HRFF 2020: Our Review of ‘Radio Silence’

Posted in Human Rights Film Festival, What's Streaming? by - December 05, 2020
HRFF 2020: Our Review of ‘Radio Silence’

Radio Silence follows Mexican journalist, Carmen Aristegui, an incorruptible force with the courage to speak out against the current administration. Though she has a dedicated fan base of 18 million, her bravery and ferocity draw the ire of the government. Following her report on a corruption scandal involving the president, a radio station fires Aristegui from her show. Nevertheless, Aristegui will not be silent and she fights for new ways to raise awareness about a crooked system. One that cares more about maintaining power than serving its people.

There’s a heat to Radio Silence that demands attention. Juliana Fanjul (Muchachas) wrote and directed the film. And it is a searing indictment of the Mexican government  and their desire to control the voices that influence their citizens. In Silence, Fanjul has found a truly fascinating subject in Aristegui, who she depicts as a relentless force in her pursuit of justice. There’s some truly remarkable (and, at times, disturbing) footage here. Fanjul reveals the dangers that Aristegui faces on a daily basis as she fights to expose those in power.

In this way, there remains a cost to Aristegui’s mission. (What’s more, Aristegui may be the primary target. But she is not the only person who suffers as her staff also feel the increasing pressure to abandon their pursuit.) This is a culture where wielding official power is akin to that of the mafia. Every day brings a genuine threat to Aristegui and her team. Even so, whether it’s in the form of endless lawsuits or threats of violence, she remains determined despite the distress that it causes her. As such Fanjul focuses her lens on the remarkable Aristegui and her team. She recognizes the integrity it takes to investigate an unjust system and the courage it requires to follow through.

  • Release Date: 12/8/2020
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Born at a very early age, Steve is a Toronto-based writer and podcaster who loves to listen to what matters to our culture on screen. When he first saw Indiana Jones steal the cross of Coronado, he knew his world would never be the same and, since then, he’s found more and more excuses to digest what’s in front of him onscreen. Also, having worked as a youth and community minister for almost 20 years, he learned that stories help everyone engage the world around them. He’s a proud hubby, father (x2) and believes that Citizen Kane, Batman Forever (yes, the Kilmer one), and The Social Network belong in the same conversation. You can hear his ramblings on ScreenFish Radio wherever podcasts are gettable or at his website, ScreenFish.net.
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