by Betsy Boyd
synopsis
Gangstresses, a documentary by Harry Davis, tells the story of violence, poverty, and survival in the streets from a female perspective. Over a two-year period, Davis interviews female hustlers, drug dealers, rappers, porn stars, prostitutes, mothers, and daughters. Among them are Champagne, a well-known African American porn star who has a small child; Mama Mayhem, a street hustler; Uneek, a rapper from the Bronx; and Vanessa Del Rio, a famous porn actress. Musicians Lil' Kim, Mary J. Blige, Ice T, and Tupac Shakur also share personal stories of survival. The documentary conducts follow-up research on the women's complicated lives, offering glimpses of both tragic reality and hopeful recovery.
characteristics
- Inner City Blues
- Recovery [health]
- Rap-music
- Street-life
- Prostitute/prostitution
- Streetwalker
- Women
- Whore
- Violence
- Poverty
- Mother
- Drug-dealer
- Deprivation
- Courtesan
- Hooker