THE NINE

The city of Modesto lies in California’s Central Valley, a region with some of the highest poverty levels in the nation. One area in particular is the notorious South Ninth Street, a desolate wasteland ravaged by crime and destitution. On paper that description may seem inflated, but when you actually see it up close in Katy Grannan’s THE NINE, it’s pretty jarring. South Ninth is a modern day Wild West, with each person desperately trying to survive another day. To do so often means resorting to egregious methods—prostitution is incredibly rampant. The film follows Kiki, who, despite the madness around her, remains optimistic about life. Her childlike hope is unchanged, even though she’s been failed by the system. Her bright light shines through the darkness, providing a balance to an otherwise bleak, but forthright, portrait of South Ninth. This raw and staggering documentary honors America’s forgotten souls—beautiful but forever scarred by the depredation that surrounds them. —E.F.