Sujo

This film is a very delicate portrait of a young man that was born in a very difficult reality: gang violence in Mexico. The boy becomes an orphan when his father, a murderer himself, is killed. He grows up under his shadow but taken care by many different characters that help him overcome many obstacles. Is he the master of his destiny? Or is he a servant of an impending fate?. A man is self made or is he just his past and context?. This film doesn't provide answers but raises a very powerful question that really resonates. Beautifully crafted, powerful performances and a mysterious namesake, Sujo. Must see. Watched at 2024 HKIFF.

"SUJO" is a masterful blend of compelling storytelling and mesmerizing visuals. The film's brisk pace keeps the audience engaged, while the stunning cinematography by Ximena Amann paints a vivid and atmospheric backdrop. Each frame is a work of art, capturing the essence of Sujo's world with remarkable detail and authenticity.

Juan Jesús Varela delivers a tour-de-force performance as Sujo, bringing depth and nuance to a complex and emotionally wrought character. Varela's performance captures the full range of Sujo's emotions, from the innocence of his childhood to the hardened resolve of his adulthood.

More than a gripping family tragedy, "SUJO" is a powerful indictment of violence and its devastating impact on society. The film unflinchingly confronts the brutal realities of life in a world ruled by cartels, offering a glimpse into the human cost of violence.

"SUJO" is a cinematic triumph that deserves to be seen by a wide audience. The film's powerful message, stunning visuals, and exceptional performances make it an unforgettable and thought-provoking experience.

Of course this is an authentic social drama, but not really crime though, because you won't find here any action and bloody sequences. It is only a psychological and social study of a young boy whose father was a sicario, a hired killer for the Mexican cartels. This movie is not SICARIO, I repeat, nor the adaptation of a Don Winslow's novel. This is not destined to wide audiences, and only selected folks can appreciate such a little gem. I would have prefered another kind of ending. But that remains a beautiful film, splendidly done. I will never see this film again, but don't misunderstand the content of my review. It is worth the discovery. It deserves to be seen. Not a movie produced to make the gross, and that's the most important.

I got the opportunity to watch Sujo online at Sundance. It's by far the best one I saw throughout the fest! A shame I couldn't catch tickets earlier.

It tells the story of a boy, Sujo growing up in the Mexican countryside. His father is killed, he is a member of a cartel and Sujo manages to survive and grows up with his aunt Nemesia. There in the isolation he builds up his moral character and a fear of becoming his father. As he gets into adolescence the cartels catch up with him and his two best friends so he flees to the city in search of a different life.

No cheap thrills here, pure cinema at its best. In its core it is a Bildungsroman, a character study that let us see the consequences of the drug wars in the new generations. Dickensian in the mix of tools they used to achieve closeness with Sujo.

Stunning actors, stunning cinematography and score.

A coming of age masterpiece!

Sujo is a powerful film. I watched at Sofia Film Festival and i got very moved by this story. Children in this world are subjected to terrible acts of violence and this story at some point seemed that it was going to be a no way out type of story. It ended being a masterfully told tale about a boy turning into a good man. I really didn't expect the outcome and how all characters are interwoven into a delicate fabric of life and destiny and hope.

We all deserve to have a good future and Sujo is a testament of that.

Only thing that I didn't like was missing the Q&A at the festival. Cheers to the creators of such a special story. Hope it will have more awards and recognition.