Highway Patrolman (film)
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El patrullero | |
---|---|
Directed by | Alex Cox |
Written by | Lorenzo O'Brien |
Produced by | Lorenzo O'Brien |
Starring | Roberto Sosa |
Cinematography | Miguel Garzon |
Release date | 1991 |
Country | Mexico |
Language | Spanish |
Highway Patrolman (Spanish: El patrullero) is a 1991 Mexican crime drama film by the British director Alex Cox. It was produced by Lorenzo O'Brien, who also wrote the screenplay, and stars Roberto Sosa, Bruno Bichir, Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez and Vanessa Bauche. The cinematography is by Miguel Garzon and the production designer was Cecilia Montiel, who went on to work on The Mask of Zorro as well as on Cox's Alan Smithee film The Winner. Cox considers El Patrullero to be his best work while a number of prominent film critics have expressed the same opinion as well.[1]
Plot
The film tells the story of a young man, Pedro Rojas (Roberto Sosa) starting his career as a Highway Patrolman in the rural north. He refuses to take part in the corruption in the police force, unlike his friend Anibal Guerrero (Bruno Bichir) who quickly starts taking bribes and peddling contraband.
Gradually, Pedro's high principles are eroded by the hardships of his life. Eventually he takes his first bribe. He is shot in the leg, nagged by his father's ghost and beats up the governor's son. His wife Griselda (Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez), tolerates his relationship with a prostitute, Maribel (Vanessa Bauche), provided it doesn't reflect badly on herself and the money keeps coming in. When Anibal is murdered by drug dealers, Pedro's moral sense re-emerges and he takes revenge. The film ends with Pedro resigning from the Highway Patrol, trying to maintain two families.
Reception
Though the film premiered in Mexico in 1991, U.S. distribution was considerably limited. Kevin Thomas of
Influence and legacy
The musician James Rutledge released his early music under the name Pedro in reference to the film.
Year-end lists
- 5th – Georgia Brown, The Village Voice[6]
- 8th – Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader[7]
- Honorable mention – David Elliott, The San Diego Union-Tribune[8]
References
- ^ Cox, Alex (2018). Introduction to "Highway Patrolman" created for Kino Lorber's theatrical and Blu-ray re-issue (Media notes). Kino Lorber.
- The Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Rosenbaum, Jonathan (March 18, 1994). "Highway Patrolman". Chicago Reader.
- ^ Rosenbaum, Jonathan (January 6, 1995). "The 31 best movies of 1994". Chicago Reader.
- ^ Hoberman, Jim (November 28, 2018). "REWIND: "Highway Patrolman" Bends the Thin Blue Line". The New York Times.
- ^ Brown, Georgia. "Georgia Brown's Top Ten List (1993)". The Village Voice.
- ^ Rosenbaum, Jonathan (January 6, 1995). "The 31 best movies of 1994". Chicago Reader.
- ^ Elliott, David (December 25, 1994). "On the big screen, color it a satisfying time". The San Diego Union-Tribune (1, 2 ed.). p. E=8.