Homeless Ashes

Homeless Ashes

Starring Marc Zammit, Lew Temple, Jamey May, Hector Bateman-Harden

Directed by Marc Zammit

The Story:
As a child, Frankie (Hector Bateman-Harden) didn't have many friends except for Nicole (Angel-May Webb) whom he met at the docks.  His home life was filled with tension and fear as his mother Abbie (Angela Dixon) was constantly beaten by her husband, until young Frankie took matters into his own hands.  He runs away from home and spends the next ten years living on the streets. 

Now a man, Frankie (Marc Zammit) is homeless and living among the other homeless, and sets out to make peoples' lives better by offering encouraging words, a helping hand, and an ear to listen to.  He's close friends with fellow homeless man Chico (Lew Temple), and together they form a community within the destitute that looks out for one another.  After he runs into Nicole (Jamey May) again, Frankie begins to think about the past and takes steps to change his future.

The Synopsis:
Homeless not invisible.

"Homeless Ashes" tells the story of Frankie, a young man who lives on the streets after protecting his mother from his abusive father as a child, who feels that he cannot go home again due to what he did.  Living on the streets, he sets out to hear the stories of his fellow homeless, and resolves in himself to do right to others and create a tight-knit community to prove that the homeless aren't just vermin, but people - people who have found themselves down-and-out and through unfortunate circumstances find themselves homeless.  Homelessness isn't something that'll only happen to drugged-up losers, but something that can happen to anyone, and they deserve the same respect that we give to those we deem as "successful."

First-time director Marc Zammit delivers a powerful film that centers on the most overlooked of society.  There's not many films out there that shed a light on the homeless, but "Homeless Ashes" not only shines that light, but makes it as powerful as the sun to show that everyone has value, and everyone has a story that needs to be told.  The way Zammit films is wholly unique and powerful, and helps drive home his message through emotional close-up shots and wide-ranged views that shows the duality of homelessness - the vast emptiness they feel but also the deep sadness they exude inside.  While it seems that the homeless are hopeless, there's also a sense of community that's wholly unique and for many it's the only thing they can hold onto to make them feel valuable, and that's also expressed here in several scenes between fellow homeless citizens who enjoy a saxophone song and dance to the music, giving them more than just a one-dimensional "woe is me" feel that proves of the indelible human spirit.  The film itself was shot on a shoe-string budget, as it was a crowd-funded project that was driven by Zammit's desire to tell these previously unheard of stories, and the world is better for it - proving that, in these times of divisiveness and greed, goodness and kindness never goes out of style.

Not only did Zammit direct, but starred as the main character in the film.  As Frankie, he serves as a "homeless Jesus" who connects with his fellow homeless and listens to their stories, helps them out, and offers aid when needed.  His presence shines in every frame, and allows this light to shine on the other characters around him to give them a deeper, emotional core.  As he faces his past and pursues his future, you feel nothing but love and admiration for the man, and he becomes a rare character in cinema - one who's wholly good, and one you wish would get everything he's ever wanted.  After he re-connects with an old friend, he sets out to find his mother and return to the only home he's ever truly known - even though he's never been there before.

The supporting cast is exceptional in their work, and each one offers a unique story all their own.  Lew Temple (best known for his roles in his friend Rob Zombie's films) dominates as Chico, the de-facto leader of the homeless community who enjoys bringing people together and talking their ear off, whose own story is showcased in a truly heart-wrenching moment that gives him so much to work with.  Jamey May is brilliant as Nicole, who tells a bigger story with her doe-like eyes that penetrates to your soul, exuding an emotional blend of pain and hope of a life spent living in the lap of luxury but also facing her inner demons as well.  Jason Flemyng plays Gavin, a kindly cook who serves as a surrogate father to Frankie and offers sound wisdom and advice. 

Yet the unsung heroes of the film are the actors playing Frankie's fellow homeless citizens, whose stories are wholly unique, filled with pain, hope, redemption, and deep intelligence, and together they show the world that the homeless aren't invisible or second-class, but just like everyone else.  Andrew Lee Potts' PJ tells an emotional story as to how he ended up homeless that'll hit close to home for pretty much everyone.  Madalina Bellariu Ion plays an immigrant who enjoys hearing English curse words but also has a lighthearted, child-like innocence to her.  Kirsty J. Curtis undergoes a complete transformation as Viv, who once tried to turn young Frankie to a life of crime and after an unspeakable act, eventually finds her own redemption.  Ritchi Edwards plays Al, a war vet who finds himself on the street and, in one powerful scene, really delivers home the message of the value of the homeless.  Each character is unique and careful time and consideration was given to each to really flush out their own story, and that's thanks to the intelligent, nuanced writing of George Wilcox, who takes careful consideration for the people he's writing about, and gives them a real purpose that most people never take the time to care about.

The cinematography was astonishing for such a low-budget film, and honestly made it look like a big-budget spectacle.  Richard Oakes brilliantly blends the close-up shots with the wide-angle expansive world that the homeless live in, and offers breathtaking visuals from above that constantly drive home the film's purpose.  Mark Wind's score swells with emotion, which is powerful and moving, but at times it's so loud it was difficult to hear what the characters were saying during some big emotional moments - but it still manages to grip your heart all the same.

The Summary:
In a cinematic world of superheroes and larger-than-life biopics, "Homeless Ashes" tells an important story that's often unheard - the stories of the homeless, whose stories are just as important and offers powerful testimonies about the resilience of the human spirit despite living in a world of hopelessness.

The Score: A