Direction: Logan George, Celine Held
Country: USA
In this haunting and emotional drama about homelessness, addiction and sacrifice, the debutant pair of filmmakers Logan George and Celine Held, who also stars, dive deep into damaged characters while setting them against a particularly interesting backdrop - the abandoned, labyrinthine subway tunnels of New York. Displaying a raw dramatic power that steals part of its narrative craftiness, the film follows drug addict Nikki (solid performance by Held) and her five-year-old daughter, Little (Zhaila Farmer). Forced to leave the sunless underground spot they call home, they emerge into the chaotic and threatening world above.
What keeps you watching is its gritty look at how people react to a homeless young woman who, holding a kid in her arms, asks for help. This failing mother is psychologically tortured with the biggest decision of her life, and the finale provides you with one of the most gut-wrenching and compassionate moments in recent cinema. Fast and unhesitant camera movements trigger giddy sensations, increasing the sense of disorientation and affliction. It’s both heartbreaking and fascinating to watch. With minor quibbles, Topside offers an affecting, if distressing, glimpse into an appalling situation that, known as real, deserves more attention than it actually gets.
