The horrifying reality of the Mexican border has been repeatedly documented on film. The gruesome war on drugs was portrayed in Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario, while the intense danger of cartel gangs was seen in the Mexican drama Sin Nombre. Several movies that follow this topic most commonly have either thriller elements or a gritty tone, but first time director Fernanda Valadez introduces a fresh new voice, possibly the most raw and genuine one yet.
Valadez, who also pens the screenplay,…