On The Streets Of Washington, D.C.
George Pelecanos is known for his novels and stories about Washington, D.C. and the Georgia Avenue corridor, far away from the people and places of power. Pelecanos wrote the screenplay for this low-budget, independently-produced movie "D.C. Noir" which is based on four of Pelecanos' stories and was filmed on-site. The film shows the people, streets, projects, liquor stores, basketball courts, carry-outs, bars, music, street-smart language, and Metro of the city that has been my home for over forty years.
Each of the four independent stories shows the toughness and sadness of the Washington, D.C. where the tourists don't go, and each offers its own view of the city. The first, "The Lover" tells of an elderly lawyer who hires a killer to do away with his young, cheating wife. The second segment tells the story of Sargent Peters, a 22-year veteran of the D.C. Police Department who rides through the streets of the Petworth section of D.C. at night to try to keep its residents safe and out of trouble. In "Miss Mary", Pelecanos tells the story of two young friends who become involved in a drug gang with unhappy consequences. Judith Hoag plays Miss Mary, the longsuffering mother of one of the young men. George Pelecanos has a small role in this story, playing a high-powered criminal lawyer. The final story "The Informant" tells the story of a middle-aged man, Verdon, who has stayed in the family home all his life while his brother has become a successful lawyer. Although Verdon lives a humble life, he is shown as a person of quiet heroism who has worked for many years as a police informant in a hard section of the city.
The stories, tough and sad, are tautly told and convincingly acted and wedded to their locations in the District of Columbia. The go-go and hip-hop music of Washington, D.C. features prominently in several of the segments. They brought to mind many places I know. I loved seeing this film and was moved by Pelecanos' vision of the city I have come to call home.
Robin Friedman
