The Public (2018)

The Public was inspired by a 2007 article by retiring Salt Lake City Public Library deputy director Chip Ward. Ward wrote about how public libraries have become a defacto daytime homeless shelter in many American cities and the trials and rewards of working with homeless clientele. Emilo Estevez read that article and out of it grew his new film which explores Ward's themes by way of a fictional narrative.

Written, directed and staring Estevez, Emilio plays Stuart Goodson, a senior librarian at the main branch of Cincinnati's public library. Stuart is on good terms with the homeless people who frequent the library, and when a serious cold spell and limited shelter space starts to result in a rash of dying homeless people, Stuart pleads with his superiors to turn the library into an emergency night time shelter. When this request is turned down Stuart aggress to join and serve as spokesperson for a group of homeless people who forcibly occupy part of the buildings third floor.

The Public is a good people can make a difference film, positive in outlook even when dealing with a relatively dark storyline. It's a feel good movie, sometimes a little hokey, but also thought provoking. A nice cast including Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, Gabrielle Union, Taylor Schilling and Jena Malone. The last half or so of the movie is a variation on "the hostage picture" and I really like that kind of movie so this really worked for me, I think more then it might for a lot of people. Also what a unique subject matter for a major motion picture, yes homelessness is occasional addressed in other films, but I can't think of a single other movie about a library. ***