Desert Angel

Festival: Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF)
Genre: documentary
Main Characters: Cast and crew @ https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt13650680

Rafael Larraenza
Self

Monica Larraenza
Self

Indira Renderos
Self

The Plot: Human beings set off to America from Mexico within the desert facing be lost or death.

The main story lines are: Rafael Larraenza leads Desert Angels, which rescues lost people within the US-Mexican desert.

The best (worst) bit is about: Filmmakers capture Rafael Larraenza realizing a need of searching for lost family members from callers pleading for help from him. So, Rafael Larraenza established Desert Angels that began with himself doing all the work, since people were too afraid to help him. Rafael Larraenza drives to the border on a dirt road and then walks by foot with canes in hands as he treks looking for any survivors. He does find survivors who are dehydrated, thirsty and far from their destination, which is America. Some have been robbed by the tens of thousands of dollars ($20,000) left to survive. Desert Angels has grown, Rafael Larraenza received 60-80 calls a day asking for help. Coordinates of the survivor helps immensely, and it raises the search rescue. Rafael Larraenza was working for well-known companies in the United States, but decided he should resign realizing he was the only hope for these missing people. Desert Angels has grown to volunteers being trained following his lead. When a person is not found alive, Rafael Larraenza prays in solitude. Desert Angels has captured the press having been on television news coverage multiple times. Raffael Larraenza was helping Indira Renderos on a months long search for her son who was an El Salvador college student studying engineering/architecture. Indira Renderos son did not want to be seen as a gang member, so he pursued education to be seen as a good person, but he feared for his safety and went missing within the US-Mexico border. Indira Renderos son wanted to be with his mother causing her to search for Rodrigo her son until his bodily remains were found next to his identification and wallet. It took 10 months to claim and bring his body to his mother Indira Renderos. Raffael Larraenza brought a cross to where Rodrigo remains were found and blessed the spot with Holy Water along with prayers that Indira Renderos participated via mobile live camera. Rodrigo remains were blessed in-person at a funeral home with Indira Renderos and Raffael Larraenza present, among other family members. Indira Renderos says Raffael Larraenza is like family--an Angel who listened to her from her first contact with him.

I enjoyed (I didn't enjoy) watching this film because: There have been many times when Rafael Larraenza has been stranded, while on a dirt road with no way back home except to call his wife Monica for support. Somehow the two find a way out, such as Rafael Larraenza pushing the truck himself to get it going. Often Rafael Larraenza is home for a few hours when he has no choice, but to leave in search of the next possible survivor within the desert. Monica and Rafael Larraenza were celebrating her birthday when he had to leave, due to a phone call asking for help in search of a caller's relative. Rafael Larraenza does not locate every survivor or non-survivor as much as he tries. Rafael Larraenza used to live in Mexico City working for EMT doing rural search and rescue operations until he lost his job, due to an earthquake aftermath. Rafael Larraenza lives in pain when he walks around his knee/leg area as it does not rotate a determined by a New York doctor. Yet, he presses forward by comparing the people lost in the desert what they must be feeling to his pain and overcomes it.

I would (I wouldn't) recommend this film to someone because: I would recommend this film as you witness a real-life desert Angel who may become a Saint.

5 out of 5 stars