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It highlights the essence of freedom of speech, human rights and democracy expressed by the courage of journalists in Mexico to fight against state corruption, drug crimes and injustice.
Over four years (2015-18), filmmaker Fanjul followed the well-known Mexican journalist Aristegui, who is one of the most critical voices in the country fighting for an independent press. She and her colleagues know that they do this at the risk of their lives, even when they admit to not being suicidal.
In the film, Aristegui is at a demonstration in front of the ministry of the interior to ask justice for her murdered colleague, journalist Javier Valdez.
Violence is omnipresent: journalists, women and children are murdered. Aristegui is not afraid to openly criticize President Enrique Peña Nieto and politicians involved with the drug cartels. During the making of the film, Aristegui gets fired from the radio station where she works and she and her collaborators face death threats. She uses her personal funds to start broadcasting via the internet and social media to continue to play her role in the service of the people, defending human rights and justice.
“Radio Silence” illustrates that the fight to give a voice to the powerless is more than necessary, but in these times in which the powerful own and control most of the media, the fight becomes more and more unequal.
The International Documentary Filmfestival in Amsterdam described the film as a “powerful portrait of an uncommonly courageous and tenacious woman makes it very clear what you get when the freedom of the press is crushed: no rule of law and a crumbling democracy.”
Since 2010 the Human Rights Award has been given annually to documentaries that seek to throw light on a question of human rights.
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