Set in the violent streets of Medell¡n, Colombia, Our Lady of the Assassins is refreshingly devoid of references to the city's drug trade and instead focuses on the intimate relationships that are built and destroyed within the city. Schroeder's direction strikes an effective balance between style and content as the film follows Fernando (Jaramillo), a writer who has returned home after 30 years to await death. He soon finds a new life in his relationship with Alexis (Ballesteros), a young gang member from the hills. When Alexis is gunned down in one of many drive-by shootings, Fernando is devastated and seeks salvation in a newfound romance with Wilmar (Restrepo).
The murder sequences are shot at a frenzied pace that relays the chaos of the streets. Though violent, the killings are used merely as a means of communicating larger themes. Really, though, the main strength of Our Lady of the Assassins lies in its script: the dialogue ranges from sharply witty comments to social commentary about poverty to philosophical diatribes about time and God.
