Produced in 2009, ‘Backyard‘ (the original title in Spanish is ‘El traspatio‘) – the film by Mexican director Carlos Carrera – is no easy watch. We could include it in the category of serial killers thrillers, if the amount of murders that are brought to the screen would not push the story into the horror category and if the fact that the script is inspired by real events would not suggest that it would rather be a docu-drama. It is shocking that what is reported in ‘Backyard‘ – the murders accompanied by sexual assault and mutilation of hundreds of young women in the city of Juarez on the border between Mexico and the United States – are events that happened in reality, and in the following decade we heard repeatedly about many more cases of violence of this kind and other crimes that take place in this part of the world. It is obvious that the filmmakers used the popular cinematographic genres to draw attention to an extreme crisis situation and a phenomenon that urgently need radical solutions. However, the situation does not seem to have improved since then.
The main thread of thstory follows the investigation led by police officer Blanca Bravo (Ana de la Reguera), sent to Juarez to investigate a series of homicides and sexual assaults that take incredible proportions. Ciudad Juarez is not only geographically close to the American city of El Paso, but it is also the landfill and the cheap entertainment place of the American metropolis. They are separated not only by a border but also by an economic and social chasm. Corruption reigns in the police, politicians and industrialists who use cheap labor for various industries, including Japanese-branded cars. Most factories employ young women from all over Mexico (probably even lower paid) and they are the ones who are at risk of becoming victims of crime. The secondary story – which takes place in parallel – follows path of such a girl – Juana Sanchez Asur Zagada) – who came from a remote village to earn a living.
‘Backyard‘ is well made and the only thing I would be critic about is the fact that it follows the rules of action movies too rigorously. Blanca is one of those characters who belongs to the category of the incorruptible and the fearless and the interpretation of Ana de la Reguera makes the role credible. Asur Zagada is also excellent in the role of the young Juana and so is Carolina Politi in a memorable supporting role. It is a feminist film and Carlos Carrera‘s directorial treatment helps us sympathise with the characters. The shocking scene that opens the film and the ending that puts the events in the historical context are strong and in fact there that the directors probably intended to express the message of the film. What happens between the opening and the end is a quality horror thriller, but a bit long and a bit predictable one. I do recommend ‘Backyard‘ for the quality of the production and the importance of the message.