The range of streaming services available in the world is so large that you can no longer see the wood for the trees. You know how they are rated for some titles, but other, less well-known films and series, require a little research. In recent days we have already written about series on Disney+, Prime Video, and Netflix. Now it’s the turn of these three movies from Netflix.
1# The Laws Of The Border (2021)
Summer 1978. Nacho Cañas, an introverted and somewhat unworldly student, is seventeen years old and lives in Girona. When he meets Zarco and Tere, two young delinquents from the city’s Chinatown, he joins “Zarco’s Gang”, which leads him into an unstoppable career of robberies and thefts. This will last all summer and change his life forever. Directed by: Daniel Monzón
Starring: Begoña Vargas , Pep Tosar and Marcos Ruiz
Movies about youth gangs appear with some regularity. This coming-of-age film about a young man who gradually gets involved in such a gang hardly differs from anything previously seen in this area. Not good, but not bad either. A bit standard with a love story in the background that barely gets off the ground, in spite of the attractive Begoña Vargas – Barbie
2# 7 Prisoners
Mateus is 18 years old. To give his family a better life in the countryside, the young man accepts a job at a scrapyard in São Paulo for his new boss, Luca. But when he and a few other boys become entangled in the dangerous world of human trafficking, Mateus is forced to choose between working for the man who imprisoned him or risking the future of him and his family. Directed by: Alexandre Moratto
Starring: Christian Malheiros , Rodrigo Santoro and Bruno Rocha
In the hope of supporting their families, seven young men move to Sao Paulo to work for Luca. Mateus knows the pitfalls and immediately asks critical questions about and demands on the employment conditions. Yet he too cannot prevent the boys from being soon enslaved. Isaque would prefer a physical confrontation, but Mateus thinks he can mislead Luca by gaining his trust. The intelligent scenario by Moratto and Thayná Mantesso shows how easy it can be to fall into the trap of slavery, but also how people like Luca play his ‘slaves’ against each other to maintain the status quo.
3# Hell (2010)
Benjamin Garcia is deported from the United States. Back home, with a bleak picture ahead, Benny becomes involved in the drug world. He makes a spectacular ascent and is surrounded by money, women, violence, and fun. But he soon discovers that criminal life doesn’t always keep its promise. Directed by: Luis Estrada
Starring: Damián Alcázar , Joaquín Cosío and Ernesto Gómez Cruz.
Good film about a Mexican migrant worker who returns to his hometown after 20 years. A good story in which the main character ends up in a world of violence. Definitely similar in tone to La Ley de Herodes (by the same director and with the same protagonist). A bit on the long side, but there’s plenty going on.
