Cinematic representations of the Mexican Narco War

Abstract

This essay provides an overview of the eras of Mexican cinema followed by an analysis of 10 Spanish-language narco cinematic representations, an overview of the eras of American cinema followed by an analysis of 10 English language narco cinematic representations, and a conclusion that compares and contrasts the Mexican and US narco war cinematic experience. Due to divergent national trajectories – Mexico is engulfed in narco violence and corruption while the United States is not – more differences than similarities exist between these national cinematic genres. Dark spirituality themes are also increasingly evident in more recent narco war films.

Keywords::

• cartels
• cinema
• films
• Mexico
• narco cinema
• narcotics
• Santa Muerte
• Sinaloa Cartel

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

^1. Da Cruz has personally witnessed friends involved in narco trafficking in Rio de Janeiro's notorious favelas (Brazil's shantytowns) come to a tragic end pursuing their dreams of ‘getting rich quick’. Of all the friends that da Cruz grew up with in the Nova Holanda favela in Bonsucesso, Rio de Janeiro, only six are alive today. His friends who had been killed by either rival gangs or the military police, like Heli, simply got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time with some bad company.

^2. See Bowden, ‘The Sicario’.

^3. Adapted from Sullivan, Bunker, and Bunker, ‘Film Review: Narco Cultura – A Tale of Three Cities’.