"El Jardín" Aka: Narco Killer
El Jardin, also titled Narco Killer, is a Mexican film about disconnection, immobilising fear, conformity, loneliness, hope and tragedy, and the power of revolt and change when you band together with your fellow human being against that what paralyzes you with fear.
By first-time feature director Christian Cavazos, award winning with several short films, and one of Mexico’s most successful music-video directors.
In El Jardin (Narco Killer), the parents, the farmers, are brutally murdered by a narco gang, because they will not give up their precious land, without which they have no future, nothing to leave their children. Land that is close to a newly built bridge that would have given the farmers new and great possibilities, but the narco gang also sees how the bridge will benefit them, but for this to realize itself they need the farmers´ land.
Felipe (Iván Aragón from tv series El Chapo and Tijuana) and his father has a difficult relationship before the father is murdered in the massacre, together with Felipe´s mother. Felipe, who is egocentric and dreams of another life, despising the one his parents have in his eyes chosen, immediately wants revenge, because it is too painful to feel how he treated his parents. He brings with him a sister, Rosa, played by Alexia Alexander (debuting), and her brother, Pedro, played by Luca Valentini (from El Juego de las Llaves).
Rosa also dreams of leaving the village of El Jardin, also having shut her mother out before she was killed, just like Felipe did with his parents. But her dream is to become a pop star, appearing on La Voz. Pedro, his mother´s everything, is withdrawn from the world, quiet and shut off, but he registers everything going on.
On Felipe´s quest to murder the narco gang´s boss El Jefe (Plutarco Haza from El Señor de los Cielos), rage devouring Felipe, the trio are hunted by ruthless, nihilistic henchman El Virgen (Israel Islas from Narcos: Mexico) belonging to El Jefe.
The quest of the trio leads to Mexico City and their transformation. When the trio open up to each other, they begin to see and care for each other.
They are no longer paralyzed, but slowly become the opposite, smart, intelligent and powerful. Together.
Rosa, Pedro and Felipe find their authenticity, but there will be a high price to pay for developing their true, powerful selves, but also great reward. El Virgen finally finds what he has searched for all along. And El Jefe finally tells his daughter that he does everything for her, and he finds an especially tragic end.
The resolution of this film is not what one would think for the trio, when their up until now inwards directed force, destructive, is directed outwards, constructive.
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CHRISTIAN CAVAZOSDirectorOpera Prima
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Tim HebbWriter
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Mattias WestmanWriter
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MATTIAS WESTMANProducer
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ANDERS PALMProducer
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PATRICIA ZAVALA KUGLERProducerhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm1340297
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ANNA ROTHProducerhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0744780
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VICTOR ZAVALA KUGLERProducerhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0953766
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Iván Aragón MontielKey Cast"Felipe"
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Alexia Alexander VillaKey Cast"Rosa"
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Luca Valentini PadillaKey Cast"Pedrito"
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Israel Islas BustamanteKey Cast""EL VIRGEN""
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Plutarco HazaKey Cast"Mr. Olmos "EL JEFE""
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Project Title (Original Language):El Jardín
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Project Type:Feature
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Runtime:1 hour 35 minutes
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Completion Date:December 30, 2019
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Country of Origin:Mexico
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Country of Filming:Mexico
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Language:English, Spanish
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Shooting Format:Digital 4K
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Aspect Ratio:2.40:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
Born December 25, 1976 in Los Angeles, California. The eldest of three children, Christian Cavazos spent his childhood in his hometown, studying on both sides of the border with México, after finishing high school, he entered the Degree in Psychology at the Autonomous University of Baja California, graduating in 2004. Always alternating professional education with his personal interest in video production, during his spare time, he progressively realized dozens of experimental amateur videos. His outstanding portfolio allowed him to get a job at the television network Univision in California, where he initially worked as a production assistant. Over time and his increased experience, Cavazos was promoted to Producer and finally Project Director. During his time in the TV Network, he received three "EMMY Awards" for directing, editing and post producing, Promotionals from 2004 to 2006. During that time alternated his work with the study of a master's degree in 3D animation offered by "Animation Mentor" in San Francisco California. In 2007 Cavazos began his career as a freelance. He founded the Production House "Dominio Publico", becoming Director, Editor and post-producer of projects that include TV Commercials, Institutional Videos, Government Addresses and Music Video for record labels such as EMI Mexico, Universal Records, Movic and OCESA Seitrack; filming with artists such as David Bisbal, Dulce Maria (Ex-RBD), Jumbo, Enjambre, Sofi Mayen, Insite, and Moderatto. In parallel, in 2012 Cavazos began his career as an Independent Filmmaker and co-founded the "Scumbags Filmmaking Group", making short films as "New Mexico" in 2013 and "Valle de las Cabras" in 2015, earning multiple nominations, awards and honorable mentions.
Growing up in a Mexican border town, I was faced every day with the drama that comes within; I was exposed to prejudism, racism, classism from early on and the unfairnes that surrounds it. The truth of the matter is, inspite what the world thinks, that that reality never changed, it even increased throughout the years. I want to portray this in the outmost exageradet and parodical point of view, I wanted to show part of this drama in a realistic yet caricaturized way. I am sure that many people from all over the globe will relate to the drama and blood shed. I also am certain that there’s always hope for a better, more equal life…
This is a work in progress (missing details, songs, color corretcion, etc.) but it is a film that you will live and love!