El Sicario: Room 164

El Sicario: Room 164 is a gripping 2010 documentary film directed by Gianfranco Rosi that dives into the dark world of narcotics crime in Mexico, a topic much discussed yet still significantly shrouded in mystery and intrigue. The movie title itself is instantly compelling, El Sicario or 'The Hitman' and Room 164 - a nondescript location which could be anywhere in the world. The viewer is drawn, intrigued right from the opening credits.

The film's main protagonist is a former hitman whose career spans 20 glorious yet terrifying years. With his face hidden behind a black cowl with only his expressive hands visible, he offers a first-hand narration of his journey into Mexico's drug underworld. The film completely changes the narrative around what we know or perceive about cartel hitmen. It presents the viewer with an intimate confessional, offering a nerve-wrackingly personal glimpse at a life submerged in organized crime.

The film unravels entirely within Room 164, which further intensifies the storytelling and draws the audience in, unable to look away. It's not a movie with an extensive set or numerous characters. Instead, it's a heartfelt, raw, and singular narrative, more akin to a private confession than a grand cinematographic spectacle. As he sits in the motel room divulging his life story, the hitman also occasionally uses a notebook, in which he sketches scenes from his past with the gripping precision of a graphic novel.

As the story gradually unfolds, we experience the explosive mixture of violence, corruption, and money that governs and dictates the drug world's norms. Rosi doesn't romanticize or glorify the life of a hitman. He lets the hitman's narrative and the chilling sketches do the speaking. Viewers are made to understand the unvarnished truth about the brutal day-to-day life of the people involved in this trade, the seductive power of money, and the ultimate cost of this life of crime.

El Sicario: Room 164 doesn't seek to exploit the sensational aspects of crime as is seen in other productions that delve into similar territory. There are no thrilling car chases, no tommy guns blazing, no dramatized murder sequences, no blood-curdling screams and gore. Instead, the hitman's calm and steady narration of violence is far more impactful—his stories send a chill down the spine and provoke introspection about the depth of human ambition and greed.

Director Gianfranco Rosi hails from a documentary tradition often referred to as Cinema of Reality. He presents a conscious effort to depict life as it is, stripped bare of all added gloss. El Sicario: Room 164 is a product of his dedication to truth-telling. While it's not as aesthetically decorated as many cinema productions, it has a raw, visceral appeal that stirs audiences’ emotions.

Accompanied by subtitles for international viewers, the movie unveils the man who once was a pantheon in the ruthless drug world. The monologue, a harrowing confessional, offers insights into the hitman's feelings of remorse and redemption, adding an unexpected dimension of humanity to an otherwise monstrous character. His journey towards faith and redemption makes the narrative even more nuanced.

Rosi's stealthy direction artfully captures the tension and suspense typically sought after in crime-thrillers without the conventional props. The sparseness of the visuals echoes the emptiness that haunts the man even in his revelation - an unexpected understatement that leaves a potent impact.

In conclusion, El Sicario: Room 164 is no ordinary crime documentary or drug cartel story. It is a hauntingly personal and deeply introspective film that captures these crime dramas' silent yet terrifying reality. This documentary is significant because it unveils an underworld through words and sketches that are as stark and menacing as the reality they represent. It's an unadulterated viewing experience that harbours the rawest aspects of human nature – greed, violence, fear, redemption – and puts forth the question – Does every man have a price? This film is a must-watch for viewers who revel in discovering the morbid and gritty realities of our world.