S.P.I.T.: Squeegee Punks in Traffic

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02/20/2005 [url="http://www.spit.ca/index.main.html"]This documentary[/url] centers on the life of "Roach", a homeless youth on the streets of Montreal given an opportunity to tell the tale of the plight of himself and his fellows as he rides drug induced waves amid his dreams of socialist reform. Armed with the squeegee, they work the traffic in hopes of earning life outside of the plastic world of economic conformity, branded by politicians as outlaws and hunted by police who seek to force them away from the eyes of the privileged. Seen as sub-human by many, there is no sympathy for them as they are driven to and fro, their meager belongings are burned, and their shanty style homes under bridges are bulldozed, as we are shown when Roach visits Toronto. To those with all the material comforts, and we can admit to having held this past bias, it would seem they are there by choice, but this film seeks to wipe that ignorant attitude away. The police are viewed as fascist troops of the economic elite, and this is evidenced by the behaviour of some officers caught on film. It is to be noted that others do not have this negative attitude on camera. People on the street also have no qualms about assaulting them, and even one of our camera people is hit in the face by a passing asshole. There is no doubt that drug use is rampant amongst these people, but before anybody jumps on their bandstand, we would ask you to consider what you might find yourself doing to escape a very bleak existance where the majority of people fear and hate you. Arrogant politicians congratulate themselves at press opportunities as they claim "the only place you will see these (squeegees) is at a gas station!", enacting legislation to "give law enforcement the tools they need to enforce change." Care to see what can happen in a supposed First World society if you do not conform to expectations and offend the sensibilities of the elite? It is here. It is important to distinguish that no windows are shown washed when the motorist refuses it. We do not condone aggressive tactics by the service provider, and this does occur, as we have witnessed in person in Vancouver and Winnipeg. We also do wonder if the squeegees are stolen from gas stations, who should not be responsible to supply the tools. Ask yourself, though, what a young person is to do when they find themselves thrown out of home, or abused to the point where they cannot abide there. Are they garbage to be swept away? Next time we are driving, and we see a squeegee kid, we will accept them. They exist to remind us of some the hypocritical practises of a country where care is supposed to be universal, but is only shown towards those that meet approval. See more Read all reviews

S.P.I.T.: Squeegee Punks in Traffic

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