The Saint of Fort Washington

Homelessness being a reoccurring topic on here, I thought I'd bring up an excellent film centering on the topic that recently got a huge boost in availability via Netflix.

I'm talking, of course, about The Saint of Fort Washington.

Talk about an under-appreciated gem. I heard about it from a friend through facebook who saw it outside of the U.S., but when I went to look for copies of it... there were none to be found. Try looking it up on Amazon sometime. The only copies you'll find (if there are any left to be found) of the movie are non-USA import discs. I had to buy one of the import DVDs and play it on a multi-region player. The Portuguese subtitles and picture quality were a little distracting, but the movie blew me away regardless of those minor nuisances.

The performances all knock it out of the park. The cinematography is extremely effective. Some of the shots of the homeless shelter are a hit in the gut; both amazing in scope and heart-wrenchingly sad. The story is both grim and inspiring. It really should've got more attention than it did. I get frustrated whenever I think about all the awards it should've received.

It's still not available on Region 1 USA DVD, but recently Netflix was awesome enough to make it available on Instant Watch, which means if you're a subscriber, you can view the film directly from your computer.

So yep... go and watch it. You won't regret it. Here's the trailer if you want a taste.

Still Alive

Yep, still here. My goal has been to write around 2,000 words per day, and I'm actually not doing so bad! I saw this quote from the 2005 movie adaptation of Factotum, and found it particularly inspiring:

Henry Chinaski: If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs. And maybe your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery, isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance. Of how much you really want to do it. And you'll do it, despite rejection in the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods. And the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is.
- Factotum - (quote found here)
So try. Write and create with fire and endurance. I'll be over here attempting to do the same.