La Zona

Rodrigo Plá
Spain–Mexico
2007

There should be a form of justice that protects us all without turning us into enemies, without forcing hatred and misery upon us.

97", 35mm
Color, Spanish

about the film

Teenager Alejandro lives in La Zona, an enclosed residential haven of wealth and privilege in the middle of Mexico DF, protected by private security guards, surrounded by shocking poverty. In the early hours of his birthday, three kids from the slums break into one of La Zona’s houses. In the bungled robbery that follows, an old woman is killed, but her housemaid escapes and warns security. The guards take swift, brutal action: two of the young intruders are shot dead. The third -Miguel- escapes and flees deeper into La Zona. An edgy social thriller, La Zona pits the misadventures of Miguel against the growing awareness of Alejandro. The film is a powerful study of class warfare between two Mexicos, mutually suspicious of each other, and it offers a timely warning of the dangers of segregation that will resonate with Turkish viewers.

about the director

Rodrigo Plá was born in Uruguay in 1968 and studied at the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica in Mexico City. He went on to direct short films including Novia Mía (1996) and El Ojo en la Nuca (2000). La Zona is his feature directing debut.

awards

2007 Toronto Film Festival: FIPRESCI Award
Venice Film Festival: Venice Luigi de Laurentiis Award

screenings

February 15 Friday, 7:30 PM AFM Budak Caddebostan

February 24 Sunday, 3:00 PM AFM Fitaş Beyoğlu 2

February 24 Sunday, 10:00 PM AFM İstinye Park

February 28 Thursday, 7:00 PM AFM CEPA Ankara 2

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