Film Review: Midnight Family Is A Charming Tragedy
Humanity is a weird species. For being the ones with reason, we do stupid things like, war or horrible healthcare systems; completely cutting of the quality, span, and even purpose of Life. Yet, there are gems of people that, somehow, circle around the madness people in power construct to find a level of heart. Enter one of the best documentaries of 2019 and that I have ever seen: Midnight Family.
Directed by Luke Lorentzen, it is hard to believe that Midnight Family is not scripted. Lorentzen is so close, in shot and story, to the Ochoa Family that you feel as if their lives are written. They are a family running a private ambulance, and taking people through, at times, hours of traffic and roads to get them to better treatment. Lorentzen does not need to make an overt, socio-political comment on Mexico’s healthcare system. All you have to do is watch this family maneuver through what feels like hell and you demand change. Yet, with America’s own healthcare issues, I know change is something the powerful decide: depending on a mood. Thus, instead, Midnight Family highlights the strength, determination, desperation, and humor that push a family to untie in what can only be seen as chaos.
Midnight Family (2019) | Official Trailer HD
The Ochoas could, easily, get their own reality show. They are so openly human: filled with ambitions, fears, wit, creativity, and clear confusion as to how the world they are in seems to get worse per generation. It feels like history is written according to all those that fought “for better” and all those who died waiting for it. There is sincere love between Juan Ochoa, Fer Ochoa, and Josué Ochoa; each pushed into this line work because they needed money, it was the family business, and, in some ways, they believed in the cause. Juan Ochoa is funny, intelligent, young, and the surprising glue to a trio that realizes their country needs to get better but is not sure what better means for them personally. Fern is the typical older dad; pinching pennies and checking harsher realities. Meanwhile, Josue is a rambunctious kid that feels too young to be aware that dreams don’t come true, at least, not as much as tragedies. He is a child living his everyday waiting for emergency calls and rolling through the city, with his dad and older brother, while missing school and playing video games. For however mischievous he is, I felt bad that his world was stripping him, in some ways, of being a kid focused on his goals and friends.
Personally, the light of this film comes in the form of its young hero/ paramedic, Juan. His love and devoutness to his little brother is moving, especially because you know he is a fun guy that wishes he could have more fun. Yet, he is inadvertent anchor to his father Fern, which makes their scenes both heart-warming and heartbreaking. I think a parent dreams bigger for their child, but can get in the smallness of their world. This does not make them horrible or culpable of bad parenting. If anything, Midnight Family is the story of a lot of families that sacrifice so much to get by that they are not sure what it is to get ahead. Midnight Family Comes Out In Theaters December 6.
