Lucky

Lucky Torres is the charismatic Puerto Rican woman at the heart of former journalist Laura Checkoway's powerful documentary, which spends six years tracking Lucky's ups and downs. As the film begins, Lucky lives in a New York shelter with her sister, Fantasy. Although a couple briefly adopted Fantasy, Lucky spent her entire youth in the foster care system. Like her idol, rapper Lil Wayne, tattoos cover her entire body, including her pierced face (she attracts looks wherever she goes, but doesn't seem to mind). Lucky, who is gay, visits her son often, but is in no position to look after Joziah on a full-time basis. At the age of 14, she was raped and gave birth to a daughter whom she wasn't able to keep (and hasn't seen since). Lucky has plenty of friends, but she also has trouble finding work, due to a combination of inexperience, mental issues, and the body modification, which disqualifies her from many positions (when she goes on interviews, she covers her mohawk with a wig). None of this stops Lucky from getting more tattoos, like the words “God” and “Fear” above her eyelids. Due to a bit of ingenuity on her part, she manages to secure her own apartment, which she shares with her girlfriend. She also signs on with an agency that specializes in offbeat models, but nothing comes from it. Towards the end, she and Fantasy connect with members of their family, but only time will tell if they stay in touch or if she'll find a way to end the cycle of poverty that began long before she was born. An engaging profile of a colorful character, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)