
The Black Book
2023

Representation Score
Fair
2022
RDirector
Alfonso Pineda Ulloa
Runtime
105 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetNew Showbiz Analysis
There Are No Saints is a gritty exploration of systemic failure and moral relativism. It grounds its thriller elements in an authentic Mexican cultural context, avoiding superficial Western depictions of the region. However, the film remains tied to conventional gender roles. The plot is driven by masculine violence and traditional protector archetypes, limiting the roles of female characters and ignoring LGBTQ+ perspectives. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its social critique. It uses the chaos of the drug trade to examine how systemic corruption erodes individual morality and institutional justice.
Category Breakdown
The film does not prominently feature LGBTQ+ narratives or characters with non-cisgender identities. The character dynamics focus almost entirely on traditional family structures.
The story reinforces traditional masculine roles and gender hierarchies. Female characters often serve as catalysts for the male protagonist's journey, with limited roles beyond supporting the main plot.
The film provides an authentic cultural backdrop through a predominantly Mexican cast and setting. It avoids superficial portrayals to present nuanced socioeconomic realities.
The narrative offers a sophisticated critique of systemic inequality and corruption. It challenges traditional notions of morality within the context of the drug trade.
There is no significant evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities in this work.
Present on Screen
Limited or Absent
Official Synopsis
A man is imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. When his wife is murdered and his son kidnapped and taken to Mexico, he devises an elaborate and dangerous plan to rescue his son and avenge the murder.

2023

2002

2025

2023

2021

2004

2014

2014
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