AT THE READY
Director Maisie Crow’s terrific and pertinent documentary takes viewers to Horizon High School in El Paso, Texas where there’s a group of seniors who are a part of a criminal justice club where they’re trained to do drug busts, combat active shooters, and block illegal immigration. There’s even competitions for this stuff. And the hope is after these kids (predominantly Mexican Americans) graduate, they’ll be able to be a Border Patrol agent or a police officer and help their community. At least that’s the plan. Once real world issues come pushing through, it can certainly change one’s career path in a profound way.
We watch with fascination and empathy as a few of the selected students from the group start to open up about their lives at home and what awaits them after high school. To be so young, it’s inspiring to witness them tell their stories with so much strength and courage. It’s absolutely absorbing and applaudable.
Exhibited with apprehension and sensitivity, Crowe lets opinions be shared with no judgement. That goes for not only the ones being taught but those doing the teaching (retired police officers) who are encouraging them to go into a field that’s maybe morally problematic for some and undeniably dangerous for all; yet, it’s a sacrifice they too have made at one point when they were young. Overall, there’s nothing that’s not complicated or totally thought-provoking about this stellar story of discovering who you are and what you choose to stand for.
A STATE OF MADNESS
Writer-producer-director Leticia Tonos has a keen eye for details in her latest that’s set in early 1950s Dominican Republic, a time when its ruler was a brute dictator named Leonidas Trujillo. His name has a presence but never feels relevant enough in this faulty drama about the treatment of mentally ill patients inside the Nigua Psychiatric Hospital. It’s a magnet for bad press, so Dr. Antonio Zaglul (Luis José Germán) is brought in as its new director to clean up the place as well as its image. He brings with him modern ideas and techniques that are humane, proving the best way to gain control is to see those who are suffering as human beings instead of animals to abuse.
This is inarguably a story worth sharing, though is way less effective due to Tonos and her co-writers’ overall mishandling of the material. For starters, the depictions of the characters are rather limited and stereotypical. And as a critical examination of how a country preys on its most susceptible, it comes off pretty weak. When there’s so much going on outside that would benefit this true tale of a dark historical past – choosing to contain the world we see within the walls of a mental institution seems like a mistake when it’s all said and done.
ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL 2021 RECAPS
- Part 1: Together Together, The Letter, and We’re All Going to the World’s Fair
- Part 2: El Father Plays Himself and See You Then
- Part 3: African Violet and Knock Knock
Also, check out the latest episode of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast, on which we talk about the festival as a whole:
Listen to “Ep. 74: The 2021 Atlanta Film Festival” on Spreaker.Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
Check out the SoBros Shop. Become a Patron. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Watch on YouTube.
