Heli

Winner of the director's prize at Cannes in 2013, Heli delivers a brutal indictment of daily life in parts of Mexico characterized by drug-related viciousness, a feckless and often corrupt government bureaucracy, and the bland reliability of factory work for a foreign corporation. Navigating through this labyrinth of close-at-hand danger, Heli (Armando Espitia) works the night shift at a car-manufacturing plant, looks after his younger sister and his father, and tries to improve his chilly relationship with his wife following the birth of their son. Heli's 12-year-old sister, Estela (Andrea Vergera), inadvertently triggers a crisis when her manipulative older boyfriend—who is simultaneously training to be a cop and acting as a drug dealer—stashes drugs in her home without Heli's knowledge. A brutal home invasion soon follows, followed by tremendous risk as Heli attempts to extricate his family from further danger. Filmmaker Amat Escalante captures the stifling world of crime and deceit that can engulf people who are simply trying to live their lives, as well as the unspeakable tortures inflicted by cartels and gangs. Recommended. (T. Keogh)