It Was A Wonderful Life
"Compassionate, Intelligent."-L.A. Weekly
In this award-winning festival standout, Academy Award nominee Michele Ohayon (Colors Straight Up) presents a riveting and powerful account of six women who are members of America's growing "hidden homeless" population. Narrated by Jody Foster, and with an original musical score by Melissa Etheridge, his heart-wrenching film expertly captures the hardships and triumphs these courageous women experience in their daily struggle for survival.
Meet Josephine, Reena, Marie, Jeanette, Lou, and Terry. They are intelligent, articulate women who had secure, active, and fulfilling lives until one day everything unraveled. Now homeless after an ugly divorce or loss of a job, these women do not show up in shelters or receive public assistance; they do not sleep in doorways or ask for handouts. Too proud to be counted, they prefer to exist under the radar, sleeping out of their cars or in cheap motels.
Both compelling and consciousness-raising, It Was a Wonderful Life cuts through the stereotypes and clichés to give a human face to this undeniable tragedy. And, with fresh insight into the plight of the homeless, Ohayon shows how these women have managed to make a life for themselves, using only their ingenuity and perseverance to get by.
Member Reviews
Touching lives.... - Cricri7
A wonderful life tells the story of women on the street...homeless women...human beings who end up without a house for whatever reasons. This documentary does not go the easy route of telling the usual homeless stories of mental health and drug abuse, instead they tell the stories of normal women, like you and me, who end up without a home.
You have a range of women...doctorates, artists, jobless...You get the sense that those women never should have ended up on the street since they had worked all their lives, but circumstances led them there. It is very hard watching it because you get the sense that no one is "untouchable".Heartbreaking - verano
Don't pass this one over just because it was made in the 90s. This documentary won several awards, and with good reason. A thought provoking look into the lives of homeless women, and how they got there. A thoughtful challenge to the viewer who might have assumed that homelessness could never happen to themselves.Every homeless person has a story and is not invisible - AvidOscarBee
Beautifully directed and narrated by Jodie Foster is a poignant film about millions of invisible homeless women. They are understated and not obvious like homeless men who sleep on the street. Instead, they live in their cars, on a friend/family member's sofa or in shelters.
Divided into 4 chapters focusing on 5 different homeless women who share their story to get back on their feet:
Ch. 1: Reena & Josephine
Ch. 2: Marie, Jeannette & Lou
Ch. 3: The System's Maze
Ch. 4: Daily Hardship
After a divorce, a woman will suffer a 73% drop in her income, while men rise 42%.
"Lou" Louise Hull, 37 years old, separated, homeless for 1 year from Seattle. Parents kicked her out when she was 18. As an adult, she got very sick, lost her apartment due to medical bills. She struggles daily and loves animals.
"Reena" is Ronella, was a famous lounge singer with her husband as manager. They lived a big life in an affluent neighbourhood with 6 kids. When she was pregnant with #6, he left her. She has tried to apply for social assistance and was rejected and is about 2 weeks away from being homeless. She loves to sing.
"Josephine" Ross who has an honorary doctorate, a painter, mother, and she made an investment that went sour and lost everything. Homeless for 2 years and believes it's a state of mind. 5 years ago she had an affluent life. She loves to paint and sells them to make money.
"Marie" was a pharmacist from East Coast and is struggling. Lives in car with 2 dogs that eventually got impounded due to parking tickets. Can't find work at her age but makes money recylcing cans. She parks car at cemetary. No bank account. Stores clothes in trunk and all else in car.
"Terry" Dawson, mother of 3 girls and lives in motel. Husband left when kids young. Kids forget him and support her.
"Alice" was a school teacher, broke hip, lost job & home.
"Jeannette" Goldberg is law student, lost paternity suit, lost job & hom
Member Reviews
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Touching lives.... - Cricri7
A wonderful life tells the story of women on the street...homeless women...human beings who end up without a house for whatever reasons. This documentary does not go the easy route of telling the usual homeless stories of mental health and drug abuse, instead ...Heartbreaking - verano
Don't pass this one over just because it was made in the 90s. This documentary won several awards, and with good reason. A thought provoking look into the lives of homeless women, and how they got there. A thoughtful challenge to the viewer who might have ...Every homeless person has a story and is not invisible - AvidOscarBee
Beautifully directed and narrated by Jodie Foster is a poignant film about millions of invisible homeless women. They are understated and not obvious like homeless men who sleep on the street. Instead, they live in their cars, on a friend/family member's sofa ...