The Street (1996)
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"Never less than riveting." |
Made over 6 years, The Street is the result of the filmmakers' total immersion into the world of the homeless. It is a gutsy, raw, moving and intimate study of 3 homeless Montréalers. The unique approach is neither voyeuristic nor judgmental. Characters experience cycles of addiction and recovery, hope and despair — but rise above the street with a sense of dignity, humanity and community. Set in a context which sees our civil society disintegrating and the safety-net collapsing, The Street gets deep inside a very complex social issue, beyond mediated stereotypes. The film works to transcend the statistical and emotional haze which surrounds most public commentary on the homeless. The Street bridges the gap between compassion and action — between 'us' and 'them'. By concentrating on three indivuals the film makes the 'homeless problem' a personal one, allowing audiences to experience the human side of homelessness. Are we all just only one step away from being claimed by the street?
A Necessary Illusions/Eyesteel Film co-production
Directed by Daniel Cross
Producers: Daniel Cross, Peter Wintonick (Executive Producer), Francis Miquet (Associate Producer)
Awards & Distinctions
* Federal Express People's Choice Awards for Most Popular Canadian Documentary
Vancouver International Film Festival
* Nomination for "Best Feature"
Hot Docs International Documentary Festival
* Nomination for "Outstanding Canadian Documentary"
1997 Chalmers Awards
* Feature Competition
Mumbai International Film Festival
*Audience Award for most popular film
Hot Docs International Documentary Festival
Broadcasts
Broadcast in Canada on:
* TVO — From the Heart Series
* Documentary Channel
* SRC (Societe Radio Canada)
* CBC (Main Channel)
* CFCF
Credits
Director: Daniel Cross
Associate Director: Richard Boyce
Executive Producer: Peter Wintonick (Necessary Illusions)
Producer: Daniel Cross
Associate Producers: Don Haig, Richard Michaud, Dennis Murphy, Adam Symansky (National Film Board), Andre Herman (Cordordia), Francis Miquet (Necessary Illusions)
Funding Search: Robin Brophy
Camera: Richard Boyce
Location Sound: Daniel Cross, Serge Noel
Editor: Peter Wintonick
Assembly Crew: Bhejhat Bhenam, Daniel Cross, Robin Kirkpatrick, Bruno Martel, David Lemieux
Transcription / Logging: Robin Lebaron, Nathalie Mercier, Colin Paul, Lee Schnaiberg
Negative Cutter: Claudine Blais
Music Composer: Jimmy James
Traditional songs: "Danny Boy" (p.d.) by Fred Wheatly (1921), "Silver in My Mother's Hair" (p.d.), Irish Soldier Boy (p.d.)
Voice-over: Window and Dan Cross
Sound Editor: Greg Glynn
Music Mixer: Morris Appelbaum (Silent Sound)
Re-recording: Shelly Craig
Title Design: Roy Cross
Opticals: John Price
Credits: Francois Aubry (Images Infinies)
Graphics: Stephen Spencer, Sophia Southam, John Spezzacatena
Laboratory: National Film Board of Canada, Sonolab Montreal
Produced with the participation of: Canada Council (Explorations and Media), Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund, CFCF-TV, CFMDC, Cinéma Libre, Concordia University (Fine Arts + A/V), Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Quebec, National Film Board (PAFPS and Studio B/C), Necessary Illusions Productions, Nova Scotia Department of Education, SODEC-SOGIC Jeunes Créateurs, Spencro, Telefilm Canada
© 1997 Dan Cross Catalyst Films
Distribution
60 mins. cut-down version and French subtitled version available
Québec (French sub-titled version)
Cinéma Libre
460 Ste-Catherine ouest
Montréal, QC
H3B 1A7
(514) 861-9030
www.cinemalibre.com
Canada (58 mins version)
National Film Board of Canada
P.O. Box 6100
Stn. A
Ville St-Laurent, QC
H3C 3H5
tel: 1 800 668-6322
www.nfb.ca
All Other Territories, Markets, and Media:
Necessary Illusions
24 Avenue du Mont-Royal Ouest, Suite 1008
Montréal, Québec, Canada H2T 2S2
Téléphone: (+1) (514) 287-7337
info [at] necessaryillusions [dot] ca