Dragonslayer
(Tristan
Patterson, U.S.A., 74 min.)
With
its innovative, rapid-fire, in-your-face delivery, it's possible
to miss the sociological significance this documentary reaches
for. Chronicling the (mis)adventures of semiprofessional skateboarder
Josh "Screech" Sandoval, Dragonslayer punches forward
without filler. Dirty, broke and often homeless and high, Sandoval
ranges through recession-era suburbia draining swimming pools
as a sort of latter-day dharma bum-cum-skater. In contrast to
his aggressive, gnarly and sometimes downright ugly skating
style, Sandoval's personality off-board engages as shy, complex,
guarded and perhaps even tender. Similar to the best of Gus
Van Sant, this experimental portrait of youth and subculture
is easy to appreciate—and to realize its sum is greater
than its kinetic edits.
