I watched godsend at a homeless mission in Glendale, Arizona. I am a Vietnam vet that had a spell of bad luck a few months back. It landed me on the streets, hungry. I hadn't intended to watch the movie, only stopped in for the free dinner they were serving.
Some evenings, this mission shows a film along with a message from the preacher and we hear each others testimony. We encourage each other.
That night, we watched godsend and heard the story of the films main actor and how he got into making movies and why they chose to do this film about homelessness...and hope.
Godsend is a movie about a homeless man who suffers the grim realities of being on the street. He was mugged and wakes with a head injury so severe he doesnt remember how or why he is homeless.
From him waking up on the streets, we begin to see the world through his eyes...we do learn later that he does have a life and family who love him, but the injury and depression is so severe that he is ready to end it all. He can't see that hope is waiting for him.
Im a grown man, but I cried.
It is spot on. And anyone who hasn't been here doesn't have an fn clue how bad it can be. How depressed we get, how we want to end it all because the streets are such a mean place. Does anyone even care? That's what this movie is asking.
If it weren't for the rescue mission, I may not be here today. Oddly, watching godsend I felt like someone cared...they wanted to tell my story...the story of a homeless guy barely holding on.
Im a guy that was helped at a rescue mission and yes, I could relate to finding Jesus through someone who cared. I may not have had a dog companion like the main actor did, but felt it was a quality touch. I liked the dog, a big black German shepherd.
Godsends not a prissy, clean movie, its dirty, its real...and yes, people treat us that badly on the streets. They avoid eye contact, they walk over our bodies when we fall and don't want to touch us to help us up.
Although one homeless person may not experience everything that the main actor (John) did, collectively we all experienced at least one or more of the situations every day.
Thank god for the homeless rescue missions out there, the people who give a damn about us, and I wish only the best for the filmmakers who are at these missions and trying to bring attention to the homeless. Please don't let discouragement stop your purpose. Stay true and good luck on this film.
Today, I'm in a little better spot. I'm at a library where I randomly came across this movie on IMDb and remembered seeing it. I felt compelled to let others know that this movie is the real deal, it has the power to bring to light our issues despite the bad press it seems to be getting here.
I am glad to have made it through the rough spell and I'm glad that the rescue mission in Glendale was there to help me and so many others that evening. And I'm very honored to have seen godsend. I just had to write this review for what its worth. Watch it and get copies to your local shelters. Keep helping the homeless and getting the word out.
--Tom.
