Circumstances in La Zona are severe--a wall separates the outside world from within, where money and safety are everything. Those on the inside choose and cling to the "special status" of living where they do. However, a dangerous situation starts things off rapidly between the two worlds, but the consequences are far more severe than the culprits or the audience may suspect.
A Violent Crime Gets Even Worse
It's important to note that there are very few innocent people in this story. From the beginning, the story gets moving when three teenagers manage to sneak over the wall. Not only do they plan to steal, one of them happens to have his boss' gun. While stealing from a wealthy resident, things go horribly wrong and the woman of the house ends up dead. When the alarm sounds and neighbors try to intervene, one accidentally kills their own night watchman in addition to two of the culprits. A cover-up and manhunt ensue for days; the people are bloodthirsty for justice, yet devout about protecting their own. They know the killer is still on the inside--cameras track every step of the street.
Engaging Tension and Compelling Characters
The thieves have friends and family on the outside--the surviving boy's girlfriend witnessed them going over the wall to begin with. The fleeing criminal, Miguel (Alan Chavez) finds refuge in a basement, where he is discovered by Alejandro (Daniel Tovar). Taking away chance and circumstance, the two clearly mirror each other in simple form--teenage boys with a wild streak--but their environments are everything. Harsh at first but rapidly empathetic, Alejandro goes out of his way to clear Miguel's name (stealing is one thing, but the crowd is out for the blood of a murderer). His results are mixed, to say the least. Something is working against them at every turn.
Community Violence, Mob Justice
A police officer striving to be on the right side of justice (despite a nasty temper) is continually outnumbered and outranked by corrupt officials. Alejandro's parents are intent on protecting him, but his father's history only leads to wrong choices. The one character in the town who tries to speak up for his wrong actions (accidentally shooting the guard) is cut off at every turn by the town council.
Private Justice, Bloody Results
It is a little tricky to follow the divide in the beginning--those on the inside, those on the outside, not to mention where the authorities fit in. Corruption is no small part of La Zona. The chase at the heart of the story becomes buried in a world of gray when people take matters into their own hands. True characters are revealed amidst fear and misplaced morals, raising incredible questions about justice and the way society functions. La Zona is an incredible film--the start may be slow, but the build and finale are more than worth it.
Margaret Burke - Margaret Burke currently resides in Boston, MA. She graduated from the University of North Texas in 2000 with a BA in Radio/TV/Film and a ...
