La Civil

Due to the themes and setting of this film, this is quite a gritty, hard hitting film. Not so much in terms of prolonged, graphic, bloody violence but, as I say, due to the themes/plot. It reminded me slightly of Man on Fire, being about abduction and set in Mexico. The mother character, Cielo, is very well played by Arcelia Ramirez and the camerawork used gives it a real documentary type feel.

Ramírez is truly excellent at conveying her character's sense of mental and emotional exhaustion as she searches relentlessly for her abducted daughter. Visually, Mihai makes some bold choices, unafraid to address the reality of the story through raw, tense and sometimes painful situations. The last shot is indelible in its ambiguity and nuance, a seemingly hopeful note in the face of a dire and hopeless situation. Definitely worth a watch.