Liz Garbus created this powerful documentary film that tells the story of two teenagers, Shanae and Megan, and their dramatic journeys through the juvenile justice system and back out on to the bleak streets of East Baltimore, Maryland. With unprecedented access to the system and to the complex interior lives of the protagonists, the film provides shocking insight into the world of young women struggling just to survive teenhood.
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.
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.
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.
..disturbing, yet life affirming portrait ... girlhood is an early stage of life, but the consequences of mistakes upon womanhood and, more significantly, motherhood will ...
Thanks to unprecedented access, acclaimed documentarian Liz Garbus is able to continue her upfront examination of the American criminal justice system.
Liz Garbus and company have skillfully captured raw emotions, something 'reality TV' almost never does, and Girlhood offers two valuable case studies to its audience, however difficult it may be to watch them.
It was crazy to see how some young people live their lives - acting out and even killing people with no remorse. Very sad.
July 11, 2009
Fran Wilds
It's 4:30am. I'm freezing. Man, I could really use some hot porridge right now. Thank goodness there's a Casino nearby :) Eurotrip - A forgettable teen comedy. I only remember that Kristin Kreuk has a cameo. Robin Hood - The Disney animated feature. Wow, this is a huge step back from previous Disney films like Snow
White, but the character animation is very good - especially after watching Polar Express, you appreciate this a lot more. It's strange that although it's just a bunch of drawings, you relate to the characters more because they feel "real" somehow. The randomness caused by freehand drawings also add to the realism of the facial expressions. Even though the expressions are exaggerated, you don't notice that until you actually freeze a frame and analyze it. Girlhood - Um... I'm not sure how this ended up in my queue on Netflix. It's a documentary about two girls from the "Waxter Juvenile Facility, home to Maryland's most violent juvenile offenders." Shanae was there for stabbing her friend to death when she was 11. Megan was probably a couple years older and was there for assault. Guess who ended up on the right path later? It's interesting and all, but not something I would actually stick on my queue.
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