Los Angeles’ Skid Row is rarely a place filmmakers go looking for inspirational stories. It has been home to the city’s homeless population since the 1930s and has only grown in size thanks to the housing crisis. In “Skid Row Marathon,” director Mark Hayes decides to explore not Skid Row in particular, but a judge who has formed a running club with some Skid Row residents to train for marathons, and offers insights into this unique group of people who have struggled in life.
Though some of the stories are inspirational, Hayes takes on a “white savior” view too often, making the documentary feel misguided and detached.
It’s always a little bit strange for me to see how a writer or director who isn’t from L.A. or has only lived here a few years, takes on a subject that is very much an L.A. thing.
Though some of the stories are inspirational, Hayes takes on a “white savior” view too often, making the documentary feel misguided and detached.
It’s always a little bit strange for me to see how a writer or director who isn’t from L.A. or has only lived here a few years, takes on a subject that is very much an L.A. thing.
- 3/22/2019
- by Yolanda Machado
- The Wrap
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