Film

La Zona

Cert: 15

Description: In a wealthy suburb of Mexico, the residents of La Zona attempt to protect themselves from crime by transforming their estate into a fortress of high walls and CCTV cameras. However, violence still breaches La Zona's defences and the residents bear witness to a horrific attack perpetrated by three young men. Rather than involve the police, the locals turn vigilantes to track down the trio and dole out their own brand of justice. This radical course of action leads youngster Alejandro to come face-to-face with one of the perpetrators, who he must turn in to face the consequences of his heinous actions.

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Dir: Rodrigo Pla.

Cast: Daniel Jimenez Cacho, Maribel Verdu, Carlos Bardem, Daniel Tovar, Alan Chavez

Country: Sp/Mex.

Year: 2007.

Duration: 95mins

Money's influence in La Zona

Life on the streets: La Zona

By Derek Malcolm
16 Oct 2008

Rodrigo Pla�s drama is set in La Zona, a gated community in Mexico City. Decisions are made by the rich inhabitants, who are shocked when some youths manage to cross their threshold to do a bit of burgling.

The intended heist is bungled, a woman is accidentally killed and a resident shoots a security guard by mistake. Soon all but one of the burglars are dead too � and the police must not be informed of what happened. This leaves the one honest cop trying to find the truth and the remaining robber (Daniel Gimenez Cacho) unable to get out of La Zona.

This is a well-made realist study of what happens when society is divided between rich and poor. But it is also so schematic that some of its power drains away.