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IMDbPro

Story of a Junkie

Original title: Gringo
  • 19851985
  • RR
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
290
YOUR RATING
Story of a Junkie (1985)
  • Documentary
Critically Acclaimed documentary from director Lech Kowalski (DOA) following the life and times of a down-and-out heroin addict in 1980s New York.Critically Acclaimed documentary from director Lech Kowalski (DOA) following the life and times of a down-and-out heroin addict in 1980s New York.Critically Acclaimed documentary from director Lech Kowalski (DOA) following the life and times of a down-and-out heroin addict in 1980s New York.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
290
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lech Kowalski
  • Stars
    • John Spacely
    • Steven Shingles
    • Claude du Sorbier
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lech Kowalski
  • Stars
    • John Spacely
    • Steven Shingles
    • Claude du Sorbier
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Story of a Junkie (1985)
    Story of a Junkie (1985)
    Story of a Junkie (1985)
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    Top cast

    Edit
    John Spacely
    • Selfas Self
    Steven Shingles
    • Selfas Self
    Claude du Sorbier
    • Selfas Self
    Eddie
    • Selfas Self
    Osualdo Vasquez
    • Selfas Self
    Ray
    • Selfas Self
    Cliff Weiss
    • Selfas Self
    Renee Tenenbaum
    • Selfas Self
    Jesse the Mess
    • Selfas Self
    Dave Fargie
    • Selfas Self
    Robin McGill
    • Selfas Self
    Scott Colombo
    • Selfas Self
    Joe McGill
    • Selfas Self
    John McGill
    • Selfas Self
    Little
    • Selfas Self
    Pee Wee
    • Selfas Self
    Sassy
    • Selfas Self
    Lori
    • Selfas Self
    • Director
      • Lech Kowalski
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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    • Soundtracks
      C and D (Story of a Junkie)
      Performed by Children of Paradise

    User reviews6

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Raw and realistic
    A great little film that shows up many of its larger-budget peers with its realistic depiction of drugs in New York City. We follow Gringo as he skates his way through the nightmarish drug dens that he calls home, all the time letting the viewer deeper into the mental and physical hell of his life.

    Combining actual interviews with recreations of events from Gringo's life, Story of a Junkie achieves a level of realism and emotional impact that Trainspotting and its ilk cannot match. This is a truly dirty, depressing film that does not attempt to glamourise drugs. Its just a bunch of junkies trying to survive, but it works very, very well.

    It's really great that Troma have released films like Story of a Junkie that would otherwise have been forgotten. With its low budget and difficult subject matter, this is the kind of movie that can unfortunately fall between the cracks. As it is, viewers have the chance to watch this fine piece of cinema in their own homes, safely away from the filthy, drug riddled streets of mid-80s NYC.
    helpful•27
    0
    • In_Name_And_Blood
    • Aug 8, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 22, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Troma
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Gringo
    • Filming locations
      • Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Kasba Productions
      • Newell Media I
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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