Months after its successful run in Montreal cinemas, Ma 6-T va crack-er is being released to video outlets across North America in an English-subtitled version. The story of a group of alienated, disaffected minority youth existing (barely) on the grittier streets of Paris, Ma 6-T is certainly a stirring film. Director Jean-François Richet has culled some remarkable performances from his young stars, though they perhaps do go on a bit too much about how alienated they are and how it's all society's fault. Still, once the police enter the scene and--in behaviour that's shocking but hardly surprising--act like a bunch of loutish, bigoted fascists, their attitudes become entirely understandable. The film concludes with an operatic riot scene, intercut with an intensely political Marxist rap number. Ma 6-T has been rightly compared to many of Spike Lee's films; it's not quite up there with Do the Right Thing, but it's still well worth a rental.

After winning the Best Actress Golden Globe, Hilary Swank has been nominated for an Oscar for her fine work in Boys Don't Cry. Now out on video is the excellent documentary version of the same saga, The Brandon Teena Story.

--Matthew Hays