By Jan Hamilton
Directors: Kelley Kali, Angelique Molina, Screenwriters: Kelley Kali, Angelique Molina, Roma Kong, Producers: Roma Kong, Angelique Molina, Kelley Kali, Capella Fahoome, Deon Cole
When a recently widowed mother becomes houseless, she convinces her 8-year-old daughter that they are only camping for fun while working to get them off the streets. Cast List: Kelley Kali, Wesley Moss, Deon Cole, Brooklynn Marie, Steven Ira Scipio, Andrew Galvan, Lamar Usher, Brian Brooks II, Jacolyn Holmes, Xing-Mai Deng (World Premiere)
Danny is a young mother to daughter Wes, her husband Sam has recently died without insurance. They havelost their home, and now live in a tent near a remote street. Danny tells Wes they are camping out for fun, Wes is game but is getting tired of it and wants to go home. Danny is juggling a number of jobs and debts, she owes the babysitter taking care of Wes, she braids hair and delivers food for Postmates. Danny hasno car and roller skates all day from one job to the next. She is strong, but you can see it is all wearing her down.
She finishes a hair job for a client, only to be told she will have to wait for her money, they argue and she loses the customer. She had been counting on the money, she needs two hundred dollars to get into anapartment, the renter can’t hold it much longer. She has nothing left to sell except her husbands ring, whichshe refuses to do. She returns to her tent to find a thief stealing their few belongings, she cuts him with his knife, he flees. She has not told any friends how bad off she is. She is offered help, but it comes with sexual strings attached. Danny has to make a choice and determine what is best for her and her daughter.
The film is a touching portrait of what some of the working poor contend with today, no matter how hardshe works, she barely stays even, and never seems to get ahead. It is, however, a film with an overall upbeat message populated with vivid, intelligent and brave characters. The star, Kelley Kali, also co-directs, and does a great job with both. A fascinating and uplifting film.