Lost Angels - Skid Row is My Home - Movie Review Example

Lost Angels: Skid Row is My Home (Movie Analysis) al Affiliation Lost Angels – Skid Row is My Home A somber documentary – ‘Lost Angels’ Skid Row is My Home (2010) – portrays Catherine Keener, as the main protagonist; narrating on how the lives of eight individuals, struggle to establish their own ‘version/form of communion.’ Abate being impoverished residents of the skid-row area of Los Angeles, their sense of family, is uniquely portrayed throughout; striving also to simultaneously contend with the rapidly evolving health-care system in America. Inspired by director Thomas Napper through his work on ‘The Soloist’, the documentary focuses on both personal and community struggles encountered within the 50-block area of the impoverished neighborhood. This neighborhood is not only unique, concerning the impoverished contexts present, but further still, the high ratio of mentally imbalanced individuals. Through vivid portrayal of this negative social aspect, director Napper clearly displays the reality on the ground highlighting not only this, but also so much more in the process. A rare insight into the world of the homeless, this special population portrays the proverbial thorn in the flesh; concerning the glitz and glamour associated with the famous city of Los Angeles. Four main categories are present, concerning documentary movie genres; with ‘Lost Angels’ falling under the persuasive category. The others include factual, propaganda and instructional; all which provide unique perspectives of social contexts present, within a given historical period. Under the ‘persuasive category’, the documentary seeks to reveal social injustice in addition to the subsequent promotion of positive human action. Gently narrated by Catherine Keener (main character/ actress), it reminds humanity of how suddenly lives can be negatively impacted; the label – skid row – symbolizing a place of great contradictions that is represented in the City of Los Angeles. It is the lives of various individuals present within a 50-block area, which contributes richly to the overall theme(s) present. Through this, it brings each story to light in its own uniquely contradictory fashion; inspiring in the end, abate being heart breaking in nature. Within the documentary is the portrayal of unique issues, which continue influencing the city authority’s policing strategies and aims. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), face myriads of problems, which are subsequently, addressed within the city limits, but the contexts present within the Skid Row area; are uniquely isolated in nature. This is informed by the fact that within such contexts, neither criminal nor civil justice / jurisprudence can be said (and in the past has not) to work in tackling the prevailing issues there. In context, the area as a neighborhood is wracked by various impacts such as drug addiction, gentrification, crime, and the not too-appealing overly assertive presence of the police. Despite the aforementioned hardships and negative influences experienced/ or portrayed, the director (Napper) cleverly frames the locale as also – a last chance refuge – for the estimated 10,000 individuals who reside there. This population is uniquely composed of not only financially compromised souls, but also emotionally, psychologically and physically imbalanced persons. Abate the strive experienced, it provides ‘homely comfort’, as a place of help; and most importantly hope – that human virtue that is able to comfort a human being, even in the worst of situational contexts. The presence of this hope is also primarily as a result of the presence of missions, advocates and other assistance group-entities present within the neighborhood. There director provides a clever and humanistic portrayal of the ‘Skid Row’ area; providing an arena of contrast to the ‘enviable lives’ found in the city. It is thus, not only deep in honesty and drenched in character, but also further steeped in heart. The eight remarkable personalities, who descend to the basement of the Los Angeles community; ultimately making a life for not only themselves, but further aiding the many needy individuals around. The team of eight does not only face challenges posed by the influential nature of gentrification, and the further increase in the criminalization of the homeless; but also further strive to expose draconian changes within America’s mental health-care system. Through this ‘aid’, the local populace is able to stick together, thereby being able to fight back; not only for their rights as individuals, but also as part of the greater society that represents the city of Los Angeles. Through viewership of the documentary, the greater American society is able to perceive how – proactive approaches – can be implemented, regarding the issue of tackling homelessness. Most specifically is the portrayal of housing-provision, as a core means of tackling both mental illness and substance abuse primarily through provision of ‘a sense of stability.’ Form many in the Los Angeles society, seeking refuge; let alone building a life of meaning in such a neighborhood, would be next to impossible, given the prevailing situational contexts present. However, for a majority of the residing populace, Skid Row provides the perfect arena; proving that sometimes, ‘home’ is where help is available, and subsequently provided. Help is in the form of legal/ civil advocacy, psychological health care provision, shelter, and food, clothing and general medical care. The various missions, individuals and foundations present, working for the general good of the populace present; individuals banished from normal social interaction. Issues related to Community Policing: The Skid Row Neighborhood As the ‘unwanted of society’, the population faces ‘persecution’, especially from the LAPD; which is viewed as being overly coercive in nature, and hence unwanted within the neighborhood. This is vividly displayed, where police personnel have a rough time, in terms of patrolling the area and enhancing order within. This is perhaps because the neighborhood, as a ‘homeless community’, is home to drug addicts amongst other ‘undesirables’; who pose a threat to the social structure present in the city. Yet, while viewed as a negative segment of the general society, Skid Row is home to transient residents who are fortunate enough to enjoy the generosity of such entities as the Lamp Community and the Midnight Mission. The homeless, who are profiled in the movie, do unabashedly discuss their struggles with both substance abuse and mental illness. Through it, viewers are able to get a glimpse at how the two aspects, co-exist in driving an individual’s life ‘down-hill.’ In fact, many of the residents do admit to indulging in self-medication, through turning to readily available street drugs this in an attempt at managing their mental imbalances. Through further viewership, one’s earlier judgment(s) is most likely to be replaced by compassion; having ‘sought-of-experienced’ the daily struggles undergone by the residents. Further still, is the great human embodiment, symbolically represented through those individuals and entities, who instead of seclusion; instead engage in inclusion. This is portrayed by their daily interaction and socialization with the citizens, portrayed as being quite the opposite, to what local and municipal council agencies engage in. to the citizens and viewers (after watching), the LAPD, as the primary policing agency on the ground, is viewed apprehensively. This is contrary to the ethical mandate, socially accredited to the police force in any given society. Crime and drug trafficking became daily aspects of policing in the neighborhood, where tough measures were taken at tackling the same. Yet, the area evidently portrayed a continuation of specific attributes that continued being viewed as ‘unacceptable’ by area authorities. Thus, the strategy utilized was that of continued surveillance, ‘busts and seizures’ and arrests; not mentioning the aggression portrayed from both ends of the spectrum. It is to this end that sociologists, amongst other experts engaged in various debates on the best way forward. To the LAPD’s credit, they amongst other pertinent authorities were able to envisage the need for a different approach; that of great social integration and inclusion, aimed at ‘tackling the illness, as opposed to treating the symptoms.’ The fruits of such focus became represented in various aspects such as – the LAPD ‘Safe Cities Initiative’ – amongst other steps. Launched in 2005, April as an effort in effectively tackling crime, as well as improving the quality of life for all citizens of the City of Los Angeles, California; the – Safer Cities Initiative (SCI) – became implemented, as a 68-week program. This was in the aim of the LAPD trying a different approach, in dealing with the issues of maintaining order and peacekeeping in the area known famously as Skid Row. Due to the relationship established between increased crime, mental illness and poverty, the aim was towards attaining a safer city atmosphere through positive social interaction and pro-active inclusion of all members of society. the initiative was based on the targeting of area inhabitants, based on their high-risk characteristics i.e. 1:2 ratio of females to males; a-fifth with disabilities; a-fourth with mental illness, and one-third having substance abuse problems. It is based on the character-traits that the area was notorious for high crime-rates and drug abuse, in addition to vandalism, victimization and prostitution amongst other social ills. The focus was to strategically tackle these ills, not through coercion, intimidation and jail sentencing; but rather through proactive measures that were aimed at providing the affected populace, with a sense of hope, belonging and inclusion. Starting with the – Main Street Pilot Project – the housing encampment problem began being tackled with the full-scale implementation of the initiative-taking place from Sept. 17, 2005. Through breaking-up these encampments, as well as the removal of portable toilets in the area, the aim was at deterring loitering. Targeting various crimes was next, with different arrests being made; especially from the different squads of officers utilized in the exercise. With its basis being on – the ‘broken windows’ crime theory – the initiative was strategically implemented, with the belief that a connection did exist between serious crime, and neighborhood disorder/ insecurity. In effect, it was based on the presumption that public disorder and general criminality was a signal of neighborhood residents being either unable to maintain their areas of residence, or in effect, were poorly resourced in engaging in the endeavor. Thus if left unchecked, such neighborhood disorder could in the long run, disintegrate into serious criminal behavior and chaos. Accordingly, there was, and continues being a need for a gradual paradigm shift. Such termed ‘neighborhood disorder’, symbolically represented by ‘a broken window’, could be more than the above a further portrayal of the failure of society in tackling social problems at the root-level. Proactive approach accordingly, is what is promoted through the documentary, in persuasion of greater contribution from both the public and private sectors. Further calls are made to the legislative arm of government, especially concerning primary healthcare in the city. Through enhanced mental health care service provision, a majority of the ills present in the society may be tackled effectively contributing to a safer and better society in Los Angeles. Reference Thomas Q. Napper (Dir.). (2010). ‘Lost Angels: Skid Row is My Home.’ Catherine Keener (Narrator); Kevin Cohen, Manuel Compito, Danny Harris, Linda Harris, Lee Ann Leven, Albert Olson, Steve Richardson and Terri Hughes (Cast). United States: Agi Orsi and Krasnoff Foster Production Companies. Read More