Life of Crime, 1984-2020

About Life of Crime, 1984-2020

Life of Crime, 1984-2020 is a powerful documentary directed by Jon Alpert that tells a heartbreaking story of three friends from Newark, New Jersey. This raw and uncompromising film gives an unflinching look at the devastating effects of addiction, tracing the lives of its subjects over three decades from 1984 to 2020. The movie draws a grim picture of drug addiction and the toll it takes not only on the lives of the addicts themselves, but on their families and communities too.

Making / Production

The movie is the culmination of Jon Alpert's 35 years of work. For more than three decades, Alpert and his team conducted various interviews, collected footage, and documented the lives of their subjects. This process resulted in a film that paints a real, human portrait of addiction, void of judgment and filled with empathy and understanding.

Actors

• Robbie - Played as himself. Robbie gives a raw and genuine account of his life, not holding back on the painful realities of addiction.
• Freddie - Freddie's portrayal of his life provides a stark contrast to his once promising future, illustrating how quickly addiction can derail a life.
• Deliris - As the only female principal in the film, Deliris tells her story with candour, providing critical insight into how addiction affects women.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie was shot over the span of 35 years, making the filming process one of the longest in the history of documentary cinema.
• Director Jon Alpert is a 15-time Emmy award winner known for his socially conscious documentaries.
• This documentary marks third and final part of a trilogy that began with "One Year in a Life of Crime" (1989).

Quotes

• "I’m not addicted to drugs, I’m addicted to the lifestyle..." - Robbie.
• "You never realize how much you love something until it's gone..." - Freddie.
• "I didn't choose this life, it chose me..." - Deliris.

Music, Soundtrack

• The soundtrack is a mix of music from the era each segment was filmed, adding an additional layer of authenticity to the storytelling.
• Poignant silence is also used at moments to let the scenes speak for themselves.