Streetwise Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Streetwise Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 24, 2021

Taking inspiration from a Life Magazine article by Cheryl McCall and photographer Mary Ellen Mark, director Martin Bell ventures into Seattle to better understand life for the street kids who populate the urban areas. The 1984 documentary “Streetwise” aims to explore this existence, where survival is a daily activity, and the community is filled with children who are perhaps better off on their own than with the dangerous families they’ve managed to escape. It’s a no-win situation for the subjects in “Streetwise,” with Bell trying to respect the natural rhythm of this world, which is teeming with confused adolescents left with nothing but their own ill-formed instincts.

“Streetwise” examines the ways and ideas from many of the kids, but it shows particular interest in Tiny, a 14-year-old girl using prostitution to fund her ragged lifestyle after leaving her alcoholic mother. Rat is an “Oliver Twist”-ian child who’s determined to become a pro at self-preservation. And Dewayne is a lost soul clinging to his rituals, dealing with his father’s influence, with the parent in prison, unable to reach out the help his son.

Bell aims for a verité experience with “Streetwise,” using his cameras to study the personalities in motion. There are pimps, drug addicts, and confused kids everywhere, and their combativeness, along with camaraderie, makes for a compelling sit. The documentary gets into stickier areas of authenticity with some staged interactions, largely used to deliver backstory about the teens and their domestic issues. These moments of performance stick out in the documentary, but Bell quickly rebounds with haunting images of emotional damage and denial, as the subjects work to harden themselves while psychologically managing complete abandonment.

Streetwise Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from the original 16mm camera negative. Detail is strong through, reaching as far as the original cinematography allows, capturing the wear and tear on the subjects, along with fine hairs and skin problems. Seattle streets are dimensional, highlighting the roughness and decay of the area. Colors are exact, offering brighter primaries on clothing and hot red street signage. The coldness of the streets is preserved, along with shadowy encounters, finding delineation satisfactory. Skintones are natural. Grain is heavy but film-like. Source is in strong condition, with a few hairs and warped frames present.

Streetwise Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 LPCM mix delivers a clear understanding of the subjects, with their thoughts often competing with street traffic and sidewalk bustle. Casual interactions are clean, with nothing lost along the way. Atmospherics are defined without overwhelming the human element of the picture. Music emerges with clarity.

Streetwise Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Martin Bell.

• Interview (10:22, HD) with director Martin Bell examines his initial interest in the story of "Streetwise," finding inspiration from Mary Ellen Mark's photography, originally showcased in Life Magazine. The couple was offered monetary support from Willie Nelson, embarking on a quest to capture the "unfamous," hunting for the right street kids to follow. Bell shares how Tiny's tale grew into the dominate subplot of the feature, with Mark especially fascinated by the girl and her dangerous life. The interviewee also goes into Mark's personal history and her love of photography.

• Interview (17:27, HD) sits down with editor Nancy Baker (it's a high-end video conference chat) to examine her early impressions of Martin Bell and Mary Ellen Mark, learning to share their passion for the "Streetwise" project. Shooting the feature on film, expenses were monitored, forcing Bell to create his moments carefully, learning which kids to track during their time in Seattle. Piecing together the picture, Baker was tasked with finding narratives, getting into the lives of the subjects, also working without interview sequences. While choosing an ending proved to be difficult for Baker, her real challenge was whittling down a seven-hour-long initial cut of "Streetwise," admitting she was initially overwhelmed by the work.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:42, HD) is included.

Streetwise Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Streetwise" is bleak, hitting hardest with a level of finality for some of the subjects. Bell gets in deep with a few of these kids, and his cinematic inspection provides a clear view of generational influence and personal struggle, managing to catch the dam breaks of emotion as the reality of loneliness and perceived hopelessness finally sets in.