Heli must try and protect his young family when his 12-year-old sister inadvertently involves them in the brutal drug world. He must battle against the drug cartel that have been angered as well as the corrupt police force.
Direction
Escalante's static frames force you to witness, not consume.
Cinematography
Desaturated Mexican north—beauty and brutality share the same light.
Director
Amat Escalante
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Escalante used real military personnel and locations; some 'actors' were actual cartel-adjacent locals. The authenticity terrified distributors.
Part of Mexico's 'new wave' of uncompromising social cinema alongside Post Tenebras Lux—both rejected by domestic audiences who lived this reality daily.
MX
