Oh, how time is flying. It’s a pleasure to start of the first week of October this year by hosting the Monday Movie Meme. Today, the tour stops here after Dale at Smurfin the Web had us traveling through our country last week for a fun-filled Monday. This week’s topic is Poverty. Bloggers participating in this week’s meme are welcome to write about movies that either feature characters experiencing financial hardship or have plot lines centered on the difficulties of making ends meet. Here are my selections of films that are on or below the poverty line.
The Local
Categorized as an action-drama, “The Local” is an independent film that someone recommended to me earlier this summer. The story follows a man who is pretty much down on his luck and has not accomplished much in life. He makes like $35 a day as some kind of errand boy, running drugs for a group of off-the-wall dealers and lives in the cold basement of a couple’s home. All seems to look bleak in his future until a wealthy businessman comes along and offers him a lot of money. Sounds good but there is just one catch.....he has to rescue the strung-out daughter of this businessman.
This poverty stricken man has to make a decision on whether risking his life for a total stranger is worth the cash or declining the offer and continuing in the current danger that is already present as he does illegal stuff just to get by. The associate who told me about this movie said it “looks like a documentary” where the production is concerned. I would agree but sometimes the scenes are far too shaky for me to even pay attention. The acting works for this type of story but the same type of performances would fall short in a similar crime drama such as “The Town” or even other gritty street stories like “The Local” stars Dan Eberle, who also directed this movie. Rent it, or hell....buy it
Born into Brothels
This documentary tells the story of children in the Calcutta district who are taught photography skills, which help them go on to have more options for education and improving their lives. As always in real life, some of the childrens’ adult relatives influence the decisions that they make about staying in the same predicament or trying to whether to take advantage of the opportunities given to them. “Born into Brothels” is an inspiring movie and the main characters are children.....who can say no to that? Not me. Can you?
"Million Dollar Baby" was a runner up for this post but I already discussed this movie in more than a few previous posts on this blog, so it doesn't have to be repeated.
That’s all I have for now. If I think of any more throughout the week, I’ll add them to this post.
What movies come to YOUR mind on the subject of poverty or being broke?
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