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La Zona (2007)

Director: Rodrigo Plá

Time Out rating

Average user rating

7 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Forget ‘broken Britain’; Mexico is in tatters. This slick, serious-minded tale of upper-crust vigilantes protecting their gated community at any cost is a nihilistic but thoughtful portrait of a country divided . Young director Rodrigo Plá has an eye for contrasts: his camera salivates over the posh houses of ‘The Zone’ before rising above barbed wire to reveal shanty towns beyond.

Three teenagers infiltrate this island, setting off a chain of events that see the residents voting to pursue one of the visitors, little Miguel (Alan Chávez), with no recourse to the authorities. When the police try to intervene, they fail; the system is in favour of the ‘The Zone’. Thankfully this turns out to be more than a chase movie with a conscience: Plá and writer Laura Santullo contrast the experience of Miguel with Alejandro (Daniel Tovar), a rich kid with a conflicted relationship with his background. ‘La Zona’ brandishes its allegorical badge subtly but effectively.

Author: Dave Calhoun

Time Out London Issue 1991, Oct 16 – 22, 2008

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User reviews of this film

Breezy said...

Posted on Nov 08 2011 01:12 This film is a little gem, and so believable. Watched this on BBC one, hope more people get to see this.

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Gee said...

Posted on Mar 16 2011 22:14 Excellent, questioning film. A real glimpse into the not so very distant dystopian future. Although probably true already in some gated communities.
Confirms strength of Mexican cinema.

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Pandora said...

Posted on Dec 18 2008 17:04 A really moving film with outstanding performances from Miguel (Alan Chávez) and Aléjandro (Daniel Tovar)
It makes one realise the consequences of vigilante rule. (not that we didn't know this before) It also highlights the inbalance in todays society, with the "haves" and "have nots". Superb and one not to be missed in my opinion.

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Caroline said...

Posted on Oct 27 2008 10:22 Rush to see this! Suspenseful thriller with outstanding performances – highly recommended. The story escalates into a brutal tale of corruption as the residents of a middle class estate (la zona) decide to take the law into their own hands.

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David said...

Posted on Oct 19 2008 21:10 This is a very moving film that barely puts a foot wrong. It gets its message across without descending into cliche. Outstanding

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skender said...

Posted on Jun 04 2008 14:22 One of the best movies I have ever seen these years! Very coerent and careful to model our sick and "modern" way of behaving againts big social problems. It reveales a today's system which is uncapable to decide and believe in its decisions!

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paolo maranini said...

Posted on Apr 09 2008 17:10 Exceptional, the best film I have seen after Mungiu's "4 months.There is the ability to cendensate here everything: social unjustice, mob justice, a kernel of compassion hidden inside many, corruption, impotence to in intervene to straighteb things up. Good and gripping filmic language.

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