2025 Latin American Film Festival: "Dead Man's Switch"

Description

Enjoy the next event in the 2025 Latin American Film Festival, featuring Mexican film Dead Man's Switch. The festival is co-sponsored by the Program in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies and the Aronson Center for International Studies. All films are captioned.

Dead Man's Switch is a gripping drama that follows Dalia, a 42-year-old subway driver, whose life unravels after her husband vanishes without warning. Dalia's world, already strained by her demanding job and complicated family dynamics, quickly spirals as she faces a wall of bureaucratic indifference and suspicion. Her desperate search for answers is met with endless paperwork, cold officials, and a society that offers little support. The film, directed by Alejandro Gerber Bicecci, grounds its suspenseful missing-person story in the harsh reality of Mexico's ongoing crisis of disappearances.

As Dalia juggles her responsibilities as a mother to two children and her secret extramarital affair, the pressure mounts. Each day brings new challenges, from police interrogations to the emotional toll of being constantly re-victimized by those who should help her. The city's violent indifference and the relentless grind of her job push her to the edge. The subway, usually a symbol of routine and safety, becomes a metaphorical tunnel with no clear exit.

Shot in stark black and white, Dead Man's Switch uses striking visuals to capture the isolation and despair that define Dalia's journey. The film's social-realist approach gives an authentic voice to women searching for missing loved ones in Mexico, highlighting the emotional and systemic obstacles they face. Adriana Paz delivers a powerful performance as Dalia, portraying her vulnerability and strength with nuance.

Dead Man's Switch stands out as both a suspenseful thriller and a poignant social commentary. It shines a light on the personal cost of a broken system and the resilience required to keep searching for hope when the world turns away. This film is a must-watch for anyone interested in powerful, character-driven stories rooted in real-world issues.