Streetwise [1984]

"Portrays the lives of nine desperate teenagers. Thrown too young into a seedy grown up world, these runaways and castaways survive, but just barely. Rat, the dumpster diver. Tiny, the teen prostitute. Shellie, the baby-faced blonde. DeWayne, the hustler. All old beyond their years. All underage survivors fighting for life and love on the streets of downtown Seattle." [IMDB]

Those of you who know me will be aware that I have a penchant for gritty documentaries. This one is dark. It's incredible to see such young kids act in such an adult way - while still remaining childish. Life on the streets is no joke.
I was surprised by how few of the youts were on drugs (unless they simply kept it on the low) but then maybe crack wasn't about and the heroin epidemic of '90s Seattle hadn't yet struck (as seen in the harrowing documentary - Black Tarr Heroin - also a fantastic but disturbing docu).

I'd strongly recommend both of these, but be warned - it's not pleasant viewing.

No wonder Kurt Cobain was so fuckin' depressed...