These films depict juvenile delinquency and crime in Barcelona's 1970s and 80s urban barrios, highlighting real-life delinquent youths and hardened police officers amid poverty, societal neglect, and corruption. Known for gritty realism and emotional intensity, they portray survival struggles, attempts to escape poverty, and clashes between youthful rebellion and conservative norms, reflecting societal fragmentation and inequalities. The expressive Catalan language, gritty cinematography, and soundtracks of Spanish and Catalan musicians enhance the tense atmosphere. The films showcase Catalan cinema's stylistic innovations, evolving from pre-1973 innocence to post-coup cynicism, affirming Catalan culture and exploring complex identities under an oppressive regime.