The film I saw at the Human Rights Film Festival was "Reportero". I chose to see this film because of two main reasons: I knew it was filmed in Tijuana, and two, it dealt with drug war issues.
The film turned out to be longer than I expected. And at some point, I will admit, I dozed off for a bit (which was disappointing). It turned out that rather than being about drug issues, it was more about the Zeta newspaper-- including its history, production, and current workings. It was more about getting to know this newspaper than about issues in Tijuana themselves, although Manu of the issues that the Zeta has dealt with and endured are, of course. Big historical issues in Tijuana.
The film went into a somewhat chronological depiction of the beginnings of the Zeta, how it was founded, under what circumstances, and by whom.
It turns out (I didn't know this) that the founder was a guy named Blancornelas in 1980. He was in exile in the U.S. (under the PRI regime in Mexico) and from there, he began to publish the Zeta. His wife would take it to the border and then it would be distributed. To this day,which was a surprise to both my family and I (I informed them later, they read theZeta) the paper continues to be printed in California, as this assures freedom of voice and liberty to print whatever they want.
The most important aspects of the film, although of course the whole workings of the Zeta are pretty incredible, was the devotion the journalists have to their cause. So far, two people have been killed and another survived an attempted murder. The first was "El Gato" Felix, who was one of the "most humorous and honest journalist" Mexico ever saw, and the co-editor in chief of Zeta. He was shot by someone who worked in the office and for Jorge Hank Jr., son of prominent and wealthy Jorge Hank from Mexico City. His shooter is still in prison, but the intelligence has never been caught as the crime has never been investigated.
The second person, the survivor, was Blancornelas, who was miraculously not killed thoroughly, but nonetheless died five years later (2005) from cancer.
The last victim is Franco Ortiz, who was killed in the early 2000s.
It is not just these men but everyone who has devoted time to the writings of Zeta who have dedicated incredible passion and a huge part of of their lives in sacrifice for justice and the exposure of truth.
The film exposed many truths, and also many realities.
Overall, it was a good film and one that is important when attempting to learn more and get involved in drug wars, in Tijuana, and in the failures and impunity brought about by the systems.
It's films like these that I enjoy watching because I believe that issues in Tijuana, as with any other border country, are often times over looked and people get caught up in the mainstream, what the media has to say. Except, this documentary lifted many veils and demonstrated the resiliency of the citizens, as well as the real extent of violence: it isn't as bad as the media portrays it to be. It makes me really angry when I tell people that I'm from Tijuana, or that I will be traveling there, because often times their responses are: "and you won't get shot???!"
It certainly did leave Tijuana and some truths about Zeta exposed. Some stuff I already knew. But overall, I felt really proud for the work they have been doing. Yet saddened and disappointed with both the Mexican and U.S. Governments and their deep levels of corruption and impunity.
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