El Traspatio

VERY loosely based (and I can't emphasize this enough) on the case of Abdel Sharif, the film covers the topic of the high murder rate of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico exposed when mass-graves were found in the surrounding desert last decade. While Traspatio attempts to "personalize" the events through very believable character back-stories, it sadly turns into an ultra-feminist sounding-board/propaganda film with the essential message being: "men baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!" Yes, every single male character is unlikable in this movie; ranging from the simply incompetent to the dime-store evil villain. The movie is very graphic and violent...the rape scenes almost seem more gratuitous than shocking. I guess the only good thing I can say is the American version "Bordertown" with Jennifer Lopez was only slightly worse.

It's a fictionalized account of a long list of dead young women found in Juarez, Mexico during the 90s. They are all factory workers drawn to the new jobs. It's 1996. Police detective Blanca Bravo (Ana de la Reguera) is new and investigating the latest body found in the desert of Cuidad Juarez. The first documented case was 3 years ago and the police investigations have been incompetent. There is a lot of political and economical pressure to minimize the reality. The movie also follows Juanita who just arrived starting a new job at a factory. Bravo arrests a lowlife criminal and he calls businessman Mickey Santos (Jimmy Smits) for help. Santos is supposedly squeaky clean but he turns out to be a fellow sex offenders from El Paso. The governor is always pushing to put the case away.

I really like Ana de la Reguera. She's playing a smart cop in a world of compromises. She's carrying this movie on her shoulders. She adds another level by being a woman in a male dominated world. The setting is quite compelling. It's great to get the realistic locations. I do wish for better cinematography. However that's a small matter.

Produced in 2009, 'Backyard' (the original title in Spanish is 'El traspatio') - the film by Mexican director Carlos Carrera - is no easy watch. We could include it in the category of serial killers thrillers, if the amount of murders that are brought to the screen would not push the story into the horror category and if the fact that the script is inspired by real events would not suggest that it would rather be a docu-drama. It is shocking that what is reported in 'Backyard' - the murders accompanied by sexual assault and mutilation of hundreds of young women in the city of Juarez on the border between Mexico and the United States - are events that happened in reality, and in the following decade we heard repeatedly about many more cases of violence of this kind and other crimes that take place in this part of the world. It is obvious that the filmmakers used the popular cinematographic genres to draw attention to an extreme crisis situation and a phenomenon that urgently need radical solutions. However, the situation does not seem to have improved since then.

The main thread of thstory follows the investigation led by police officer Blanca Bravo (Ana de la Reguera), sent to Juarez to investigate a series of homicides and sexual assaults that take incredible proportions. Ciudad Juarez is not only geographically close to the American city of El Paso, but it is also the landfill and the cheap entertainment place of the American metropolis. They are separated not only by a border but also by an economic and social chasm. Corruption reigns in the police, politicians and industrialists who use cheap labor for various industries, including Japanese-branded cars. Most factories employ young women from all over Mexico (probably even lower paid) and they are the ones who are at risk of becoming victims of crime. The secondary story - which takes place in parallel - follows path of such a girl - Juana Sanchez Asur Zagada) - who came from a remote village to earn a living.

'Backyard' is well made and the only thing I would be critic about is the fact that it follows the rules of action movies too rigorously. Blanca is one of those characters who belongs to the category of the incorruptible and the fearless and the interpretation of Ana de la Reguera makes the role credible. Asur Zagada is also excellent in the role of the young Juana and so is Carolina Politi in a memorable supporting role. It is a feminist film and Carlos Carrera's directorial treatment helps us sympathise with the characters. The shocking scene that opens the film and the ending that puts the events in the historical context are strong and in fact there that the directors probably intended to express the message of the film. What happens between the opening and the end is a quality horror thriller, but a bit long and a bit predictable one. I do recommend 'Backyard' for the quality of the production and the importance of the message.

Backyard is a fictionalised version of events that actually occurred in a small Mexican/American border known as Ciudad Juarez.

The film covers similar ground to The Virgin Of Juarez and the better known Bordertown. In Backyard, though, Director Carlos Carrrera attempts to take a grittier, more realistic approach to telling the story.

While it's hard to argue with Ana de la Reguera's performance, one can't help wondering if this film would have benefited from a heroine that didn't take makeup and modelling classes while attending police academy.

An important story told badly.

While this was played at the Fantasy Filmfest, it is anything but. It's more documentary than fiction. And there is no fantasy to be had here. Of course it is a very well known fact that crimes are committed around the world, so does this movie offer any new insight? Depending on how much you know on that matter, it might.

And it is mostly "educactional" rather than entertaining. Trying to open our eyes to a very shameful situation happening. The question is, how much do we care or are we able and willing to change what is happening? Is it the old: "What can I do from where I am at?" or the "There is worse things happening elsewhere".

Whatever is true, the movie is harsh and down and dirty and not something that can be considered an easy watch. It's as uncomfortable as to be confronted with things like the ones I have mentioned above. If you think this review is harsh, you may wanna stay away from this movie too