MovieChat Forums > Miss Bala (2011) Discussion > Shocking

Shocking

posted 12 years ago by mariamooon
11 replies | jump to latest

I live in a state that borders the US. I've seen the presence of the federal police roaming the streets, with dark face-masks and large rifles, checkpoints controlled by the army, daily news of shootings here and there... When I left the movie theater last night, I was literally shaking. Everyone else was very quiet when the credits started rolling and exited as fast as they could.

This movie is raw. You really feel sorry for this girl, who gets herself involved in this nightmare. I think, as a northern Mexican audience, it struck close to home. It was a nightmarish tale, that happens to be very real. As soon as we get home, we'll turn our TV's on and watch the news and hear about violence, drugs. It is a very real, and it's almost a slap on the face. It shows EVERYONE being involved, even high officials. So, it's truly a grim reality.

The thing is, the end is quite uplifting, abrupt, but yet uplifting. I won't spoil it, but I must say this movie isn't for everyone. Or maybe it not for people who will feel reality becoming too real.

[–] bad_touch_granny 12 years ago

Thanks for the review.

I look forward to seeing this.

[–] mikeyflatley 12 years ago

i woke up and da usher told me da theater is closin soon

I live, I love, I slay, and I'm content

[–] Shadow1517 12 years ago

Just curious, how do you feel it is uplifting? I have a similar feeling but I am intrigued as to what makes you feel that way. Other people found the ending as depressing as possible (probably thinking that even worse things were yet to happen to the poor woman.)

[–] TermlnatriX 12 years ago

If you think that her somehow walking into the sunset is uplifting - then you're deluding yourself.

It is not uplifting at all. It's quite ambiguous but it is more aimed towards a much more grittier side

"Mickey, he y'kn-- he takes a punishment.........I dunno why he does it"

[–] chillyacademic 12 years ago

Just watched it, a very hopeless meandering kind or movie. Maybe it resonates more with Mexicans but I couldn't get into it. The first third or so was good when she gets kidnapped and forced to do stuff but then it just gets consistently grim, some of my attention was lost.
__________________________________________

"So fair, yet so cold"

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] marius_ptm19 12 years ago

Yes, the movie was indeed shocking but it's better be this way so people all around the world can wake up and think about what's happening in other parts of the world.
I loved the movie just because it was simple and cut to the chase and it portrayed some things that we should realise they are really happening in real life.
In conclusion I really enjoyed the movie!

[–] imrama2002 12 years ago

Personally I didn't find this movie disturbing, because when you've heard about a drug cartel throwing the severed heads of their rivals on to a nightclub floor, your threshold for being shocked has kinda been reached.

To be honest I think many people, well specifically those in Europe, are aware of what's going on in northern Mexico.
If 50, 000 people had been killed in an EU state over the last six years, you can bet we'd care! Governments would probably have fallen because of the violence.

[–] Pequod88 12 years ago

I thought the film was quite successful within the limited scope. We are placed in the clutches of the drug violence, along with Miss Bala. There was a powerful immediacy and frustrating sense of helplessness. While character development and subtleties of dialogue were sacrificed, there is much to admire.

The very talented writer, Charles Bowden, touches on the disturbing tale of Miss Sinaloa in his gripping book, Murder City: Ciudad Juarez and the Global Economy's New Killing Fields. He takes us where we fear to travel and shows us things we'd rather not see. These are the traits of the dedicated artist.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Stirchley 10 years ago

as a northern Mexican audience, it struck close to home

From a woman's POV, the scary part of the movie is that this can happen to a young girl anywhere in the world. It really doesn't have that much to do with Mexico. It could happen to any young illegal immigrant in America, it could happen to any young girl as an illegal immigrant in Europe. Women all over Asia are exploited by similar cartels. New York City (just to name one city) is also a very dangerous place for the young and vulnerable.