"It Makes You Really Wanna Do Something With Your Life Here" - Bam Bam
This self-affirming, award winning and moodily informative documentary, narrated by Catherine Keener, shines a different light on what is referred to as a "low-income housing community" and basically, it is. Skid Row does not exist on any map, and populates over 11,000 people, of whom are: caretakers of others there, the occupants themselves, clean-up people, welldoers, the numerous mentally-ill, sanitation groups, line cooks, Advocates for the community, and all sorts of others having their jobs to do (daily and/or nightly).
Along with the aforementioned groups, the documentary takes a look at several individuals living here who have high hopes for the future: A younger Danny Harris is a 'silver medalist' from the Olympics. Multiple-times diagnosed and suffering mental illness, Bam Bam is the subject of controversies and will permanently be moving on in time. "Detroit" has been mentally-ill since the age of 16 and now is a displaced mother that 'chose' to travel here...
wanting dignity in the ditches
Lost Angels, a beautifully filmed honest look at the Los Angeles homeless - their struggle with increased gentrification and nowhere else to go-, documents the lives of several inhabitants, how they got there and how they got out. It's informative and rich in hope, when hope is laced with understanding, community participation, medical care and reality.
Unexpectedly wonderful
This was a great documentary. I've lived in LA for years, and have always had a different perception of Skid Row. Seeing this changed my mind and helped me understand why people exist there, and that many of those who live there are very protective of their neighborhood. The film is also filled with incredible stories and unlikely characters.
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