The Decline of Western Civilization III is a 1998 documentary film, directed by Penelope Spheeris, that chronicles the gutter punk lifestyle of homeless teenagers. It is the third film of a trilogy by Spheeris depicting life in Los Angeles at various points in time. The first film, The Decline of Western Civilization (1981), dealt with the punk rock scene during 1980–1981. The second film, The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988), covers the Los Angeles heavy metal movement of 1986–1988.
Quick Facts The Decline of Western Civilization Part III, Directed by ...
The Decline of Western Civilization Part III |
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The theatrical poster |
Directed by | Penelope Spheeris |
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Produced by | Ross Albert Guy J. Louthan Scott Wilder |
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Cinematography | Jamie Thompson |
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Edited by | Ross Albert Ann Trulove |
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Music by | Phil Suchomel |
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Distributed by | Spheeris Films |
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Release date | |
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Running time | 86 min. |
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Country | United States |
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Language | English |
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Spheeris later credited the 1998 film with having a profound effect on her. She began a relationship with a man she met while filming the movie, signed up to be a foster parent, and eventually fostered five children.[1][2]
As mentioned in the opening credits, the film shot between July 1996 and August 1997 in Los Angeles. It is dedicated to "Squid, Stephen Chambers, and all the gutterpunks that survive."
The film involves gutter punks who take the anti-establishment message with extreme seriousness and tune out society completely. Spheeris talks to homeless teenagers living on the street or squatting in abandoned buildings in Los Angeles that go by the names of "Why-Me?", "Hamburger", "Troll", "Eyeball", "Squid", and others. Los Angeles Police Department officer Gary Fredo and a paralyzed youth living on disability benefits are also interviewed. Near the end, the film shows a memorial squat location near where a local squatter in Stephen Chambers had died in a fire.[3]
Musicians interviewed include Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks), Rick Wilder (The Mau-Mau's), and Flea (Fear, Red Hot Chili Peppers); Morris had previously appeared in the first The Decline of Western Civilization. Performances by four bands were filmed: Final Conflict, Litmus Green, Naked Aggression, and The Resistance.
The film ends by listing the fate of two of the interviewees in "Squid", who having died on July 19, 1997, from multiple stab wounds along with "Spoon" being in L.A. County Jail awaiting trial for his murder.