Frankie, From the Street 2002
Distributed by LAVA - Latin American Video Archives, 124 Washington Place, New York, NY 10014; 212-243-4804
Produced by NV Nueva Vision Films
Directed by Victor Javier Ramos
VHS, color, 28 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Homelessness, Latin American Studies, Puerto Rico
Date Entered: 01/14/2005
Reviewed by Gerald Notaro, University Librarian, Nelson Poynter Memorial Library, University of South Florida, St. PetersburgOne would hope that a documentary about the homeless in Puerto Rico would give some insight into a disturbing sociological problem. Unfortunately, Frankie, From the Streets portrays Frankie's specific case, which is a common one: broken home, marijuana at 10, dealing at 11, cocaine at 14, school drop out by 8th grade, jail at 17, junkie at 18. The video describes Frankie as surprisingly intelligent, as if only stupid people fall into drugs and end up on the streets. It is hard for the viewer to feel sympathy for someone whose most difficult problem when waking is finding a vein to shoot. The only purpose for watching Frankie, From the Streets would be to deter. The video is in Spanish with English subtitles.