La zona (2007)

Residents of an enclosed neighborhood in the middle of Mexico DF are shocked by a violent crime, and for one resident in particular, young Alejandro, the drama is ratcheted up when he encounters the lone kid who escaped the event and is hiding out within the neighborhood's borders.

Director:

Rodrigo Plá

Writers:

Laura Santullo, Laura Santullo (story)

Stars:

Daniel Giménez Cacho, Daniel Tovar, Alan Chávez

18 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Giménez Cacho	...	Daniel
Daniel Tovar	...	Alejandro
Alan Chávez	...	Miguel
Carlos Bardem	...	Gerardo
Mario Zaragoza	...	Comandante Rigoberto
Marina de Tavira	...	Andrea
Maribel Verdú	...	Mariana
Fernando Becerril	...	De La Garza
Andrés Montiel	...	Diego
Claudio Obregón	...	Ricardo
Blanca Guerra	...	Lucía
Mayra Serbulo	...	Ernestina (as Mayra Sérbulo)
Asur Zagada	...	Carolina
Germán Valdés III	...	Eddie (as Germán Váldez)
Pablo Aron López	...	Mauricio (as Pablo Arón López)

Storyline

In Mexico City, a wealthy compound is surrounded by walls and surveillance system to protect the locals against the violence of the slums. During a stormy night, a billboard falls over the wall and three smalltime thieves cross the border through the breach to rob. They break into a house and kill an old lady; the residents organize militias to chase the delinquents. Two of them and one security guard are murdered by the vigilantes, but the sixteen year old Miguel hides in the basement of the teenager Alejandro. When Alejandro finds Miguel, he feeds and helps the boy, but it is impossible to escape from the Zone.

---

Plot Keywords:

wall | teenager | security guard | violence | hiding | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Memento Films [France]

Country:

Spain Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

9 November 2007 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Zona

Filming Locations:

Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Morena Films,Buenaventura,Fondo de Inversión y Estímulos al Cine (FIDECINE)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: Episode #5.41 (2008)

---

Soundtracks

Harto de la vida
Brokempo (Carlos Teles)
(p) EMI Music Publishing Spain, S.A.

User Reviews

Thrilling Narrative, Powerful Critique

OK. So I just saw La Zona @ SFIFF, and I must say... BRAVO!! Another big success for Mexican cinema, and well earned indeed. Rodrigo Pla's first feature delivers a harsh social and political critique about Mexican social classes and fundamental morality within a gripping and thrilling narrative.

As another Mexican film about social contrasts, I must say, it proves originality. La Zona (or The Zone) delves further into character development and the consequences of moral judgment. Pla's film remains interesting because it touches upon a broader universal theme: the human struggle to choose between right and wrong. With an engaging narrative, inventive setting and well developed character arcs, La Zona gets its point across, and makes us think…

This film delivers recurring themes in Mexican cinema but with a much fresher and more creative perspective, not to mention exciting…

Much 'props' to Villanueva's enthralling cinematography and to Zaragoza's performance as the chief of police…

8 out of 10. I really liked it.