Damirez, Von Eric A.

EN11
THE MULE

I. Background
A. Director
Gabriela Tagliavini just finished directing her fifth feature, "The Mule," starring
Sharon Stone and Billy Zane. Anchor Bay will release it in the US and Voltage will
handle international sales.
Her forth feature as a writer-director, "Without Men," staring Eva Longoria
("Desperate Housewives") and Christian Slater ("True Romance"), sold worldwide in
many countries and was released in the U.S. in 2011. Tagliavini's "Ladies' Night"
distributed by Disney/Buena Vista was the #1 movie in Mexico's box office for 2004. It
won three MTV Latin Movie Awards, including, "Best Actress." The soundtrack released
by Sony Music went platinum. It was released in the U.S. in 2007. Tagliavini's TV film,

the Viacom/VH1/MTV/Maverick feature "30 Days Until I'm Famous," premiered on VH1.
The film stars Sean Patrick Flanery, Mindy Sterling, Udo Kier and Carmen Electra and
was executive-produced by Madonna.
For her feature directorial debut, "The Woman Every Man Wants" (aka "Perfect
Lover"), Tagliavini was named Best Director at three international film festivals including
the New York Independent Film Festival in 2001.
She received a Bachelors Degree in film directing and a Masters Degree in
screen-writing from the American Film Institute (AFI). She is also a renowned author
and has two novels published with critical acclaim. In addition to directing commercials
and television pilots, Tagliavini worked as a writer/correspondent for CNN. She won the
prestigious 2006 ABC/DGA directing fellowship where she worked on shows like Disney
Channel's "Hannah Montana" and "Desperate Housewives." Also for TV, she directed a
live show, "Comedy Rehab," that premiered in Comedy Central in May 2009.
She wrote the adaptation of the best-selling novel "The Anatomist" for HBO Films
and the screenplay for "Cantinflas" (a biopic about the Mexican comedian-th-esp) coproduced by former NBC Entertainment topper Ben Silverman. Gabriela Tagliavini
received the OutstadingAchivement Award from LEMI.

II. Characters
A. Protagonist

Sharon Stone (Sofie Talbert)

Sharon Vonne Stone was born on March 10, 1958 in Meadville, Pennsylvania. She
is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She achieved
international recognition for her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct by Paul
Verhoeven. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress and won a
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for her performance in
Casino.Stone. The second of four children, including older brother Mike Stone, she is
the daughter of Dorothy, an accountant and homemaker, and Joseph William Stone II, a
tool and die manufacturer and factory worker. Stone graduated in 1975 from
Saegertown High School in Saegertown, Pennsylvania.

William George "Billy" Zane, Jr. (Aaron Talbert)

William George "Billy" Zane, Jr. was born February 24, 1966 in Chicago, Illinois, the

son of Thalia and William George Zane, Sr., both of whom were amateur actors and
founders of a school for medical technicians. Both of his parents are of Greek descent
and his family's original surname, "Zanetakos" was anglicized to "Zane" by his parents,
who also raised him Greek Orthodox. He has an older sister, Lisa Zane, who is an
actress.
Zane is an American actor and producer. He is best known for playing Hughie in
Dead Calm, Caledon Hockley in Titanic, The Phantom from The Phantom, John
Wheeler in Twin Peaks and Mr. E in CQ.
After completing a year abroad at the American School in Switzerland, Zane
graduated from Francis W. Parker School and attended Harand Camp of the Theater
Arts, located in Evanston, Illinois.

Miguel Rodarte (Javier)

Miguel Rodarte's first involvement with films was in a short film while still in college.

He then decided to make a life in acting and started studying the Strasberg method in
Mexico City. From there, he moved to a contemporary theater school under the
instructions of the reputed polish director Ludwik Margules where he became inspired
by Strindberg, Shakespeare and Brook. After finishing his formal drama studies, he
immediately played the role of Oscar Wilde's lover Bosie, in the Mexican production of
the international hit play "Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wide." As
Miguel's passion for films grew, he pursued roles in different independent short films.
His leading role as a sexual compulsive painter in the short film "Zurdos" gain him a
reputation in the movie circles. He became one of Mexico's front-runners with his iconic
representation of the legendary historical Mexican hero "El Tigre de Santa Julia". His
leading role performance in this 2002 blockbuster feature gained him critical acclaim
and several awards including the MTV movie award. He has participated in many
blockbusters since then including "Tired of Kissing Frogs", "Hidalgo: the Untold Story",
"Bitten Bullet" and most recently, the number one 2011 Mexican blockbuster 'dramedy'
hit "Saving Private Perez" where he plays the leading role embodying the legendary
cartel boss Julian Perez. Rodarte's graceful skills as a stage actor were displayed in his
representation of Demetrius, in the Shakespeare musical adaptation of "Titus
Andronicus" which opened successfully at the 30th Cervantino International Festival in
Guanajuato, Mexico. He also played Don Luis in the classical Zorrilla's play "Don Juan
Tenorio", which was presented by the National Theater Company at Mexico's maximum
performance plateau: The Palace of Beauty Arts. He has received multiple awards for

his participation in the worldwide acclaimed play "The Gronholm Method" and most
recently in the American classic play "12 Angry Man" which casted Mexico's finest
actors. He has also successfully participated in many TV series and three prime time
Mexican soap operas broadcasted internationally and is the leading actor for the
number one 2011 Spanish spoken series in Mexico and the U.S. "The Heroes of the
North" were he plays the singer of a Mexican folk band. Miguel has recently received
the "GQ man of the Year Award" for his acting notoriety in 2011.

Rosemberg Salgado (Rafael)

Rosemberg Salgado has been acting since a child. As an acting student in Mexico,

he trained under Sylvia Derbez and Eugenio Derbez, at the Derbez acting academy.
Rosemberg has also trained in the United States with Producer and Director Rob
Diamond at his talent academy. In Mexico Rosemberg had done Projects such as
"Carne de Prision." , X.E.A. Radio Aventura T.V. show , as well as several commercials.
This started off his career that has been consistent and growing since then.
Rosemberg's movie credits include the Projects "Baptist at Our barbeque", "One mans
treasure", "Jack's law", "The Crow IV" and most recent and most dramatic role (2013)
"Border run" where he co-starred with Golden Globe Winner and Oscar Nominated
(Casino) Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct) and Billy Zane (Titanic) . Rosemberg has worked
with other well-known actors such as Danny Trejo (Machete), David Boreanaz and Tara
Reid. In Mexico Rosemberg has also worked alongside many well-known Mexican coactors. Rosemberg is passionate about his craft as well as life. He has depth that
cross's many genre's. Rosemberg is always working to improve his skills in the craft of
acting by getting more training with Mrs. Erickson.

Olga Segura
Olga Segura was born in Mexico City and grew up in Panama, Saltillo, and

Monterrey. She has a degree in international commerce and a masters degree in project
administration from the prestigious ESCP in Paris. Back in Mexico City, she studied at
Casa Azul while attending production seminars with executive producer Tita Lombardo
(Babel, Amores Perros). In Mexico, she debuted on stage as both the producer and the
protagonist in Pizza Man, directed by Eduardo Arroyuelo. She then moved to Los
Angeles and studied at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and The Acting Corps. Her Los
Angeles theatrical debut took place at the Underground Theater, playing Adela in The
House Of Bernarda Alba by Federico Garcia Lorca. Her First American feature film was
Cellmates starring actors Stacy Keach, Tom Sizemore and Hector Jimenez.
Olga Segura also founded the production company Prodduciones a Ciegas, along
with fellow actor and friend Hector Jimenez and his brother Juan Carlos Segura. The
company has produced several films, including "Mar Muerto" with Joaquin Cosio, Aida
Lopez, and Ana Ofelia Murguia, and "Marcelo", in which the company's founders star
alongside Aaron Diaz, Joaquin Cosio, Mario Zaragoza, and Laura Zapata.
B. Antagonist

Manolo Cardona (Roberto)

Manuel Julian Cardona Molano was born April 25, 1977 in Popayn, Cauca,

Colombia. At the age of seven, Cardona's family baptized him "Manolo". This would
later be used as his name as an actor. When he was 18, he moved to Cali, Colombia, to

finish his studies. Manolo studied finances and international relations. Manolo's mother,
Nancy Molano, is a psychologist and astrologer. His father, Javier Enrique Cardona, has
devoted his life to politics, and was the mayor of Popayn. Manolo has two brothers.
The elder, Francisco, is an agent and engineer, and the younger Juan Jose, studied film
direction in the University of Catalua in Barcelona, Spain. One of his greatest passions
is playing soccer.

Giovanna Zacaras (Juanita)

She was born in Mexico City. At the age of 19 years old, she left the classic ballet

and began to study theater with the director Ludwik Margules. Her first theater play was
"Sexual Perversity in Chicago", by David Mamet and her debut in the film industry was
in Written on the Body of Night (2001) with the director Jaime Humberto Hermosillo,
Mexican director, in the lead role of Adela H.
Her debut in American films was in the lead role like Lz in Puerto Vallarta
Squeeze (2004) with Harvey Keitel and Scott Glenn.

III. Summary
The Mule is a B movie featuring Sharon Stone and Billy Zane. The movie tries to
describe the events that occur every day on the Mexico Phoenix border. Its story is
about a conservative Phoenix television reporter (Sharon Stone) who gets caught in a
treacherous game of deception and death when she goes to Mexico to investigate the
disappearance of her brother in this drama based on a true story. Purportedly inspired

by true events, the story follows Sofie, a reporter who vehemently opposes illegal
immigration. When she learns that her brother, Aaron (Billy Zane), has gone missing in
Mexico, she decides to cross the border to search for him herself. As her investigation
heats up, she slowly unravels a dark conspiracy entrenched in violence, drug trafficking,
and human smuggling. Placed right in the shoes of the immigrants that she so callously
dehumanizes, Sofie is now forced to completely rethink her outlook on life.
Aaron Talbert is running along the Mexico-US border in the Arizona desert with a
group of immigrants who want to enter the country. After a minute of chasing and
gasping for breath, the whole group is shot by a man and Talbert is forced to his knees
by a coyote with a gun. Meanwhile, the immigrants with Talbert have simply
disappeared into a small desert chapel. The films beginning happens eight hours earlier
where newswoman Sofie Talbert (Sharon Stone) is busy trying to destroy the reputation
of a generally conservative senator who once voted for amnesty. Shes having a
moment when she decides to call her brother,Aaron,

who provides relief to illegal

immigrants attempting to cross the border. Sofies call just happens to coincide with the
movies opening scene. She hears the commotion out in the desert and gets worried
when her brother doesnt answer any of her subsequent calls. She tries calling the
organization that he works for, but she doesnt get the answers that shes looking for.
She heads to Mexico to talk to the police about it. Unfortunately, the police dont care
and dont let her file a missing persons report. This leads Sofie to the offices of the aid
organization where her brother works. She befriends his coworker, Roberto (Manolo
Cardona), who offers to help her find Aaron. For the next hours, Sofie and Roberto were
engaged on a whirlwind journey of poverty in Mexico and the process of making the

border crossing without official sanction from the US government. And there she meets
Javier (Miguel Rodarte), a coyote who promises to help Sofie find her brother. Javier
takes Sofie to meet some nasty Mexican Coyotes that are suspected by Javier of
having Aaron. Bad-ass human smuggler Juanita (Giovanna Zacaras) was also
introduced accompanied by guys with whom she works.
Sofie also meet hopeful immigrants Maria (Olga Segura), Rafael (Rosemberg
Salgado) and Luz (Shelem Oteo). Sofie bonds with these would-be immigrants while
theyre stuck in a truck together and endures a drop of the horror that they endure at the
hands of human smugglers. In the hands of the coyotes, Sofie, Maria, Rafael, Luz
experienced various physical abuses, constant harassments, extortions, fears and even
rape and murder. After a lot of running around in the desert and half-hearted intrigue,
Sofie winds up in a Customs and Immigration office in Arizona. Shes interrogated and
let go only to run into Roberto outside. But Robertos not the guy that he seems to be
and when Sofie gets in his truck, other horror happened to her being worst is that she
realized that she is a drug mule and Roberto is not the good guy in the first place.

IV. Values/Bible Themes

Throughout the movie, many different values and bible themes were shown but
the most dominant among them are love, family and equality.

Love
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is

love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who
loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
(1 Peter 4:8)
One dominant value shown in the movie is Love. Love is that driving force that
made Sofie follow her brother, Aaron. Love is the cause why Sofie put her life on risk in
crossing the border just to save her angel. And lastly, love is the reason why Sofies
willing to do anything and everything just to keep Aaron from harm. And as the scripture
says, Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It
does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at
wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes
all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away;
as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Family
But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children's children. (Psalm 10 3:17)

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves
this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the
River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my
household, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15)

He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be
servant to the wise. (Proverbs 11:29)
The significance of family is also shown in the movie. Sofies willing to do
anything to save her family, in which in the movies case, Aaron. Her love and care for
her family is what took her to go to the desert, risk her own life and even sacrifice her
own chastity. Why? It is because love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things.

Equality
For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as

were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
(Galatians 3:26-29)
Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a
messenger greater than the one who sent him. (John 13:16)
For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a
matter of fairness. (2 Corinthians 8:13)
One touchy subject depicted in the movie is the inequality of the powerful and the
weak. That is not what God is trying to teach us. For Him, there is neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in
Christ Jesus. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever

believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into
the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

V. Relevance
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will
serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods
of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the
Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

The Mule was apparently based on true events and tells of a reporter, Sofie
Talbert, searching for her brother whos gone missing across the Mexican border. This
movie hits on illegal immigration, human smuggling, status inequality and sexual
harassment. Those are wonderfully touchy subjects and must be handled as respectful
as possible.
Since this movie was purely based from a true story, all of those events shown
happen every day to the illegal immigrants who cross the border from Mexico to the US.
Even the physical abuses and harassments by the coyotes really was experienced by
the victims first hand. One of the brutal scenes was when Juanita kicked a pregnant
immigrant in the belly twice, which shook me the most.
This movie, as I have said, is a reflection of what really happens when an illegal
immigrant cross the US-Mexico border.

VI. Reaction
This movie has just shown us a great representation of how this world is
treacherous to anyone, so we should really trust no one but what our heart desires. This
is a great movie and very intense to watch. It makes any first generation citizen from
foreign countries truly value what many take for granted. It also shares light to a tragic
reality that occurs everyday while illegals try to cross the US Border. The Mule has a
rambling and scatty plotline punctuated with frequent violence and maudlin
sentimentality, capped off with heart-touching scenes and lines.
This movie was a good, thought-provoking film, heart touching, mind reaping,
quasi-documentary as to the problems facing Mexicans and its country's citizens on just
how much they want to get to the U.S. It also underlines the total ridiculousness of how
little sympathy and knowledge that a lot of people in this country have for these peoples'
plight and how many of them take their benefits for granted.
In the middle of the film, we were introduced to the essence that The Mule is
trying to give to its audience. We had witnessed physical abuse, constant harassment
by the coyotes, robbery, extortion attempts by the Mexican cops, theft, opacity of the
U.S. authorities, constant fear from the snipers from the US side of the border, and
worst of all, Rape and murder. All those events happen every day to the illegal
immigrants who cross the border from Mexico to the US. One of the brutal scenes was
when Juanita kicked a pregnant immigrant in the belly twice, which for me is the scene
that had moved me the most.

While still a B type movie the acting wasn't bad and the movie really made you
feel strong emotions. One of them is anger toward the smugglers, the other is anger
toward the border guards and also to the coyotes especially Juanita. The movie made
me feel climatic emotions. Anger toward the smugglers and anger toward the US
policies combined with the sympathy on the deaths in the film and pity to the characters
who are maltreated by the antagonists. I wasn't sure who is in the right in this movie and
that's what makes a good movie. Overall, the emotions you feel make the movie well
worth seeing.