Skezag (1970)

A chance meeting on a street corner brings filmmakers Joel L Freedman and Philip F Messina face to face with Wayne Shirley an extraordinary African American street hustler dope pusher Vietnam Vet and selfstyled entertainer Wayne in the personal surroundings of his apartment with often delightful candor unwinds philosophize smokes pot and tells of his war street and drug experiences He is not a junkie and brags of his ability to shoot dope and not get hooked Waynes center stage position is shaken with the arrival of Sonny and Angel two junkies intent on getting high no matter what They shoot up as Angel claiming to be a revolutionary clashes with Wayne accusing him of being a goodfornothing who for a buck will turn his back on his people A fierce confrontation follows that touches many of the most sensitive issues of the day The filmmakers too are challenged and forced out of their passive roles and made to deal directly with their subjects