DARK DAYS (2000) Documentary; DVD

LA VIDA LOCA; DVD (2008) DVD (2008) The fearless photographer and documentary-maker Christian Poveda submerges himself into central America, into the underbelly of society. He managed to get permission from the Salvadorian police and one of the gangs, the "18", to follow them in their lives. Four years later, La Vida Loca sees the light, taking you along the path of violent outcasts of society. And it is very different to what you might imagine.  The documentary takes us from the unfolding of someone's life to their funeral after a shooting. It is an endless spiral of gang violence, with seemingly no point to the gang war whatsoever, other than that of having an enemy to unite them. Joining a gang is not even an alternative employer for the poor, as the gang does not offer any external symbols of success (wealth, privilege, whatever). In fact, the gang does not seem to offer anything at all but the prospect of death, jail or invalidity. Hardly the attractive option, but these youths are already broken by their lives. And change becomes inevitable with the gang tattoos (voluntary or forced) marking their allegiance. Once you are have your face covered in tattoos, you can no longer send your CV anywhere. They can not back down.  After the films release, filmmaker Christian Poveda was killed by gang members who appeared in the film, who claimed that he was a police informer. 

ONE ARMED EXECUTIONER; DVD DVD (1981), New 2011 DVD reprint of this cult Filipino exploitation film. When Interpol agent Ramon Ortega's attempt to nail a big-time drug dealer results in his wife being murdered before his very eyes and his arm being hacked off as a warning, he is left with only one choice. Under the instruction of a Martial Arts Grand Master, one armed antihero Ortgea learns to deal with his handicap and channel his anger, and his thirst for revenge, into deadly fighting skill. Skill that he will put good use against the criminal underworld as 'The One Armed Executioner!'