The Decline of Western Civilization Part III

The Decline of Western Civilization Part III
The theatrical poster
Directed by	Penelope Spheeris
Produced by	Ross Albert Guy J. Louthan Scott Wilder
Cinematography	Jamie Thompson
Edited by	Ross Albert Ann Trulove
Distributed by	Spheeris Films
Release date	1998 (1998) (U.S.)
Running time	86 min.
Country	United States
Language	English

The Decline of Western Civilization III is a 1998 documentary film directed by Penelope Spheeris that chronicles the gutter punk lifestyle of homeless teenagers. It is the third film of a trilogy by Spheeris depicting life in Los Angeles at various points in time. The first film The Decline of Western Civilization dealt with the punk rock scene during 1980-1981. The second film The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years covers the Los Angeles heavy metal movement of 1986-1988.

Synopsis

The film involves hardcore street punks called "gutter punks" who take the anti-establishment message with extreme seriousness, and tune out society completely. Spheeris talks to homeless teenagers living on the street or squatting in abandoned buildings in Los Angeles, as well as an unstable mother, Los Angeles Police Department officer Gary Fredo, and a paralyzed youth living on disability.

Performances by four bands were filmed: Final Conflict, Litmus Green, Naked Aggression and The Resistance.

Reception and distribution

The film premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Freedom of Expression Award, and was also screened at the Cannes Film Festival and the Chicago Underground Film Festival where it received a jury award. However, it never went into general release and was not available on VHS or DVD until the release in 2015 of a box set containing all three films on DVD and blu-ray. Decline III was also released separately via streaming video.

External links

• Official site of the series
• The Decline of Western Civilization Part III at IMDb
• The Decline of Western Civilization Part III at AllMovie
• The Decline of Western Civilization Part III at Rotten Tomatoes