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The Zone

Play trailer The Zone 2007 1h 37m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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79% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Living in La Zona, a gated community in Mexico City, Alejandro (Daniel Tovar) has little idea of what goes on outside his isolated, privileged life. However, he soon catches a glimpse when several poor teenagers break in to La Zona to steal from the wealthy residents -- but their plans fall apart when an elderly woman is killed. With the community forming a mob to find the criminals, Alejandro is surprised to find one of the thieves (Alán Chávez) taking refuge in his basement.
The Zone

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A slick and smart Mexican thriller of middle-class panic and vigilantism, that is lean, mean and often shocking.

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Critics Reviews

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Dave Calhoun Time Out 10/17/2008
4/6
This slick, serious-minded tale of upper-crust vigilantes protecting their gated community at any cost is a nihilistic but thoughtful portrait of a country divided . Go to Full Review James Christopher The Times (UK) 10/17/2008
3/5
The viral atmosphere of intimidation is alarming, and thick with resonant premonitions of a legion of dystopian urban tomorrows. Go to Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian 10/17/2008
4/5
A smart movie, dramatically lean and mean, exciting and often shocking. Go to Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter 06/02/2020
Rodrigo Pla uses a staple of tabloid news, a brutal home-invasion robbery by a band of feckless teens, to concoct a gripping moral thriller that pits the fearful residents of a wealthy gated community against an armed slum kid. Go to Full Review Enrique Buchichio Uruguay Total 08/25/2009
3/5
Un excelente thriller dramtico, narrado con precisin y buen elenco, que es sobre todo una inquietante reflexin sobre uno de los temas ms candentes y polmicos de nuestro tiempo. Go to Full Review Jamie Russell Film4 10/17/2008
3.5/5
Latin American middle-class panic needs no translation in this strong thriller about the worries of the wealthy. Fans of JG Ballard's novels will relish it. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Wolfgang G 10/23/2023 La Zona ist ein Filmdrama des uruguayischen Regisseurs Rodrigo Plá… Die Einwohner eines privat überwachten Stadtviertels mitten in Mexiko-Stadt werden von einem Gewaltverbrechen erschüttert… Die Geschichte ist ein Thriller und ein Sozialdrama und vereinigt sich zu einem konventionellen Sozial-Thriller über Selbstjustiz in der modernen Gesellschaft… Ein düsteres, betont langsam entwickeltes Drama, das mich zum Nachdenken anregt… See more Benjamin H 11/01/2022 Rodrigo Pla's La Zona manages to have great character interactions and is overall a great concept of a film- it's just that the film is too wack-a-mole to be anything compelling and overall loses its touch as the film goes along. See more 05/28/2020 Rodrigo Pla's La Zona manages to have great character interactions and is overall a great concept of a film- it's just that the film is too wack-a-mole to be anything compelling and overall loses its touch as the film goes along. See more 12/20/2013 Cidade do México, México. Alejandro (Daniel Tovar) é um adolescente que vive em La Zona, um condomínio fechado protegido por guardas particulares. No dia de seu aniversário três jovens de uma favela vizinha invadem o local, para assaltar uma das casas. Durante o assalto eles matam uma mulher, mas a empregada consegue fugir e avisa a segurança. Os guardas reagem e matam dois dos invasores, mas Miguel (Alan Chávez) consegue escapar. Logo em seguida um grupo de moradores se reúne na casa de Alejandro, onde fica decidido que nada será dito às autoridades e que eles próprios procurarão o 3º invasor pela propriedade do condomínio. See more 09/03/2012 A foreign film - which I don't normally watch. The movie contrasted the fearful response of the wealthy to the gracious response of the teenage boy who is transformed by his relationship with the accused. Main message: when we get to really know others we are less likely to treat them poorly. See more 08/28/2012 The gulf between rich and poor is not so great when it comes to morality it seems - a very clever film. See more Read all reviews
The Zone

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Cast & Crew

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Rodrigo Plá

Director

Daniel Giménez Cacho

Daniel

Maribel Verdú

Marianna

Alán Chávez

Miguel

Daniel Tovar

Alejandro

Carlos Bardem

Gerardo

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The Zone

The Zone (2007) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Living in La Zona, a gated community in Mexico City, Alejandro (Daniel Tovar) has little idea of what goes on outside his isolated, privileged life. However, he soon catches a glimpse when several poor teenagers break in to La Zona to steal from the wealthy residents -- but their plans fall apart when an elderly woman is killed. With the community forming a mob to find the criminals, Alejandro is surprised to find one of the thieves (Alán Chávez) taking refuge in his basement.
Director
Rodrigo Plá
Screenwriter
Rodrigo Plá, Laura Santullo
Production Co
Morena Films S.L., Vaca Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
European Spanish
Runtime
1h 37m