Bye bye Tribeca

And so the last day was the best at Tribeca 2008. We saw two documentaries, as different as they can be. The first, “War, Love, God & Madness,” was about Iraqi filmmaker Mohamed al Daradji’s struggle to make his narrative film “Ahlaam.” The second, “Gotta Dance,” is about the professional basketball team New Jersey Nets forming a dance team of senior citizens – make that a hip-hop dance team of, yes, senior citizens.

The Iraqi film is a powerful statement about how difficult it is to be caught up in war, even for – and maybe especially for – an artist trying to help rebuild his country. The second overcomes its conceit, that of the preciousness of the elderly trying to act young, by delving into the lives of the characters and making them feel real.

The only real excitement of the day came when we walked from Union Square all the way down to Pace University near the Brooklyn Bridge, which is where “Gotta Dance” was screening. Led astray by the map provided by the Tribeca guide, we ended up walking a lot farther than necessary.

But at least the weather held. Unlike this morning, which is cold and filled with rain. Perfect. I’ll prepare me for home, which is where I’m headed this afternoon.

Tribeca is over. Eight films in three days. Not a lot – but enough.