In Mexico City’s wealthiest neighborhoods, the Ochoa family runs a private ambulance, competing with other for-profit EMTs for patients in need of urgent help.
“Midnight Family” is more than a typical documentary, it’s a visceral experience. The film is centered on the Ochoa Family who provides urgent medical care to the citizens of Mexico City. The Ochoa’s are part of a network of private ambulances that compete ruthlessly with one another to be first on scene for a potential hefty payday (if the patients are able to pay). They deal with a lot of issues such as lack of equipment, people that can’t afford their bills, and cops shaking them down for bribes that they can barely afford. The father, Fern, and his oldest son Juan handle the brunt of the grueling and unpredictable work. The youngest, Josué, is still a child but finds plenty of excuses to skip school and join for what he perceives as excitement. Juan is constantly cleaning the ambulance since it gets bloodied almost nightly, and he is impressive under pressure.
Writer/Director Luke Lorentzen shoots all the chaotic action with a striking cinema vérité style. I was clenching my fists during moments of their vehicle racing down narrow streets, barely avoiding traffic and other obstacles typical of a major city. Lorentzen astutely captures the shifting tragedy and comedy that occurs daily in the life-and-death profession. Some peoples’ misfortunes mean a large reward for the Ochoa’s but there’s plenty of people who can only afford a portion of their medical bills. The Ochoa’s get disappointed but never lose their empathy. I’m aware healthcare in the US is archaic but it’s certainly quite chaotic for some in Mexico City. For example, there’s government-issued healthcare with understaffed hospitals for the average poor citizen and then the more privileged Mexicans have private healthcare with much safer care.
One of my favorite recurring moments is whenever Juan is talking over the PA system, coaxing bus drivers and others to give him the right of way. For how short the running length is, Lorentzen crafts a well-rounded picture of their anything-but-typical daily lives. The monotony of waiting in between calls, having enough money for tuna out of a can or the preferable tacos al pastor, conveys their determination. The family is bonded but the narrative never strays into sentimental or emotionally manipulative territory. That’s not to say the documentary is devoid of emotional scenes and humane moments. In a truly heart-wrenching scene, the Ochoa’s answer a call where a teenage girl has fallen four flights. Fern and Juan race to the nearest hospital but unfortunately, the girl succumbs to her wounds. The father and son must ask the mother of the deceased to pay the large bill that’s been accrued which results in a tragic scene. I had no idea these kinds of ambulances existed but I am so appreciative of average humans putting their lives in danger to save others, even if it’s for a profit.
In Theaters Friday, December 6th
