The Young and the Damned
El Jaibo (Roberto Cobo) a tough, orphaned teenager, escapes from a Mexico State reformatory and reunites with the street gang that he leads in the slums of the Federal District of overcrowded and over…
The Young and the Damned
El Jaibo (Roberto Cobo) a tough, orphaned teenager, escapes from a Mexico State reformatory and reunites with the street gang that he leads in the slums of the Federal District of overcrowded and overpopulated Mexico City. His gang consists of poor jobless teenage and pre-teen boys, including Pedro (Alfonso Mejia), who is 13-years-old. All of the gang members are products of broken homes, and neglect by society. They are mostly illiterate and they spend the time smoking cigarettes, drinking beer, and playing roughhouse games. El Jaibo convinces Pedro and Skinbead/Baldy to help him rob Don Carmelo, a miserly blind man who earns pennies by singing and playing musical instruments in the street. They fail at first, but later track him down, beat him, and destroy his instruments. With the help of Pedro, El Jaibo tracks down Julián, the youngster who supposedly sent him to jail. El Jaibo puts his arm in a fake sling and hides a rock in it. El Jaibo confronts Julián, who denies that he reported him to the police. Julián refuses to fight El Jaibo because it wouldn't be a fair fight with El Jaibo's arm broken. As Julián starts to walk away, El Jaibo hits him in the head with the rock. He then beats Julián to death and takes his money. El Jaibo warns Pedro not to report the crime, and since he shares Julián's money with Pedro, Pedro is an accomplice to the murder. Pedro returns to the small house he shares with his young mother and three younger siblings. Pedro's mother resents her son's behavior, and shows signs that she doesn't even love him or care for him as a son. Pedro is extremely saddened by this and vows to start behaving better. He finds work as apprentice to a blacksmith. One day, El Jaibo comes to talk with him about their secret and, unbeknownst to Pedro, steals an expensive knife from the blacksmith's table. Pedro is accused of the crime and sent to a juvenile rehabilitation program, the "farm school," where he misbehaves and kills two chickens. The principal gives Pedro a test. He hands Pedro a 50 pesos bill to run errands with as a test of trust. If Pedro returns from the errands, he can be trusted. If he doesn't, the principal is out 50 pesos. Pedro accepts the offer and leaves with the intention to complete the errands. As soon as he leaves, he encounters El Jaibo, who steals the money. Upset that his attempt to be good was foiled again, Pedro tracks down El Jaibo and fights him. The fight ends in a stalemate, but Pedro announces to the crowd that it was El Jaibo who killed Julián. El Jaibo flees, but the blind man has heard the accusation and tells the police. Pedro tracks El Jaibo down once again to murder him. El Jaibo kills Pedro. While fleeing, El Jaibo runs into the police. As El Jaibo tries to run away, the police shoot and kill him. Meche and her grandfather find Pedro's body in their shed. Not wanting to attract the police, they hide the body and take it to throw it away. On their way, they pass Pedro's mother, who, though once unconcerned with her disobedient child, is now searching for him. Meche and her grandfather dump his body down a garbage-covered cliff.
The Young and the Damned
Crime,Drama
Film Details
El Jaibo (Roberto Cobo) a tough, orphaned teenager, escapes from a Mexico State reformatory and reunites with the street gang that he leads in the slums of the Federal District of overcrowded and overpopulated Mexico City. His gang consists of poor jobless teenage and pre-teen boys, including Pedro (Alfonso Mejia), who is 13-years-old. All of the gang members are products of broken homes, and neglect by society.
They are mostly illiterate and they spend the time smoking cigarettes, drinking beer, and playing roughhouse games. El Jaibo convinces Pedro and Skinbead/Baldy to help him rob Don Carmelo, a miserly blind man who earns pennies by singing and playing musical instruments in the street. They fail at first, but later track him down, beat him, and destroy his instruments.
With the help of Pedro, El Jaibo tracks down Julián, the youngster who supposedly sent him to jail. El Jaibo puts his arm in a fake sling and hides a rock in it. El Jaibo confronts Julián, who denies that he reported him to the police.
Julián refuses to fight El Jaibo because it wouldn't be a fair fight with El Jaibo's arm broken. As Julián starts to walk away, El Jaibo hits him in the head with the rock. He then beats Julián to death and takes his money.
El Jaibo warns Pedro not to report the crime, and since he shares Julián's money with Pedro, Pedro is an accomplice to the murder. Pedro returns to the small house he shares with his young mother and three younger siblings. Pedro's mother resents her son's behavior, and shows signs that she doesn't even love him or care for him as a son.
Pedro is extremely saddened by this and vows to start behaving better. He finds work as apprentice to a blacksmith. One day, El Jaibo comes to talk with him about their secret and, unbeknownst to Pedro, steals an expensive knife from the blacksmith's table.
Pedro is accused of the crime and sent to a juvenile rehabilitation program, the "farm school," where he misbehaves and kills two chickens. The principal gives Pedro a test. He hands Pedro a 50 pesos bill to run errands with as a test of trust.
If Pedro returns from the errands, he can be trusted. If he doesn't, the principal is out 50 pesos. Pedro accepts the offer and leaves with the intention to complete the errands.
As soon as he leaves, he encounters El Jaibo, who steals the money. Upset that his attempt to be good was foiled again, Pedro tracks down El Jaibo and fights him. The fight ends in a stalemate, but Pedro announces to the crowd that it was El Jaibo who killed Julián.
El Jaibo flees, but the blind man has heard the accusation and tells the police. Pedro tracks El Jaibo down once again to murder him. El Jaibo kills Pedro.
While fleeing, El Jaibo runs into the police. As El Jaibo tries to run away, the police shoot and kill him. Meche and her grandfather find Pedro's body in their shed.
Not wanting to attract the police, they hide the body and take it to throw it away. On their way, they pass Pedro's mother, who, though once unconcerned with her disobedient child, is now searching for him. Meche and her grandfather dump his body down a garbage-covered cliff..