Streetwise
1984 · Movie · 91 min
★ 7.7(70)unSUB Rating
This documentary follows a group of teenagers living on the streets of Seattle as they describe their day-to-day reality. Through candid moments and conversations, it shows how they get by through panhandling, survival hustles, and petty crime, while also revealing their vulnerability, hopes, and strained family ties.
Where to watch
Streaming on The Criterion Channel.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1984
- Release date
- 1984-12-07
- Language
- English
- Runtime
- 91 min
- TMDB rating (input)
- 7.6/10 (70 votes)
About
You’ll likely connect with this if you want an unvarnished, emotionally heavy documentary about youth survival and resilience, in the vein of Paris Is Burning; Not for you if you prefer lighter viewing or neatly structured storytelling.
Pros: powerful, hard-to-shake moments; candid teen perspectives; compassionate, unsentimental tone | Cons: some scenes feel staged; uneven intimacy; tough subject matter
Themes
- seattle, washington
- homelessness
- teenage prostitute
- homeless
- homeless teenager
- homeless child
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Documentary Feature Film · 1985 · nominated
Cast & crew
Erin Blackwell
as Self
Dewayne Pomeroy
as Self
Roberta Joseph Hayes
as Self
Lulu Couch
as Self
- RE
Reed Early
as Self
- PP
Patrice Pitts
as Self
- RA
Rat
as Self
Directed by Martin Bell