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One of the major issues that the victims’ families have had to face from the start of the Cuidad Juarez and Chihuahua, Mexico murders is the lack of cooperation from the government, authorities and the surrounding communities. Since then, many different approaches have been tackled to attract attention to the tragedy– including the film industry.
Three documentary film directors gathered at the New Mexico State University Hardman Hall Auditorium Thursday night to express thoughts about the Mexico murders and the films they created.
Marking the start and the topic of the discussion was Rosalinda Fregoso of University of California– Santa Cruz. With the immortalized icons of pink posters with black crosses and the help of film, Fregoso spoke about the important role of visual culture.
“Visual culture is the key protagonist to end femicide,” said Fregosos on the stage. “We live in an image saturated society.”
Fregoso went on to say that the films Senorita Extraviada and La Batalla de Las Cruces, two of the six films shown Thursday, were demonstrative of the role of visual culture because they raised public interest in the kidnappings, sexual assaults and murders of hundreds of women.
“Violence against women was considered to be private matter,” said Fregoso, “and [they] would not do anything. Violence against women is not a private concern, but a public concern.”
In the company of the films, the protests and the investigations performed by families and activists the public’s knowledge of the murders has grown.
“Violence continues and it is muliplying,” said Patti Ravelo, director of the film La Batallas de Las Cruces.
Ravelo’s film focused on the local struggle in Las Cruces and was created from the perspective of the problems that the Mexicans of the tragedy are enduring.
“The documentary [film] has carried out its mission,” said Rafael Montero, director of Preguntas sin Respuestas.
Montero explained that there was a problem in Cuidad Juarez that needed to be told. His film told the story about the maquiladora industry and women who worked in it. He felt that it was very important that the film reach those in the troubled cities to open their eyes to the tragedy. The film was projected to Chihuahua and Cuidad Juarez to show what is happening.
“I wanted [victims’ families] to open their hearts,” said Montero, “and share their pain with me and the cameras.”
For one director, the inspiration of the film was derived from short clippings found in the Mexican newspapers that told of the murders. Native to Chihuahua, Mexico, Lourdes Portillo, put together a gripping film of the women who lost their lives and the families who are seeking justice.
“It was a very hard subject,” said Portillo at the mic. “I wanted to portray what was going on in the Chihuahua.”
The director explained that she had read a small story that about 50 bodies found in the city of Chihuahua, and that they were described to have been ‘mysteriously’ murdered. Though Portillo’s film, Senorita Extraviada, she wanted to educate the public, force them to take action.
“The [film] asks ‘how do we put a stop to this?’” said Portillo. “That was the purpose of the film.”
Portillo said later on in the discussion that she wanted the film to go out in the world and engage its viewers in activism. She believes that with more people to support the cause, the sooner things could change.
Nearly four years after the release of Senorita Extraviada, the director still feels that not much has happened in the cities of Chihuahua and Juarez.
“We’re still in the same place,” said Portillo before opening for questions from the audience. “We’re not doing enough.”
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For feedback Jessica Rodrigo can be contacted at jrodrgio@nmsu.edu
