Gael García Bernal on the power of resilience and sharing voices from Mexico City

In the opening scene of Gael García Bernal's new film Chicuarotes, two men are on a city bus rolling through Mexico City traffic wearing clown makeup. They start doing a rapid-fire comedy routine for the passengers. One minute they're telling corny jokes and begging for tips, and the next they're holding the crowd at gunpoint and emptying wallets and purses.

The scene sets the tone for the film, which follows two teenage friends who take desperate measures to escape Mexico City. Chicuarotes tells a story about poverty, desperation and violence, but it has moments of real tenderness, humour and humanity as well.

Bernal joined q's Tom Power live in studio to talk about his connection to the location of his film, the significance of the film's title and what Chicuarotes has to say about resilience. 

Along with Chicuarotes, Bernal is also starring in two films at the Toronto International Film Festival this year, called The Wasp Network and Ema. 

Chicuarotes is screening at the Toronto International Film Festival right now. 

— Produced by Chris Trowbridge