Art

A short documentary directed by Stacey Stone. This is the second documentary by Stone and producer Diane Mellen about homeless people in California.

The subject here is Art. A middle-aged homeless man living in Santa Barbara. The film crew interviews him regarding his life and follow him as he goes about his day-to-day activities.

The most intriguing aspects of this project is that it provides a perspective regarding what it is like to be homeless and it introduces the viewer to Art. Art comes across as an intelligent and friendly person who appears to have adapted to his lifestyle. He has a shopping trolley filled with his belongings and he tends to spend his time near the beach. Regardless of his harsh life, he gives the impression that he is experiencing joy as he explains that he is constantly near people and that being near people means that he is not alone, even if those people are strangers and that he is living a free life. Nevertheless, the audience will most likely feel sorry for him and the beautiful and melancholic score by Jerry Deaton and Will and Jason Fiedtkou seems to highlight the sadness of his situation.

If there are flaws in this eleven-minute-long film, one could be that maybe it would had been beneficial if there was more information regarding Art's past, particularly how he ended up being homeless. Another would involve the sequences involving superimposition. Although, Stone's creativity as editor is to be commended, the purpose of these techniques, what effect they are supposed to have is not clear and they feel unnecessary and they same could be said about the use of black-and-white at several parts.

Obviously, homelessness is the main theme here, an insight into how homeless people live, how they view the world from their unfortunate situation. From other perspectives, the film also reveals the happiness that can be found in appreciating the simple things in life such as being around people, even if they are strangers, being near the ocean or playing with a ball.

This documentary is poignant and intriguing. Through the experiences of one person it looks into the world of homeless people and reveals the hardships they go through and that they are able to enjoy life regardless of their difficult circumstances.