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Héctor Kotsifakis on embodying 'El Chapo': 'There were no elements to call him a psychopath'
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Héctor Kotsifakis on embodying 'El Chapo': 'There were no elements to call him a psychopath'

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Context piece
  • Actor Héctor Kotsifakis portrays Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán in the film 'La Captura,' focusing on his human side.
  • Kotsifakis researched 'El Chapo's' "non-public" and "more human" stories through his theater teacher and therapist.
  • The film aims to shift the narrative from glorifying crime to exploring the complexities of the individuals involved.

Mexican actor Héctor Kotsifakis delved into the less-publicized, more human aspects of Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán to portray the former drug lord in the film 'La Captura.' Kotsifakis drew from conversations with Guzmán's theater teacher and therapist during his time in maximum-security prisons.

What his psychologist told me is that she had to create a profile and didn't have elements to call him a psychopath, because he is indeed a human being with feelings.

— Héctor KotsifakisExplaining his approach to portraying 'El Chapo' by focusing on his humanity rather than solely his criminal persona.

"What his psychologist told me is that she had to create a profile and didn't have elements to call him a psychopath, because he is indeed a human being with feelings," Kotsifakis told EFE at a recent red carpet event. He sought to move beyond the widely known image of the criminal to find the "human" behind the figure, especially for the depiction of his definitive arrest in 2016.

Kotsifakis shared anecdotes, including one where Guzmán's theater teacher recounted how the drug lord requested lessons to "get out of the dungeon where they had him isolated." He also noted Guzmán's habit of keeping yellow-wrapped butterscotch candies in his pocket, which he would share with his professor. Based on his research, which included listening to numerous phone calls where Guzmán acted as a negotiator, Kotsifakis described him as an intelligent, cautious person who was careful with his words and difficult to read.

get out of the dungeon where they had him isolated

— Héctor KotsifakisRecounting a detail from Guzmán's theater teacher about his desire for intellectual stimulation during isolation.

The actor emphasized that 'La Captura' is not an endorsement of crime. Instead, he stated, it strives to alter the narrative prevalent in many productions that focus on negative portrayals of Mexican police and institutions. Kotsifakis believes that entertainment content has a real impact on Mexico's standing on the global political stage. The film, directed by Chava Cartas, also features Noé Hernández and Alfonso Herrera as the federal police officers responsible for Guzmán's final capture.

not an apology to crime

— Héctor KotsifakisClarifying the film's intent, stating it aims to change the narrative rather than glorify criminal activity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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