Review of Dark Days (2000) by Devin R — 21 Sep 2009
DARK DAYS is without question one of the best and most affecting documentaries I've ever seen. Over the course of two years, director Marc Singer (who has yet to direct another film) lived with a group of homeless men and women that chose to set up a home of their own underground near the Amtrak railways underneath NYC's Penn Station.
This is their story, and as they stuggle to find food and money, their spirit to survive in such dark and unimaginable conditions thrives. In the tunnels they have erected houses, "borrow" electricity from the city, cook food and even keep pets.
They would rather live underground than live out of the shelter system up top to avoid the drugs and thieves looking to cause trouble. Singer's camera captures their lives in a simple, honest and unflinching manner, and the film's grainy black & white cinematograpy only further enhances it's gloomy spell.
While the film is quite depressing the finale does offer a light at the end of the tunnel, and hope for a better future does persevere. DARK DAYS is an outstanding achievement in true documentarian guerilla fimmaking, and the story of exactly how the film was made is just as fascinating; so make sure to check out the extras on the DVD.
This review of Dark Days (2000) was written by Devin R on 21 Sep 2009.
Dark Days has generally received very positive reviews.
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