BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – On Thursday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m., the WE LEAD Poverty Reduction Issue Team at West Virginia Wesleyan College will be showing the film “US & THEM” in Hyma auditorium. Filmmaker Krista Loughton brings forth the lives of four chronically homeless individuals.
“US & THEM is an eye opening film that shows that it’s not simply one thing that contributes to homelessness,” comments Ammanda Frame, WE LEAD Poverty Reduction student leader. “While watching US & THEM, there is no possible way to feel disconnected from the lives of those living in chronic homelessness. We want people to understand that homelessness is not a choice. Homelessness is a serious issue that can affect anyone.”
According to the film’s website, “Ten years in the making, this is the “Boyhood” of impact documentaries. A woman sets out to help four homeless people in Canada, but they end up helping her.
“US & THEM breaks stereotypes about why people become homeless, and examines why the mentality to ‘pull yourself up by the bootstraps’ is heavily flawed. The goal of US & THEM is to educate as many people as possible on the realities of homelessness, and to encourage proactive solutions.”
After the film, there will be an opportunity to have a Q&A session with Loughton via video conference. The audience will be given the time to ask about the film, her experiences, and what she learned along the journey. This event is free for everyone and will be an opportunity to see the transformation through human connection. Viewers will never look at homelessness the same way again.