Courage, thy name is gringo

A word about Slamdance. It’s supposed to be the alternative to Sundance, which would seem to mean that it’s lesser than Sundance. And years ago, when we first took in screenings at the Treasure Mountain Inn, sitting on the floor with a bunch of other hard-core movie fans, that might have been so. But if “La Sierra” is any indication, Slamdance has arrived.

Co-directed and produced by Scott Dalton and Margarita Martinez , and filmed by Dalton, it’s a courageous exploration of the killing fields around Medellin, Colombia. We get to know several of the kids, including 22-year-old Edison. We watch them fight and, in one case, we watch them die. This film would be a welcome addition to any festival worth attending.