A gripping tale of justice: ‘Legítima’ brings a landmark case to the big screen
A new collaboration in Mexican cinema
Mexican filmmaker Elisa Miller, known for her work on “Hurricane Season,” is teaming up with Nicolás Celis, the producer behind “Roma,” to bring a compelling legal drama and psychological thriller to life. Their new project, “Legítima,” is being pitched at the Venice Production Bridge’s Gap-Financing Market, which runs from August 30 to September 1.
The story behind ‘Legítima’
“Legítima” is inspired by the true story of Yakiri Rubio, a young woman who was kidnapped and raped by two brothers in Mexico City in 2013. In a desperate act of self-defense, Rubio killed one of her attackers, only to find herself imprisoned and charged with murder. This case shocked the nation and highlighted the deep flaws within Mexico’s legal system.
The film is based on the book “En legítima defensa,” written by Ana Katiria Suárez, the lawyer who took on Rubio’s case. Suárez’s battle against a corrupt and misogynistic legal system ultimately led to Rubio’s release and set a historic precedent in Mexico.
Discovering the story
Miller admitted that she wasn’t initially familiar with Rubio’s case until Celis handed her a copy of Suárez’s book two years ago. ”When Nico Celis gave me the book, I called him 24 hours later — because I read the book in 24 hours — and I said, ‘Dude, this is a fantastic story. We should make this film,’” Miller recalled. Celis, who had worked with Miller on her short film ”Watching It Rain” (Ver Llover), which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, was equally enthusiastic about the project.
Bringing the story to the screen
Miller and Celis recognized the importance of bringing this story to the big screen. “Since I read this story, I felt the impulse to take it to the big screen, because of the transcendent nature of the case, the strength that exists in its protagonists, and the feeling of hope that I experienced when I learned that, despite a dark and turbulent path, justice was done,” Celis said.
Miller faced the challenge of presenting a fresh perspective on a case that had already played out dramatically in the public eye. She aimed to go beyond a straightforward, realistic portrayal of Mexico’s corrupt legal system. Instead, she sought to delve deeper into the characters and their experiences, co-writing the script with Samara Ibrahim to present fully developed, flawed characters with a human side.
A psychological thriller with a human touch
Miller described “Legítima” as a fact-based psychological thriller, likening it to “Anatomy of a Fall” set in corrupt Mexico. She expressed deep empathy for the film’s heroines, having lived through their nightmare while reading the book. “What these girls went through was a complete and absolute nightmare — in the reality of my country,” she said.
Over the course of developing the film, Miller has come to know Rubio and Suárez well, viewing them not only as collaborators but as friends. The film’s main theme is “sisterhood,” highlighting the dramatically different socioeconomic backgrounds of Rubio and Suárez. The 2013 trial sparked Mexico’s first widespread protests in support of women’s rights and changed how women relate to each other.
Advocacy and impact
Rubio and Suárez have since launched a civil association and perform pro bono legal work on behalf of women from underprivileged backgrounds. Miller accompanied them to Mexico’s congress, where their advocacy work helped enshrine the legitimate-defense argument as law, protecting a woman’s right to self-defense if her body shows evidence of violence.
Celis emphasized the significance of their story in a country where most similar cases do not have the same ending. “It’s such a beautiful story for me. I admire these girls, both of them, so much,” added Miller. “I really admire them, and I really want to get their essence into the film.”
A film to watch
“Legítima” promises to be a powerful and thought-provoking film that sheds light on a landmark case and the ongoing fight for justice and women’s rights in Mexico. For those interested in learning more about the film, you can watch the trailer here.
Stay tuned for more updates on this gripping tale of justice and resilience.