La Civil

By Teodora Ana Mihai • 2021 • Drama • 135 min

Synopsis

Cielo’s teenage daughter, Laura, is kidnapped in Northern Mexico. Despite paying several ransoms, Laura is not returned. When the authorities offer no support in the search, Cielo takes matters into her own hands. She finds help from Lamarque, a military man with unconventional modus operandi, who agrees to assist her in her search – off the record – in exchange for information which she can provide as a local. Cielo’s collaboration with Lamarque will pull her into the spiral of violence that made her a victim in the first place.

Festivals & Awards

Cannes IFF 2021 – Un Certain Regard Audacity Award

Melbourne IFF 2021

Sarajevo IFF 2021 – Focus Program

Lima IFF 2021 – Aclamadas

Jerusalem IFF 2021

Vina del Mar 2021 – Competencia Oficial – Special Mention for Arcelia Ramírez

Hamburg IFF 2021 – Political Film Award

FEST – New Directors 2021 – Golden Lynx Award for Best Fiction Feature

Mill Valley Film Festival 2021

AFI Latin American FF 2021

Warsaw FF 2021 – Discoveries

Film Fest Ghent 2021

Film Festival Cologne 2021 – Benelux Section

Bergen IFF 2021 – Cinema Extraordinaire

New Zealand IFF 2021

Tokyo IFF 2021 – Official Competition, Special Jury Prize

Festival de Huelva Cine Iberoamericano – Colon de Plata Best Performance

Stockhom IFF – Official Selection

CPH PIX – Official Competition

Films from the South – New Voices Competition Section

Crime and Punishment – Golden Scale Feature

Festival on Wheels

Cairo IFF – Critic’s Week

Reviews

« A gripping and heartbreaking film that goes out with a whimper that hits harder than any kind of bang it could’ve mustered. » - VARIETY

« A commanding, award-worthy central performance from Arcelia Ramirez is the ace in the hole of an involving tale that should win the support of global distributors. » - SCREEN

« Extraordinary Arcelia Ramirez. Extremely well written. » - CINEUROPA