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Film is Reality To Southwest border states

posted 9 years ago by roberta6469
8 replies | jump to latest

I appreciated the subject matter that this low-budget and true-to-life film. The cinematography was better than most big budgets as mentioned earlier. The budget did not call for big name actors, but for the actors with little to no acting--exhibited good performances with depth. I grew to understand and care about the protagonist and his family. Frustration in the apathy of the desecration of their land, lawlessness, lack of government support; though taxes are paid. This easily builds a catalyst for men who try to do what is right. This is evident in the beginning of the film, and later around one hour, 5 minutes.

Those that say the bad guys are "really bad" fail to remember the violence in this movie is muted compared to the real life torture and decapitations of hundred to thousands of men and women. This film is fictitious, but the sentiment and crimes are reality today. People that live along the border lands, are all too familiar with the dead bodies that are found, the rapes, and retaliation by drug cartels, or local drug gangs. If you want to see gruesome reality then Google this article: (Warning***): Warning Graphic: Cartel Execution Photos Highlight Violence Near Texas Border. Or Google Texas Monthly articles on border crime, or other border issues for a good overview this movie conveys

There is no easy answer. It's hard not to get political because neither side has an answer. IMO this film touched on the very core of a person protecting family, their land, their rights as a citizen, and decency to others....sadness of "another dead kid" on his property; and burning of that horrific bush, and all it represents. Those crimes and death are real. I felt this film gave us a little taste of that on a miser budget.

[–] xjnvno 9 years ago

I agree. I have lived in Texas only 10 miles north of the Mexican border since 1978 when I was a little kid and our "sector" according to the U.S. Border Patrol has the largest influx of people and drugs on the entire U.S. Border. We have Huey's, Blackhawk's, OH-6 recon and other types of medium-small Helos constantly buzzing overhead. Its a War down here. I see U.S. Army troops with M-16's and DEA, etc... armed to the teeth if you go within 5 miles of the border/Rio Grande River. Its always been a gateway for people crossing the border into the U.S. and a massive corridor for drugs into the U.S. and Canada, but in the last 10 years my Rio Grande Valley has become a war zone that the U.S. State Dept. marks more dangerous than Iraq or Afghanistan! In the nearby Mexican Border cities of Reynosa and Matamoros thousands of people have been killed in gun battles with the Mexican Army/Police and countless more have been kidnapped and murdered as a result of the moronic "War on Drugs". But I digress. Good post!

[–] trafficcowgirl 9 years ago

Yes, I have read articles about Reynosa and how a female doctor that was fighting, via social media, the cartels and crimes. She is now missing and they believe killed based on a message from her. This was in Texas Monthly. Another article on how border control and all the extra help has caused tension on the US side. I am Anglo, but my roots run deep in Spanish/Mexican Tejas to 1829. If this happened on the Canadian border along the Northeast this would be on the National News. Much like the gang killing in Waco yesterday.
I visited Matamoras, and it was a safe place then. I think this film captured the threat of violence and that you can die for trying to stand up for your land and family.

[–] cmcurrie2 8 years ago

The drugs and violence are because people in the US can't get enough drugs for their addled brains. Then they blame Mexicans for their drug problem. That's like getting angry at waiters for bringing the fattening food you ordered.

[–] richardr-1 8 years ago

You are so right. In every crime there is a "seller" and a "buyer". A supply and demand. Americans are the reason for the drug trade because they provide the demand. Those idiots who say drug using is a "victimless crime" are utterly clueless and criminally stupid. They are in denial, like a lot of Americans, about their own guilt for the drug war. The users have the blood of tens of thousands on their heads because it is their demand that creates this lawlessness. I have often wondered if a better way of ending the drug problem would be to forget the cartels and start executing drug users for their crime, on the spot. Users are easy to catch and basically cowards. If you're caught with drugs, you die, on the spot, no trial, no mercy. It would be a whole lot easier and would probably have more of an effect. It's a pipe dream. Americans would rather delude themselves that they are innocent. It's just a "disease" they say, we need more tax dollars to "help them."

[–] cmcurrie2 8 years ago

I'm laughing with you about your impossibly immoral but satisfying solution. Americans have become a bunch of dopes. Even in my field where we are expected to serve others, most cluelessly serve themselves. And then they howl about how unhappy they are, that everything is all so unfair, etc. etc. etc. Well try doing some REAL effort, and maybe y'all won't be so lost and miserable.

I agree, drugs are not victomless. Many children are being reared by drunk, drugged, or hyped-up parents who can't take care of themselves, much less a child. And interdiction and policing/jailing has done more harm than good.

My draconian fantasy solution is to poison a percent of all drugs, and make widespread announcements: 'Use and die!'

And my last rant: the genre of druggie movies that make heroes out of addicts, showing how they did all of that because they HURT. I just refuse to watch even a second of that type of movie.

Have a good new year. I wish this year's effort could be focused on non-artificial afflictions. Grump, grump, grump. :-)

[–] cmcurrie2 8 years ago

BTW, have you seen Frontera? They tried to show a conservative but humane view of the border/drug problem. I thought it was a good film, but my guess is that it didn't push the 'just-shoot-the-Mexicans'-types to be more balanced/humane.

[–] trafficcowgirl 7 years ago

Remember the gray area and know the most abused drugs are legal, #1 Hydrocodone.
We can save lives on both sides and give the cartels less power by legalizing marijuana. A recent poll found that 56% of Americans approve the legalizing marijuana. So the parent that is desperate for their child in Texas to not have seizures and gives their child pot brownies or THC liquid form should be shot along with their child? Or the mother of the son with Autism that was tired of seeing their the Parkinson-like hands shakes and dystonia from the ineffective anti-psychotic side effects? That parent was me an RN. I once thought marijuana was a gateway drug and was terrible. It is horrifying to know cartels kill for growing and transporting pot, but also to hear someone go to jail or prison for what is less lethal than alcohol. Do you think all those who are hooked on Norco/Vicodin/Lortab should be shot? Because that is hydrocodone and there are addicts from their teens to 90's walking around you in the grocery store, doctors office, and in churches.

[–] emncaity 8 years ago

Ah, I see you (and at least one other here) have the talking point down very well.

While it's obvious that demand is a problem -- and actually is the root of the problem -- it's not at all like "getting angry at waiters." Waiters are legally employed and bring you food that's not illegal. Also, presumably they don't kill other waiters and customers with some frequency, in the most brutal and flamboyant way possible. It's just a bloody stupid comparison.

So, then: These poor Mexican suppliers just can't help themselves if there's a demand here, right? So they have no moral obligation to anybody for anything themselves?

Yeah. Like "waiters." Sure.