Crime and violence often overshadow the South Side’s rich culture and diversity. Still, many residents in the area have a deep connection to their neighborhoods.
That inspired South Side resident Jon Lowenstein to produce a seven-minute video that takes a stark, black and white look at what it’s like for some Chicagoans living on the South Side. People in the video cope with having their lives deeply rooted in communities seemingly on the verge of decay.
One woman says, “I love this part of town. I love that we’re so close to the water. There are so many assets to the community. I don’t want to live like this anymore. I want to be more free.”
Lowenstein, who has lived on the South Side for about 10 years, produced the film, which The New Yorker uploaded to Youtube. The filmmaker and photographer calls the documentary experimental and borrows footage from various sources shot between 2009 and 2012. While color was removed, some of the images of crimes and beatings are familiar to Chicago residents, and the nation.
The video was uploaded August 30 and has just over 1,200 views. Read more about the project at the New Yorker.
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