Mexico City, Feb 15 (EFE).- Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal said that comedy is his preferred genre, since it allows him to handle "with satire and good humor" controversial issues like politics and drug trafficking, which "regrettably are harming and injuring" Mexico.

"Comedy is liberating and so I feel it's suitable for being able to talk about even very painful things, like violent deaths," said the actor at a Tuesday press conference at the presentation of the seventh edition of the Ambulante documentary film festival, which he is promoting with his colleague and compatriot, actor Diego Luna.

He added that that is why he enjoyed his role as a dangerous drug trafficker in the film "Casa de Mi Padre" (My Father's House), which will begin showing next month.

The film, starring Will Ferrell, Garcia Bernal and Luna, tells the story of Armando Alvarez, who worked on his father's ranch in Mexico but is going through financial problems.

Garcia Bernal acknowledged that the violence associated with drug trafficking, which has resulted in 47,000 deaths in Mexico over the past 5 1/2 years, is a matter "that in real life must be come to terms with, analyzed and treated seriously."

However, he added that in film "you have the advantage of being able to approach (these issues) with humor or tragedy