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Screened at Kansas International Film Festival (KIFF) Oct. 4, 2010
 
A survey of high-security prisoners in Missouri prisons found that many of them come from zip code 64130, which is in the Kansas City, Mo. area. There are actually two Kansas Cities. One is Kansas City, Kansas, in Wyandotte County, the smaller of the two cities. It is home of a NASCAR track. The other is Kansas City, Mo., in Jackson County, Mo, which is larger population-wise and home of the Kansas City Chiefs football team and the Sprint entertainment center. Less than five miles east  is zip code 64130. 
 
This documentary, with filming that began three years ago, shows murder cases, both solved and unsolved, that happened in Missouri zip code 64130 and now zip code 64106. There is the murder of a small girl in 2001, whose skull was found separate from her body, and unidentified for years. She became “Precious Doe” until years later it was discovered that a family member killed her. Other cases are drive-by shootings, either near playgrounds, on the street, day or night-time, or shootings in someone’s residence. A murder that echoed through the city was that of Tony Singh, a clerk at a convenience store. He was robbed, gave the cash to the robber and was shot. This was caught on camera, but the shooter is still out there.
 
In the documentary, commentary is heard from civic leaders including Reverend Roger Coleman, Alvin Brooks, Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser and Barbara J. K. Johnson. Unemployment and lack of education are seen as some reasons for a high crime rate. With both parents, or in a single-parent home, the one-parent working, there are few, or no people, to look after children doing homework, being with friends and outside activities. The city has community centers, but due to lack of funds/personnel, they sometimes have to close early. As one person comments, “If the Boys & Girls Club closes at 6 p.m., crime begins at 6:01 p.m.” Complaints are made that stimulus money goes to the “Green Zone” or higher income areas.
 
Commentary is heard from victim’s families on not knowing why their person was shot and killed and would someone step forward to either confess or give information. One person says, “I will snitch. Tell me and I will snitch for you.” There are comments on taking away bullets because then guns can’t be fired. Civic leaders are forward with their comments on the community pulling together and helping themselves. Laws are said to be lenient for those caught. A civic leader says that no one can solve the problem of crime here but the community itself.
 
This incisive documentary is actually Part I of three parts. Part II will be out in several months and so then will the soundtrack for Part I. The immediacy of handheld camera work adds to the nature of the subject matter. You are on the street talking to people along with the camera. You don’t have to live in Kansas City to see city problems with crime. There are no jobs available and the younger population is idle. To get money, some resort to crime, such as robbery. A comment is heard in the film that crime is a way down and not a way out.
 
Local rap artists sing songs about violence, but this does go on too long and the lyrics weren’t always clear. It will be interesting to see what “Part II” and “Part III” will contain. When asked what he would be doing ten years from now, one young man replied, “I want to be alive.” That says it all.
 
Copyright 2010 Marie Asner