El Pirata

During a clandestine card game, a bitter loser conspires with men the gambler once considered friends. In a violent act of betrayal, he is stabbed in the face and loses an eye. Marked for life and reborn under the nickname “The Pirate,” he descends into a world of underground bars, illegal gambling, prostitution rings, and drug trafficking. Fueled by rage and humiliation, he begins a relentless search for everyone involved in the attack. From one shadowy corner of the underworld to another, The Pirate will not rest until he finds the coward who betrayed him and makes them all pay for the night that changed his life forever.

Directed by Alonso O. Lara, El Pirata leans on a strong ensemble — John Solis, Luis Huizar, Vianey Huizar — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2015.