OUR LADY OF THE ASSASSINS

2001

Director Barbet Schroeder has created a fascinating, horrifying look into life and death in present-day Medellin, Columbia...the city from hell! An author returns to the city of his birth, only to find that this once-peaceful town has now become a city of muggers, whores, crackheads, and killers. Violence and street-killings are everyday occurrences. The author strikes up a beautiful relationship with Alexis, a street-kid gangster who is forced to kill over and over again just to exist on a day to day basis in this terrible city. Ironically, much of the story takes place in the cities beautiful churches...now filled with drug addicts doing business. The only thing that isn't made clear in this highly original, but disturbing film, is why anyone in his right mind would choose to stay in this hell-hole!

4.5 Stars

NJB