Watch Highway Patrolman

Highway Patrolman is a gritty and powerful film from acclaimed director Alex Cox that follows the story of Pedro Rojas, a young man who enlists in the Mexican Highway Patrol to help support his family. From the opening scene, the film introduces the viewer to the harsh reality of life on the streets of Mexico, with the sound of gunshots echoing throughout a rundown neighborhood. Pedro, played by Roberto Sosa, is a young man who feels that he has no other options but to join the highway patrol to help support his family. Despite this, Pedro quickly realizes that his job is not as glamorous as he had hoped.

As Pedro embarks on his new career, he is partnered with a more experienced officer, Anibal, played by Bruno Bichir, who has become disillusioned with the corruption and brutality of the job. Anibal becomes a mentor to Pedro, teaching him the ropes of the job while also warning him of the dangers that lie ahead.

Despite the warnings, Pedro becomes increasingly embroiled in the dangerous and corrupt world of the highway patrol. He finds himself caught between his loyalty to his fellow officers and his own sense of morality and justice. Along the way, Pedro draws the attention of a young woman, Griselda, played by Vanessa Bauche, who becomes his romantic interest and a symbol of hope in a bleak world.

Throughout the film, Cox uses powerful imagery to highlight the stark contrast between Pedro's personal struggles and the wider societal issues facing Mexico. The film is shot in a gritty, naturalistic style that reinforces the sense of realism and authenticity.

One of the strengths of Highway Patrolman is its complex and nuanced characters. Pedro is an empathetic figure, struggling to make the best of a bad situation, while also battling the internal conflict between what he knows is right and what he feels he must do to survive. Similarly, Anibal is a tragic figure, a man who has seen too much and is struggling to hold onto his own moral compass.

The film also explores wider societal issues such as poverty, corruption, and drug trafficking. These themes are conveyed through the film's powerful imagery, which often shows the brutal reality of life on the streets of Mexico. Despite the bleakness of the subject matter, Highway Patrolman also features moments of humor and tenderness that help to humanize the characters and make them feel relatable.

Overall, Highway Patrolman is a powerful and thought-provoking film that explores complex themes with nuance and sensitivity. The film's strong performances, naturalistic style, and powerful imagery make it a must-watch for fans of hard-hitting cinema.

Highway Patrolman is a 1993 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.