Hope on the Street 2002
Distributed by Filmakers Library, 124 East 40th Street, New York, NY 10016; 202-808-4980
Produced by Michael Isip and KQED
Directed by Michael Isip
VHS, color, 56 min.
Adult
Psychology, Sociology, Social Work
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Carolyn Walden, Mervyn H. Sterne Library, University of Alabama at Birmingham“… many of us don’t think we are personally impacted by mental illness and homelessness. The statistics say that 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness at some point in their lives. That means there’s a chance that someone you know or love is affected.”These opening statements by the anonymous narrator/filmmaker, the mother of a son diagnosed with schizophrenia, set the stage for an intense, concentrated view of mental illness and homelessness. The film provides a realistic inside view from the voices of persons affected by mental illness, illustrates the resulting impact on families, and describes how the help of community resources can improve their conditions and outlook for the future.
The film profiles four individuals, who are suffering from various forms of mental illness such as schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder and who may have been homeless at various times in their lives. Rather than tell each individual story in entirety, the viewer is able to watch the progress of all developmentally, comparing the progress of each. Interspersed are comments from the family members and the anonymous narrator as well as insightful discussions from mental health professionals who have worked with the individuals in the film.
This documentary presentation is direct, honest, realistic, and a positive contribution to public education on mental illness issues. The music used in selected places effectively underscores the poignancy of each story. The viewer moves from what may seem like a hopeless beginning to an ending, full of hope and improvement, demonstrating what can happen when there is, as one mental health worker indicated, “a little bit of treatment and a lot of support from the community.” This is a valuable addition to medical psychiatry, psychology, and sociology collections. Recommended.