This article originally appeared on Sister Marie Paul Curley’s blog, “Windows to the Soul.”
"No Address" is a little but powerful film that doesn’t just portray the tragic reality of homelessness but surprises us by revealing the profound humanity of those who are living on the street: society may have given up on them, but they haven’t given up on each other.
What is the “No Address” movie about?
"No Address" is an independent film that gives us a powerful portrayal of the tragic reality of homelessness. The movie is not easy viewing because we see the distress and sometimes brutality of a homeless life on the streets: it is based on real stories of real people who are or have been homeless.
Watch the “No Address” trailer below:
"No Address" has many strengths in terms of its storytelling and production values.
The acting is solid, with some wonderful performances; the storytelling is moving. At first, I felt that the pacing of the film plays against its viewability—as one bad thing after another happens to the characters we are watching, to the point that in every scene I was just waiting for the next disaster or tragedy. But after viewing the whole film, the cascade of tragic events is probably pretty realistic, even if it wouldn’t happen in such a short time frame (it’s a movie, after all).
Unfortunately, "No Address" suffers a bit from being a “message” movie—that is, the important message and insights that it offers about homelessness are needlessly repeated, especially when the film repeats what we have experienced through the story in the narration, which seems especially redundant at the end. (Overstating or repeating a film’s message can distract or irritate, as well as detract from the artistry and power of the film.)
Despite this flaw, “No Address” is both viewable and deeply touching. It’s one of those films in which I want to especially acknowledge the filmmakers, who have collaborated on several important films dealing with urgent issues: Producer Robert Craig and writer-director-screenwriter Julia Verdin. Kudos to the cast and crew for being a part of this independent film. Some of the cast have collaborated on other small but important films—people such as Patricia Velasquez and William Baldwin.
Wonderful Surprises in "No Address"
One thing the film does well is show the wide variety of ways people can end up homeless, which is an important insight, especially for those who might feel uncomfortable or impatient when encountering someone who is homeless.
Despite the tragedies in the film, "No Address" also has some wonderful surprises:
It shows the humanity of the people on the street that we may find less sympathetic at first glance. It reveals the profound humanity of the homeless and how they can create a beautiful and loving community, even in the midst of their profound poverty—they really become family for each other
The film brings out the goodness of people—in this case, faith-filled people—who make a difference in the lives of those who are homeless on the streets near them.
Finally, simply by going to see the film, the audience can make a difference. In addition to raising awareness about the plight of those who live on the streets, the filmmakers have committed that, from every ticket purchase, 50 percent of the net proceeds will go to nonprofits making an impact in local communities nationwide (and you can find your local nonprofits right on the film’s website).
In addition, the filmmakers also made a documentary about the epidemic of homelessness, which was released in late 2024, "Americans with No Address."
“No Address” doesn’t just make us understand better and maybe even care more for those who live on the street; it also inspires us by showing the courage and resilience with which the homeless often live.
“No Address” releases in theaters on February 28, and it is well worth viewing. You can purchase tickets or find out more about the film here. You can also find out more about its companion documentary, “Americans with No Address,” here.
A note for families and viewers more sensitive to violence in film. “No Address,” rated PG-13, has several scenes of violence which, while realistic and not gratuitous, some viewers may find very disturbing.
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