Netflix’s “Noise” or “Ruido”, written and directed by Natalia Beristain, is a Mexican drama that revolves around a mother named Julia who searches for her daughter Ger, who has been missing for several years.
She is also the embodiment of all struggling women, including mothers, daughters, or sisters who have been subjected to violence and injustice in their country. In her search for Ger, Julia discovers a support network where she connects with other women with different stories and issues.
The dramatic narrative and meaningful themes are complemented by heartfelt performances from a talented cast of Julieta Egurrola, Kenya Cuevas, Teresa Ruiz, and Erick Israel Consuelo.
Moreover, the interesting locations in the background, especially where women are seen raising their voices for justice, are bound to raise some questions about the filming locations of ‘Noise’.
Where Was Noise Movie Filmed?
“Noise” was ostensibly filmed in Mexico, particularly Mexico City. Principal photography for the drama film is said to have taken place amid the Covid-19 pandemic, likely during the first months of summer 2021.
Located in the southern part of North America, Mexico is the 13th largest country and the 10th most populous region in the world. Unfortunately, Mexico still struggles with crime, poverty, and social inequality, which are prevalent themes in the film.
Mexico
According to reports, many key sequences for “Noise” took place in and around Mexico City, Mexico’s capital and largest city. From the looks of it, the production team seemingly set up camp in various locations, including open fields and abandoned places, to shoot the scenes against suitable backdrops. In this way, they used the locations as pivotal characters in the film, giving the audience an immersive and authentic experience.
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Located in the Valley of Mexico, CDMX is one of Latin America’s most important economic centers, producing approximately 15% of the country’s GDP. One of the main sectors of Mexico City’s economy is tourism. It attracts millions of foreign tourists every year.
The city is home to many monuments and places of interest, including the Plaza de la Constitución, the Chapultepec Castle, the College of Santa Cruz de Tlatelolco, and the National Museum of Anthropology.
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In addition to tourists, Mexico City attracts many filmmakers for filming because of its vast and versatile landscape. Over the years, it has hosted the production of several film and television projects. In addition to ‘Noise’, his locations were featured in ‘Y Tu mamá también’, ‘North Country’ ‘Roma’, and ‘High Heat’.
Noise (Ruido) Movie Review
Natalia Beritain’s Noise opens with a lot of noise. We hear unsettling music followed by the sounds of drumming, and then other sounds are slowly added to the mix, creating a chaotic soundscape. As for the visuals, purple smoke fills the screen as the camera follows the pensive face of an old woman. That woman is Julia (Julieta Egurrola) and the noise that engulfs her comes from a protest.
It’s been 2 years since Julia’s daughter Gertrudis (or Ger) went missing. The Mexican government is proving to be incompetent and careless. They call Julia and Arturo (Arturo Beristáin) to identify the body, but then send them back saying they made a mistake with the files.
These government officials seem to have no idea that their “mistake” is causing so much pain to the family members of the victims. The police are not very interested in missing persons. In the next scene, a policewoman arrives late while Julia and a journalist named Abril (Teresa Ruiz) wait. That officer also takes a bribe for doing his job. But there’s also an honest policeman, even if he’s constrained by a corrupt government.
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So it is up to the people to do the work of the police by searching for missing persons. Julia meets one such group of women, with whom she explores the area and explores a seedy underground space. Julia is not the only one who has lost a loved one. She finds her companions and we are told that some of them have been searching for their husbands, sons, and daughters for over 6 years. There is also a support group where women come and share their experiences.
Their words: “You are not alone” become a source of strength and sadness. Julia’s grief is not unique; she can find comfort in others who are going through similar pain. But the fact that so many other people are living with the same experience causes anxiety. One of the women in the support group says she never stops telling herself to be more excited about her daughter’s pregnancy. It cannot organically evoke feelings of happiness. Such is the pain a mother endures when she loses her child.
Close-ups of grieving faces carry a strong charge of despair. It is impossible not to cringe at the sight of these mothers’ faces, their expressions exploding with anxiety and anger. There are also traces of exhaustion in them. You sit helpless in a chair while protesters are beaten and a journalist is kidnapped. Like the characters in the movie, you feel helpless and therefore irritated.
The film begins with Julia, but its lens gradually expands to include other citizens. We see many dead bodies inside the truck, emphasizing that there are many victims like Gertrudis out there. Those people in the truck may be dead, but at least they’re no longer missing.
Apparently finding someone in Mexico is a big deal. When Julia and Abril meet with the counselor, we first walk through her room and then notice the figure. On the wall are pictures of people that this mentor has established. These papers are displayed as certificates. The noise suggests that the missing persons will either become “files” or “badges of success”.
Julia is initially seen with sad expressions. But as the film progresses, we get moments where he smiles. When she first glows, we see her from a distance through one of the small boxes painted on a glass transparent wall. Julia also briefly dances with a group of women before returning to the bleak world. The window for pleasure is really small.
In Noise, women seek justice while men appear as a blur in the background. Even Arturo is not seen after a few scenes at the beginning. This makes Noise a celebration of femininity. And it’s not just people; the film also praises animals, such as the female dog we watch feeding her young by herself.
Female characters take to the streets to protest against the government, filling the environment with calls for justice. At first, Julia quietly and in shock walks through the protesters and later joins them. It is an amazing scene and will infect you with its fervor. Like Julia, you too will become one of the participants in the march.
The noise falters when Julia is seen crying in an isolated location. At one point, after the journalist is kidnapped, he screams in slow motion. These scenes take you out of the story and create distance between you and the characters. As Julia and Abril talk in a restaurant, the latter comes in with her young daughter. The daughter’s presence becomes a kind of statement: If the current situation does not change, this little girl will also live in danger in the future. The way the camera focuses on the daughter ends up overemphasizing this point.
But Britain loves his characters, and that’s why we allow the film to wash over us. Since reality is too cruel, the director uses the medium to give a happy ending. The final shot is ambiguous as we wondered who the girl was. Is it Gertrude? Was the man lying? Why not? If movies can mirror our society, they can also offer us relief. Life becomes bearable when we believe there is light at the end of the tunnel.
