El Sicario: Room 164

Year: 2011

Runtime: 95 min

Language: Spanish

Director: Gianfranco Rosi

Documentary

This gripping documentary recounts the experiences of a former hitman and fugitive who once served as a commander within the Chihuahua state police. He details his involvement in hundreds of killings, expertly conducted torture sessions, and high-stakes kidnappings. Now living on the run and with a significant bounty on his head, he exists in a state of limbo, forever marked by his violent past.

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El Sicario, a seasoned expert in the dark worlds of kidnapping, torture, and assassination, once served as a unit commander within the Mexican state police and even underwent training with the FBI. Over a span of 20 years working for Mexican drug cartels, he has taken the lives of hundreds without ever being captured. Now in hiding, a staggering $250,000 bounty hangs over his head. Yet, he chooses to share his harrowing tale with the lens of Italian documentarian Gianfranco Rosi.

Cloaked in anonymity, this sole protagonist reveals the intricate operations of the Mexican drug mafia, exposing their deep ties to corrupt law enforcement and government officials. The film is remarkably stark, entirely set within a hotel room on the US-Mexican border, which amplifies the chilling nature of the stories he recounts. Through this minimalist approach, viewers are granted a disturbing glimpse into the mindset and modus operandi of a university-educated contract killer, where each chilling detail unveils the grim realities of a world filled with violence and betrayal.

“I am a monster, but I didn’t want to be. This is just how it turned out.”

Last Updated: November 04, 2024 at 00:54

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The narrative is driven by a monologue or interview, typically in one room, where a participant recounts their involvement in extreme acts. The story unfolds through their testimony, relying on the power of the spoken word and the unflinching gaze of the camera to build a disturbing and immersive experience.

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