The Saint of Fort Washington
- Danny Glover: Jerry / Narrator
- Matt Dillon Matthew
- Rick Aviles: Rosario
- Nina Siemaszko: Tamsen
- Ving Rhames: Little Leroy
- Joe Seneca: Spits
- Harry Ellington: Arthur
- Ralph Hughes: Jason
- Bahni Turpin: Gloria
- Irma St. Paule: neighbor
Streets of New York ( Original title: The Saint of Fort Washington) is a drama about the situation of two homeless people in New York City in the early 1990s, which are played by Matt Dillon and Danny Glover. Premiered the movie on 13 September 1993 in Canada at the Toronto International Film Festival. In Germany the film was released on November 2, 1995 on VHS and on 28 May 2004 on DVD. The German TV title is The Heroes of Fort Washington.
Action
The unemployed Matthew loses an illegal demolition of his house in Pelham Parkway in the Bronx, his home. When going to the welfare office, he meets an overwhelmed mother, whom he accompanied to the nearest home. However, he is forbidden to stay there because it is a family home. Matthew now sees itself forced into a homeless shelter in Washington Heights to stay where he meets the homeless also Jerry. Jerry is a Vietnam veteran and lost in the course of his divorce, his house, and access to his family, landed on the road and is now the companion of Matthew. This has been suffering from the early years of schizophrenia. He thinks he is a photographer and photographed with his disposable camera, even if no film in it. In the homeless shelter both meet on the appointed boss among the homeless Little Leroy, who wants to fall over Matthew on the toilet, but Jerry to the rescue and overwhelmed him.
Matthew and Jerry escape from Washington Heights and decide never to return there again. You will find a home with the homeless Rosario and his pregnant wife. Jerry the previously already worked as a window cleaner, Matthew is now bringing in the basics. They decide to hold together and to buy with their savings for an apartment. As both of the police due to the cold weather forced back into the shelter, both fear for their lives. Matthew is left alone by Jerry for a moment as Leroy Matthew encounters alone and this is true in a fight with a knife and kill. The film ends with the visit of the casket by Jerry Matthews.
Dramaturgy and creation
The film makes use of sensitive images relating to the situation of the homeless in urban New York. Be discussed here, the hopelessness, the exclusion and the hard life of those affected. But her dreams and desires underlines the film, the hope of a better life. The movie was filmed entirely in New York City, also including real homeless extras.
Reception
The film was less successful at the box office in the U.S. and played a $ 57,115.
Soundtrack
The score was written by composer James Newton Howard, who was known by soundtracks like Blood Diamond.
Title list
Awards
Stockholm International Film Festival 1993
- Best Actor Matt Dillon
Toronto International Film Festival
- People's Choice Award: 2nd place
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
- CFCA Award: Nominated
Trivia
- To be able to put yourself deeper into his role, Danny Glover dressed as homeless and went to the situations where they are exposed to the emotions as well as the problems of homeless people better able to understand.
Reviews
" In addition to the small flaws, The Saint of Fort Washington takes the subject very seriously, in a way that the audience is sad. "
" Once they stopped their vehicle at an intersection and men have approached with Squeegees, anbaten her window to clean and they wondered where these people come from and what they do at night, this movie knows it. "
" A spectacular or even any speculative events sensitively developed, realistic story away. So much the more attentive he looks at the people and the depressing milieu, the film appeals movingly to human dignity. "