Watch La Masacre de Tlatelolco

La Masacre de Tlatelolco is a powerful and disturbing film that recounts one of the darkest moments in Mexican history. Directed by renowned filmmaker Carlos Mendoza, the film documents the horrifying events that occurred on October 2, 1968, when Mexican police and military forces opened fire on a peaceful student demonstration in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Mexico City, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of innocent people.

The film opens with a brief history of Mexico's political situation in the 1960s, detailing the rise of youth activism and the growing discontent with the ruling PRI party. It then shifts to the days leading up to the massacre, as students from a variety of universities and high schools across Mexico City begin to organize a massive demonstration against government corruption and authoritarianism.

We are introduced to a handful of key characters, including a young couple who have been swept up in the protest movement and are trying to balance their political ideals with their desire for a peaceful life together; a jaded journalist who is skeptical of the students' goals but gradually comes to sympathize with their cause; and a group of military and police officials who are tasked with containing the protest at all costs.

As the demonstration begins on October 2, the tension is palpable. The students are mostly unarmed and chanting slogans of peace and reform, but the military and police forces are heavily armed and on high alert. Mendoza does an excellent job of building suspense as the two groups move closer and closer to each other, with ominous shots of helicopters hovering above and the sound of gunshots echoing in the distance.

What follows is a harrowing and deeply upsetting sequence of events, as the military and police open fire on the unarmed students, many of whom are trapped in a narrow alleyway between two buildings. The chaos and confusion of the massacre are captured in vivid detail, with the camera often shaking and cutting rapidly between different perspectives.

Mendoza does not shy away from the brutality of the violence, and the film features several disturbing scenes of young people being shot, beaten, or dragged away by the military. One of the most affecting moments comes when the camera lingers on a young man's face as he realizes he has been wounded, his eyes widening in shock and terror.

The aftermath of the massacre is also explored in detail. We see the grief and rage of the families of the victims, as well as the government's attempts to cover up the extent of the violence and blame the students for what happened. The journalists who were present are pressured to change their accounts of the incident, and several are threatened or physically attacked.

Despite the somber subject matter, La Masacre de Tlatelolco is a beautifully crafted film that makes excellent use of music, editing, and cinematography to create an immersive and emotionally resonant experience. The score by composer Gustavo Santaolalla is haunting and evocative, and the use of archival footage alongside staged reenactments gives the film a sense of historical importance.

Ultimately, the film is a powerful indictment of the violence and repression that characterized much of Mexican politics in the 20th century. It is a stark reminder of the human cost of authoritarianism and the importance of standing up for democratic ideals. As such, it is a must-see for anyone interested in Mexican history or social justice issues.