Topside

"Gut wrenching movie that had me totally engrossed until the end just ...ends. "

"“Stars don’t come down this far, baby” This is a side of New York I never knew existed which is the underground subway community. There are actual documentaries based on this way of life. Topside gives a very honest and harrowing story about a mother and her 5 year old daughter subterranean lifestyle . Celine Held co-wrote this film giving a gripping performance as an addict. But the real star is newcomer Zhalia Farmer delivering the most sensitive and sophisticated child performance. Held and Farmer have natural onscreen chemistry which is undeniable. There isn’t a onslaught of dialogue but the story is told through background noise and a cinematic experience . You basically can feel and see everything these characters face. My only issue would be the choice they made in the third act to change perspectives. As powerful and emotional as it is I think it loses a little steam. (But that could just be subjective) Me personally because I have a daughter just a couple years older I could never come to the conclusion under any circumstances. In the end this is a gut wrenching look at a world most would be shocked to find it actually exists #drama #heartbreaking "

"Gutwrenching, you feel absolutely sorry for the kid, but the mom that’s another case altogether. It’s easy to judge others but the courage this mom has despite the mistakes she made, to me showed that her final decision was based on her true love for her child. At times, we have to take the hardest steps to protect our children. The scene in the subway just tore my heart apart. "

"Really good showing on addiction and motherhood. A lot of it is from the child's perspective, switching later to mom in the movie. The love and sacrifice are real and really makes one think of how we, as a society, look at addiction and unhoused people. If more resources were allocated to people in need, we would all be better off. Highly recommend. "