Homelessness, and rough sleeping in particular, is difficult to avoid noticing in London and other large cities in the UK, but we seldom hear the individual stories of those who find themselves out on the streets. Lorna Tucker's film, whilst unlikely to contain any revelations for the reasonably well-informed viewer, works best when it focuses on these human stories. We learn how alcoholic parents, domestic violence, relationship breakdowns and other issues have catapulted people into a live on the streets (often coming alongside, or leading to, addictions of their own). We hear how the support structures for these individuals have fallen away, or been available inconsistently, or even - in the case of homeless hostels - have exacerbated their problems.
Whilst a film like this is probably unlikely to find a huge audience in cinemas, the straightforward emotional power with which it tells these human stories - and its hopeful message that homelessness is a problem we can solve, if we (as a society) want to - will stay with those who do watch it. Hopefully it finds an audience on a streaming service or on 'linear' TV (the BBC's Storyville strand would seem an ideal home for it in the UK), and more people get to see and hear the stories of the individuals who opened up to the filmmakers, and by extension, to viewers.
