Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County
By Alexandra Pelosi
HBO
Released: 2013
60 minutes
In Orange County, CA--one of the wealthiest regions in America--children of the working poor are forced to live with their parents in motel rooms. From Alexandra Pelosi comes this film that follows several Southern California children stuck in this motel limbo and who's day-to-day lives are a numbing exercise in ever-diminishing expectations. (HBO)
Review
For some reason, I feel odd saying I loved the documentary, but I did. I feel odd because I watched these families go through hardship. The interviews and the intimate filming of the families for this documentary was great. What made this documentary hard to watch.. these families are living in a motel across from Disney Land and they cannot afford to take their children. How can Disney Land.. of all places.. the land where dreams come true for children all over the world be across from a motel harboring so much distress?
Furthermore, Orange County, the land of the wealthy. OC is known for reality shows such as the Real Housewives of Orange County and the teen reality show a few years ago. Who knew that adults and their children would be living at extreme poverty in the same town? Children were filmed digging in the dumpster for toys that were left behind by families who could not afford to live their any longer.
I don't want to give too much away about the film, but it is a good one.
I just watched the film as well and I agree with you. The mother of five would have to make $20/hour to afford moving out of that hotel and into an apartment. Until then all she can do is get by. There is love in these families even without all their needs being met and that is an amazing thing but doesn't change the fact that it feels so wrong they have to live like this while all around them there are people with more food, privacy and security then they can ever appreciate.
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