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Back Previous Next winner Image 3 of 39
2011, Arts and Entertainment , 3rd prize singles , Fabio Cuttica
Photo information

Narco Cinema

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Actor Fabian Lopez on set in Tijuana, playing the lead in the film El Baleado 2.

Narco Cinema

06 November 2010

Der Schauspieler Fabian Lopez am Drehort in Tijuana, Mexiko, wo er die Hauptrolle in dem Film El Baleado 2 spielt. Hinter ihm, im Büro, steigt eine Kokain-Wolke auf. Tijuana ist im wirklichen Leben ein Zentrum der in Mexiko wütenden Drogenkriege. Diese Konflikte waren Inspiration für das „Narco Cinema“, ein B-Movie-Genre, das es seit den 80er Jahren gibt, das aber in den letzten Jahren immer mehr Gewalt zeigt. Formelhaft und voller Action werden die Filme als Verherrlichung des Lebens der Drogenbarone angesehen, aber sie zeigen eine Welt, die viele Zuschauer kennen, und sind daher sowohl in Mexiko als auch bei Mexikanern in den USA sehr beliebt. Jedes Jahr werden allein in Tijuana über 30 dieser Narco-Filme gedreht und viele ihrer Darsteller sind zu Stars geworden.

Tijuana, Mexico
Actor Fabian Lopez on set in Tijuana, playing the lead in the film El Baleado 2. A cloud of cocaine rises behind him in his office. Tijuana is a focal point of real-life drug wars raging in Mexico. The wars have inspired ‘narco cinema’, a B-movie genre dating back to the 1980s that has become increasingly violent in recent years. Formulaic and action-packed, the films have been accused of glamorizing the drug lords’ way of life, but reflect a world much of the audience recognizes. Narco cinema is enormously popular both in Mexico and with Mexicans living in the USA. Over 30 such narco movies are shot each year in Tijuana alone, and many actors achieve star status.

Photo credit:
Contrasto

Fabio Cuttica speaks about the project:
"In November 2010, I begun to document the cinema production in Tijuana, Mexico. I focused my work on the production of movies that offer a representation of narco trafficking. In the last years, with the increase of violence due to conflicts among drug cartels, a cultural market (music, literature, movies) has developed that seeks to describe and tell some aspects of this conflict.

The winning picture, which is one of a series about narco cinema, was shot during the filming of the movie El Baleado 2. It was one of the last scenes, before the main character, actor Fabian Lopez in the role of Saul 'El Baleado' was shot to death. I worked on the set of El Baleado 2 film during a week. In the scene, 'El Baleado' leaves his office, shooting at the enemies that want revenge. In the background, a cloud of cocaine fills up the room. His face, drug crazed, is also cover by cocaine-like powder. That day was the last day of filming. It was a 20-hour, non-stop journey, at a set inside a house in Tijuana. It was a very tiring day, but really lucky, I will not forget it!"

Fabián López, actor, durante su interpretación en el plató en Tijuana (México) del papel principal de la película El Baleado 2. A sus espaldas se levanta una nube de cocaína en su oficina. Tijuana es un foco de la guerra del narcotráfico que azota México en la vida real. La guerra del narcotráfico ha inspirado el «narcocine» de serie B, un género que se remonta a la década de 1980 pero que se ha vuelto extremadamente violento en los últimos años. Las películas formulaicas y llenas de acción han sido acusadas de exaltar el estilo de vida de los barones del narcotráfico, pero reflejan un mundo que el público reconoce y que son enormemente populares en México y admiradas por los mexicanos asentados en Estados Unidos. Sólo en Tijuana se graban anualmente más de 30 películas similares, y muchos actores alcanzan el estatus de estrella de cine.

L’acteur Fabian Lopez en tournage à Tijuana, Mexique, où il tient le rôle principal du film El Baleado 2. Derrière lui s’élève un nuage de cocaïne. Tijuana est au centre de la guerre des cartels de la drogue qui fait rage au Mexique. Cette guerre a inspiré le narco-ciné, un sous-genre cinématographique des années 80, devenu plus violent ces dernières années. Si ces films d’action, qui se ressemblent tous, ont été accusés de rendre hommage au mode de vie des barons de la drogue, ils reflètent pourtant un monde dans lequel se reconnaît une grande partie du public et sont très populaires au Mexique et chez les Mexicains des États-Unis. Plus de 30 narco-films sont tournés annuellement à Tijuana et beaucoup d’acteurs deviennent des stars.

L’attore Fabian Lopez interpreta il personaggio principale sul set del film El Baleado 2 a Tijuana, Messico. Dietro di lui, nel suo ufficio, una nuvola di cocaina: Tijuana nella realtà è teatro delle guerre di droga in Messico. Gli scontri fra narcotrafficanti hanno ispirato il “narco cinema”, un genere di B-movie che risale agli anni ’80, ma che di recente è diventato sempre più violento. Pieni di luoghi comuni e d’azione, questi film sono stati accusati di rendere attraente lo stile di vita dei baroni della droga, ma di fatto rispecchiano un mondo che il pubblico riconosce e sono estremamente popolari sia in Messico sia fra i messicani residenti negli usa. Ogni anno solo a Tijuana si girano più di 30 pellicole di questo tipo e molti attori diventano vere e proprie star.

Op een filmset in Tijuana in Mexico speelt de acteur Fabian Lopez de hoofdrol in de film El Baleado 2. Achter zijn rug waait een wolk cocaïne op. Tijuana is ook werkelijk een middelpunt in de drugsoorlogen die Mexico teisteren. De strijd tegen drugs leidde tot de ‘narcocinema’, een B-filmgenre dat al uit de jaren tachtig stamt, maar steeds gewelddadiger lijkt te worden. Deze films, opgezet volgens een vast stramien en boordevol actie, liggen onder vuur omdat ze het leven van de drugsbaronnen idealiseren, maar weerspiegelen ook een wereld die het publiek herkent. Ze zijn immens populair in Mexico en onder Mexicanen in de vs. Alleen al in Tijuana worden jaarlijks ruim 30 narcofilms opgenomen en veel acteurs worden sterren.

Location

Tijuana, Mexico

Technical information

Shutter speed: 1/200 s
ISO: 1600
F-Stop: f/4
Focal Length: 39 mm
Canon EOS 5D
Camera: Canon EOS 5D

Canon EF 17-40 mm f/4L USM lens
Lens: Canon EF 17-40 mm f/4L USM lens

Related links

World Press Photo is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Media links

  • Gallery of Fabio Cuttica’s ‘narco cinema’ project in The Independent

Fabio Cuttica

Fabio Cuttica
Nationality:
Italy
Website:
fabiocuttica.com, www.contrasto.it
About:
Born in Rome in 1973, Fabio Cuttica spent his childhood in Colombia and Peru, returning to Italy as a teenager. In 2001, having completed studies in photography at the European Institute of Design and Visual Arts in Rome, he became a staff photographer with Contrasto. Since then, Cuttica's work has focused mainly on cultural, social and political aspects of Latin America. His photos have appeared widely, in such publications as Stern, Geo Italia, l'Espresso, Il Corriere della Sera, The Sunday Times Magazine and others. Since 2010, Cuttica has been based in Tijuana, Mexico.
Read more about this photographer

Related links

World Press Photo is not responsible for the content of external websites.

In the media

  • About the work of Fabio Cuttica in the Courrier International (in French)

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