Narco Cultura

A perfectly horrifying swinging between crime, murders, reality of narco cartels and ironic, yet shocking view of the growing culture of acknowledging criminal as pop culture.

I felt sorry for the cop. But all the dead bodies and the suffering of their relatives became too much. And the film would have been stronger without the Corridos angle.

A beautifully shot and poignant documentary contrasting two sides of the drug war happening in Mexico. It follows a jaded Juarez police sergeant who is reluctant to discuss many of the hot topics (things like corruption) and a depraved musician who idolizes the cartels. The juxtaposition provides a new look into the culture of the narcotics industry and opened up an entirely new world I was unaware of. If it weren't for The Act of Killing, this would take the cake for documentary of the year.

A somewhat meandering shock-doc that has its moments, by which I particularly mean the conveyance of threat some of these police face (the unlicenced car, someone spotting a 'suspicious' car). And for what? Showing rather than probing, though they to a certain extent overlap, it leaves the viewer with big question mark as to what purpose a small crime team has under a corrupt top directing them while the causes of crime are not stopped, seemingly only attaining some twisted sisyphean reality.

Not that illuminating and a little repetitive, but it's still an interesting story about a weird cultural quirk of the drug war that people idolise gangsters

overly sentimental soundtrack is a major boner killer for me. i'd feel much more connected to the film if it hadn't been for a fair amount of indulgent violins. but, you know, good stuff. i guess.

Excellent doc, putting the incredibly brutal reality of the cartel drug culture next to those using that image for fame and money. That stark contrast, the unending cycle of violence and tragedy of it all leads to a soul-crushing but very powerful viewing experience. The cop's side most of all; seeing the results of gruesome murders every damn day, knowing your work will never lead to any actual arrest or positive change, running in place until you get killed... That's some spine-chilling shit.

Some of the best editing I've seen in a doc. Manages to really demonize the culture that idolizes the cartels by just putting them next ot actual life under the cartels.