Armed to the Teeth
Dir.
Alberto Arnaut Estrada | México
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2016
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106 min
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Documental
Prod.:
Imcine-Foprocine, Hasta Los Dientes Films, Chemistry Cine.
Prod.:
Ambulante Y Colectivo Todxsomosjorgejavier
No justice without memory, no peace without justice. #WeAreAllJorgeAndJavier
Synopsis
In 2010, the Mexican government announced the killing of two alleged hitmen “armed to the teeth.” In reality, they were two top students from the Tecnológico de Monterrey who were tortured and murdered by the military.
Why learn about this impactful campaign?
Armed to the Teeth is a landmark in Mexican impact documentary filmmaking, serving as a powerful tool in the fight for justice for Jorge Mercado and Javier Arredondo — two students murdered by the Mexican army and falsely labeled as criminals.
Together with the victims’ families, the collective #WeAreAllJorgeAndJavier, the NGO Ambulante, and Amnesty International, the campaign helped secure a public apology from the Mexican State — nine years after the crime and one year after the film’s release — acknowledging its responsibility and clearing the students’ names.
The film has been used to preserve memory through student-led activities and to explain, during key political moments, why the military should not be tasked with public security. This case is relevant to those working on serious human rights violations, victim support, and activism for truth, justice, and memory — as well as film festivals looking to drive impact.
