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Down and Out in America

“The origins of homelessness.”

1986 · 57 min
Directed by Lee Grant · USA · New Hollywood
DocumentaryHistory

Where to watch in the United States: Free: Kanopy · Rent: Amazon Video, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Fandango At Home. Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDB; availability changes.

Cast

Lee Grant Jeff Farmer Bob Hanson Robert Hayes Ted Hayes Ann Kanten

Credits

Produced by: Joseph Feury

Plot

The recession of the 1980s split the country into the haves and have-nots, from family farmers to factory workers and homeless people forced to live in decrepit welfare hotels. On the verge of losing everything, courageous Americans discover the power of community organizing to fight injustice.

Sinekatalog’s take

A documentary shows the divide between the comfortable and the struggling in a decade of recession, and the power of organised communities. It is empathetic and direct. Important for viewers interested in economic hardship and grassroots action.Sinekatalog’s own editorial review – not a user or critic quote.

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Ratings

IMDb: 7.2 / 10 (340 votes)
IMDb rating and vote count from the IMDb ratings dataset (October 2026). Scores change over time.

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