Films A-Z
Presumed Guilty
Presunto Culpable
Roberto Hernandez, Geoffrey Smith / Mexico / 2009 / 90 min.
Can you imagine walking down the street and then suddenly being arrested and taken without explanation to a police station where you are charged with a murder you didn't commit? And before you know it sentenced to 20 years behind bars on the basis of a false indictment? This is not a joke but the harsh reality that a young Mexican named Tono Zuniga had to go through. He is by no means the only person to have experienced such a fate in Mexico either. Fortunately for Tono, two lawyers became involved in his case and spent three years tirelessly working to secure his release. This documentary captures their detective work and confrontations with a witness, police and the judge, and the protagonist's life in jail. It also exposes the rottenness at the core of the Mexican justice system. A handheld camera, dynamic editing and lively soundtrack add to the tense drama, as does the winning personality of Tono Zuniga himself.
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