The Christmas Story is about an unmarried, pregnant teenager from the projects, and shepherds who in those days were only a short step from gangbangers and thieves. It is about undocumented foreigners and their wild astrology, who gave a false address to the authorities, and escaped the armed agents of the state who were looking for them. It is about corrupt and paranoid leaders, and uncontrolled violence in poor neighborhoods, where children were the principal victims.