LG Tags: Documentary, Homelessness, Justice, Race
The Homestretch is a poignantly honest, heartbreaking, yet hope-filled documentary following three homeless, Chicago teens as they fight to stay in school, find work, put a roof over their heads, and build a future. Following Kasey, Roque, and Anthony, the film bears witness to both the struggles and triumphs that homeless youth experience. As the stories of these three teens unfold, we see how youth homelessness is intertwined with issues of immigration, education inequity, foster care, emotional and physical abuse, racial injustice, LGBTQ rights, juvenile justice, and the school-to-prison pipeline.
Directed by Anne deMare and Kristen Kelly, the film premiered here in Los Angeles at the AFI Docs Film Festival and has toured the country putting a face to the reality of youth homelessness in America. For those of us that hold firmly to the belief that each person is a child of God and therefore deserves dignity, respect, and justice, The Homestretch is a must-see as it draws us into the story of young people who are seemingly left behind by so many forces in our society. For those of us who have found a particular social justice concern to rally behind, this film helps situate our particular concern within the interwoven complexity of justice. For those of us who desperately desire a glimmer of hope in a world where things are as they ought not to be, the courage, passion, hard work and determination of Kasey, Anthony, Roque, and those who come alongside them in their journey is a testament to the reality that God is still at work amidst the brokenness of our world.
Watching this film harkens us to an implicit call to action: what can I/we do? Are these issues insurmountable? The Homestretch reminds us that there are no easy answers to large, systemic issues. It also reminds us of the complicated web of causality, making it difficult to find an easy way to point a finger and wash our hands of societal inequities. As the film undoubtedly offers a hope-filled word in the remarkable spirit and fortitude of each of the main subjects, it also offers us a word of encouragement as we seek to grow in empathy, understanding, and response: “It’s the right thing to do to be with someone and welcome them and support them even if that’s all you can do in that moment,” in these complicated matters, the little things we do certainly matter.