Feature Film: The Zero Hour

STATUS

Awaiting International Release

SYNOPSIS

The Zero Hour is a gritty, fast-paced heist thriller, and is the highest grossing Venezuelan film in history.

Set in Caracas during the 24 hours of a controversial medical strike, The Zero Hour tells the story of Parca “The Reaper,” a hit man that is forced to take an elite hospital hostage in an attempt to save his wounded girlfriend. The police don’t take long to arrive, and with them, a circus of media and onlookers. Parca soon becomes an unlikely hero, a “champion for the poor,” until his stunt begins to divide the entire nation and violence begins to spread within the hospital and throughout the city, putting everything, including his girlfriend and her child, in dire jeopardy. A love story told in the midst of chaos, The Zero Hour is a timely and universal story about the mythic rise to power and the inevitable fall from grace.

ABOUT

The Zero Hour (LA HORA CERO) has been a massive success in Venezuela, surpassing $3.5 million in box office in this small country, and becoming the all-time highest grossing Venezuelan film in history.

Set and filmed in Caracas, LA HORA CERO is the big-screen debut of US-born and Venezuelan-raised director Diego Velasco, whose short films have won over 26 awards. The lead is played by Ruben Zapata, aka Zapata 666, an underground hip-hop artist from Petare (Venezuela’s largest slum) in his first acting role. It is a truly transcendent performance that is riveting in its raw emotional intensity. The critical response in Venezuela has been fantastic, and the filmmaking has drawn numerous comparisons to Fernando Meirelles’ CITY OF GOD and Sidney Lumet’s DOG DAY AFTERNOON.

The filmmakers made this film with great sacrifice, and literally risked their lives to shoot it. Three crew members were kidnapped, the director was held up at gunpoint, and one of the actors was killed a week before shooting his part. It brings to life the violence and chaos that currently characterizes Venezuela, and it has already had a huge impact in the country.

WEBSITE

Watch the trailer at:
www.thezerohour.com

Screen Shots from The Zero Hour

Parca and Ladydi as youth overlooking Caracas

Racing to the Hospital on his stolen bike

 

Parca pulling his gun at the Hospital

Rushing up the stairs