STONE PILLOW

STONE PILLOW - 1985

RATED - NR but probably PG for mild language & non-graphic violence.

RATINGS - 23 Amazon (4.5/5), 9,312 Netflix (3.5/5), 150 IMDB (7.5/10)

STARRING - Lucille Ball ( her last film at the age of 74)

THEMES - Homelessness, charity, poverty, integrity, humility.

STORY - This made for TV movie was Lucille Ball's final film and she wanted to make a serious statement. Not everyone realizes she was a serious actress and starred in a number of movies before making her fame as I LOVE LUCY. This is a story about age and youth, about street-wise and naivete, about someone who has no hope and someone who wants to change the world. This is a story about Florabelle, a homeless woman, who 'owns' her corner in New York City. Everything she has is in her grocery cart. The merchants on her corner know her and help her. She knows the ways of the street. She's a survivor. It's also the story of Carrie, fresh out of college in her first job as a social worker in a woman's shelter. She's told to go interact with people on the street to better understand them. She meets Florabelle who thinks she's a runaway and tries to show her the ways of the homeless. She takes her underground and into the dark world of living on the street where you survive by your wits and with some help from your friends. Lucille Ball was a great actress and she 'Carries' the day in this outstanding film about what it's like to be one of millions of people living on the street. There's nothing comic about this movie and the serious message it had back in 1985 is perhaps even more appropriate today. As someone once asked the most famous rabbi of all, 'who is my neighbor?' This film will help to define who our neighbors are. As Carrie said near the end, 'how can I stay warm when you're cold'. How do we manage to stay warm when so many are living in the cold? This one may prick your conscience as it did mine. Available for immediate play on Netflix. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 04/04/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TURNER CLASSIC