A Virgem De Juarez

"The Virgin of Juarez", recently presented at the New York International Latino Film Festival dealing with kidnapped and murdered women in the Mexican town of Ciudad Juarez, does a terrible job of exploring the deeper issues behind the events and fails miserably in telling the victim's stories. The second half of this film degenerates into an unconvincing, and at times embarrassing Joan of Arc allegory that in the end belittles the subject matter.

Most frustratingly, the actors try their passionate best to present the gravity of the actual events that took place in Juarez, but are overwhelmed by the silly twists and turns that lead to a ridiculous gunfight between parties that in the end have no real involvement in the crimes the movie intends to talk about.

This movie represents a shameful lost opportunity.

I thought this was worth my time, a good effort that drew attention to a subject that has been all but ignored in the press. Obviously a work of fiction, none the less I thought it raised some interesting ideas about what might be behind the very real murders of over 500 women in Juarez.

Considering it's small budget the production values were good and the script decent, direction, photography, design, editing were of high standard for a low budget film. The plot moves along well, and kept me interested, certainly more so than many "big budget" films I've seen lately.

Whilst this film is not perfect, (show me one that is), I don't think it deserved some of the negative postings it received, particularly those that seem to be sour grapes from disgruntled crew members. It's a movie folks, not a documentary, and one that might bring some badly needed attention to the hundreds of murders still ongoing in Juarez.

Good effort, worth seeing.

I also don't think the real truth about what is happening in Juarez was told and the part of the girl going to l.a. was ridiculous. would not recommend, they should make a real movie about it, but then again they would run the risk of getting killed. My mother lives in El Paso and she doesn't like to go to Juarez because just last week 2 people got killed at a grocery store. It's getting out of hand. I think the drug lords are the ones scaring everyone from Juarez so they can take over the border city. As I was watching the movie I thought that one of those girls could of been me, just because I used to party over in Jurez from Thursday through Sunday. Thank god nothing happened, that was about 13 years ago. I really hope they fix everything down there, it's a wonderful place to visit and party, I mean was.

I grew up on the Texas/Mexican border a little further south of El Paso/Juarez and what is happening there and Nuevo Laredo is nothing short of tragic. Anyone who thinks this film brings light on this horrible situation must be on drugs. If you are ignorant to what is going on at our borders, this film will only confuse you into believing that this much death could not possibly be true. I watched this film and could look past the "After School Special" directing approach Kevin adopted. I could even look past terrible casting & bad acting but as a Latino growing up in that area, I couldn't help but being offended with the stereotypical way we are portrayed. Growing up as a gang banger in LA with a gang banger lifestyle could not be further than the way I grew up. I guess that is the only way you can portray 1st generation Latinos in this industry and make money. I am not saying those things don't exist but that is not the only way Latinos live in this country. DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM!!! Please read about what is really happening on our borders and how the drug lords have taken over in these areas and educate yourself about the people who are dying everyday. The producers of this film obviously didn't have enough respect for these poor dead women to take this subject seriously.

IMO, the film is deserving of a middle of the scale rating for being good in some ways, such as some of the acting, but losing focus on the central story. That's why I gave it 5 stars.

To judge by the reviews, some reviewers either had a bad experience working on the film and are leaving 1 star reviews out of anger. They might not have even seen the finished film. Others who want to support the film by leaving a 10 star review might also include people who haven't seen the film as in the case of one 10 star reviewer who said that the film is about "human trafficking of women" when the film is about murders of women.

You'll have to watch at least some of the film and decide for yourself.