Heroico

Heroic

Panorama 2023

For young men in Mexico who are desperate to escape a life of poverty and lack of prospects, often the only option is to find work in organisations characterised by violence – either the illegal ones to be found in the drug trade, or in the military. Since his mother is ill and in need of expensive medication, 18-year-old Luis – who has Indigenous roots – opts for the latter. The national military academy, or “Heroico Colegio Militar”, is steeped in tradition. Here, Luis experiences an extremely rigorous training programme built upon unconditional obedience and the breaking of an individual’s personality. When he receives further lessons in cruelty and criminal machinations from the sadistic Sergeant Serra, the rift between his responsibility to his mother and his own values pushes him to his limits.
Based on personal accounts of the experiences of former cadets at the military academy, David Zonana’s Heroico depicts a world that is unknown to many. In an impressive mixture of clear-cut static images and powerful tracking shots, he attempts to fathom the close relationship between male identity and institutionalised violence in Mexico.

Trailer/Film Excerpt

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by David Zonana (Director, Screenplay)
with Santiago Sandoval Carbajal, Fernando Cuautle, Mónica del Carmen, Esteban Caicedo, Isabel Yudice, Carlos Gerardo García Mexico / Sweden 2023 Spanish 88' Colour European premiere

With

Santiago Sandoval Carbajal (Luis Núñez)
Fernando Cuautle (Eugenio Sierra)
Mónica del Carmen (Yanin)
Esteban Caicedo (Mario)
Isabel Yudice (Andrea)
Carlos Gerardo García (Ratón)

Crew

Director	David Zonana
Screenplay	David Zonana
Cinematography	Carolina Costa
Editing	Oscar Figueroa Jara
Music	Murcof
Sound Design	Erik Clauss
Sound	Raúl Locatelli
Production Design	Ivonne Fuentes
Costumes	Gabriela Fernández
Casting	Eduardo Giralt Brun
Assistant Director	Matías Estévez
Producers	Michel Franco, David Zonana, Eréndira Núñez Larios
Executive Producers	José Nacif, Marco Polo Constandse
Co-Producers	Jonas Kellagher, Kristina Börjeson
Co-Production	CommonGround Pictures Götheborg Film i Väst Götheborg Filmadora Mexico City CTT Exp & Rentals Mexico City

World Sales

Wild Bunch International

Paris, France

Produced by

Teorema

Mexiko City, Mexico

Photos

David Zonana

Born in Mexico City, Mexico in 1989. He began working as a producer of films including 600 Miles, which screened in the 2015 Panorama, before moving into directing. His feature film debut Workforce premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, went on to become the most internationally awarded Mexican film of 2019 and also won the Ariel Award in Mexico in the categories of Best First Film and Best Actor.

Filmography

2014 Princesa; short film 2016 Sangre alba; short film 2017 Brother; short film 2019 Workforce 2023 Heroico (Heroic)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023