Must-See Movie Review: No Address – What Homelessness Is Really Like From Their Perspective
Must-See Movie Review: No Address – What Homelessness Is Really Like From Their Perspective
No Address is a reality check for those who believe that those experiencing homelessness are solely to blame for their condition. As the film follows several people who become involuntarily homeless, it becomes apparent that fault and blame are misplaced. The homeless are a casualty of our capitalist system. They fell through the cracks, and there is no safety net in nearly any state that is real and will prevent homelessness.
We follow two individuals who starkly contrast with one another: a young girl who was left behind by the foster care system – thrown out of her house without warning, notice, or concern on the part of her former foster mother. She finds herself on the street tree day after she graduates from high school with no job and nowhere to go. An adult male who has a drinking problem, a gambling problem, and a cash flow issue. Their stories collide when the man, who is a real estate agent, wants to get rid of the homeless encampment preventing his high rise condo complex construction. His callousness and mean comments demonstrate exactly how he feels about those who find themselves on the streets.
William Baldwin does an excellent job portraying the complex emotional life of the real estate agent. He doesn’t have his own real estate company, and we learn he has many failures. His boss gives him one last chance – but he has to get rid of the encampment blocking their dreamed of high rise luxury condo complex in the heart of the downtown area. As previously mentioned, this empty lot is home to several individuals: two are former military (and former addicts), one is a former actress, and the other is a runaway from an abusive stepfather. The last one, we learn as the film plays out, has a mother who still cares for him, still holds out hope that he will come back.
One thing that was very clear is that once someone falls onto the street, there are thugs waiting behind every corner. The girl gets robbed her first day out of the house, and those who rob her want to do worse, but they’re stopped by the homeless veteran and the runaway. It’s the runaway, though, who she connects most deeply with. He is kind and compassionate, and he cares deeply for the homeless people he lives among. He shows her the ropes, so to speak – who will give them food, where she can get a sleeping bag, and who to go to for help. The runaway and the foster girl don’t have drug or drinking problems, but it’s very difficult to get off the streets once one is one them. Who wants to hire someone that looks dirty? Who wants to give an old veteran a chance? Unfortunately, not many.
The movie is beautifully done. We follow the ups and downs, trials and tribulations, of these five individuals who can show you how tough it can be out there. They are never seen by the rest of us, as we just walk on by and don’t look in their direction. Kindness and compassion are demonstrated by some, and they are able to find their way eventually.
This movie is meant to be an inspiration for those of us who don’t know anyone in this situation. They are people too, just like you and me. They just need help, whether it’s a warm meal, a drink of water, or just simple eye contact. Instead of just walking past them, look them in the eye and smile. Show them they’re not invisible, and that you see them.
There are a few things I wanted to mention, though. In my own life, I have known a girl who was forced into prostitution by a boy she met and thought loved her. He gave her sweet words and convinced her to run away to live with him. But then, in a not uncommon story, once she was in his house, his four friends and himself gang raped her. They forced her to become a prostitute, through the threat or actuality of beatings and rape. She stayed this way for about two years before a friend took her to Covenant House. My only complaint about that charity is that they don’t teach financial literacy skills, so when they pay for an apartment or room for a formerly homeless person, that’s it. Once they’re out of the safehouse environment and in an apartment, they’re on their own. Fortunately for her, her family took her back. But had that not happened, she would have been on the streets again.
In addition, it should be noted that if every young girl was taught self defense that is useful and oriented toward real life, there would be a lot fewer rapes and forced prostitution. Instead there’d be a lot of thugs lying in the street after trying to force the latest would-be victim into sex slavery. Self defense classes could be offered in every public school, and open to girls only or both boys and girls. But at least with that skill set, they would be less likely to be a weakling who someone stronger can prey upon. They used to offer teen night self defense classes at the YMCA for free, so that’s an option as well.
One other thing worth noting, if that’s what the foster care system is like in that or other states, it’s failing out kids. They should not be allowed to have their lives and homes taken from them just because they needed help. The foster kid in this movie’s mother passed when she was very young, and that’s how she ended up in the care of the state. But the fact that there either were no safeguards in place against this or no one told her about them before this happened is shocking. Perhaps she could have gone to her social worker and chose not to, but it seems that wasn’t an option. There was no one to help her, and she fell through the cracks. The largest populations of homeless in the US are foster kids and veterans. Unfortunately, foster care isn’t like it is in the movies (like Shazam!). It’s a horrible, abusive experience for many, and a neglectful, loveless experience for others, like the character Lauren in this film. Her foster mom couldn’t care less: the state stopped paying, she locked her out. No connection, no love, just money. And that is so sad, since her mom who passed was amazingly loving and kind to her, but things didn’t turn out well for her due to the untimely death. Her life went from a wonderful time into a horrible nightmare, through no fault of her own.
This movie was incredibly well made, and has such an important message. I would highly recommend it as a must-see, and would give it five stars.
Banner Image: Movie promo poster. Image Credit – No Address movie
There are no comments yet
Why not be the first