A Documentary Unlike Anything You've Seen Before

By Sean Gallagher, JBFC Lead Content Producer

The Global Watch documentary series has always been about sharing “the stories behind the headlines” and there is no finer example of that than Cartel Land, a raw and compelling new documentary about the ongoing Mexican drug war. The film premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival where its director, Matthew Heineman, won the Best Director Award and Special Jury Award for Cinematography.

In my opinion, Cartel Land is the strongest documentary released this year. It challenged me as a viewer to formulate my own opinions while understanding the intricacy of the drug war in Mexico. I can only compliment a handful of documentaries that have fully immersed me in the situation and this storytelling left me forgetting that this was reality. I highly recommend that if you have a chance to see this film, you should take it.

The JBFC is showing Cartel Land on Wednesday, November 18 followed by a Q&A with Matthew Heineman. This is such an important opportunity for our audience to meet a filmmaker who literally dodged bullets and risked his life to tell the story. The reward of that risk is “scenes…unlike anything you’ve seen.” (Tom Huddelston, Time Out) and a “jaw-droppingly intense [film]” (David Edwards, Daily Mirror).

Cartel Land focuses on the battle between drug cartels and vigilante groups. The main subject, Dr. José Mireles, is the leader of a vigilante group known as the Autodefensas in Michoacán, Mexico. They have tremendous public support in their attempt to eradicate the power of drug cartels in the area, but Mireles also faces the inner turmoil of the group as they become involved in the same corruption they are trying to fight against.

Across the border, the film also puts a spotlight on the Arizona Border Recon, led by Tim “Nailer” Foley. This militia group dedicates their time to patrolling the border in an attempt to stop smugglers. Ironically, most of those crossing the border are trying to flee the violence of the drug war in Mexico, not spread it across the United States. While their story might not seem significant when compared to the violence in Michoacán, this storyline is relevant now more than ever as border patrol and immigration become major talking points of our presidential election.

By weaving the violent reality of the Autodefensas with the military fantasies of the Arizona Border Recon, the film leaves room for the audience to draw their own opinions. There is an unfortunate realization in this film that there is no hero. When we think we’ve found our protagonists, we are inevitably let down by their flaws. This is so important, though, in recognizing how cartel culture continues to exist and flourish.

The film is a surreal experience–it’s cinematography so beautiful that at times, you forget you are watching real life. That feeling has a lasting effect when you come back to the realization that this is real life, and it is happening even as you sit in the theater and watch it unfold on screen. 

Cartel Land is a must-see documentary and it’s showing ONE NIGHT ONLY on Wednesday, November 18 at 7:30 pm followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Matthew Heineman. Tickets are on sale now! 

Go behind the scenes of Cartel Land with filmmaker Matthew Heineman.