Antonio Banderas Hopes Recognition Will Stop Killings of Juárez Women

Antonio Banderas Hopes Recognition Will Stop Killings of Juárez Women

Actor considers his film, Bordertown, a call for help that all should heed

While in Paris promoting the film, based on the deaths and disappearances of more than 400 women in Ciudad Juárez, México, actor Antonio Banderas expressed hope that his name recognition will shed some light into the case.

"If my name and my fame can help solve the mystery of these disappearances of young women, I will feel like I've done my duty," Banderas said in an interview published by Le Parisien newspaper.

The well-known Spaniard, 46, thinks that the film in which he's taking part has a very important social benefit for the mothers of the killed or missing women: "It's a way to seek help from Americans and the whole world and, above anything else, a call for help," the actor said.

Bordertown is directed by Gregory Nava and stars Jennifer López. It deals with the murders and disappearances of women and children that started in 1993 in Ciudad Juaréz, along the U.S.-Mexico border. No arrests have been made on the case.

The movie has been controversial from the start: First, Diana Bracho, who had the most important role after the main characters, quit. And when the film was shown several months behind schedule during the Berlin Festival, it was greeted with jeers and terrible reviews. Kate del Castillo has a cameo appearance.