Documentary: Cartel Land
Directed by Matthew Heineman
Directed by Matthew Heineman
The documentary I chose to watch was Cartel Land that came out in 2015. It is about an on going Mexican drug war that has caused a lot of violence within the country. This led to the forming of the auto defensas organization that tried to protect the people from the cartels harming the innocent people of Mexico. The auto defensas ended up losing their main leader, Jose Mireles, and started to lose their beliefs while contributing to the on going crimes. They ended up joining the government and formed a cartel within.1. I was completely shocked after watching Cartel Land. The scene that got to me was when the auto defensas started to go against everything they believed in. One of the members was explaining how he was excited on trying out his new device that he got, a taser, it would make his victim weak and unable to fight against him he mentioned. Immediately after he explained his intentions with the weapon a scene of a group of guys from the auto defensas made an innocent man give up his vehicle so they can use it to look for cartel members.Once they found the cartel members that they were looking for that reside in the town they break into the house and take them in. In the process they are stealing everything in sight.
2. What surprised me was when the auto defensas became apart of the government. The government the whole time was trying to stop the organization since they viewed them as being violent but then they offered them a deal to join them. When they did join them they were basically a cartel within the government.
They even admitted to being a corrupt organization that does what they need to do if it benefits them. The whole time they were the ones making the meth to sell in the country. They end up using the money that they make to buy more weapons. The government doesn’t really care about their people all they care about is the image that they display to others.
3. After watching this film I am just curious to see if this situation will ever be resolved. What stayed with me was the fact that this is an actual issue that is happening in the world. It was like a reminder to be grateful of where I am because there are terrible situations that other people have to go through.
It may seem like a problem that is not that big of a deal since it doesn't disrupt your daily lives but it's sad hearing these types of stories from people that I actually know about their family members that live in Mexico. They all vary from being kidnapped for ransom money to hearing about towns forced to evacuate or they will all get killed. I personally haven't even been able to go to the parts of Mexico that my parents are from because of how dangerous it is over there. My parent have not been able to visit their hometowns for years because of how bad it's been until recently.
4. There are many problematic concepts in this film that I would look for more information on. For example, the cartel is the main cause of all of these situations. I would try to see their recent activities and what locations they are in. I would look into the auto defensas to try and find more information of the places that they all came from. The corruption of the government themselves since there is a lot going on. They just try to cover everything up but they have a reputation of making their own laws repeatedly.
I would also look into the violent acts that happen across Mexico and try to see what actually caused it the cartel or the government cartel. Looking into the drugs that are being distributed would be a concern as well.
I agree with how surprising it is that the auto defensas, a group that seems to be there to protect citizens from cartels, actually ends up causing harm just by themselves. I also wonder how this can be resolved, especially since the auto defensas are part of the Mexican Government, making it even harder to fix the problem. I read recently that Mexican drug lord, El Chapo was extradited to the United States, but while I do not see much happening as a result of this, I hope that there is a small effect. It would be interesting to find a reason people join a cartel, as if that problem could be fixed, that might provide some relief for innocent citizens. Cartel Land seems like a very interesting, but also angering film, with the distinction between good and bad guy being small.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you, it is sad to know that the people who were supposed to do good, ended up joining the rest of the corrupt government. As Arely mentioned, it may not physically affect us here in the United States, but it is something to keep in mind because there are friends and/or family members we may know that probably are going through this situation. Another thing to think about is the danger it may soon cause if the Cartel keeps expanding because there have been "rumors" that they are starting to make their way to the United States. It's hard too understand that Mexico's own government can betray its' people for their own well being (security, power and money). I think Arely's blog post made a clear connection and I could really relate to her thoughts and beliefs.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this I was actually getting quite infuriated with how the auto defensas became corrupt and used their power for their own advatage and not for the sake of the innocent, vulnerable people. This also makes me realize how shut in I am from world affairs and what is occuring that is not right in front of my face. So knowing this now, I am extremely worried for Mexico and what the outcome will be, if there ever will be, and hope that something will change for the better. And I will try to educate myself in other countries and what is happening in them. This was a wonderful reflection and I am so sorry you or your parents are not able to visit your guy's homeland.
ReplyDeleteI actually watched this film as well and there were some similarities between our reflections. I feel the same way as you regarding how surprising it was that the Autodefensas gave in to the government. It made think of the horrible situation Mexico is in right now. And it made me feel bad thinking about all the innocent people who stuck in the middle of all of this. All I wish is that there be a solution to all this drug trafficking and all this violence. You did a really good job in this reflection and I hope you can take some time to read mine as well.
ReplyDeleteHello Arely,
ReplyDeleteI also watched this documentary. There is a lot a person can take from this film. What I took from it was that one man can start a movement. Mireles in my eyes is a man that will be a part of history because he was the first person to speak out against organized crime in Mexico. Yes the situation got worse over there, but if more people saw how Mireles started a movement like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I think if he would've died fighting for what he believed in, then more attention would have been brought to the situation, but he just fled like a coward.
Well written, Arely! This film really got to me. I am dying to know how and where and in what condition we might find Dr. Mireles! Let's see what we can find!
ReplyDelete