Juan Carlos García
Reform agency
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 | 08:46
Mexico City- There are thousands of stories about crimes, injustices and assaults in Ciudad Juárez, but there are also those that, despite all the pain they push, lead to hope; such is the case of Fighters.
This feature-length documentary by Paola Calvo and Patrick Jasim, the world premiere will be this Wednesday at the South By Southwest 2021 Festival, means for its co-director a representation of masculinity rooted in Mexico and the desire of women to overcome a destiny that only paints them fatality.
“A friend went to live in Ciudad Juárez, she is a fan of wrestling. Through her we begin to know a different image of the city. It is a superpowerful sport with a lot of audience. We thought we could find stories to explain.
“We went and we were there, we found the protagonists. Juárez is very complex, very interesting, there is a lot of power struggle, it is a violent life system and there are movements that seek change, despite the fear,” Calvo indicated from his home in Germany.
Paola was born in Caracas, lived for a time in Mexico City and grew up in Barcelona, a town she left behind to solve her film studies at non-stratospheric prices, and which she managed to do in Berlin. . He has lived here for a few years and this is where he found co-production this distribution.
The feature film follows Lady Candy, Baby Star and Mini Mermaid, who, in their parallel universes, face similar issues as male contempt for being women and lack of decent wages for a proper life.
The director went from anguish to euphoria to the talk to mention it in Ciudad Juárez. She says that she is horrified that this situation has not been curbed in the face of the feminicides that are taking place, and above all, that the inhabitants live in fear, although many of them do appreciate the benefits of the border population.
“It’s something that doesn’t occur to me, that talking about ‘The Deaths of Juárez’ is something everyday, of the day This should not even exist,” argued the filmmaker.
In just under two hours, Lluitadores summarizes the viacrucis that the protagonists live not only because of their profession, but because one cannot see their children because the father forbids it, another resides in a very conflictive area and a moreover, after domestic violence and abandonment, she felt overwhelmed when she returned to live with her parents.
Yes, Lady Candy is employed by a funeral home and finds solace in her grief in sport; Baby Star puts on the fight mask inspired by giving her daughter a better life; and Lady Mermaid works in the maquila, but does not have enough support for her mother’s medical treatment.
“We have a connection with all three, they are super excited about what is happening with the documentary. They saw each other on TV and shouted, ‘Aaaay, we went on TV!’ There was affinity, understood with their story. .
“We are already finishing the documentary and ready to show it. I can’t believe we are presenting it in the first world and I do want people to see it, wherever it is, on their computer, on their mobile, on the screen. It’s very rare to be in your home with world first, but already! We must all see Fighters “, exclaimed Calvo.
This film was shot in late 2019 and early 2020 in Chihuahua. Since then, many things have changed: they all adapted to the pandemic and have worked from home; Omar, the Baby Star tailor, died of Covid-19; and one of them has gone through other situations which give for another story.