LA SIERRA

La Sierra is a poor barrio on the outskirts of Medellin, a city ravaged by Colombia's civil war and cocaine trade. Right-wing paramilitaries and left-wing guerrilla groups battle for supremacy in the marginal city neighbourhoods. La Sierra depicts the cycle of violence among Columbia's urban youth through an intimate and unflinching glimpse into the lives of three protagonists over the course of a year.

Edison, aka "The Doll", is the 22-year-old leader of the Bloque Metro paramilitary group and the father of six children. His life is under constant threat especially when a rival paramilitary faction, Cacique Nutibara, tries to take control. Another member of the group, Jesus, 19, was badly wounded when a homemade grenade blew up in his hands and face. He claims to be ready for death at any moment. Cielo, age 17, witnessed the brutal killing of her father and brother by guerrillas. A mother at 15, her husband, a gang member, was murdered. Every Sunday, she visits her new boyfriend, a paramilitary, in jail. She survives by begging on the streets, resisting her friend's suggestion of prostitution. As the paramilitaries begin a government sponsored process of disarmament, there is hope in La Sierra for the start of a life without war. However, for many of them, it is already too late.

"We were very determined not to just show the violence in isolation, the way you often hear about violence in the news, gaining no sense of who is involved, why, and what the repercussions are. Instead we wanted to give a deeper, human context to it to show the effects on families and communities when their young men decide to become warriors." (Scott Dalton & Margarita Martinez)

Awards: Best Documentary Feature, IFP Market New York 2004; Best Documentary, Miami 2005; Honorary Mention, Slamdance 2005

http://www.lasierrafilm.com