Eleven year old Estrella is left alone in Mexico City after her mother mysteriously disappears and she has to figure out how to survive on the gang dominated streets. Tigers Are Not Afraid has a dual nature that features bleak, harsh reality alongside fairy tale fantasy. It’s very much like a modern day del Toro film with the same realistic, grounded characters, intense emotion, and magic. Estrella and her friends use fantasy as an escape by telling stories to each other and do what they can to have fun. She experiences magic of ambiguous realism, which often portrays her fear and has harsh consequences. The film could have worked well as a drama without the fantasy elements, but they provide contrast and make the themes and emotions resonate even more. This incredible story will haunt you.
