Wild creatures

24 MINUTES

Freedom, joy and struggle – stories of Los Angeles street life

‘This is where we are, and this is what we got.’

In his film Wild Creatures, the US director Chung Nguyen tells two stories of homelessness in Los Angeles. Joe, a self-described ‘troublemaker’, fell into street life after losing work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. He flashes wit, wisdom and care – as well as moments of volatility – as he gives a tour of his encampment, introducing viewers to his ‘street family’ and the code they follow to get on and get along. A teen who goes by Krazy describes the peace she finds in hopping freight trains, sharing the rules of the rails while hinting at a difficult past.

While their stories are distinct, the two share common threads: years earlier, neither imagined they’d be living without a permanent address; both rely on their intelligence and community to survive; and, amid the many challenges of street life, both are in some way drawn to the freedom it provides, and find moments of joy within it. Through cinematic shots of Los Angeles paired with a poignant piano score, Nguyen portrays their experiences with empathy and artistry, moving beyond the tropes and stereotypes of street life and those who live it.

Director: Chung Nguyen

Explore more

Drawing of six people in a living room having tea and cake around a table, with a window and plant in the background.

Hand-drawn animation brings a meeting of ‘voice-hearers’ to life

Directed by Tristan Thil

Photo of a group of young people taking a selfie with a smartphone outdoors in a busy urban setting.

Is narcissism really on the rise among younger generations?

A fresh investigation of vast numbers of young people from around the world has thrown up some surprising results

by Jakob Pietschnig & Sandra Oberleiter

Two people smiling in front of colourful fish graffiti, the man is sitting in a wheelchair the woman is standing beside him.

The circle held

A bike crash left my husband paralysed. What happened next taught me something profound about community

by Sadie Witkowski

A smiling woman with tattoos at an outdoor festival, surrounded by blurred people and trees in the background.

The trait that makes some people so frustrating – and alluring

Conscientiousness is constantly touted as a virtue, so what’s life like for people with the opposite trait – disinhibition?

by Janan Mostajabi

Digital artwork of a grey hand squeezing a yellow stress ball with a smiley face on a black background.

Cults needn’t fit stereotypes to be dangerous. Here’s how to identify a controlling social group

Video by BBC Ideas

Abstract line drawing of a running figure with scattered symbols on a white background.
HOME

In an elegy for his childhood home, a filmmaker constructs a lyrical collage of memory

Directed by Damian Gascoigne

Medieval manuscript illustration of three figures talking: a man, a knight with a shield and a shovel-bearer, set in an ornate border.

How the nature of friendship has changed through the centuries

The metamorphosis of this special bond from feudal to modern times reveals much about the aspirations of different societies

by Bénedicte Sère

Abstract drawing of a face with vibrant colours, featuring red cheeks and a patterned necklace on an orange background.
Psyche Exclusive

Born of memory and mystery – the otherworldly works of a self-taught, unhoused artist

Directed by Tal Amiran