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Lost in America
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Compassionate, eye-opening docu about unhoused youths.
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Lost in America
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What's the Story?
In LOST IN AMERICA, Rotimi Rainwater, a formerly unhoused youth-turned-filmmaker, decides to travel across the country to explore the issue of unhoused youths in the United States and discover why it receives so little attention. He meets U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy from Vermont, who tries to get a bill through Congress that will help unhoused youth. Rainwater also talks to several unhoused young people between the ages of 17 and 21. He learns that many identify as LGBTQ (and were kicked out of their homes for that reason), that America's failing foster care system sends kids out into the streets, and that sex trafficking and drug use are commonplace among unhoused youths. In the end, Rainwater achieves one small step -- establishing an accurate number of unhoused youths in America -- but the fight is just beginning.
Is It Any Good?
Rainwater's compassionate, fearless documentary is focused on finding ways to humanize the issue of being unhoused and give it urgency. Lost in America benefits greatly from having Rainwater at the helm and on camera, using not only his real-life experiences, but also his intrepid persistence to find the facts -- and the emotions -- he's looking for. He seems to really care, and yet he avoids self-congratulations. It's telling that this documentary's origin dates to when Rainwater arranged to screen his previous movie, Sugar, a dramatic feature about being unhoused, for Congress ... and no one showed up.
Rainwater assembles an impressive list of interviewees for Lost in America. In addition to Senator Leahy, he talks to recording artists Jewel, Miley Cyrus, and Jon Bon Jovi, and actors Rosario Dawson, Halle Berry, Tiffany Haddish, Sanaa Lathan, and Rebecca Gayheart -- all of whom either have struggled with a lack of housing themselves or are involved in trying to help. Rainwater also interviews many currently unhoused youths, like Conner and Makayla in San Francisco, who share a tragic story and its cruel aftermath, and Calub in Denver, who was thrown out for identifying as trans. In addition to facing head on the weightier problems that surround being unhoused, Lost in America also leaves us with a simple message. If you see an unhoused person, say hello. It will mean more than you can imagine.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Lost in America's descriptions of violence. Do they make an impact, even though not much is actually shown? Do you think the movie should have shown more?
How are drug use, smoking, and drinking connected to being unhoused?
Did watching this movie affect your perspective on people who don't have homes? What about the movie inspires compassion?
According to the movie, 40% of unhoused youths were thrown out of their home for identifying as LGBTQ. Why do you think that happens? What could help prevent it? Visit https://www.lostinamericafilm.com for more information.
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: June 9, 2020
- Cast: Rotimi Rainwater , Rosario Dawson , Tiffany Haddish , Jewel
- Director: Rotimi Rainwater
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Black actors, Indigenous actors, Latino actors
- Studio: Indican Pictures
- Genre: Documentary
- Character Strengths: Compassion
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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