Guadalajara, Jal., The power of the community, of unbreakable unity, was the highlighted theme in the first chapter of the documentary series The 43 of Ayotzinapa: A State Crime released by the Max platform in the context of the 39th Guadalajara International Film Festival ( FICG ), which is expected to be made available to audiences this year, marking the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of the young students from the Guerrero student teachers' college.
These are mothers and fathers who have united and confronted a very powerful state. The students have been with them in their protests and rallies. You realize the impact they have on their community, and that the power of Ayotzinapa is that they are united, and everyone who has touched on the subject knows that they have tried to divide them. But that is their greatest strength, their unity. It's something that moved us from the beginning, and we've tried to convey it since the beginning of the series
, explained director José Ortiz .
Unity, your greatest strength
In a video link from his native Spain after the episode was broadcast in room 2 of the Performing Arts Complex at the University of Guadalajara, Ortiz also said that the subject was approached with a respectful camera
, first observing until gaining the trust of the parents of the missing young people, who, after the attitude of the documentary makers, opened up to them and a connection and trust was generated that served to keep us very close throughout the filming
.
Asked about what it meant to him as a filmmaker to film in Mexico, Ortiz noted that the country and states like Guerrero each have their own narrative, and cinematically,
it's a marvel
of color and light.
The Ayotzinapa Normal School is another character. We have those elements that are unique to the country to convey to everyone, and although it's such a sad and difficult story, that balances things out a bit
, he added.
In the first of six chapters in a series commemorating the first decade of the still-unsolved disappearance of the 43 students , a compilation of testimonies from people involved in the case is presented, including several who had avoided speaking publicly about the matter.
Following the screening, and in addition to director Ortiz's remote participation, a panel was held in the room featuring Eva Barrera, director of content for Mexico at Warner Bros. Discovery, and executive producer Alejandro Torre.
It took two years (to record ) from the first talk, from when we selected the content
, indicated Eva Barrera, who assured that beyond the natural care in the technical production, emphasis was placed on the rigor of the research and on making sure that all the voices, even the forgotten ones, were captured
.
