The Colors of the Mountain

How's a kid supposed to play soccer in peace, with guerrillas encroaching upon the beautiful Colombian hills where he lives? Manuel has just turned nine, and his main concerns are his new soccer ball and tending his father's cows. He's a polite little fellow with two buddies named Julian and Poca Luz, and he has a tiny crush on a blonde girl who lends him a colored pencil in school. A kind-hearted new teacher comes to the village and gets the children to paint a mural over some partisan graffiti. But scattered gunfire can be heard more frequently, and strange men keep showing up, asking Manuel's beloved papa why he doesn't come to the guerrilla meetings. FARC fighters are closing in, recruiting men to their anti-government cause by force, if necessary. One by one, as their families leave the village, the teacher crosses the names of Manuel's friends off her attendance list. Now Manuel's family must finally make the decision for themselves: should they stay on their mountain of many colors or flee to an unknown future? (In Spanish with subtitles) – B.B.