The Homestretch (2014 film)

The Homestretch is a 2014 American documentary film produced and directed by Anne de Mare and Kirsten Kelly.[1][2] De Mare and Kelly intended the film to serve as a challenge to the negative stereotypes of youth homelessness.[3] The film premiered at the 2014 HotDocs Film Festival on April 26, 2014.[4] It went on to play at the 2014 AFI Docs Film Festival[5][6] and the 2014 Human Rights Watch Film Festival.[7]

The Homestretch
Theatrical film poster
Directed byAnne de Mare
Kirsten Kelly
Produced byAnne de Mare
Kirsten Kelly
Music byGreg Kalember
CinematographyAnne de Mare
Kirsten Kelly
Edited byLeslie Simmer
Production
company
Kartemquin Films
Spargel Productions
Distributed byThe Orchard
Bullfrog Films
Java Films
Independent Lens
Release date
  • April 16, 2014 (2014-04-16) (HotDocs)
  • September 12, 2014 (2014-09-12) (United States)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Independent Lens, The Orchard, Bull Frog Films, and Java Films acquired distribution rights to the film. Independent Lens broadcast the film nationally on PBS, while The Orchard released it through digital platforms on November 21, 2014.[8]

Plot

The film follows three homeless teenagers as they brave Chicago winters, the pressures of high school, and life alone on the streets.[9]

Reception

The film received a positive response from critics.

  • It was the recipient of the 2016 Emmy Award for Outstanding Business & Economic Reporting - Long Form.[10][11]
  • Ben Sachs of the Chicago Reader said that "Directors Anne De Mare and Kirsten Kelly persuasively indict America's failure to assist homeless teenagers, which a title estimates at 1.6 million people. Yet the stories they present are genuinely uplifting, charting the lives of three homeless Chicago teens as they find housing, complete their high school educations, and ready themselves for the adult world."[12]
  • Keith Uhlich of The A.V. Club gave the film a positive review and said: "This empathetic documentary is a portrait of three juveniles—Roque, Kasey, and Anthony—and their struggle to extricate themselves from itinerancy."[13]
  • In his review for The Village Voice, Danny King said: "'The Homestretch' is ultimately a humane accomplishment."[14]
  • Glenn Kenney wrote for Roger Ebert's website "Its intimacy is a reflection of its compassion."[15]
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References
  1. "Human Rights Watch Women Directors: Meet Anne de Mare & Kirsten Kelly (The Homestretch)". Indiewire. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  2. "Chicago homeless teens featured in 'The Homestretch'" (PDF). Windy City Times. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  3. "Interview: Anne de Mare and Kirsten Kelly talk The Homestretch". FilmDoo. 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
  4. "Exclusive: Poster and Trailer for 'The Homestretch' Look Upon Chicago's Homeless Youth Problem". Nonfics. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  5. "What to see at AFI Docs". Washington Post. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  6. "AFI DOCS Announces Filmmaker Enrichment Program Details". Indiewire. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  7. "HRW Film Fest Review: 'The Homestretch' is a Penetrating Portrait of 3 Homeless Teens at Crossroads". Indiewire. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  8. "Exclusive: 'The Homestretch,' Documentary About Homeless Youth, Gets Multi-Platform Release". Indiewire. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  9. "The Homestretch". Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTXpwN4I_E
  11. http://emmyonline.com/news_37th_winners
  12. "Homeless teens search for a way out in Kartemquin's The Homestretch". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  13. "The Homestretch grants a voice to Chicago's teenage derelicts". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  14. "The Homestretch Tracks the Lives of Three Homeless Chicago Teenagers". The Village Voice. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  15. "The Homestretch". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
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