Diego Torres

"Bogota: City of the Lost" tries to present itself as a gritty tale of crime and survival, but it falls short in almost every aspect. The film portrays Colombia as a dodgy and bleak place, completely ignoring any positive aspects of the country. While it’s true that Colombia faces social and economic challenges, the movie leans into stereotypes without offering any nuance or balance. The plot is thin and riddled with implausibilities. In one particularly absurd scene, an inexperienced Korean smuggler is seen fleeing from the local police while clutching a bag filled with smuggled Korean-made women’s underwear. The chase occurs in the middle of nowhere, with no logical escape route in sight. This scene left me wondering if the movie was attempting some form of comedy—unfortunately, it wasn’t. Another baffling moment involves the main character being entrusted with a large sum of money, only for his father to steal it from him. However, the movie provides no explanation as to how the father even knew about the money, leaving a gaping plot hole that makes the sequence feel forced and unconvincing. A more offensive scene features an assassination attempt via a car bomb. The main character exclaims, “******* Colombia,” despite no Colombian characters being involved in the plot leading to the attack. Only Korean characters are in this scene. This line felt unnecessary and unfair, reinforcing negative stereotypes without justification. The film’s lack of realism peaks when the protagonist becomes the dominant smuggler by killing off local competitors, claiming that everyone now fears him. This statement is laughable in the context of a country with well-documented, deeply entrenched criminal organizations, insurgent groups, and infamous figures like Pablo Escobar. The idea that a foreigner could so easily rise to power within such a landscape is, frankly, ridiculous. Overall, Bogota: City of the Lost is poorly written and poorly directed. It fails to entertain, lacks any meaningful contribution, and instead perpetuates outdated and harmful clichés. It’s a disappointing watch that neither thrills nor leaves a lasting impact.

I do feel the man deserved some happiness in his life after all he went through. Hard to swallow.

Easily, the most boring, less entertaining, time wasting movie I have ever seen.