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Hi Everyone,
If you haven't seen or heard of the documentary film "Sister Helen" it's a must see...as in as soon as you can.
It's the story of a recovering alcoholic who after the death of her husband and son, founded a halfway house for recovering addicts - it's brilliant, moving and at times unbelievably funny - here's the review I wrote on Netflix which should give you some idea of the film and why it's a must see.
Sister Helen
If you haven't seen or heard of the documentary film "Sister Helen" it's a must see...as in as soon as you can.
It's the story of a recovering alcoholic who after the death of her husband and son, founded a halfway house for recovering addicts - it's brilliant, moving and at times unbelievably funny - here's the review I wrote on Netflix which should give you some idea of the film and why it's a must see.
Sister Helen
- Incredibly inspiring and moving Sister Helen is one of those rare films that etches a place in your heart and stays there forever. Beaten down by the worst blows of life the death of her child and husband, the ravages of alcoholism and unbearable suffering Helen Travis rose from the ashes of a shattered life and became a Nun. But more than that, this defiant, in your face absolutely unique, hilarious, no nonsense woman opened a halfway house for recovering addicts. All of them men, many of them having served heavy time, some of them potentially dangerous and all of them as remarkable as it sounds bursting with love, affection, respect and occasionally fear - from this rosary carrying Nun with the mouth of a sailor and a heart as huge as the heavens. Unlike city run shelters Travis house is solely dependent on private donations and the meager rent of it's tenants. It's the last chance for these guys, and they know it. Sister Helen pushes them on with a kind of tough love you have to see to believe. To the filmmakers credit we feel, even only for brief moments that we live there too as we are privy to private house meetings, interviews with prospective tenants and evictions of those who slip up. Sister Helens been there and back, more than once so there's no pulling the wool over eyes, she has more street smarts than all her tenants put together and can size you up in a New York minute - an ability she takes great joy in. Do yourself a favor and rent Sister Helen. It will remind you that angels aren't always some ethereal creature with beautiful wings. Sometimes they're, loud, tough talking Nuns from the South Bronx.
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