Street Wise
Street Wise

Movie spotlight

Street Wise

1984
Movie
98 min
Spanish

A boy living on the streets falls in love with a wealthy girl and tries to win her heart.

Insights

IMDb7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes90%
Director: Cheryl D. MillerGenres: Documentary, Crime

Plot Summary

This gritty documentary offers an unflinching look into the lives of homeless and runaway teenagers living on the streets of Seattle in the early 1980s. It captures their daily struggles for survival, their desperate attempts to find food and shelter, and their often-harsh realities, including drug use and exploitation. The film follows several of these young individuals as they navigate a dangerous and unforgiving environment, highlighting their resilience and the systemic issues that contribute to their plight.

Critical Reception

Streetwise was widely acclaimed by critics for its raw honesty and its powerful, empathetic portrayal of marginalized youth. It was praised for giving a voice to those often ignored by society and for its compelling, albeit difficult, subject matter. The documentary's impact lies in its ability to humanize its subjects and to draw attention to the social issues of homelessness and juvenile delinquency.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its stark realism and intimate access to its subjects.

  • Commended for its courageous and compassionate exploration of youth homelessness.

  • Lauded as an important social document that humanizes its vulnerable interviewees.

Google audience: Information on Google user reviews is not readily available.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Fun Fact

The documentary's director, Cheryl D. Miller, spent over two years filming on the streets of Seattle to gain the trust of the subjects and capture their stories authentically.

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