Last week I caught the Spanish-Mexican co-production La Zona, directed by Rodrigo Plá, which is currently in theatrical release in Brazil. I have to say, the film surpassed my expectations. I thought it would be the frustrating type of movie that starts out as a social critique but ends up becoming a messy Hollywood-wannabe-thriller that doesn't have the guts to truly finish what it started. I was pleased to find that the plot does get messy - but in a good way, sustaining its unflinching look at ugly realities while swiftly moving the story forward to some unexpected places.

La Zona takes place in a wealthy gated community in Mexico City that could easily double for an exclusive neighborhood in São Paulo. One night three boys enter this community for petty theft, but things get out of control and one of the residents gets killed. Two of the boys are found and killed, but the third stays hidden and is unable to escape the neighborhood without getting caught by homeowners hungry for "justice." Meanwhile, community leaders make every attempt to keep the police away from the scene of the crime for fear of losing control of their privileged area. Wrought with tension, La Zona has a killer premise that exposes some serious social divisions.

I have to admit that one of my motives for seeing this movie is Maribel Verdú. She doesn't even get that much screen time in La Zona but she's one of those actresses who just appeals to me - I think it has something to do with her Spanish (ie, from Spain) accent and the fact that she's somehow intimidating in every role I remember her in.