Topside

This is the most tense drama I've ever seen... literally tensing up. I was hesitant to watch as I thought it might be too slow, even for me. But I was drawn in pretty quickly! Very well thought out film, one I won't forget.

I watch ALOT of movies. This is the first time I've left a review on here. We'll done everything. Celine, acting was so visceral! Great job!! Very gritty! I felt that they got there intentions across the screen from concept to finished product.

'Topside' features Nikki (Celine Held), a drug addled mother of a 5-year0old girl, Little (Zhaila Farmer), and how they survive underground in an abandoned New York subway tunnel. Together, a small community of homeless denizens watch over each other and help protect Little, until one day, when the city clears out the encampment for remodeling and everyone scatters. It then falls to Nikki and Little to find a way to survive topside.

This film shows how homeless people can be displaced, taken advantage of, and how everyone around them tries to 'help' by way of calling social services. Nikki's main concern throughout the movie is not being seperated from Little, and at no point do any of the various do-gooders offer that. The passion from Celine Held for her incredibly talented co-star, Zhalia Farmer, is very realistic and captivating. Truly a gritty tale with heart

Worth a watch!

This polarizing movie is not for the faint of heart. It is unnerving and disturbing and subsequently stays with you for a long time. It has won awards and amazing reviews from many critics- you cannot argue with that.... I cried - I cried a river of tears for Nikki and LIttle. When your emotions are touched so deeply by a movie - it has driven its message home. After digging a little- you find out the truth about the movie- Little was indeed homeless...her family walked into the casting call for Topside thinking it was a soup kitchen. It doesn't get more real that that. Obviously it is not for everyone- it is intelligent and affecting....shows NYC in a light we are not used to seeing it- a glaring SPOTLIGHT. The end breaks your heart completely in two. Well done to the film makers- looking forward to your next release.

Are you uncomfortable? Good, you should be. Put your judgement aside. Walk in someone else's shoes. I don't want to hear, "you shouldn't do drugs if you have a child" or "she's a horrible mother." This is about real life and real situations.

Life is all about experiences and perspectives. If you don't have certain experiences you can gain knowledge and perspective through someone else's struggle and story.

Raw look at poverty and homelessness. This is how hundreds of thousands of people have to live due to dependency, mental illness, etc.

In my mind love did prevail not apathy....