I've had a mixed reaction with the films of Slamdance this year with most of the films simply being good. Unlike in other years there had been no absolute stand outs--- until I ran into these two films very close to the start of the festival. These two films are the best of the fest -so far- and they are films destined for my year end lists
ZUMECA
Based on a true story this is the story of Miguel, a Spaniard, who is taken in by a Taino woman named Zumeca.
Shot in a moody black and white, with a point and shoot tableaux like style, the film shouldn't be as good as it is. It's a deliberately told version of a tale we've seen before, but somehow director Maler hits it out of the park. Using every image, sound and performance exactly perfectly, Maler gives us a very human, a very real story that plays out before us. This isn't somewhere else but right there with us. Everything we need to know is on the faces and in the eyes of the actors. It's a staggering achievement that rocked my world in ways that few films this year have. What kills me is that I've seen a lot of films in the last two or three years about colonialism and the battle between indigenous and white civilizations and this one has haunted me the most and its seemingly coming out of nowhere... then again this is what makes Slamdance so special.
You must see this.
SILVER
Using 12 year old Juvi as our guid, we look at the highest mine in Bolivia. The Mine has been operating for centuries and it is running out of ore putting the lives of thousands of miners in Danger.
See this in darkened theater on a screen as big as possible. This verite documentary transcends the form to become a deeply moving journey to another world. Jaw droipping image follows jaw dropping image as we are brought ot this place we've never been and shown around. It's an mind expanding trip that makes us think about the people in a place we've never been. I was floored by the film in the ways only the best cinema can achieve.
See this film.
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