Whether you live in a large city or a smaller town, you've likely seen them. Whether selling flowers at an intersection, asleep on a bench, or in a collection of tents. Or, it's possible you didn't see them because they slept in their cars or shelters while still going to work during the day. They are the ones with "no address", also called "unhoused" or "homeless" and, unfortunately, "trash", "tramps", and "bums".
Many thanks to Robert Craig Films for providing a preview of the film for this review. Opinions are 100% my own. It is my Universe, after all.
When we see these people, we think we know their story - how they got there, what kind of character and work ethic they have. That is certainly true of Robert (William Baldwin). He looks at those on the corners and in the encampment as below him, weak or lazy. While struggling financially himself, he could never see himself among them. And that is what is so interesting about the film because all of "them" have a story. One that we should think a little more about when we see people on the street.
This leads us to our central character, Lauren (Isabella Ferreira), who upon graduating high school is unceremoniously tossed out of her foster home. Not quite the celebration party one hopes for. Think this is simply a plot point for an emotional response? Nearly 1 in 3 foster youth face homelessness in California after reaching majority. Alone and afraid, she finds an encampment filled with others with other stories. And that is the point of the film really.
There but by the grace of God goes I.
There is vet who has developed a drug problem because of her untreated PTSD. As the wife of a veteran, I know how very real this problem is. There is a young man who is on the run from a viciously violent home. A woman with mental health issues. There many more because that's just it. There are millions more. There are 1.2 million adults and 1.5 million children experiencing homelessness nationwide.
The rest of the tremendous cast includes: Xander Berkeley, Ashanti, Lucas Jade Zumann, Patricia Velasquez, Kristanna Loken, Ty Pennington, and a surprising dramatic turn from the lovely Beverly D'Angelo. They all have their reasons and their stories and they become the family that surrounds Lauren. The family she never found in the foster world.
The film is heavy but not without hope. Overall, I give it four tickets.
No Address has No Answers?
The film opens February 28. The producers of #NoAddress toured America to learn more about the homelessness crisis before filming. It comes from a genuine desire to create real answers to the problem. So much so, that they have
pledged that 50% of the net profits from the five No Address productions will be donated to a diverse range of organizations and churches nationwide that are tirelessly working to combat the homelessness crisis within their communities. That spoke to me. As the founder of "the pebble", I appreciate any organization that is moved enough by what they see to put their skin in the game.
