The Calgary Underground Film Festival
Midnight Family
Mexico, United States, 2019: 81 minutes: Alberta Premiere
description
The Ochoa family runs a for-profit ambulance in Mexico City, competing with other EMTs for patients in need of urgent help. While making a living in this cutthroat industry, they struggle to keep their financial needs from jeopardizing the people in their care. When a crackdown by corrupt police forces the family to try legitimizing their operation, their desperate financial situation pushes them into questionable practices even as they continue providing essential emergency medical services. In humanizing the Ochoas’ ethically compromised business, MIDNIGHT FAMILY explores urgent questions around healthcare, the failings of government and the complexity of personal responsibility.
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Sundance 2019
HotDocs 2019
DIRECTOR'S BIO
Luke Lorentzen graduated from Stanford University in art history and film studies. His short film Santa Cruz del Islote (2014) won awards at over 10 international film festivals. His first feature documentary New York Cuts (2015) had its world premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam and its U.S. premiere at the Camden International Film Festival. Luke is also part of the team behind Netflix's documentary series Last Chance U.
press for Midnight Family
"A gripping doc... The film achieves a powerful measure of suspense that’s intricately tied up in its despairing sociological depiction of a system that’s come apart at the seams."- Variety
"Arguably the most exhilarating documentary to come out of Sundance this year, MIDNIGHT FAMILY follows the Ochoa family... at intensely close range on these Sisyphean missions of mercy."- New Directors/New Films
"A deft mix of big-picture doc-making and intimate moments ... not to mention a wild — and remarkably eye-opening — ride."- Rolling Stone
"Combining edge-of-your seat thrills with intimate family moments, the doc coalesces to devastating effect. Doubly impressive is that Lorentzen pulled this off as a one-man crew."- Hammer to Nail
details
Documentary / Action
Spanish with English Subtitles81 minutes
credits
Director
Luke Lorentzen
Producers
Kellen Quinn
Luke Lorentzen
Daniela Alatorre
Elena Fortes Acosta
Cinematographer
Luke Lorentzen
Music
Los Shajatos
Official website:
/midnightfamilyfilm.com
community
awards
Winner U.S Documentary Special Jury Award For Cinematography, Sundance 2019