By Robert Scucci
| Revealed
Homelessness isn’t a straightforward subject to speak about as a result of there are such a lot of elements at play. Some individuals are orphaned and would somewhat reside on the streets than get shoved via the foster system. Some folks aren’t of the appropriate thoughts and wish to handle psychological well being points they’ll’t afford to deal with earlier than they’ll turn into secure, contributing members of society. Or, in case you’re like Bug (Andrew Yackel) in 2019’s Gutterbugyou’ve merely made a sequence of misguided life selections, bought kicked out by your dad and mom at 18, and determined to only go together with it.
Gutterbug is just not a straightforward watch, largely due to how precisely it depicts life on the road via the eyes of a younger crust punk. Seemingly dwelling only for kicks and all the time chasing his subsequent repair, Bug sleeps on the bottom, causes scenes at music golf equipment, begs for cash, abuses no matter substance he can get his arms on, and dumpster dives for meals. Gutterbug actually sinks its hooks in by making Bug a posh character who, at his most weak, earns your sympathy, however at his most drug addled and chaotic makes you want he would cease getting in his personal approach.
This dichotomy is absolutely explored all through the movie and should very properly change your perspective on homelessness in case you’re the kind to assume they’re all only a bunch of bums who ought to know higher.
Aimlessness, Dependancy, And Anarchy
Set in Allston, Massachusetts, Gutterbug establishes its tone by strolling you thru a day in Bug’s life. Approaching his twenty first birthday, the timeline suggests he was kicked out of his dad and mom’ home when he was 18 for consuming, drug use, and entering into misdemeanor-level bother. Snug with the present state of issues, Bug spends most of his time getting excessive on park benches, begging for booze cash, and infrequently scoring an affordable dose of the great things from his prosperous, drug dealing acquaintance Raleigh (Geoff van Wyck).
Alongside for the trip is Bug’s ride-or-die, Slim (Justin Pietropaolo), in addition to his romantic curiosity, Jenny (Hannah Mosqueda). Collectively, they expertise stratospheric highs when the provision is true, and soul-crushing lows when it runs dry and actuality units in. When the day is over, they may possible be sleeping underneath a bridge or squatting in an deserted constructing. They don’t seem to be essentially blissful about their dwelling scenario, however it’s the greatest they’ll handle. With the assistance of pals in the appropriate locations, together with bodega clerk Eddy (Billy Jenkins), they get by.
A Fearless Look At Homelessness
Whereas it’s simple to roll your home windows up whenever you’re stopped at a visitors mild since you don’t need a stranger placing their face in your window, Gutterbug humanizes the homeless in a approach few movies even try that may stick to you. It might have been simple to populate the story with one dimensional background characters who exist solely as loud, harmful derelicts, however that’s not what occurs right here.
Bug’s conduct is problematic to say the least, however the movie constantly exhibits him attempting and failing as a result of he has no actual assist system. He makes an attempt to seek out work and comes up empty. His dad and mom, who remorse kicking him out within the movie’s B story, would possibly as properly be strangers who occur to reside in the identical city.
At one level, Bug is such a large number that it takes the “WE I.D.” placard on the bodega to remind him that it’s his birthday. Day-after-day bleeds into the following in his present state. Whereas Bug’s predicament can sound self-inflicted, and in some ways it’s, Gutterbug quietly factors to a a lot bigger systemic concern with out ever having to spell it out.
Even when Bug wished to straighten up, make amends along with his household, discover regular employment, and get psychological well being help, the trail merely is just not there. He has no insurance coverage, no monetary security web, and no significant household assist. His pals, who’re dwelling on the streets for their very own causes that the movie by no means absolutely unpacks, are in related positions. They don’t seem to be homeless as a result of they need to be, however since they’re, they do what they’ll to outlive.
Not Meant To Be An Straightforward Watch
What caught with me most after watching Gutterbug is the overwhelming sense of hopelessness that comes from its realism. Bug and Slim will not be likeable guys when they’re deep into one more bender. They are often chilly, merciless, and self harmful. The movie forces the viewers to confront the uncomfortable reality that whereas their circumstances are tragic, their conduct usually works towards them, particularly as soon as the story strikes into the third act.
Author director Andrew Gibson desires you to take a seat with that discomfort, and he succeeds. Gutterbug presents no simple solutions and no neat options to homelessness as a result of that’s not the purpose. The purpose is recognizing that after somebody is pushed far sufficient to the margins, the barrier to reentry turns into so excessive that adaptation feels extra life like than escape.
As of this writing, Gutterbug is streaming without spending a dime on Tubi.