Synopsis
Mexico, 2017; 74 min.
Everardo González, one of Latin America’s most important nonfiction filmmakers, tackles the painful consequences of Mexico’s drug wars on its people in this widely acclaimed international documentary. Winner of film festival prizes in Berlin, Guadalajara, and Seattle, Devil’s Freedom presents harrowing testimonials from killers, soldiers, police, mothers, fathers, and children—all of whom wear stretchy skull-like masks over their heads, with crudely cut out holes around their eyes, mouth and nose. The masks give the interviewees anonymity, allowing them to speak freely, and at times, even soak up their tears. But the coverings also give them a haunting surrealism (reminiscent of George Franju’s Eyes Without a Face), and in a broader way, suggest that both victims and perpetrators are alike—all connected by the trauma of a war that has claimed thousands of lives. “Deeply compelling” (Variety), “spellbinding” (Screen), and “artistically daring” (Cineaste), Devil’s Freedom is both stunning human-rights exposé and cinematic fever-dream.