The River: A Documentary Film

I appreciate the effort and intentions of the filmmakers of this documentary but as someone who works in a homeless shelter and is always looking for films to show my clients, I wouldn't show this one. The film is a "snapshot" of all the players involved in a homeless encampment in Washington State, the clients, the politicians, the police, and the helping agencies. No "conclusions" are revealed about what to do the clients and overall the film lacks any "point or direction" that I could decipher. Early on a lady at the Town Council meeting says what I think is the most important statement in the film-that "beds are available in shelters for clients so they don't have to stay at the encampment-but they go empty" and she gets shouted down by others at the meeting. My "message " to anyone watching this film is-that "we" (society) are doing enough for the homeless and what's needed is better boundaries around what is acceptable from folks living on the streets.