Fernando Pacheco, aka El Suicida, is a young bullfighter who doesn't fight in the great arenas of Mexico, but rather in the popular festivals of the small Mayan communities of the Yucatan Peninsula. With unbelievable, and at times disturbing, closeness, documentary filmmakers González-Rubio and Carlos Armella follow Pacheco’s life in and out of the bullring. A warm-hearted and honest character, Pacheco is a man whose self-destructive behavior — heavy alcohol and drug use, even in the ring — bring his private life and public performance to extremes of insanity. But it is ultimately Pacheco’s wife (who is also his manager) who pays the highest price for his behavior, and the camera relentlessly stays on their relationship, even during the crude scenes of domestic violence.

Toro Negro achieves moments of extreme realism that fascinate and produce high tension. Human passions and conflicts are explored with rawness and humor and the film proves that reality can have much greater suspense and be far more captivating than fiction.

“Radically human and touching.” — Reforma

“I was profoundly impressed; the impact was 100% emotional.” — Alejandro González Iñarritu, director of Amores Perros

“These talented co-directors create an especially intimate environment; at times it seems they must be invisible to their subjects, as several of the moments they capture on film are hard to believe — and, at times, hard to stomach.”
— Diana Sanchez, Toronto Film Festival

Winner, Best Film (Horizontes)
San Sebastian Film Festival 2005

Winner, Best Documentary Feature
Morelia Film Festival 2005

Winner, Best Documentary
Havana Film Festival 2005

Ten-day Engagement!
Thursday, March 30 — Sunday, April 9
Two Boots Pioneer Theater

March 30 – April 5 at 9pm;
March 31 & April 7 at 7pm;
April 2, 8 & 9 at 5pm
For tickets in advance click here

These screenings are made possible by the generous support of Alex Gutiérrez and Lucía Skwarek.

The Cinema Tropical Film Series is sponsored by The New York Times and is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency
For more information visit www.cinematropical.com or call (212) 592-3428