Miss Bala

MISS BALA is a strong film from Mexico (apparently based on a true account of the unending drug war focused in Tijuana produced by actors Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna and James Russo who has a role in the film as a corrupt DEA agent) - a film that is unafraid to uncover the ruthless activities by the drug cartels, the Mexican police, and the US DEA agents in the endless battle against drug trafficking. It hits like a punch in the stomach and remains in the memory long after the credits have rolled.

Laura Guerrero (Stephanie Sigman) dreams of being a beauty queen in the Miss Baja California Beauty Pageant, a position that will raise her out of her meager existence as a dress maker in the outskirts of Tijuana where she lives with her little brother and father. She and her best friend Zuzu work their way into the line of women vying for the contest title. After winning entry into the pageant Laura reluctantly agrees to go to a sleazy nightclub with Zuzu. In the club's toilets she witnesses the covert entry of an organized drugs cartel led by Lino Valdez (Noe Hernandez). Lino is finds Laura to be attractive and smart, and allows her to escape. However, when Laura reports her missing friend Zuzu to a corrupt Mexican police officer, she finds herself delivered back into the hands of Lino, and entangled ever deeper in a vicious drugs war. She is used as a mule to transport drug money across the border, returning to full fledged gang war. Lino uses her physically and then keeps his promise to have her crowned Miss Baja California, but the title and the events that follow lead to horrors and alienation Laura never dreamed possible.

Writers Mauricio Katz and writer/director Gerardo Naranjo push this expose of just how all consuming the drug traffic problem is at the border. It is terrifying and though Laura seems to be a helpless obeying victim throughout the tale, she represents just how futile it must be to attempt to stand against the atrocious crimes being committed. The power of the film is its willingness to show that both side of the war on drugs - gangs, police, DEA agents, and population - are at fault for allowing this outrage to continue. But business is business and the film hints at how hopeless the situation is. Stephanie Sigman emerges as an actress of importance and her part in this film will remain indelibly burned on the minds of the viewers. We should all see this film.

Grady Harp

I've been on a kick lately, on and off, of watching female action/revenge movies. So I happened on Miss Bala, the US movie not realizing that there was an earlier version. As I do, I tend to watch the original if I don't really know much about either. Thus, I found this version, the Mexican origional, and am glad I did.

For those who know about the drug trade in Mexico and some of the recent history, this movie no doubt drew inspiration from the arrest of Laura Zuniga (both in appearance and age). With that said, it is not the story Laura and is the story of the writers. And what a wonderful tale it is.

Without giving away much at all of the plot, we know that Laura Guerrero (Stephanie Sigman) is poor, but aspires to be a beauty queen. But unlike her friend, Azucena 'Suzu' Ramos (Lakshmi Picazo), Laura is more introverted. And the movie plays with that. Shots linger on her as she determines her wants, her needs, her next move. We feel the hesitations made while the next decision is processed and then decided upon, often not the right one. But what is the right one? In most cases, there is no better decision, just one that is less worse, but the less worse now could have longer, deeper implications. And we know she will be used as she is constantly surrounded by men of violence so no decision she makes could ever have a good result.

And my oh my how Sigman is able to use those moments. Gerardo Naranjo (the director) does a wonderful job of letting Sigman show the stress and trauma and PTSD as it effects somebody more introverted. It is lingering moments before she gets in a car, or before she changes her clothes, or while she is taking instructions. Naranjo also does a wonderful job of showing how somebody with those character traits does not need a backstory or justification, she just does what she thinks is best, being used in some way by everybody. But Naranjo also does a wonderful job of picking the shots, the framing, the color (or lack) of the shots. It is subtle, but so every present. But, as a slight spoiler, he does a wonderful job of not having her rapped as we expect she will be, early and often. Only this salacious temptation is not given into.

And the writing credit must also be recognized. Laura (Sigman), being introverted and traumatized, has a lack of words. Most of the narration is done by others talking to each other, or others giving her directions. And the story is clear, we know the characters without Laura telling us who they are. And we know the direction.

There is, of course, issues with the story. How could she be so naïve? Where did she get that passport? But while those issues are really important for deciding who wins at Canes, I felt it was not much of a detractor. And while I came into this movie expecting some kind of revenge or retribution (the memory of Laura Zuniga was triggered only after watching the ending), I was not disappointed. Yes, there is violence, but it is all around her, threatening her, punching holes in walls or seats or breaking windows, and never from her. It is as if she is the cause, just because she is there.

This movie is greatly recommended. There is quite a bit of violence, some slight nudity, and one non-graphic sex scene, so it is not for kids, or those under maybe 16/17. But if you don't like foreign films, or are not in the mood to read subtitles, just watch it so see Stephanie Sigman act.

8 out of 10

I'm an Englishman who has lived seven years in Mexico. I disagree completely with the previous review. I thought this was a remarkable film and scary in what, to me, appears to be a realistic, credible depiction of life in Tijuana. I thought the main actress was exceptional in the way she allows us to view the film through her eyes and shows her increasing trauma and dislocation as she is drawn more and more against her will into the dark world of organized crime, the police, the army and their overlaps. To me the film shows the terrible loss of innocence and the violence that is being perpetrated every day in Mexico against the Mexican people as exemplified and represented by the main character.

One of the most exciting young talents around, the Mexican director Gerardo Naranjo approaches the hot-button topic of drug violence through the perspective of an unlikely, unwitting heroine: a Tijuana beauty pageant contestant (Stephanie Sigman) who stumbles into the path of ruthless cartel operatives and corrupt officials. Although inspired by a true story, Miss Bala avoids docudrama clichés and tabloid sensationalism, and instead evokes the pervasive climate of fear and confusion that has enveloped daily life in some increasingly lawless pockets of northern Mexico. Using long takes and fluid, precise camera work, Naranjo fashions a highly original thriller: an anguished and harrowing mood piece with an undertow of bleakly absurdist humor and moments of heart-stopping action. A Fox International Productions release.

Beware of those viewers who really just want to see another Femme Nikita or something similar with non-stop unrealistic action led by a pretty babe.

Miss Bala isn't like that. (Dumb title though. Why not just keep Miss Baja? Are they afraid we gringos can't handle that name?) This film is about the way innocent Mexicans are caught up in the narco wars when they're just trying to live their own dreams.

In addition to the strong theme, the movie works because the story does more than carry thematic resonance -- there's suspense (which requires patience that the video-gaming generation may not be able to muster) and a very sympathetic central character. No, she's not always active, but she is reactive; she isn't just passively passing through this story. We care about her because she has a dream that has been sullied, because she cares about others (her friend Zuzu and her brother), and because, even after she's been abused, she's willing to take a risk at the end to prevent a murder.

Add all this to a well-shot movie with an unusual but effective mise-en-scenes in many of the beats and very scary bad guys, and, well, the sum of it all is a very strong movie.

By the way, there are no continuity lapses in the story and the finale makes sense -- but again, it's going to take some thinking. This movie is not an American action pic -- there's more thought behind it, and more thought needed to digest it.