Cartel Land Review

The New York Times: Cartel Land Review 

     In this review, Manohla Dargis pays close attention to the idea of vigilante groups in the U.S. and Mexico that are working against the cartels in Mexico. In my reflection, I feel as if I focused more on the people who were suffering from the work of the cartels and how the government is not responding to that suffering. Although, I did touch on how the vigilante groups were being silenced by the government by making them legal. Also, Dargis touches on the cinematography in the film. I agree that all the scenes in this documentary were well timed, thought out, and cut perfectly. The scene I particularly was drawn to was the burial of those murdered on the lime farm. Matthew Heineman did a fantastic job of showing the impact the cartels have on the community. 

Cartel Land Reflection

Cartel Land 

Funeral of the one's who lost their lives on the lime farm.

1. There was one specific scene that really got to me in the film. The scene shows the people of Michoacan, Mexico on the way to the burial of their loved ones. The Templars (the cartel) murdered thirteen people including men, women, and children because the lime farm they worked at could not pay the tax the cartel had in place. This scene showed how the impact the cartel has on the families of the one's who lost their lives. It truly made me upset to see the amount of lack of regard for life that the cartels have. One woman spoke about how they killed the infants. It shocks me to see how one can do that and go about their life after. Although, another woman talked about how the men of the cartel were intoxicated when the killings happened. Truly, this scene made me appreciate the security we have in the United States. 
2. What surprised me the most about this documentary was the conspiracy regarding José Manuel 'El Doctor' Mireles and Mexico's government. The conspiracy was that Mireles, the leader of the Autodefensas, was arrested and kept silent by the government whom was working with the cartels. Mireles explained that the government wanted him to make the autodefensas an official force so they could control them. It is very well known the amount of corruption is high in Mexico but it still shocks me that the government would work hand in hand with the groups that puts citizens at risk. Although, the government may be forced to do so. That I am not sure of. 
3. After viewing this film I felt very fortunate for the kind of security we have in the United States. Although, it made me wonder what more we can do to ensure the cartels do not continue to enter more into the states. Also, how can the people of Mexico protect themselves against the work of the cartels? 
4.  Some problematic concepts that arose in the film were what Mexico's government is doing to catch the individuals behind the cartels, how is the United States preparing for the cartels expansion, what can the immigration enforcement agents on the border do better, if we legalize marijuana will it decrease the amount of drug trafficking, and the impact of Mexico's government cutting deals with the cartels.