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.

“This is harsh, intense, yet artfully shaped filmmaking that continually takes you one step further than you thought you'd go.” — Stuart Klawans, The Nation

“Undeniably powerful” — Grady Hendrix, New York Sun

“Radically human and touching.” — Reforma, Mexico

“I was profoundly impressed; the impact was 100% emotional.” — Alejandro González Iñárritu (Director of Amores Perros)

“A documentary with a proper fiction structure” — Miradas de Cine

“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

 

Horizons Award for Best Film – San Sebastián Film Festival 2005
Best Film – Morelia Film Festival 2005
Audience Award – Nantes “3 Continents” Film Festival 2005
Special Mention for Best Documentary – Nantes “3 Continents” Film Festival
Best Documentary – Havana International Film Festival 2005
OFFICIAL SELECTION:
Festival Internacional de Cine Contemporáneo de la Ciudad de México 2005
Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema 2005
Toronto Film Festival 2005
Gira de Documentales Ambulante 2006
Titanic International Filmpresence Festival 2006

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