Apr 19, 2018
Today’s movie is “Cartel Land” (2015), directed by Matthew Heinemen, a documentary about two vigilante groups ostensibly fighting back against the cartels. The documentary was shot on the front lines of the fight, sometimes in live fire situations, and with grim consequences. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary.
I have different thoughts about the two groups. Arizona Border Recon is a group of self-appointed border observers, who share a belief that the drug cartels are using the Arizona border for drug and human trafficking. I don’t have much sympathy for their cause, especially given some of the more racist and xenophobic individuals among them. I have no doubt that drugs are being smuggled across the border, but people seeking a better life aren’t really an example of human trafficking.
By contrast, I really admired the Groupo de Autodefensas Comunitaria, a community-formed vigilante force that armed themselves and took back cities from the cartels, and with good reason. Cartels really do control entire regions of Mexico, sometimes fighting against the government, sometimes working the corruption within the government. Unfortunately, the force is eventually subsumed into the local police force, and we learn that infiltrators were among those subsumed, persisting the corruption.
So, where does that leave me with this film? I think with documentaries that the director needs to ultimately decide whether to do what’s best for the subject or what’s best for the film. And with the chaos of the subject material, Heineman does what’s best for the film, leaving us feeling hopeless in the end, despite the admirable efforts of the cause behind the Autodefensas. And that sucks, much like the situation, so I guess in a way, Heineman does what’s best for the subject as well, which is exposing the problem.
“Cartel Land” (2015) is not interested in solutions to the problem, but rather examines what others believe are the problems and their respective solutions, no matter how offensive. It makes for great film, but it also ultimately feels a little bit like disaster porn, and by extension, a form of exploiting the suffering of the people trapped in the middle of all these groups vying for control. Viewers interested in an engaging look at cartel control will be awed this film, but will probably leave depressed.
Rotten Tomatoes: 89% (CERTIFIED)
Metacritic: 76
One Movie Punch: 6.8/10
“Cartel Land” (2015) is rated R and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime and Netflix.