Heroic

Synopsis

The film follows Luis, an 18-year-old boy from the Indigenous community who enrolls in the Heroic Military College hoping for a better future. There, he encounters a rigid and institutionally violent system designed to break him down into the perfect soldier.

Lured by promises of a better life for himself and his family, 18-year-old Luis joins the military academy Heroic Military College. But the promised health insurance for his diabetic mother comes at a high cost. Luis becomes part of a system built on dehumanization and humiliation. Thanks to his exceptional skills as a marksman, he avoids some of the worst harassment. Unfortunately, favoritism leads to alienation from the other recruits. The barracks become a pressure cooker. A final confrontation is inevitable.

Production Facts

In "Heroic", script writer and director David Zonana ("Workforce") portrays a Mexican society marked by class conflict, racism, and violence. Every frame is charged with meaning by cinematographer Carolina Costa ("The Chosen Ones"). The relentless intensity of "Heroic" is embodied through the bold editing of Oscar Figueroa Jara ("The Missing"). Themes of colonialism, poverty, and exploitation are starkly illuminated. All of this is carried by a powerful performance from newcomer Santiago Sandoval Carbajal in the role of Luis Nuñez Rosales. "Heroic" is both aesthetically refined and politically explosive.

The film is produced by Teorma, with Gothenburg-based Jonas Kellagher, Commonground Pictures, as Swedish co-producer alongside Film i Väst. Parts of the post-production were completed by Cloudberry.

1 nomination

Berlin International Film Festival — 2023

1 nomination

Sundance Film Festival — 2023