Hijo de Sicario

There are moments of greatness in this so called movie, because is not a movie is a great documentary.

Wonderful actors so natural and lovely photography not without mention the excellent direction. This filming work is far beyond (almost all the time), of narco cliches even though it's a narco bloody culture story.

A portrait of a mexican youth in poverty condition. The destiny of millions. At least 50% of young people in Mexico faces the most horrible face of being a second, third or fourth citizen class and further more: a no class citizen.

I appreciate that every day the Mexican cinematography enthusiasts became in filmmakers, increasing their talent and show it to the world.

Watched this at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

"Sujo", while slow, is a good character study of a movie about a boy struggling in a society due to being born with a cruse that can't escape with strong direction, beautiful camerawork, and good performances from the entire cast. The narrative explores some interesting themes, characters, and ideas that felt genuine, dark, and a bit depressing and tense to observe. Including good sound designs, costumes, and atmospheres explored throughout the setting.

The performances from the cast members are good including the child performances as each cast helped to create the realistic, isolated feel and lonely of the characters situated in. Many of the characters are interesting but it does suffer from some weak developments that felt a bit hollow. I did wish the characters were a little more grounded and some of the pacing could improve. Including some of the dialogue as some of the dialogue feels a little too artificial at times.

Nevertheless, the filmmakers has proven that they have a good vision and there are some really strong moments throughout. It is flawed but it's still an ambitious story to tell.

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 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.

A revenge killing in a remote Mexican town leaves the already motherless young "Sujo" (Kevin Aguilar) an orphan. Luckily for him, his aunt "Neme" (Yadira Pérez) rescues him from the same vengeful fate and brings him up determined that he will resist the temptations of the town that might lead him to follow in his father's footsteps. That's no easy task as his close friends soon end up involved with the local cartel and so she sends the now teenage lad to find work in the vastness of their capital. Here he (now Juan Jesús Varela) begins to yearn for an education, and befriends the teacher "Susan" (Sandra Lorenzano) but the visit of his childhood friend "Jai" (Alexis Varela) reminds him that it's going to be very difficult to cut the ties with his past. This is really quite a touching depiction of a life born into a society that's tight, loyal and violent. Depart from the established order of things and life soon becomes worthless, existence perilous and it's an entire family that can become a target. The young Aguilar sets up the characterisation really quite effectively as an innocent young boy caught up in a maelstrom of events that leaves him rudderless and alone before morphing into the older character whom Varela continues to develop delicately into a young man whose goals, conviction and innate decency might just help him break from the cycle of hopelessness. Pérez also delivers strongly playing on a combination of the practical and the mystical as she strives to keep the lad, and his friends, on a different track - despite the obvious temptations of the bright lights and the money they bring. His late father had a car. A fancy one, at that, and when the young man learns to drive it it might offer him a route out or a route in...? It's a slowly paced affair, this, but essentially it's about choices and brave ones at that. The status quo brings acceptance, brutality and normalcy; a new life requires unsettling changes and risks almost as great. There are no easy wins for this young man.