A RARE LOOK AT GANG LIFE `WITH A BULLET'.Byline: David Kronke Television Critic Filmmaker Ricardo Pollack sure has some brass. I can't imagine many people asking gang members if they can follow them around with cameras -- that alone would probably earn you a thorough beating -- but Pollack actually did it. For ``18 With a Bullet,'' Pollack hung out with members of El Salvador's ruthless gang 18, created by and boasting in its ranks members who had been deported from Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. for criminal activity. Their experiences in L.A.'s 18th Street gang have enabled them to export a virulent new brand of gang violence to Central America Central America, narrow, southernmost region (c.202,200 sq mi/523,698 sq km) of North America, linked to South America at Colombia. It separates the Caribbean from the Pacific. . Initiations and punishments are meted out Adj. 1. meted out - given out in portions apportioned, dealt out, doled out, parceled out distributed - spread out or scattered about or divided up in rough beatings -- 18 seconds of kicking and clubbing fellow gang members. And that's intended as moderately affectionate, so you can imagine how they treat everyone else in their path. Gang activity in El Salvador El Salvador (ĕl sälväthōr`), officially Republic of El Salvador, republic (2005 est. pop. 6,705,000), 8,260 sq mi (21,393 sq km), Central America. , we're told, accounts for 3 percent of the country's gross domestic product. We meet Slappy, the man who created 18 after getting booted from the U.S., who's changing his looks because he's wanted for murder (he sports at least three different haircuts through the course of the documentary). He has a wife and kids for whom he expresses concern: ``They never see me with a gun or with drugs. ... I don't give a bad example. I try to lead them to a good life.'' Except, of course, for his crack habit. And his murder habit, too. Another gang member confides, ``I know my future is in prison, the hospital, possibly even death. I'm 17, and I'd like to reach 37 at least, or 39.'' Lofty goals indeed. He then discusses killing rival gang members while prosaically ironing a shirt. Pollack's cameras capture some amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. moments and emotional revelations with these gang members; the access he received and the honesty of his subjects is amazing. Near the film's end, two veterans of the gang life -- they've survived into their 30s -- reflect on how their world has changed. ``Before,'' one reminisces wistfully wist·ful adj. 1. Full of wishful yearning. 2. Pensively sad; melancholy. [From obsolete wistly, intently. , ``it was so easy to kill someone.'' David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke(at)dailynews.com 18 WITH A BULLET - Three and one half stars What: ``Wide Angle'' report on how L.A.'s gangs are influencing those in El Salvador. Where: KCET KCET Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (Japan) KCET Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology Channel 28. When: 9 tonight. In a nutshell: Grim but compelling. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Gang member Slappy, center, and some of his cohorts make the signs for the Roman numeral numeral, symbol denoting anumber. The symbol is a member of a family of marks, such as letters, figures, or words, which alone or in a group represent the members of a numeration system. 18 in tonight's ``Wide Angle'' documentary on KCET, ``18 With a Bullet.'' |
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