Movie No. 26 (2014): HELI

Heli (2013)
Director: Amat Escalante
Cast: Armando Espitia, Juan Eduardo Palacio, Linda Gonzales, Andrea Vergara
In Spanish, with English subtitles

The film centers on the family of Heli, a blue-collar worker in an automotive factory, as they live and dream in the midst of violence and criminality threatening to engulf their community somewhere in Mexico. One false move, where Heli's sister Estela, who's a minor, attempts to run away with her secret lover, a young and ambitious police intern, leads to tragedy. 

The film is not for the squeamish. The so-called "shock factor" ingredient of the movie is certainly not contrived; rather, it just strengthens the notion of unthinkable random evil that goes with criminality. Maybe, that's the reason Amat Escalante was awarded the Best Director prize in last year's Cannes Film Festival.

Rating: 3.5/4.0

Date seen: March 12, 2014

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