Los Traficantes

Los Traficantes had the potential of being overwhelmed and ultimately underwhelming because of a low budget. But as it turns out...Salvation is a funny thing...

Salvation happens when you least expect it, it can sneak up on you, sometimes everything just falls into place just when you need it, or you have to fall in the right place to discover it. Salvation for Esteban Mendoza came after years of running drugs and gunning thugs for control of territory and money in Mexico. It happened in prison, after he had been stripped of everything he thought was important, it happened when Esteban realized that it wasn't all about him.

Funny thing, that salvation...

Salvation for this film comes from the people involved in telling the story, an editor Daniel R. Padgett who works with Wes Anderson combined with an impressive debut original score by Ben Mason and a controlled directorial coming out party by Adam Watson. Above those key aspects of the success of Los Traficantes is the story itself, the personal journey of Esteban Mendoza and the countless others who he has affected since.

So, if you can forgive and offer grace for a few awkward camera set ups and some even awkwarder acting at times you will discover a touching docudrama with it's heart and it's salvation in the right place.