La Zona
La Zona is Rodrigo Plá’s feature debut based on a novel written by his wife, Laura Santullo.
It was shown during the Seminci film festival although unfortunately, it was out of competition. Had it been competing in the Official section, I am sure it would have been really successful, as Rodrigo’s done an amazing job. Nevertheless, it won this year’s International Critics’ Award at Toronto Film Festival and Best Feature Debut Award at Venice Film Festival.
The film is a breathtaking thriller that will keep you engrossed from beginning to end. La Zona is the name of a well-off residential area in Mexico DF that is cut off from its adjoining slums by a wall. They have a tremendous security system to ensure safety, but one night, during a storm, three youngsters manage to cross that wall and enter La Zona in order to steal. Two of them are shot dead by the security guards from La Zona, but the third one manages to hide inside the residential area. That’s how the neighbours start a chase for the third guy not counting on the police, who are known for their corruption.
This is one of those movies that keep you thinking for a while after you leave the cinema hall.
What would I have done? Who was right? Who was wrong? Why?!
It made me think about what humanity is capable of doing sometimes, how our animal instincts will arise when we feel threatened. As Carlos Bardem said, the film is very much about fear, about being afraid of the unknown, of the others.
Not only direction is superb, but acting is excellent too. All the actors are terrific in their roles. You would swear Carlos Bardem is Mexican! Although, as he said joking after the film, it was not too difficult as I’ve got sort of Mexican looks. But his accent was perfect and that has nothing to do with looks!
Anyway, La Zona is a worth watching film, and instead of telling you anything else about it, what I have done this time is subtitle the clips I recorded of some of the questions they were asked by the audience after the screening at the festival. I apologize for the quality, which is not that good (especially after the upload on YouTube) please bear with me. Don’t be surprised by my unsteady hand! Also, it was the first time I was adding subtitles to any clip, so don’t expect outstanding editing. Ahem.
- The residential area where the film was shot, was it a real location? Was it really the way it is shown in the film?
- Who is the film aimed at? The police in Mexico, are they really as corrupt as we are told?
- Is the situation in Mexico that bad really? What’s the purpose of the film?
- How did the Spanish actors Maribel Verdú and Carlos Bardem take part in the project?
There are three more clips about some characters but since they gave too much away about the end, I decided not to include them on the post but you’ll find them on YouTube if you are interested.
Hope it reaches the markets outside Mexico and Spain and you can see it.
Tags: Latin America, Spanish, Video
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Monica, another great post!
I can’t believe that you took the trouble to sub-title the video, and did such a terrific job!
I loved Maribel’s comments on police corruption in Mexico. She is right, it is one of the most magical countries in the world, but the police are to be feared. I always thought it was just Americans and Mexicans they harassed before watching this.
I am so excited about the realist cinema coming out of Mexico right now, while the rest of the world seems to be in the doldrums right now, Canada and Mexico seem to be coming out with some amazing films this year…
Monica , you’ve got to see ‘Mejor es Que Gabriela No Se Muera’,'Partes Usada’ and ‘Cyrano Fernandez’…three great films coming out of Mexico and Venezuela respectively….
t!
I can
Damn!
I can’t view the clips at the moment Monica, but they sound very interesting.
Did you manage to see all the films you wanted to at the film festival???
Do these clips contain spoilers???????
The clips are pretty exciting… off to google when this one is releasing in LA…!!! Thanks for the great tip Monica!
Steve,
No, these clips don’t contain spoilers. They are mainly about the making of the film and the situation in Mexico.
It is impossible to see all the films you would like to, but I guess I can’t complain, really.
oz,
You’re welcome. Good luck with the search. Hope you get to see it!
I watched this film at the London Film Festival here. Great film.Some other films that caught my eye at 51st LFF are as follows.
1)4 Months, 3 weeks and 2 days
2)California Dreaming
3)The Mourning Forest
4)El Otro
5)Frozen
6)Secret Sunshine
7)Ploy
8)Four Women
9)Persopolis
10)The Dining bell and the butterfly
11)Band
venkat,
I have only seen “The mourning forest”, “Persepolis” and “The band’s visit” from your list.
I agree about “Persepolis” and “The band’s visit”, but man, “The mourning forest” depressed me and bored me to death. :(
Thanks for posting those videos. The film will be released in Mexico on February, we’re very anxious to see it. Even though I don’t live in Mexico, once it gets there I might be able to catch it at the border usa/mexico border.
Mexican critics here have raved the film, since it premiered here at the Morelia Film Festival. Rodrigo Pla according to Guillermo del Toro is THE new talented mexican director to look out for. His second proyect “Desierto Adentro” is almost finished, and it has a trailer on youtube as well.
Hugs!
Carlos Reyes
Hey, Carlos!
I had no idea the film had not been released in Mexico yet.
Thanks for the info regarding “Desierto Adentro”!
Hey this comments qre full of shit. i finally watch the movie and it sucks, like this blog. hugs
Excue me, where can i find the subtitle for La Zona?
Ouch! It seems that I have to write the subtitles my self… since my husband doesn’t speak spanish.
It sucks though.. if anybody knows where can I get the english subtitles from that movie I will really appreciate it.
by the way…. here’s the dates.
Country/Date
Italy 3 September 2007 (Venice Film Festival)
Canada 9 September 2007 (Toronto Film Festival)
Mexico 12 October 2007 (Morelia Film Festival)
Spain 9 November 2007
Sweden 20 November 2007 (Stockholm International Film Festival)
Mexico 14 March 2008
France 19 March 2008 (Villeurbanne Festival Reflets du cin
Cecile,
Sorry I can’t help… I have no idea…
for “La ZOna”English subtitles go to http://subscene.com/La-Zona/subtitles-71711.aspx
Compr'© el DVD de esta pel'cula en el website de MIXUP despu'©s de leer comentarios en el Sunday Times de Londres. Es magn'fica – es un comentario escalofriante sobre la clase media pr'³spera en M'©xico y de la corrupci'³n de las fuerzas de orden, no solo la policia pero tambi'©n los fiscales.
I bought the DVD of this film through the website of MIXUP(Mexican store) after having read favourable comments in the London Sunday Times. It is magnificent – a frightening comment on the prosperous middle class in Mexico and of the corruption of forces of order, not just the police but also the prosecutors(district attorneys or prosecution services).