SPOTLIGHT ON MÓNICA DEL CARMEN:

A COP MOVIE
Una película de policías

View IN-PERSON at The Cinematheque: Monday, Aug 29 at 6:00 PM

Special Guest Mónica del Carmen in attendance

Following family tradition, Teresa and Montoya join the police force, only to find their convictions and hopes crushed by a dysfunctional system. Their emotional bond becomes a refuge for the hostility they are exposed to. Through an experimental style of narrative and documentary storytelling, A Cop Movie propels the viewer into an unusual cinematic space, giving voice to one of Mexico and the world’s most controversial institutions.

Despite its simple title, Mexican filmmaker Alonso Ruizpalacios’ latest feature is far from a simple shoot-’em-up cop movie. It’s more like a cop movie written by Jacques Derrida, directed with nods to Wes Anderson and Jean-Luc Godard and then remixed by Abbas Kiarostami in its efforts to tear down the fourth wall. – Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter

Siguiendo la tradición familiar, Teresa y Montoya se incorporan a la policía, solo para encontrar que sus convicciones y esperanzas son aplastadas por un sistema disfuncional. Ante la hostilidad a la que se exponen, solo les queda su vínculo amoroso como refugio. A través de un experimento cinematográfico que juega con los límites de la ficción y el documental, Una película de policías sumerge al espectador en un espacio inusual. La película pone el reflector sobre la policía, una de las instituciones más controvertidas de México y el mundo.

SPOTLIGHT ON MÓNICA DEL CARMEN,
MÓNICA WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE!!!

Mónica del Carmen is an Indigenous actress from Oaxaca, Mexico who has played extensive roles in theatre, film, and television. In 2004, she graduated from the National School of Theatre Arts. The role that catapulted her to wider recognition was that of ‘Laura’ in Leap Year (Año bisiesto) by Australian director Michael Rowe, which won the Caméra d’Or award for Best First Feature Film at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010.

In 2020, she won the Ariel Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Asfixia by Kenya Márquez (VLAFF’s Closing Film in 2019).

Alonso Ruizpalacios is a Mexican writer, film and theatre director. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. His debut feature film, Güeros (2014) won over 40 prizes at international festivals including the Best First Feature Award at the Berlinale and Mexican Ariel Awards in five different categories. It was VLAFF’s Opening Night Film in 2015. His second feature film, Museo, won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at the 2018 Berlinale and awards for Best Director at the Athens and Morelia film festivals.