have no regard for human
life. The film doesn't shy away from the expected issues: citizen
pushback, greed, abuse of power, and corruption. As AutoDefensas teams
with the Mexican government to create the Rural Defense Force, we can't
help but wonder if the rumors of differing goals are at play in the
drug battles. Citizens want safety, but what is it that the government
wants? Is the goal drug-free streets or is it a cut of the action.
Learning how desperate the vigilantes are to protect their homes, turf
and way of life, we are left with little doubt of their mission. It's
everyone else that we must keep questioning and holding accountable.
This is not an easy documentary to watch, but it's necessary if you
have previously lost interest as the next politician proclaims he will
continue "the war on drugs".
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