Until a few years ago, homeless people annoyed me terribly. I live in Smichov, and it's famous for several places where the homeless congregate. Whenever I'd drive home from work, I'd see them and it bothered me that they were a disgrace. But my girlfriend is a psychologist and she's convinced that the world isn't completely black and white. That's also why I thought that I probably have a simplistic view on this subject, so I'd better do more research and ask around.
But before Homeless, I was already doing a documentary about prostitution called The Other Faces of Love, so the outcast thing is kind of close to my heart. At the same time, I come from a conformist petty bourgeois family and I've been told who to talk to and who not to talk to since I was a kid.
I've always gone against that, but then I found myself doing the same thing without
trying to empathize with these people.
But before Homeless, I was already doing a documentary about prostitution called The Other Faces of Love, so the outcast thing is kind of close to my heart. At the same time, I come from a conformist petty bourgeois family and I've been told who to talk to and who not to talk to since I was a kid.
I've always gone against that, but then I found myself doing the same thing without
trying to empathize with these people.
SERIES 1
The level of a society is known by its ability to help the weak and defenceless. Formerly homeless Václav will show you how he got off the streets. But before he did, he had to be able to answer the most basic questions.
Where to sleep? Where to get food? Which places to avoid? Do you know?
Check out this bonus on poverty, a threat that's closer than you think.
Where to sleep? Where to get food? Which places to avoid? Do you know?
Check out this bonus on poverty, a threat that's closer than you think.
The next probe into life on the street concerns the second most important need after sleep. Where to get food? In our country, so much food is wasted that no homeless person will starve.
Money is rarely lying around on the street. A homeless person has to be imaginative to get his hands on cash, which he needs as much as the rest of us. Some ways of making money you probably know, but other more creative and subtle methods will probably surprise you. Like playing foosball for money.
How celebrities live is of interest to everyone. But how do people on the margins of society live? Where can you sleep and live if you don't have a home?
Several homeless people invited us to visit.
Several homeless people invited us to visit.
The most important thing is a firm decision to get off the street. Even if one is alone, even if it's hard and he has to leave the only friends he has.
Václav, who accompanies the documentary, has succeeded. Tens of thousands of others are still waiting for their happy ending.
Václav, who accompanies the documentary, has succeeded. Tens of thousands of others are still waiting for their happy ending.
SERIES 2
Homeless women are almost invisible even to social workers. So are their problems. The vast majority of them have experienced violence, often from their partners. And rape is a constant threat to them.
Getting on the street is surprisingly easier than it might seem. Even more complicated are the women themselves, who are the targets of violence and abuse. What does it really look like when one woman on the street gets her chance?
When people from the streets or hostels are able to maintain stable housing, their health improves, their chances of finding work increase, and poor parents are not at risk of their children ending up in institutional care.
BONUS SERIES: SquatiNG
Compared to Europe, squatted housing is not widespread in our country and the few buildings that were used in Prague are known thanks to media coverage. What is their future fate?
Infamous squat place called Klinika still arouses passions. But do you know the whole story of the squat? The people who lived there for months and years? The program they devised there? Find out more about that in this video and the counterpoint in the bonus features.
Directed by Filip Štoček
Story by Filip Štoček / Václav Bural
Director of photography Filip Štoček / Štěpán Svoboda
Editing Filip Štoček
Story by Filip Štoček / Václav Bural
Director of photography Filip Štoček / Štěpán Svoboda
Editing Filip Štoček
Production by Tereza Sommerová
Dramaturg Kateřina Hladíková
Executive Producer Filip Vážanský
Dramaturg Kateřina Hladíková
Executive Producer Filip Vážanský
Music: Tomáš Havlen (Season 1) / Sára Vondrášková (Season 2) / Artlist.io (Squats)
Master of Sound: Josef Beneš
