On My Last Legs-Sara (follow up)

Quick Overview

Sara, a follow-up subject from Skid Row, Los Angeles, confirms her health has deteriorated since the last interview three years prior, reporting she now weighs only 70 pounds, and expresses a desire to "die quickly" rather than endure further decline, despite receiving assistance like housing and support from Asher.

Key Points: Sara's health has significantly deteriorated in the three years since her last interview, evidenced by her current weight of 70 pounds (down from 78 pounds previously). She states that her mobility is severely compromised, confirming she cannot walk and lost her wheelchair the previous night. The narrator offers to help her get a new wheelchair and transport her back to her room, which she accepts. Sara reveals that her drug use, which she states is heroin, has worsened her situation, leading to a feeling that things will not get better. She explicitly states that she would prefer to die quickly rather than continue suffering through her declining health and circumstances. The video shows a close-up of severe skin graft wounds/ulcers on her lower leg and foot, visually supporting her claims of deteriorating health. The segment concludes with the narrator showing Sara a photography book, "Soft White Underbelly 2," which features portraits of various other individuals from the project.

Context: This video is a follow-up interview conducted by Mark Laita for his 'Soft White Underbelly' project, focusing on Sara, a woman previously interviewed while living on Skid Row in Los Angeles. The context of the follow-up is to assess her current situation, particularly concerning her health, stability, and sobriety, three years after their initial encounter, highlighting the ongoing struggles of homelessness and addiction.

Detailed Analysis

The follow-up interview with Sara, three years after she was first featured in 'Soft White Underbelly' on Skid Row, reveals a grave decline in her physical condition. Sara confirms that her health has worsened, stating she now weighs only 70 pounds, down from 78 pounds during the previous interview. She is unable to walk and reveals her wheelchair was stolen the night before. Despite the assistance offered by Asher, who helped her previously, and the narrator's offer to purchase a new wheelchair and take her to her room, Sara expresses profound hopelessness. She states that her drug use (heroin) has kept her going, but also ruined her life, leading her to conclude that she would rather die quickly than continue to suffer the worsening condition, including severe wounds on her leg and foot. The interview concludes with the narrator showing Sara the second volume of the 'Soft White Underbelly' photo book, which contains portraits of other subjects, before fading to the closing credits.