Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Streetwise

      Released Oct 26, 1984 1h 32m Documentary List
      93% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 98% Audience Score 250+ Ratings Photojournalist Mary Ellen Mark and director Mark Bell travel the streets of Seattle, where they take a harrowing look at the lives of young members of the city's homeless population. The teenagers they follow come from broken families and have resorted to drug use, crime and prostitution. The two follow the teens as they attempt to survive on the streets and also deal with their complex, dysfunctional home lives -- and cling to one another to achieve a sense of family. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

      View All (14) Critics Reviews
      John DeFore Hollywood Reporter A heartbreaking look at teenage poverty in "America's most livable city." Jul 19, 2019 Full Review Chuck Bowen Slant Magazine Bell proves uncannily adept at capturing moments that seem to encapsulate a subject's entire emotional temperature. Jul 17, 2019 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out Bell and his team clearly gained the confidence of their subjects, and despite their depressing lives, the kids reveal themselves in all their naive vitality. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Brian Susbielles InSession Film In a documentary tough to swallow with such subjects, Martin Bell followed a group of homeless children living on the streets of Seattle struggling to survive. Feb 28, 2023 Full Review Michael Bronski Gay Community News (Boston) The filmmakers have photographed and arranged this raw material so that we are distanced, rather than brought into it. Sep 22, 2022 Full Review David Harris Spectrum Culture Bells documentary could have been a portrait of degradation, but instead feels like an ode to the human spirit, living life in the most inhospitable of conditions. Mar 1, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (23) audience reviews
      Audience Member I only seen this movie/docu. once, I believe that I will watch this again. Even though it is a sad/hard watch, I think that it is worth more then one watch. I would reccomend it to others to watch, at first I thought that it was a bit dated and it may be altered or written out if you will. I read on to hear that this was based on teens life on the streets in the 80's in WA. As the film went on I felt drawn to it and wanting to know the teens outcome in life. It also not to be personal reminded me of my own troubles of growing up etc... This was a real birds eye view of people and the human nature need, that we all have in some way as humans to survive. We can all relate to these teens in one way or another. I did some homework and read about some of the teens background that were in the film. Sad to hear that some of these teens have lost their lives to murder, suicide etc... r.i.p. to all. I went with 3 1/2 stars I thought that it was a film that sticks and stays with you after you watch it etc... I hope that the teens in this film found their way in life. So much to say on this film go give it a watch. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member A spectacular look inside the lives of street kids. It's about how they live, where they sleep, how they get money, their family situation, etc. The stories are heartbreaking and emotional. The doc is so well done it feels as if the camera isn't even recording, as the kids really show their true self and are not acting for the camera. I pray to god that some of these kids got a life of happiness. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member This raw documentary follows the lives of street kids living in Seattle in the Mid 80s. Although it may look dated many of the issues addressed in this film still resinate to this day! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review frederick m Tragic documentary about homeless youth living in Seattle in the 1980s. To be streetwise is to learn the survival skills needed. That can mean dumpster diving, prostitution, selling drugs or pulling con jobs. There's no narration in the documentary and none is needed. The people all speak for themselves. They're vibrant individuals were born or came into bad circumstances. It's from the 80's but it isn't dated at all. There are still street kids and they act pretty much the same way today. Some of them are brilliant, some of them are naive but they're all trying to survive. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Kanonbra, osentimental dokumentär om gatubarn i Seattle, de flesta i fjortonårsåldern, som livnär sig på småbrottslighet och prostution. Det märks att kidsen litar på filmarna - i början känns det som de spelar lite men snart in i filmen är det som att kameran inte ens är på. Ett riktigt skönt gäng ungar på sitt sätt, jag gillade verkligen de flesta. Vilket gör det extra trist att läsa att hälften av dom är döda nu, i AIDS, överdoser och så stackars söta Roberta Joseph Hayes som vart mördad av The Green River Killer. Sammantaget en av mina absoluta dokumentärfavoriter. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Even though this is an 80's documentary, its very haunting to see those kids. Seattle at that time seemed to be a kids playground for kids who had problems. You now wonder what ever happened to them, are they still alive? The kid that got me the most was Dewayne, it was just sad because maybe his dad did really want to change and give him a better life. This documentary is just more open/real about homeless kids. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      86% 87% Let There Be Light 83% 96% Social Genocide 56% 81% Powaqqatsi 80% 45% The Big Bang 90% 81% Gates of Heaven Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Photos

      View All Streetwise photos

      Streetwise

      Streetwise (1984) Streetwise (1984) Streetwise (1984) Streetwise (1984) Streetwise (1984) Streetwise (1984) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Photojournalist Mary Ellen Mark and director Mark Bell travel the streets of Seattle, where they take a harrowing look at the lives of young members of the city's homeless population. The teenagers they follow come from broken families and have resorted to drug use, crime and prostitution. The two follow the teens as they attempt to survive on the streets and also deal with their complex, dysfunctional home lives -- and cling to one another to achieve a sense of family.
      Director
      Martin Bell
      Genre
      Documentary
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Oct 26, 1984, Limited
      Rerelease Date (Theaters)
      Jul 19, 2019
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 16, 2019
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $8.3K
      Runtime
      1h 32m