For this project, I chose to watch and reflect on the documentary, "Cartel Land". This highly interesting film shows the different sides of the conflicts on both sides of the Mexico-U.S. border. On the U.S. side, film crews follow Tim "Nailer" Foley and his partners who formed a group to patrol the border to keep watch for immigrants illegally crossing into the United States. Foley makes it clear that he is against the term "vigilante" because it usually brings a bad name. He states that his partners and he are simply doing what the United States government failed to do which is successfully protect the border.
     On the Mexico side of the border, film crews follow Dr. Jose Manuel Mireles. Mireles tells of how he started the group known as the "Autodefensas". The men in this group have all joined together to stand up against the cartel who terrorize their towns. Mireles also tells of how his men and he had to arm themselves in order to protect themselves from the cartel because local police and military were unable to protect the people of the city. This is where viewers can sense a type of similarity between the two sides. Both men have decided to stand up and take action in order to do what a failing government could not do.
     While watching this documentary, I felt as if I were watching an action movie of some sort. Dr. Mireles is portrayed as a hero of the city who united many towns under a common cause. The people of these towns all love Mireles and his men and are consumed with joy whenever they come into town. In one scene, the Autodefensas raided a building in which they found cartel members inside. After a few hours of gunfire, the military showed up and shut things down. They harassed the Autodefensas and took their weapons. The military also stated that the townspeople were scared of the Autodefensas and their weapons and demanded they leave. In a shocking turn of events, the townspeople gathered with the Autodefensas and protested the military until they gave them back their weapons. It was unreal to me that things like such are actually taking place in our neighboring country. If I did not know that I was watching a documentary and was only showed this one scene, I would think that I was watching an action/thriller movie. One scene that also got to me, and that also showed some negative emotions towards the Autodefensas, was when some leadership changes were forced to be made. In an unfortunate accident, which completely took me by surprise, Dr. Mireles was hospitalized after surviving a plane crash. While he was in the hospital in Mexico City, Mireles appointed his right-hand man known as "Papa Smurf" as the temporary leader of the Autodefensas. When Papa Smurf and his men roll into a new town, they are confronted by the townspeople. Although it is unclear whether or not the entire town feels this way, some men speak out against the Autodefensas. They say that they do not like the guns and how the men have been treating some of the women of the town. This scene is shocking because it shows that not all people agree with how the group goes about their business.
     Overall, this documentary is one that I would recommend to anyone and everyone. It shows two different yet similar sides and how each stand up for what they believe in. This documentary will change your perspective on the drug wars going on currently in Mexico and also how the United States plays a role in it. I would very much like to see a follow up of the two groups in a few years.