Skip to main content

Deep Dive: Dark Suns (2019)

Play Trailer

Film Lens

Dark Suns
Dark Suns is a Canadian documentary directed by Julien Élie, released in 2018. The film examines the epidemic of murder linked to the illegal drug trade in Mexico, focusing on the stories of disappeared women and the violence faced by journalists, union leaders, social rights activists, and priests. It presents personal testimonies from surviving friends, colleagues, and family members of murder victims, providing a human perspective on the widespread violence. The film premiered at the Montreal International Documentary Festival in November 2018 and had a commercial run in 2019. It received critical acclaim for its construction and storytelling, with reviews noting the film's portrayal of a dangerous environment in Mexico where individuals can easily disappear. In 2023, Élie continued to address the theme of violence in Mexico with his follow-up film, The White Guard.

Why Watch

  • •Meet the families of murder victims in Mexico.
  • •See the impact of the drug trade on society.
  • •Find out about violence against journalists and activists.

Did You Know

•Dark Suns won the Sichtwechsel Film Award at Filmfest Hamburg in 2019.
•The film received three Prix Iris nominations at the 22nd Quebec Cinema Awards in 2020.
•Julien Élie's follow-up film, The White Guard, was released in 2023.
•The documentary has a runtime of 152 minutes.

Perfect For

True crime enthusiastsSocial justice advocatesDocumentary film lovers