by Christos Zampounis

At the time when the Greek public learns, with feelings of at least disgust, that there was a probationary police officer who gave information to the thug “Esko” on the University Campus, a Mexican television series comes to remind us how things were happening in the Higher Educational Institutions in 1968, in Central America. It is impossible not to cross the mind of the suspicious viewer of “An unknown enemy”, how the ups and downs have come within half a century. Back then, the police had their “nails” in the nooks and crannies of rioting students, whom they incited for political expediency. Today, organized crime is “hosted” in the student residences and has its “narks” in the Security Forces. The TV series of Gabriel Ripstein will travel, those who decide to see it, to a world so familiar, but also so open at the same time. The lust for power, the intrigues for the political survival of the rulers, the role of the C.I.A. in the choice of regimes, the naivety of students, the manipulation of demonstrations, the corruption of the police and, of course, the morals of the time, first and foremost the patriarchy. A solid actor, Daniel Gimenez Cocho, who plays the commander of the Federal Security Directorate, takes on his “back” the entire television series of two saisons and 14 episodes in total. He is so convincing, that hours upon hours you want to enter the screen and stop him for his heinous acts, especially for his behavior towards his only son.
Until recently, Mexico had the upper hand in soap operas. With “Unknown Enemy” he climbs to the heights of political thrillers.