I remember seeing the poster and soundtrack for Beat Street everywhere in the mid-80s, and I remember some of the songs popping up in my life. I didn’t recall much of the film itself, just the breakdancing and I figured maybe I should revisit it.

It’s definitely worth the watch. There’s a grittiness to the filmmaking that gives it a bit of a dorumentary, cinema verite feel to it, especially the location work. There’s a haphazard and recognizable story thrown into it to give the whole thing a narrative, but I think it’s vast reason to exist was to introduce the world at large to the growing hip-hop and breakdance phenomena.

At the story’s center is Kenny (Guy Davis) who aspires to be a DJ, his little brother, Lee (Robert Taylor), their Puerto Rican friend, the artist Ramon (Jon Chardiet). There’s also a little bit of a love story when Kenny falls for a college girl, Tracy (Rae Dawn Chong) who has musical aspirations of her own.

Instead of gang shootings, there are dance battles. Everyone struggles to survive, but the music and the movement give them a chance to express themselves and perhaps find freedom.

There are a lot of great moments, and the climax of the film delivers a bit of a gut punch, but it is oftentimes overshadowed by the dancing and the music. The music is very much 80s hip-hop, but the dancing is iconic and endures.

Not all of the acting is top-notch, but all the dancing is amazing. And the film also included some fantastic musical performances.

Of course the film found itself in competition with the other breakdancing film released the same year, Breakin’. I have the same memories of Breakin’ as I do of Beat Street, I remember the music and the dancing nut not so much in the way of the story.

On reflection, though it’s been forever since I’ve seen Breakin’ I would say Beat Street is the stronger, more emotional entry, while Breakin’ seems to be a little more melodramatic and Hollywood.

I really enjoyed diving into this one, it’s a little rough around the edges, but that, I think serves its story. It’s an underdog type of film, and while there are some nice moments, there are some dark and realistic ones as well as it looks at the Bronx, and the youth who made it their home through their music and their dance.

Surprisingly fun even all these years later.