Poverty. Decay. Social despair and isolation. The very things that continue to plague our society is portrayed here in this documentary by former "Fugee" front-man Praz as he goes this harrowing and dangerous journey on the streets of Skid Row, Los Angeles, a place so rife with decadence and hopelessness; seemingly isolated from the rest of LA that it's almost a city in itself with it's own history, culture and social norms. But at the center of it all lies heart, with a dozen of lost souls who are eager to reclaim their lost lives. Some have tried and succeeded. Some have failed. Despite their unkempt nature, these individuals are, for the most part, human beings just like everyone else. Powerful and at times disturbing, Skid Row reminds us how easy it is to fall into an inescapable situation where there is no easy way out or answers to one of society's most economically debilitating problems of the human race. For anyone whose very livelihoods are threatened by the financial turmoil that is slowly but surly crippling the nation and the world, I urge you to watch this film. To gain an understanding and think long and hard about the fragility of our society. It may hit too close to home for comfort for some, but it is essential viewing nonetheless. Only then can we, as human beings, come together and eradicate this social menace of poverty once and for all.
