12 O'clock Boys Documentary Review

"They call em the 12 O'clock boys cause they ride the bikes straight back."

-Pug

Before seeing the trailer for this film earlier this year I had never heard of the 12 O'clock Boys. Located in the city of Baltimore, Maryland is this infamous dirt-biker group that populate the city streets. The writer and director Lotfy Nathan follows a 13 year old boy named Pug who has one major dream; to become a 12 O'clock boy. Over the course of three years we see Pug grow up in a very rough and dangerous part of the city, putting his schooling on the back burner and only worrying about riding his bike.

This was such a powerful film and it really did leave a lasting impression on me. We are given a very real look into Pug's daily life, living with his mother Coco and multiple siblings. The conditions he lives in are quite deplorable but it's amazing how this doesn't even phase Pug. He practices day-in day-out on his bike, aspiring to become the best he can be, not realizing how truly dangerous the life-style he desires really is.

Being a resident of New York City for most of my life, it's hard for me to imagine a 12 O'clock boy-type presence while growing up. These men spend their days popping wheelies at dangerously high speeds both on the streets and sometimes even the sidewalks. Every summer about 15 people die in dirt bike related accidents. On top of all of this, the Baltimore police have a no-chase policy for the protection of the citizens.

We get to see a very pivotal point in a young boys life who looks for comfort in group of men who live their lives dangerously and on the wrong side of the law. Living in one of the most economically depressed cities in our country, it is shocking to see Pug's experiences over the course of three years. It is clear how his environment is shaping him and how impressionable he is to the influences surrounding him.

In my opinion this was a very raw documentary that didn't hold back. Nothing was sugar coded. The hard facts were put right before your eyes and it's up to you to react accordingly. This urban dirt biking mentality is something that is taken very seriously in this community and is continuing to effect the younger generations. Individuals from both sides of the conflict are interviewed in the film and it is very interesting to make up your own mind on where you fall. I give 12 O'clock Boys an 8 out of 10 and highly recommend this documentary.