By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.75 cats
Director: Fernanda Valadez
Starring: David Illescas | Juan Jesús Varela | Mercedes Hernández
Original language title: Sin Señas Particulares
Country: mexico, spain
Year: 2021
Running time: 95
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11394282/reference
Michael says: “This Mexican feature is a slow burn as a mother travels from her tiny village in Guanajuato to the Mexican/US border to find out what happened to her son. Along the way she encounter resistance, danger and mounting terror, as well as a young man deported from the US who helps her on her quest. This devastating film paints a horrific picture of the challenges suffusing rural Mexico today. 4.5 cats
“Viewed at the Provincetown Virtual Film Festival, 2020”
Julie says: “IDENTIFYING FEATURES explores the issue of the alarming numbers of Mexican immigrants who never make it to our soil when attempting to cross the southern border. It follows Magdelena (Mercedes Hernandez) in search of her son who disappeared along with his friend when attempting to cross. The friend is soon found to have been murdered spurring Magdelena on a search to find her son or at the least, what happened to her son. She meets up with several people who help her along the way, the most memorable in performance and integral to the story is Miguel (played by David Illescas). Miguel is a young man who’s just been deported after several years in the U.S., and is headed back home in the same direction as Magdelena. Claudia Becerril’s stunning cinematography interspersed with widescreen close up imagery is breathtaking. The well placed use of music in combination with these images, creates the perfect backdrop. Mercedes Hernandez puts in a quietly powerful performance that deserves recognition. This is a confident, accomplished and distinctive feature directorial debut, by Fernanda Valadez. A true buried treasure. 5 cats“