La Civil

Teodora Ana Mihai

When the police do nothing to investigate the kidnapping of her daughter by a Mexican drug cartel, Cielo starts her own investigation. Teaming up with lieutenant Lamarque, a loose cannon, she gets drawn into a cycle of violence from which it’s difficult to escape. Based on a true story.

Cielo is driving through town, worried about her teenage daughter Laura who didn’t return home the night before. A smug young man approaches her, asking through her car window: ‘Are you Laura’s mother?’ He informs her that if she wants to see Laura again, she should pay a large ransom.

When the cynical authorities are unwilling to help, Cielo (played by a fantastic Arcelia Ramirez) starts her own investigation. She follows cartel cars and stakes out locations where members meet. Then she meets Lamarque, an army lieutenant willing to bend the rules. They strike a deal: Cielo will provide him with information, and he will concentrate on finding Laura. But as Cielo witnesses Lamarque’s brutal and violent methods, she gets more and more complicit.

Credits

Director
Teodora Ana Mihai
Producer
Hans Everaert
Year
2021
Country of production
Belgium, Romania, Mexico
Type
Fiction
Duration
140 minutes
Spoken language
Spanish
Subtitles
EN
Production company
Les Films du Fleuve
World Sales
Urban Distribution International
Dutch distributor
Cinéart