by Amat Escalante
Heli, barely an adult, is already the provider for his family of five. Anxiously he observes how his younger sister, Estela, becomes romantically involved with the flippant police cadet Beto. When he deposits two parcels of cocaine on the roof of Heli’s house, the life of the family begins to fall apart at the seams. Soon Heli is pursued not only by the local drug cartel, but also by a special police unit and the military – all of which intimidate Heli’s family… With stunning imagery, this unsparing drama highlights Mexico’s darkest side. Director Amat Escalante, one of the most important exponents of New Mexican Cinema, received the award for best director at Cannes.