‘Sujo’ Review – A Haunting, Empathetic Look At Outrunning Our Destiny

Can we ever really escape the sins of our families? Are we destined to follow in their footsteps no matter how hard we try? This question is at the core of many amazing coming-of-age films and follows us through much of our lives. We want to do better than the generations before us, taking the best qualities from them and putting away the troublesome tendencies that have been passed down. Some situations just take some work to get through, but many others seem daunting and impossible to overcome.

One of the films up for Best International Feature this year takes this thinking to harrowing places. Sujo, Mexico’s submission for the 97th Academy Awards, is written and directed by Gotham Award-winning duo Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez and follows the titular young boy after his father is killed by his fellow cartel members. Orphaned, Sujo is kept safe by his aunt Nemesia as long as she keeps her promise to keep him out of the rural town he grew up in. He lives his childhood secluded with his aunt, occasionally hanging out with Jai and Jeremy, Nemesia’s children. As he grows older, he learns more of his father’s misdeeds and the “legacy” that has been passed down to him.

Sujo at its core is, in a word, refreshing. Many crime-adjacent films and shows set in Mexico have that goldish hue to signal the location, but cinematographer Ximena Amann takes advantage of the stunning rural scenery, a combination of wooded areas, and more wide open spaces that bring the Mexican countryside to life. It’s no longer a caricature of itself but represented in its true form. Sujo is also not a cartel gore-fest, keeping its sights set on the drama of its central characters and not being drawn in by the temptation of extreme screen violence. This violence exists on the periphery as a reminder of the danger Sujo is chasing, an ever-present but unseen cloud hanging over their heads.

As the plot unfolds, it becomes easier to understand the plight of these young men. As they see it, they can either see their families suffer in poverty or join up with the cartel for a shot at changing their financial futures. They can see this binary choice, with no other way forward in sight. This short-sighted vision has likely plagued generations of young men in all parts of the world, but especially in crime-ridden rural areas like this. There’s no access to a bigger city or pursue other opportunities. Any honest work would hardly be worth the menial pay Sujo could receive. Sujo humanizes these characters in a way most films can’t, and it makes for a much more compelling story than a shoot-em-up crime thriller.

Sujo’s naturalistic filmmaking style also helps to make the audience empathize with the story and characters, reminding us these are real people. This happens to real people worldwide, not just wildly evil folks looking for power and wealth. Sujo is only looking to find more of his father’s life in his own and help his aunt out, he doesn’t want to hurt anyone. It feels like every shot is made with natural lighting and uses the essence of the location without adding fluff to make it look different. The juxtaposition of rural beauty with bleak circumstances is incredibly effective and communicates the desperation folks in this position must feel.

Sujo is a heartbreaking coming-of-age story about feeling trapped and explores the ways people attempt to outrun their destiny. The film is tragic, but not without a light at the end of the tunnel. Writer-director duo Rondero and Valadez have crafted an expertly human film that begs to be seen, with stunning visuals and an empathetic lens that breaks the mold of a cartel story. Be sure to add this one to the watch list as you catch up on Best International Feature hopefuls!

Sujo is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of The Forge.