Squeegee

Through verité footage, the film explores the lives of Desmond, Leroy, "Peanut", and Ericka as they confront traumas, celebrate triumphs, and conquer everyday challenges. From birthday parties to navigating their journey as young entrepreneurs, this coming-of-age narrative meditates on resilience in the face of many obstacles. Though "squeegeeing" has come to be a highly politicized form of panhandling, sparking fierce debate and even vitriol, those who undertake that work are extraordinary young adults navigating poverty and living in the consistent presence of gun violence. For many, washing windows offers an opportunity to support themselves and their families. With immediate returns for those in sometime transitionary or precarious situations, squeegeeing can seem like the more rational choice when weighed against the far-off potential rewards of education or career training. And family and community members view the occupation as a healthy alternative to more destructive illegal activities. 

Squeegee employs an innovative participatory lens that finds much of the film shot by those it documents. This approach allows the film participants to be the authorities of their own narrative in ways that honor their perspective, lived experiences, dreams, and aspirations. By focusing not on failure or trauma, but on the tender moments of childhood and the real battles for public space in a divided city, the film offers a unique snapshot of life as a teenager in urban America.

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DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT: "For black youth, hustling is often criminalized or viewed as a nuisance, yet their work in the city's informal economy represents perseverance. These are the young adults who slip through the cracks and go unseen, but have found a lifeline through the hustle of washing car windows. Working collaboratively with our characters, the film interweaves verité footage shot by our team, along with lyrical, diaristic footage shot by our characters, giving us unparalleled, unfiltered access into their lives.

We intend for this material to give the film a multi-layered approach, in which the kids are always the driving force behind telling their own stories. Their life off the block comes alive through their self-captured footage, providing context for how the world views them without our presence as filmmakers. Intentionally breaking the fourth wall and the changing cameraperson, as well as cinematic editing techniques, allows us to obtain what we believe is a more accurate depiction of our characters' truth."