2010- 77 minutes - Documentary
Streaming Netflix
Storyline
Los Angeles' Skid Row is home to one of the largest homeless populations in the United States. And we found, inside that community, the remarkable and enormously moving stories of Olympic athletes, Harvard attorneys, accomplished musicians, scholars. We found poverty, drugs and mental illness, of course - but more importantly we found life, hope and incredibly powerful human journeys.
I had seen this movie on Netflix and added it to my queue a while back, always meaning to watch it. Then my brother mentioned he had seen it and to check it out. So that night I watched it and was so inspired by these people, their way of life and how they got to where they are today.
It was extremely sad at times, but also uplifting to know that some of them are just truly happy with their surroundings and want to be there. They are fighting to keep skid row and we should fight right along with them. It is more important than you can imagine and also cost effective to allow them to stay. The city could create even more low income housing, but instead trendy "hipsters" are trying to move in and butt these people out. While I understand, to some regard, the need and want to "clean it up" there is a different way to approach the situation. More police harassing them, giving them tickets and sending them to jail for stupid violations is not going to solve the problem. Places like Lamp are really making a difference. I only hope the city can actually look past the "homelessness" and look at the people. This movie is really well done and is extremely touching and sad.
If you watch one movie this week, please make it this one and you will understand what I'm saying.
