Girl Trouble
(Docu)
An ITVS presentation of a Critical Images production. Produced
by Lidia Szajko, Lexi Leban. Executive producer, Jack Walsh.
Directed by Lidia Szajko, Lexi Leban.
April 30, 2004
By Dennis Harvey
A fine documentary about "at risk" kids, "Girl
Trouble" follows three young San Francisco women on the
brink of adulthood -- and a possible lifetime stuck in the
revolving door of crime and incarceration -- over four years'
course. Juvenile delinquent stereotypes are usefully demolished
while the lack of supportive environs and services for such
girls becomes painfully clear. Fast-moving, involving item
is a natural for public TV slots and educational outreach.
Protags run an ethnic gamut but have overlapping issues,
with arrest histories going back as far as age 13; they're
all 16 to 17 at pic's start. Sheila is serially busted for
selling drugs. Court view of her as incorrigible can't encompass
the uncomfortable truth she's the only working member of a
family on SSI in a violent housing project, with seven siblings,
bills to pay, and dad in prison.
Shangra lives on-and-off with an older sister, but despite
latter's advice, refuses to distance herself from a heroin-addict
mother whom she frequently joins in homelessness. Stephanie
is eager to stay out of the law's eye, given a standing arrest
warrant due to her prior flight from a group home. But this
means she's reluctant to get help when battered by her boyfriend
-- even after she's given birth to their baby.
All three girls spend time working and being counseled at
the Center for Young Women's Development, a rare peer-run
org targeting female juveniles. Its director, Lateefah, herself
just 24, has experienced similar "troubles" first-hand.
She bemoans the cycle of domestic violence, premature single
motherhood, drug use, support issues, institutional recidivism,
et al. that funnels many girls toward the dead-end of adult
prison. Stressing that they do have options, the center has
had miraculous success turning some young lives around. But
it's an uphill struggle.
There's no lack of drama, as Sheila is imprisoned for shooting
her brother (he's only wounded) during a drug and alcohol
binge, while Shangra and Stephanie deal with much legal and
personal turmoil. Rather amazingly, all three stories end
on an upbeat note, with each girl in much-improved circumstances
-- a success rate that's surely atypical, but inspiring all
the same.
Closing titles note that while females comprise about one-third
of the juvenile system populace nationwide, so far only 2%
of the preventative/supportive services available are targeted
toward them.
Vid-shot feature is compactly packaged, with outstanding
editing by Josh Peterson and Laurie Schmidt reducing what
was no doubt many hours of original footage into a sort of
cogent shorthand that's fleet without feeling rushed.
Camera (color, DV), Leban, Szajko;
Editors, Josh Peterson, Laurie Schmidt;
Music, Todd Capps;
Sound, James Olmstead;
Reviewed at San Francisco Film Festival, April 24, 2004.
Running time: 74 MIN.
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