Perro callejero (1980)

Excellent Drama that displays the horrible reality of the lower class in Mexican society. Perro (played masterfully by cult actor Valentin Trujillo -R.I.P.-) lived a life of crime since his childhood thus he was a juvenile and later a delinquent. He didn't have a true home and only Father "Maromas" would take legal custody and cared about him as his own son.

The movie starts with a probably 4 year old Perro crying for his father who was murdered on the street. Perro has nowhere to go so he joins a group of street children who take care of him. Then, a raging alcoholic beggar takes care of Perro but he brutally hits him until again, Perro is aided by the street boys. But that's when Perro's life of crime begins. He starts stealing until he is captured by police and sent to a juvenile prison. There he meets his fellow comrade Flautas and both start a friendly and business alliance.

But Perro is a bad seed and could never change. In prison, a humble religious man known as Father Maromas takes legal custody of Perro and even takes him to a poor children shelter he build. But Perro can't stop his criminal behavior and even steals from Father Maromas (even knowing that the money was for re-storing their home). But he couldn't deal with his conscience and stole once again to give Maromas his money back. Perro, along with his loyal sidekicks Flautas and Andrès, stole with violence from a local loaner. But Perro couldn't get away with his crime because Andrès not only stole money, but a Rolex. He later sold it to Elizondo's character (a pimp cop); friend with Tamarindo (a bad-ass judicial) who captured him and Perro.

Perro's destiny was jail and that's where he ended up.

Great dramatic with bits of exploitation. This is how Mexican barrios suffer with problems like drugs, prostitution, traffic influences, homicides, weapons, etc.

There are some cult scenes in Mexican cinema like when Maromas flagelates himself for Perro's sins. Also, the last scene where Perro is taken into the police car when "Tu Eres Mi Amigo del Alma" plays on the background. Weird if you ask, but fill perfectly in the movie's theme.