ExpiredBozeman Doc Series Presents: “Midnight Family”

Thursday, February 6th, 2020 at the Emerson

Film starts at 7

General Audiences: $10, Students and Seniors: $8

In Mexico City, the government operates fewer than 45 emergency ambulances for a population of 9 million. This has spawned an underground industry of for-profit ambulances often run by people with little or no training or certification. An exception in this ethically fraught, cutthroat industry, the Ochoa family struggles to keep their financial needs from jeopardizing the people in their care. When a crackdown by corrupt police pushes the family into greater hardship, they face increasing moral dilemmas even as they continue providing essential emergency medical services.

A truly remarkable piece of observational filmmaking, Midnight Family world-premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to widespread critical acclaim. It was recently named to the shortlist for the Best Documentary Oscar.

“Outstanding… Fantastically shot by the director Luke Lorentzen, the documentary develops an urgency that suits the life-or-death stakes onscreen. By turns terrifying and exhilarating, “Midnight Family” unfolds with such velocity that it may take a while for your ethical doubts to catch up to what’s happening. When they do, they leave you gasping.” Manohla Dargis, New York Times Critics’ Pick

“This 81-minute masterpiece will change the way you look at documentaries forever; its style reads like an action movie, its themes like a socio-political drama, and, yet, it still is very much a work of non-fiction, with a camera always exactly positioned to capture a society on the brink of moral collapse.” Jordan Ruimy, The Playlist

“A deft mix of big-picture doc-making and intimate moments… not to mention a wild—and remarkably eye-opening—ride.” David Fear, Rolling Stone (Included in the “10 Best Movies of Sundance”)

“Profound and thrilling cinema verite filmmaking. The film is impeccably crafted by Luke Lorentzen… What matters most here is Lorentzen’s intuition—he knows during many stunning moments just where to put the camera in such close quarters, letting us observe as harrowing drama and cinematic poetry unfolds… ‘Midnight Family’ is extremely visceral in the best way.” Nick Allen, Roger Ebert.com