Mexican movie is ‘censored’

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The documentary “Presumed Guilty” (“Presunto Culpable” link in Spanish) has received accolades far and wide, from human rights groups, audiences and Mexican legislators. It is a damning look at the Mexican judicial system that hastens to put a man in prison on the flimsiest of evidence.

That same judiciary this week ordered the movie pulled from theaters. The reason? One of the prosecution witnesses in the case claims he never gave permission for footage of him to be used in the film.

Backers of the film were having none of this. The witness, Victor Reyes Bravo, was taped while in public hearings and no special permission was necessary, the makers of “Presumed Guilty” say.

“We see this as an attempt at censorship, an attempt to block the exhibition of a movie that all Mexico must see,” the film’s director, Roberto Hernandez, said in a radio interview (link in Spanish).

The movie recounts the conviction of Antonio Zuniga on a 2005 murder charge, which is eventually overturned.

Both federal and local governments say they don’t agree with the court’s ruling (link in Spanish). Theaters are vowing to continue showing the important film.

--Tracy Wilkinson in Mexico City