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| A scene from Cartel Land. |
By Ed Rampell
Matthew Heineman’s documentary is not so much about Mexican drug cartels per se as it is about the resistance to them on both sides of the border. In Arizona, self-appointed, self-anointed border patrol vigilantes led by a grizzled vet named Nailer try to “protect” America from the drug dealers, as well as from undocumented aliens heading El Norte for what they hope will be greater opportunity. Nailer does not want them here.
South of the border, Dr. Mireles leads armed resistance to the Mexican cartels, arming townspeople to stand up to them. Some of the scenes have a Magnificent Seven type vibe. If the vigilantes up north have a right-wing aura about them, as the Mexican vigilantes standup to the cartels, Federales and military trying to disarm and disband them, then south of the border they have a revolutionary feel to them. The film ponders who the good and bad guys really are, with unexpected twists and turns along the way.
This is yeoman filmmaking, done at great risk to the filmmakers, as well as the participants.
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