Street Talk & Tuxes

Meet Katy, James, T. J., Slasher, Matt, and Laura, denizens of the streets of Portland, Oregon. Like 90% of street teens, they come from backgrounds of severe abuse, wherein the homeless life is safer than the one spent with malevolent parents. They tell us how they came to the street, how they cope with their situations, and what they hope for their futures. Standard fare for this type of video, actually, but the producer also follows them as they prepare for the only annual prom for homeless youth in the country, sponsored by Greenhouse in Portland. I was touched by their anticipation, which could be glimpsed even through fairly hardened exteriors, and their genuine enjoyment of the event. Despite this poignant hook, however, this tape is recommended only for flush collections that lack other materials on this topic. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Glaser)