By the Wayside (2006) Online

Excellent film exploring the homeless people of one small town. Thousands of people were sent to the streets during the Reagan administration and largely ignored by the public. Homelessness should not be an issue in the United States, but it exists in almost every major city in every state.

The film makers did a great job of involving the viewer in the human side of the homeless by using interview techniques and bringing out the stories behind the homeless. They continued to engage the viewer by showing some hope for the homeless in social groups that give the homeless a future and place to be safe and get their lives back on track. Theme of the documentary would make for a great public broadcasting program and may heighten the public's awareness of the homeless issue within their own community.

I've seen this movie at least twice now, including the premier in Louisville, and I am moved by it each time I see it. Soozie and Justin do a great job of capturing the people and the effects of homelessness on them. They also spent a lot of time making sure that they were not just featuring those who were going to shelters. They go out into the woods and talk to men who are living in make-shift tents or under overpasses, I know that these are people who would not normally be featured in a film like this, or who would normally talk to a filmmaker. I have spoken to the directors about the amount of time they spent with these people in order to get them on film, and I know that it was no small task. The best part of the film is a portion of the proceeds go back to the shelters that are shown in the film.