‘La Captura’ Humanizes the Hunt for El Chapo, Stars Say

Mexico City — The new Netflix film La Captura reframes the story of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s capture by focusing on the two federal police officers who stumbled onto one of the world’s most wanted men — not on the drug lord himself.

Directed by Chava Cartas and written by Bernardo Esquinca, the film stars Alfonso Herrera, Noé Hernández and Héctor Kotsifakis. In interviews with Animal MX, the three actors explained how they sought to humanize their characters and why the movie deliberately avoids glorifying organized crime.

Human Stories, Not Superheroes

Herrera plays Arturo Carmona, a federal officer with two daughters and a pregnant wife who takes extra shifts to give his family a better life. “Arturo represents millions of Mexicans who have families trying to get ahead day by day and do what they can with what they have,” Herrera said. “Despite the limitations, they do their jobs correctly.”

Noé Hernández plays Héctor Rosales, a transferred agent who only wants a quiet few years before retirement. “I’m supposed to have a daughter and a grandson, and I’m going to go hug them and be with them,” Hernández said. “That’s exactly why he asks for the transfer to Los Mochis, to be a little calmer.”

The actors said those personal details allowed them to give their characters real virtues and flaws, making the story work when they face the most decisive moment of their lives.

Distrust as a Constant Threat

Herrera noted that the film’s suspense comes not only from the danger of crossing paths with El Chapo, but also from the mutual distrust among the officers themselves, and their doubts about whether their own institution will back them. That tension creates an atmosphere in which heroism means doing your duty despite fear.

No Glorification, No Caricature

Kotsifakis, who plays Guzmán, said he did not try to imitate the drug lord but instead searched for emotional truth. He drew on sessions with a prison psychologist, his theater teacher, and recordings of real calls between Guzmán and his associate “El Cholo,” as well as recordings of drug negotiations. “In those recordings I saw things that gave me a lot of material to work with,” Kotsifakis said. “He doesn’t consider himself a bad person. He’s doing his job correctly from his perspective.”

A Tense Story, a Fun Shoot

Despite the on-screen tension, the three actors said filming was a blast. “It has been the most fun shoot of my entire career,” Kotsifakis said, adding that director Cartas loves to have fun between takes. Herrera agreed, saying the playful atmosphere kept them from being drained by the demands of the scenes.

La Captura is now streaming on Netflix.