“Dark Days”, 2000
Director: Marc Singer
A documentary filmed in the late 1990s, it captures the lives of people living in the Freedom Tunnel, a railroad tunnel in New York City. With its black-and-white footage, the film provides an intimate look at the community that formed in this unlikely habitat.
Starring: Marc Singer;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: documentary;
Duration: 82 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Dark Days” on the website imdb.com
“Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story”, 2003
Director: Peter Levin
This made-for-TV film tells the real-life story of Liz Murray, who, after becoming homeless at a young age due to her parents' drug addiction, goes on to overcome immense challenges to attend Harvard University.
Starring: Thora Birch, Michael Riley, Robert Bockstael, Makyla Smith, Kelly Lynch, Jennifer Pisana, Aron Tager, Elliot Page, Marla McLean, Marguerite McNeil;
Production year: 2003;
Genre: drama, biography;
Duration: 104 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story” on the website imdb.com
“Shelter”, 2007
Director: Jonah Markowitz
Directed by Paul Bettany in his directorial debut, this drama is about two homeless people in New York City – Tahir, an undocumented immigrant from Nigeria, and Hannah, a heroin addict. They find each other and struggle to survive the harsh realities of street life and addiction.
Starring: Trevor Wright, Brad Rowe, Tina Holmes, Jackson Wurth, Katie Walder, Matt Bushell, Ross Thomas, Albert Reed, Joy Gohring, Don Margolin;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 89 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Shelter” on the website imdb.com
“The Soloist”, 2009
Director: Joe Wright
Based on a true story, this film follows a Los Angeles journalist, Steve Lopez, who befriends Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless man who is a talented musician but suffers from schizophrenia. The film explores their unlikely friendship and the complexities of mental illness and homelessness.
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Nelsan Ellis, Rachael Harris, Stephen Root, Lorraine Toussaint, Justin Martin;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: drama, biography, music;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 117 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,7;
“I, Daniel Blake”, 2016
Director: Ken Loach
Directed by Ken Loach, this film tells the story of a widowed carpenter who must navigate the bureaucratic hurdles of the British social welfare system after an injury leaves him unable to work. While not about homelessness per se, it portrays the challenges and dangers of poverty that can lead to homelessness.
Starring: Dave Johns, Hayley Squires, Briana Shann, Dylan McKiernan, Kate Rutter, Sharon Percy, Kema Sikazwe, Magpie Richens, Amanda Payne, Chris McGlade;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
“Time Out of Mind”, 2014
Director: Oren Moverman
Starring Richard Gere as a homeless man in New York trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter, this film is notable for its use of hidden cameras to capture the authentic experience of living on the streets.
Starring: Richard Gere, Ben Vereen, Jena Malone, Steve Buscemi, Jeremy Strong, Kyra Sedgwick, Michael Buscemi, Aku Orraca-Tetteh, Anna Suzuki, Dov Tiefenbach;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: drama;
Age: 16+;
Duration: 120 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,7;
More information about the film “Time Out of Mind” on the website imdb.com
These films offer a window into the realities of homelessness, highlighting the human stories behind the statistics and pushing for a deeper societal understanding and empathy towards individuals living without stable housing.
In conclusion, films about homelessness often serve as stark and provocative mirror images of society's layered issues. They provide profound insights into this global plight, prying open the viewers' perspectives to its harsh realities. Whether it's the raw portrayal of life on the streets, the emotional excavation of characters' stories, or the exploration of social systems that perpetuate the cycle of poverty, these films undeniably push beyond mere entertainment. As a cinema medium, they create awareness and foster empathy, challenging audiences to confront and engage with the issue of homelessness— a pressing social crisis that remains largely misunderstood and overlooked.
