“Cuando el poder es cabrón” directly critiques corrupt institutions, showing how police and high-ranking officials’ complicity prevents justice from being served a theme deeply resonant with Mexico’s social reality.

The action scenes are intense and gritty, especially during the undercover agent’s confrontations with criminals. Suspense builds as the young officer’s investigation brings her closer to uncovering the truth about her corrupt boss.

Julio Alemán portrays the police chief, a mysterious character who hides more than he lets on. He serves as the main obstacle for the young officer and has deep ties to the corruption central to the plot.

The undercover agent is played by Leonardo Daniel. His character is haunted by the loss of his family and dives into the criminal underworld to avenge their deaths, but risks losing himself to the violence he despises.

The film tackles institutional corruption, the pursuit of justice, revenge, and the moral dilemmas faced by the main characters. It also delves into the personal and societal consequences of impunity in Mexican society.

Mario Ramírez Reyes believed that having a woman fight against police corruption would add an extra layer to the story, showing not only the battle against a corrupt system but also the additional challenges faced by women in male-dominated environments.

In a shocking real-life event, the lead actress of “Cuando el poder es cabrón,” Tania Mendoza, was tragically murdered in Cuernavaca, Morelos, on December 14, 2021, while waiting for her 11-year-old son to finish soccer practice. Despite the public outcry, the authorities have yet to solve the case. Tania, whose real name was María Guadalupe Torres Mendoza, had a multifaceted career in acting, fashion, and music, particularly traditional northern Mexican music. Ironically, the film’s denunciation of corruption in Mexico mirrors Tania’s own unsolved murder, a case marked by authorities’ inaction and attempts to tarnish her reputation by alleging that her death was linked to the characters she portrayed on screen.

Mexico City is not just the setting but an integral part of the film, with its streets, police stations, and underground locations reflecting the corruption and injustice the story aims to expose

Mario Ramírez Reyes not only directed the movie but also made a bold decision to change the lead role, originally written for a man, into a female character, giving it more depth and complexity.

The film follows a young police academy graduate trying to expose corruption within the Mexican police force, while an undercover agent infiltrates a dangerous criminal gang seeking revenge for his family’s murder.