This is a documentary film that follows Autodefensa, the Mexican vigilante movement to fight the violence of the drug cartel. The leader Dr. Mireles has charisma to gain support, and the group seems to be achieving success. But then the group itself begins to corrupt.
The atrocity of the cartel, called Knights Templar, is chilling, especially their killing of children. So when Mireles stands up against them and people gather around him, he is no doubt a hero. They fear retaliation, and it does happen to Mireles. But more fundamental problem emerges from inside the movement.
Since it is not legitimate for them to carry weapons, nothing legally distinguish them from criminal organizations. And their reputation among the people becomes divisive. Some members openly become as violent as the cartels.
One thing I really don't understand by watching this film is what exactly the police or the goverment thought of the situation. Maybe they just didn't have sufficient power to deal with it.
There is a scene at the very beginning of the film, where drug cooks are working in a remote grove at night. A man is talking. "We know we do harm with all the drugs that go there. But what are we going to do? We come from poverty. If we were doing well, we would be like you. Traveling the world or doing good clean jobs like you guys." This words remain in my mind throughout the film like an echo. I don't know what exactly the problem is. But whatever it is, I know it is very ingrained in the society.
I don't think the U.S. part is really relevant. Yes, they have a situation in common with Autodefensa where they have become vigilantes because of unreliable police. But their contexts are quite different. I believe it was necessary only to attract the U.S. audience. (And now I, not being American, fully understand why Trump appealed to the voters by the promise to build the Wall.)
The atrocity of the cartel, called Knights Templar, is chilling, especially their killing of children. So when Mireles stands up against them and people gather around him, he is no doubt a hero. They fear retaliation, and it does happen to Mireles. But more fundamental problem emerges from inside the movement.
Since it is not legitimate for them to carry weapons, nothing legally distinguish them from criminal organizations. And their reputation among the people becomes divisive. Some members openly become as violent as the cartels.
One thing I really don't understand by watching this film is what exactly the police or the goverment thought of the situation. Maybe they just didn't have sufficient power to deal with it.
There is a scene at the very beginning of the film, where drug cooks are working in a remote grove at night. A man is talking. "We know we do harm with all the drugs that go there. But what are we going to do? We come from poverty. If we were doing well, we would be like you. Traveling the world or doing good clean jobs like you guys." This words remain in my mind throughout the film like an echo. I don't know what exactly the problem is. But whatever it is, I know it is very ingrained in the society.
I don't think the U.S. part is really relevant. Yes, they have a situation in common with Autodefensa where they have become vigilantes because of unreliable police. But their contexts are quite different. I believe it was necessary only to attract the U.S. audience. (And now I, not being American, fully understand why Trump appealed to the voters by the promise to build the Wall.)