Harlem Diary: Nine Voices Of Resilience

HARLEM DIARY, which was designed for TV, isn't visually arresting, but its subject matter genuinely speaks for itself. Assembled from footage shot by nine young Harlem residents enrolled in a video diary program, it's a surprisingly upbeat documentary, given the often grim nature of its material. "Resilience" is the key word here -- most of the film's young subjects have already been badly battered by urban life, and even their most modest dreams seem courageous. But the film suggests that there's always hope, despite the ravages of poverty, violence and drugs.