Gang War: Bangin' in Little Rock (1994)

Directed by:

• Marc Levin

IMDB.com
I must admit that I may be a little partial to this title as it has somewhat achieved cult status amongst myself and my peers. This title is a beautiful first hand look into streetgangs as we know it with a unique twist. . . it's not inner city youth. Generally speaking, gangs are thought to be confined to America's inner cities affecting mostly Black and Latino youth. This documentary opens your eyes to what's not publicized, which is the fact that suburban youth indulge in this lifestyle as well which stems from an air of hopelessness and despair which is prevalent where gangs are prevalent. We all know hopelessness and despair transcend racial barriers so we are privileged to follow our gang members (Whites, Blacks, Latinos etc.) from their rites of passage into these gangs, to a typical day in the life of, down to death, murder and comraderie. Ultimately this documentary reveals a lot about the underbelly of the city where our last ex-president hails from. A must-see if you're a fan of HBO documentaries.