Girl Hood

Released Oct 31, 2003

1h 19m

Documentary

Crime

Drama

List

94%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

74%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

Shanae has accumulated an astonishing amount of trauma within her short life. At 10, she suffered a hideous gang-rape; alcohol and drug abuse followed; then she murdered a friend. Megan, on the other hand, dealt with a mother addicted to heroin, and, after fleeing numerous foster homes, attempted to stab another child. This documentary follows these two bright but troubled young girls at the Waxter Juvenile Facility in Baltimore as they struggle their way toward redemption and understanding.

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Critics Consensus

An intimate, compassionate look at two teenagers in juvenile hall.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Like many similar documentaries, this 2002 feature doesn't present easy answers, but by letting the two girls register as individuals, it forces the viewer to care about them when few around them can be bothered.

Jul 18, 2007

Full Review

Wesley Morris

Boston Globe

The trajectories of Shanae's and Megan's lives speak volumes for themselves.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 6, 2004

Full Review

Frank Scheck

Hollywood Reporter

An eye-opening sociological examination that is alternately moving and tedious. Ultimately, however, one can't help but be caught up in the travails of its two memorable subjects.

Nov 14, 2003

Full Review

Merle Bertrand

Film Threat

Chilling, depressing, yet guardedly optimistic.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Josh Ralske

All Movie Guide

Girlhood thoughtfully questions not just the system itself, but our unfair assumptions about the young people caught within it.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 8, 2005

Full Review

Jon Lap

Apollo Guide

To the film's great credit, [director] Garbus evens out her often heavy-hand and we're given the emotional core of two young female criminals in ways often eluded in the movies.

Rated: 75/100

May 13, 2005

Full Review

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Audience Member

The Power of the mind is wild.... You can accomplish what you set your mind to do... and you also need love.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Rodd asked to never see anything like this again. I kind of agree, even thought it was good. It was really, really depressing.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A wonderful documentary. Incredibly compelling and eye opening.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This documentary shocks you at what is going on in some teenagers' lives as it follows two girls from Baltimore in their struggle through the justice system and transition into the real world and adulthood. The footage is very real as it explores juvenile delinquency along with its causes and solutions, both good and bad. Certain to cause wonder and worry.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A look at the lives of two girls in the juvenile justice system in Baltimore. Very much worth a watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Girlhood is an interesting documentary examining the criminal justice system when it comes to young girls. The film has no opinion towards whether the system works or it doesnât. Rather it presents two examples and allows the audience to decide. The subjects of the documentary are two teenage girls, Megan and Shanae, both who committed acts of violence and were sent to a juvenile detention center. The film chronicles their stay there and release back into the real world. Garbus does an amazing job of filming this movie with out terribly manipulating the girls lives into something theyâre not. The two girls lives so greatly contrast which make the movie so interesting because you sympathize with them along with watching in curiosity because they are such mysteries. You are hoping for the best in both of them but can not even guess how it will turn out. It is a compelling documentary that brings a new meaning to girlhood.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

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Liz Garbus

Director

Liz Garbus

Producer

Rory Kennedy

Producer

Mary Manhardt

Film Editor

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Synopsis

Shanae has accumulated an astonishing amount of trauma within her short life. At 10, she suffered a hideous gang-rape; alcohol and drug abuse followed; then she murdered a friend. Megan, on the other hand, dealt with a mother addicted to heroin, and, after fleeing numerous foster homes, attempted to stab another child. This documentary follows these two bright but troubled young girls at the Waxter Juvenile Facility in Baltimore as they struggle their way toward redemption and understanding.

Director: Liz Garbus
Distributor: Wellspring Cinema
Production Co: Moxie Firecracker Films
Genre: Documentary, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 31, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.8K
Runtime: 1h 19m
Aspect Ratio: 16mm

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