Film documents Juarez change

Former Albuquerque resident and filmmaker Charlie Minn goes in depth for his latest documentary, “The New Juárez.” The film, which will screen at The Guild Cinema beginning Friday, is the third and final installment of films where Minn looked at the violence in the border city. The film will also begin playing at Winrock 6 beginning Friday.

“This is more of a positive look at the city,” he explains during a recent interview. “No one really knows what is happening with the violence rate going down. I wanted to take a closer look at the positive change.”

As in previous documentaries, Minn sought out experts in the area to speak to the issue.

Minn says the most important factors responsible for the declining murder rate are the waning turf wars, the number of clandestine deals between top-ranking officials in the Mexican government and drug lords, the demilitarization of the city of Juárez and the hiring of a new and controversial police chief.

He says incoming Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto also has changed the tide.

“There are so many changes, and things have been hectic in such a short amount of time, that it’s difficult to pinpoint one reason,” he explains. “A lot of people believe that (Joaquin) “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera won the war in Juárez. He’s responsible for almost 100,000 people dying since he became the biggest drug lord in the world.”

In the film, Minn interviews Juárez mayor Hector Murguía, police chief Julian Leyzaola Pérez, citizens of Juárez and other experts and academics who express their opinions about the changes in the city. A police ride-along adds to the tension of this intense and emotional film.

Mexico president-elect Enrique Peña Nieto on the campaign trail in Mexico. Peña Nieto is featured in the documentary “The New Juárez.”

Minn says “The New Juárez” features more material from the Juárez side.

“I’ve developed more connections now in Juárez, and that helped with this movie,” he explains. “I was granted permission to do a ride along with the Juárez municipal police and this is something that I couldn’t conceive when I first started the films.”

Minn makes the argument that hiring Leyzaola Pérez has been good, even with the allegations of human rights abuse and torture when he was police chief in Tijuana.

“He has helped lower the murder rate and called out the cartels,” he explains. “He’s also survived numerous murder threats. He is a brave man.”

Along with police cooperating with Minn, he says residents also were willing to talk to him on camera.

“Not one person can pinpoint what is going on,” he explains. “I would say it’s suspiciously quiet, and you almost feel like something bad is going to happen. People don’t quite trust the numbers because there has been so much that has happened to them in the past.”

Minn was filming while the Mexican presidential election was taking place and feels the documentary is timely.

He also says that people have the wrong perception about the violence spilling over into the United States.

“The spillover is going south further into Mexico,” he explains. “The cartels are smart, and I seriously doubt they are going to bring their work here. Also, in Mexico nearly 95 percent of their crimes remain not investigated.”

Minn says this is his final film on Juárez and he is fortunate to have had the opportunity to make the trilogy of films. Before the trio of films, Minn worked on “Nightmare in Las Cruces,” which told the story of the infamous bowling alley murders in Las Cruces.

“For my next film, I’m looking at an unsolved crime in Long Island,” he says. “It could be a financial cost, so I’m weighing my opportunities right now.”

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