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A heated online debate surrounds the Downtown Eastside documentary Streets of Plenty.
Since the film, which depicts one man’s desire to understand the roots of homelessness, was posted to YouTube more than a month ago, dozens have chimed in with messages ranging from support to disdain.
“Is this a documentary about homelessness in Vancouver or a douchebag who decides to go slumming it?” one viewer asks.
Another writes the social experiment is nothing more than “junkie porn”.
Director Corey Ogilvie told 24 hours his piece is an honest take on how someone’s luck can quickly run out when living in poverty.
“I don’t think we exploited the poverty and addiction,” Ogilvie said. “I think we showed some restraint there. We didn’t exploit anybody by any means. The people we talked to weren’t reluctant.”
Ogilvie added many of the people interviewed for the documentary wanted to speak out because the production’s star Misha Kleider had subjected himself to the same conditions they were living in.
“As soon as they realized that we weren’t cops they respected that we had the balls to go down there and that in the end [had] them opening up,” Ogilvie said.