MEXICO CITY

US, 2000, 90 minutes, Colour.
Stacy Edwards, Jorge Robles, Johnny Zander, Robert Patrick.
Directed by Richard Shepard.


Mexico City was directed by Richard Shepard who made such films as Oxygen, The Matador, The Hunting Party and a great deal of television.

The film was shot in Mexico City with vista sequences, details of the city, wealthy hotels, tourist attractions, the seedier part of the city, as well as the American Embassy.

The plot concerns a brother and sister on holidays, the sister having lost her children in a devastating car accident. She says she is not ready for the holiday and lets her brother, a photographer, go out on the town. When he does not return, she is very demanding at the hotel and goes to the embassy, drawing on her American citizenship to make demands.

A friendly taxi driver assists her and they search for the brother in various bars, ultimately finding someone who indicates the truth. It seems that he was involved in taking photographs of violent action – and there has been indication of political unrest before an election in Mexico, the film showing an early abduction of a doctor for ransom.

Ultimately, the taxi driver and the sister drive to the American border where they are held up by a Mexican policeman looking for the photos and the sister shoots him.

As she approaches the border, both sides have guns drawn, she with hands up, finally getting across the border with the Mexicans not shooting and the truth is revealed.

1. The title, the focus on the Mexico City, the visuals, the overviews, the streets, mansions, hotels, dingy clubs? The countryside, the desert, the American- Mexican border? The musical score?

2. The plot, information about the political background, the doctor and his wife, his meal, his chauffeur, the set up in the street with the woman with the baby, its being a doll, the truck, the shooting of the chauffeur, the abduction of the doctor, the three months passing, the news of his being killed?

3. Mitch and Sam, on holidays in Mexico, wandering the city, Mitch and her not being able to face the holiday, Sam and his trying to persuade her? The flashbacks to her life, happiness, children, seeing her unfaithful husband, stopping the car, the truck crashing into the car and killing the children? Her grief? Her husband’s callous response? Sam trying to help? A loving brother? Her staying in the hotel, waking, his absence, her going to the desk, demanding in a very American way, the response of the receptionist, the issue of the police? Going to the embassy, getting a hearing, the police chief present, the Vice-
Consul and his praising the police chief, saying that everything would be done? The revelation that Sam did drugs, had a record, that she did drugs, the urgency and non-emergency of the search?

4. Pedro, the taxi driver, friendly, giving advice, Mitch paying him, his appreciation for his family, going on the search, going into the bars with the photo and Pedro warning that the men resented women’s presence? Finally meeting the drunk man, giving him the drink, his giving the information about Sam at the club? Flashbacks?

5. Trying to find out more, Sam and his photography, the irony that he had photographed dangerous and violent action? His death?

6. The attempt to get the photos, incriminating? Pedro and Mitch driving to the border, Pedro telling his story, the police officer and his wanting the photos, Mitch shooting him? Leaving Pedro at the border, going back to her family?

7. Mitch walking to the border, hands in the air, the Americans confronting the Mexicans?

8. The photos, the impact, arrests?

9. Mitch, playing with Sam’s son, the photos?