Esperanza. Street Gangs & Community in Panama City.

Because gang violence is a symptom of complex community problems, quick & simplistic approaches do not work; and repression by police has been shown to make gangs more organized and violent over time. There is no silver bullet and putting gang members in jail simply compounds the problem.
But even though repression has proven to be counter-productive, it is the tool of choice in Panama and most of Latin America.
Casco Viejo is a community that thinks differently. The Esperanza movement believes that gangs can be a pro-social force. This is a film about neighbors, friends, family, authorities and educators listening to and working together with gangs in Casco Viejo to create a more vibrant future for the community as a whole.