Sequestro

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Opening in theatres this week is a disturbing documentary from director/writer Jorge W. Atalla, Paradigm Pictures with MidMax Entertainment bringing “Sequestro”.

This film tells the story of a film crew who go on a four-year journey into a disturbing trend in Sao Paulo and Brazil itself – kidnapping. The crew follows the Ibiapina family as their father, Jose, has been taken for ransom. What is going on in this country?

Quite simply the history is this: the writer sites the end of the Cold War that stopped funds from reaching the Leftist movements. Cuba assembled a group called ‘Departmento America’ that was committed to kidnapping as a way of financing Latin American guerilla activities.

Somewhere along the way it has become a past time. From four kidnappings in 1986, the numbers has reached over 400 people in Sao Paulo (1,500 in Brazil) with an intake of $7.7 million dollars in the last ten years.

Now, in Sao Paulo, there is an Anti-kidnapping Police Division whose only job is to recover those who have been taken – women, men, the elderly and even children – no one is safe when money is the motive. These police work with the Ibiapina family to track down their father before time runs out.

This is a look at what is real – and those affected by it.

FINAL WORD: This is a very emotional documentary. The viewer is taken on a roller coast ride of history through the birth of this crime and what is has grown to today. Once a way for ‘revolutionaries’ to make their point, even they (from behind prison walls) believe these kidnappings are a violent act and merely extortion. Ironic isn’t it?

As the police trace one suspect after another, those who have been abducted tell their stories with heart, with courage and an amazing amount of strength. They bravely recount their capture and, in some cases, violent treatment at the hands of their captors.

Even more emotional is their telling of their lives today and the fears that it will happen to them again. In the midst of the sadness there are moments of pure joy as the police, and cameras, are there to record the moments of success as families are reunited.

Working in the division also has a strong impact on those officers who work within it. As in the case of the Ibiapina family, the police become close to the families and share in their pain and agony, which takes a toll on their own personal lives.

In the Anti-kidnapping Police Division, finding them alive is their goal, bringing down the criminals their purpose, reuniting with their families is their reward!

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give “Sequestro” three and a half tubs of popcorn out of five. This is a documentary filled with so many emotions! There is surprise that this is not given the press in the world news spotlight. Add to that mix rage, helplessness and confusion that one human being would do this to another.

Watching the events unfold, from the harassing and mentally exhausting telephone calls of the extortionists to the blatant disregard for humanity, can only be called riveting. The abducted living conditions, as well as the sometimes-lengthy periods of silence, are hard to comprehend yet those that survived show us all the will to live.

From captive time periods up to 70 days, it’s a race against time and money. In the end - some things can only change when given the light of day with the voices and courage of those who have survived.