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Two years ago, my friends from the band The Damn Truth released their second album: Devilish Folk. The song that’s also titled “Devilish Folk” jumped out to my ears. And to my heart.

The words from the chorus – There’s no room for people like you and me here – reminded me of all the people I had met, struggling to survive in the streets of Montreal, while the rest of us seemed to turn a blind eye to their reality.

So with my camera, I set out to meet a group of “squeegee kids” – the street punks who wash windshields for change at the red light. They are an iconic subculture group in Montreal, and I’d always been curious about these characters. Without asking for anything in return, two young men, Brendan and Jake welcomed me with open arms into their world.

When I embarked on this project, I thought it’d take me a couple months to complete. Turns out it took close to two years. For it to genuinely reflect who these guys are, I had to dive deep into their lives; something only time made possible. And as the months passed, this film became much more than a music video; it’s a raw and unadorned immersion into the reality of my friends, the Devilish Folk.

More info: mikaeltheimer.com

Devilish Folk. The story of Brendan and Jake, squeegee punks in Montreal

Brendan and Jake at work

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

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Brendan and Jake, riding the subway home after a long day on the streets

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Jake, in the kitchen of the basement apartment they share with a few friends.

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I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Hanging out with friends at the corner of two major streets in Montreal

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Steph at work

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Cigarette break

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Vince, AKA Double Tap, shows off his one piece

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I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Jake, a couple days after he got in a fight with Vince

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

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Showing off some skills in the metro station

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

The street family

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

End of the day, Brendan and Jake are counting the change they made

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Vince and Brendan. Working under the snow.

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I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Vince and Brendan, playing dice at the street corner

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Pierre-Luc, AKA Khaos, and Brendan, AKA Gebus

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Khaos

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Matthew, AKA Sugarbear

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

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Dylan

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

More than friends, these guys are family to each others

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Brendan and Vince are about to wake Dylan up

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Vince and Brendan at work

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

An office with a view

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Marie-Jeanne

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Vince, AKA Double Tap

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Dylan. He’s 21.

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

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Family

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Brendan, AKA Gebus

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Preston

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Bern, and Marie-Jeanne’s legs

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

The one and only Bern

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Preston is taking a little break from squeegeeing

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Vince passed out. When you’re homeless, you sleep pretty much anytime anywhere.

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

I asked Marie-Jeanne if there’s something she wished people knew about here. She wrote “I miss my daughter”

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

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Sevarina and Brendan found true love in each other

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Chilling under the sun

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Squeegee trick to discretely drink a beer in the street

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Sevarina and Brendan. She has a home, a job, and she’s a university student. With her, Brendan found the strength to turn his life around.

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Preston, Jason and Vince are watching a boxing match on YouTube

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Lovebirds

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

Street pillow

I Spent Two Years Documenting The Lives Of Street Punks In Montreal, And Made A Music Video Out Of It

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