Mexico City (2000)

A woman's desperate search for her brother in the capital of Mexico.

Director:

Richard Shepard

Writers:

Richard Shepard, Jonathan Stern (story)

Stars:

Stacy Edwards, Jorge Robles, Johnny Zander

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stacy Edwards	...	Mitch Cobb
Jorge Robles	...	Pedro
Johnny Zander	...	Sam
Robert Patrick	...	Ambassador Mills
Roberto Sosa	...	Head Thug (as Roberto Sosa Martinez)
Antonio Zavala Kugler	...	Thin Faced Man
Geraldine Zinat	...	Hotel Desk Clerk
Carlos Sanz	...	Lieutenant Menedez
Rick Negron	...	Mexico City Policeman
Ramón Álvarez	...	Cantina Drunk
Dyllan Christopher	...	Max
Jorge Malpica	...	Doctor (as Jorge Romero Malpica)
Alejandro de la Peña	...	Toupee Man
Beto Villareal	...	Panama Hat Man
José Marrós	...	Priest

Storyline

After divorce and the death of her two children, Mitch is headed for Oaxaca with her brother Sam, a photographer. During their one-day layover in Mexico City, Sam goes out for a night on the town and doesn't return. Mitch goes for help to the American embassy and starts her own search with the aid of Pedro, a cabbie. She finds the cantina where Sam was drinking and stands up to a gang leader to learn some of what happened that night. He gives her Sam's camera, and the photos on the last roll of film become the object of a hunt by some very determined criminals. Can Mitch find Sam, learn what he saw that night, and stay safe? Whom can she trust?

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Plot Keywords:

mexico city | murder witness | man with glasses | kidnapping | murder | 

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Taglines:

A Desperate Chase In One Of The Deadliest Cities In The World!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Richard Shepard's Diary

Country:

Mexico USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

November 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Distrito federal

Filming Locations:

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Abandon Pictures, Curb Entertainment, Paddy Wagon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

User Reviews

Gritty and graphic

This film will never turn up as an in-flight feature on Mexicana Airlines. It shows the gritty, often ugly reality of Mexico City. Its tale of corruption and intrigue is nothing special. But the film captures the essence of Mexico City --- crowds, bustle, poverty, pollution, crime, machismo, antiquity and always, "la mordida" --- with compelling cinematography and a hauntingly effective Spanish guitar musical background. The camera angles are brilliant. The warm tones of the colour are perfect for the subject. There are many classic closeups of Mexican faces that alone make the film worthwhile. You almost smell the "pollo con aroz." And the amount of Spanish dialogue without subtitles underlines the frustratiions of the film's unilingual main character as she searches for her brother in an alien, puzzling and hostile environment. (Whatever did happen to him by the way?) The plot isn't new. Innocent American searches for missing ( )boyfriend ( )husband ( )wife ( )son ( )daughter ( )other in corrupt foreign capital with no help from double dealing US embassy. But this one is done superbly.