An astonishingly beautiful film about graffiti-covered trains hurtling through a strange urban landscape filled with the debris of a decaying civilization. The music of Charles Mingus counterpoints the recurring visual riffs of the tension-filled imagery.

after hearing stories of this movie i purchased this and was dumbfounded !! being an avid railfan, graffiti fan i was amazed how this movie is so obscure and not really heard of ... i personally like this better than "style wars" due to the rare footage of subway graffiti unavailable anywhere else "vandalism" at it heyday ...love it or hate it's art and here to stay !! although i personally think the movie should have strictly focused on the subway graffiti because who wants to see old burger king or suntan ads... alas graffiti on the subways no longer runs ...and this is a very rare look into very hard to find rare footage of the "subway art movement" it has gone the way of the buffalo....brings back that oldschool feeling ! sorry to say the mingus music comes second to the "heaven is life" "and earth is HELL" masterpiece running like it did thru the boogie down !

I saw this, years ago, and NEVER forgot it. The disclaimer should be that this is NOT a music video for Mingus (although I think he would've approved of the outcome, as it is very much in the tradition of his playing) it is also not your standard graffiti or train enthusiast's documentary, but all of these elements come together in this beautiful and patient film. The director repeatedly creates both fascinating and absurd comparisons by focusing on the most subtle details in the landscape. This is a true work of art! There are also some stunning shots of the South Bronx in it's darkest days. Highly recommended for artists working in any medium who are concerned with urban life.