Program Note
Just turning 18, Luis enrolls in Mexican military school to cover his diabetic mother’s medical expenses. In the highland school that resembles an Aztec temple, Luis undergoes rigorous daily training. He catches the attention and admiration of his superior, Sierra, but soon this attention leads him into unexpected circumstances. David Zonana’s latest film, Heroic follows his acclaimed debut film, Workforce, which garnered attention from the world. In this film, Zonana closely observes the individual’s situation within a system filled with oppression and corruption. Luis’s daily life, which anyone with military experience can relate to, is set in a space where violent authority constantly operates. Alongside this, issues such as indigenous identity, class differences, and economic hardship come into play. As a result, the routine of trainee Luis becomes a microcosm reflecting contemporary Mexican society. (Jin PARK)