Trouble In Paradise: The Plight If The Homeless In A Rural Community

This low-budget documentary, which appears to be made for a local news show, focuses on the plight of the homeless in California's San Luis Obispo county. After a brief introduction which discusses the extent of the problem, the program interviews various county officials and workers about different aspects of the homeless problem in San Luis Obispo. One official points out the sobering fact that much of the American population is "living from paycheck to paycheck today," but for the most part both interviewees and narrator confine their comments to the local situation. Workers from a people's kitchen program, the local shelter, and the women's shelter, talk about the inadequacy of their efforts to meet the huge needs. Intercut throughout the program are interviews with the homeless: Rick, a 44year-old alcoholic; Gary, a Vietnam vet whose been on the streets for 18 months; and John, a 57-year-old former businessman who lost it all. While not a bad program, Trouble in Paradise has more of a "news story" feel than a documentary, and is too locally oriented. There are far better documentaries on the subject available. Not a necessary purchase. (Available from: Instructional Video, Inc., 727 "O" St., Lincoln, NE 68508;1-800-228-0164.)