Director Adam Bhala Lough’s film Bomb the System is "91 minutes of visual poetry. A poem that is so infused with emotion that the viewer becomes intoxicated with a variety of feelings."
We watch 19-year-old graffiti artist, Anthony “Blest” Campo (Mark Webber) struggle with oppressive cyclical patterns, and remember how freely emotions translate. Anthony is addicted to communicating through his graffiti, which put him in the precarious position of having to escape from the NYPD Vandal Squad, as well as steal his paints to continue his art. Anthony is surviving off of fear; he is too scared to grow and too frightened to stand still. He is torn between curbing his edges and enrolling in an art school or continuing his structured chaos. His euphoria comes at the moment of expression, when the clean wall and full can of paint allow him to barely utter those things that are raw and honest. Anthony is in love with Alexandra (Jacklyn DeSantis) a determined political activist who “bombs” cities with anti-establishment messages. She offers him a chance to travel and promote the cause, be he hesitates. Perhaps he does not go because of the deep loyalty between him and his friends. The type of loyalty where the word “friends” no longer applies but the word “family” is more appropriate. Or maybe it is his mother’s prophecies of a doomed fate that makes him stay. The pressure is so great to move, he is static. New York City is a city promotes art as long as it does not depict the Virgin Mary covered in animal shit. It is a place where you are free to be rich but not homeless. You hate it but do not want to leave it. New York City brought this film to life. I mean what better place to make a movie about Graffiti? What were you thinking LA? The editing is flawless. The soundtrack is pleasantly throbbing. Nice. [Source: Independent Film Quarterly]
