In his patient and sympathetic documentary, Mexican filmmaker Santiago Esteinou catches up with former death row inmate César Fierro as he gets a taste of freedom for the first time in 40 years. Esteinou first profiled Fierro, a 63-year-old Mexican national, in 2014's Los Años de Fierro, which documents his 30-year struggle to clear his name.
Though Esteinou concentrates on one man, Fierro stands in for many Black and Hispanic men in Texas who have been wrongly convicted or subject to poor conditions and disproportionate punishment, including isolation and the death penalty.
As The Freedom of Fierro begins, Fierro has served time since 1980 for the murder of a taxi driver in El Paso. Though not mentioned in the film, his case involved an unreliable 16-year-old witness, threats of torture, and a coerced confession.
He spent 20 years in isolation. After 17 execution dates came and went, he finally received good news in 2019: the death penalty was stricken from his sentence. The following year, he would be released on parole and deported to Mexico.
Esteinou started shooting in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and Fierro is diligent about masking. The new order also calls for him to spend two weeks in quarantine in Mexico City before relocating to his native Juárez, so Esteinou sets him up with an efficiency unit, a cellphone, an Alexa, and clean clothes and underwear from donations combined with profits from a fundraising video. Fierro has what he needs, but one form of isolation now replaces another.
In prison, Fierro received letters from volunteers who correspond with death row inmates, which helped to lift his spirits, but after years in isolation, he feels uncomfortable around other people. He's also haunted by mistreatment from guards who made fun of him, denied him clothes and blankets during the winter months, and even sprayed tear gas into his cell.
For years, Fierro looked forward to reuniting with his brother, Sergio, except he passed away, but he reconnects with other friends and neighbors while becoming reacquainted with Juárez. He also hand-carves a proper headstone for Sergio’s poorly-marked gravesite. In the end, though, he returns to Mexico City, where he attempts to embark on a culinary career.
On his own, Fierro is tempted to sit around and drink, but Esteinou, who is as much a friend as a filmmaker, encourages him to get out, make new friends, and save the drinking strictly for social occasions. The documentary ends in 2022 after Fierro, now 65, has experienced any number of ups and downs, but he doesn't come across as a quitter, and he's lucky to have had the benefit of a dedicated legal team, in addition to other far-flung supporters. Not all death row inmates can be so lucky.
Beyond the fact that Fierro makes for a compelling subject, the film offers value for law students and professors, and anyone interested in civil rights, civil liberties, and the criminal justice system, particularly in Texas and other border states. Recommended.
Why is this criminal justice documentary appropriate for academic and public library collections?
The film has long-term relevance due to its focus on enduring legal and civil liberties issues rather than time-sensitive events. Its measured tone and evidentiary grounding make it suitable for academic libraries supporting coursework and research. Public libraries will find it valuable for community programming, particularly discussions on justice reform and human rights. The documentary’s bilingual and cross-border context broadens its appeal to diverse audiences. Its educational utility extends beyond a single discipline, increasing its value as a collection development choice.
How does this criminal justice documentary support instruction in civil rights and social justice studies?
The documentary situates Fierro’s experience within broader patterns of racial and ethnic disparity in the U.S. criminal justice system, particularly in Texas and border states. While focused on one man, the film invites comparison with the experiences of other Black and Hispanic inmates who face disproportionate punishment and harsher conditions. This makes it a strong resource for courses in civil rights, sociology, and ethnic studies. In classroom settings, it can prompt discussion on state violence, institutional neglect, and the long-term consequences of human rights violations. Its restrained, observational style encourages critical reflection rather than prescriptive conclusions.
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