Princess of the Row

What a beautifully told story about a broken father and the love his daughter has for him. This movie was a bit slow at times but it was well acted and enjoyable. I am already a fan of Mr. Gathegi's work so I had to check this one out. He didn't speak much in this but his acting was truly believable. When he kicks the trash can and say's "You ain't foolin no body!" hilarious! Sometimes it is hard to see how some ppl live on the streets, this was a hard look of one instance. Surprised this was not based on a true story. If you like emotional movie than this is one for you.

Princess of the Row (2019) is a movie that my magnificent wife recommended and I recently watched on Prime. The storyline follows a kid who skips school to take care of her homeless father who lives on skid row. She gets cycled through the foster system but always finds her way back to her dad.

This movie is directed by Van Maximilian Carlson (Bhoplia) and stars Edi Gathegi (The Harder they Fall), Tayler Buck (Annabelle: The Creation), Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now), Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty) and Jenny Gago (Coach Carter).

The performances feel so authentic and were impressive. Tayler Buck and Edi Gathegi play off each other perfectly. The writing is outstanding with entertaining characters, intense circumstances, rough environments, well established relationships and unpredictable situations. The storyline is well paced with numerous twists and turns and a heart wrenching ending. I wouldn't change anything about this movie.

Overall, this an underrated gem that I would strongly recommend. I would score this an 8/10.

With a dad that suffers great mental illness as a vet, this little girl goes down a path of trying to save him but ultimately having to save herself. A straight on view of homeless and the struggle.

The only reason I gave this a 7 and not higher is forsaking the realism of the foster care system and time and care truly able to be given, as well as unreality of foster homes (Aunt Tammy should've been white, too). The system is already a mess and if the government has its way, many more if births are forced. I get it, it's for the sake of storytelling timeline, I just prefer realism on this true, urgent crisis in our Country.

Okay, all that aside, was not prepared for the very end scene. The last I knew, my son was living in San Diego homeless areas. It's turned into years and he's been a total deadbeat/absent dad to a now 15 yo daughter. A life I never saw coming. Mental health and drugs have stolen my beautiful boy, but we must always hope for each other and try do better for ourselves until our last breath....right?

The end scene....raw emotion body chills.

This movie was incredible and very moving. Edi Gathegi completely sells his role as a man who was severely brain damaged in combat. He acts almost like a zombie, and its sad because you know there really are people out there who are like that, which cannot function enough to sustain a normal life. He is always drifting in and out of reality.

The story is just so touching. His daughter wants to see him get better and be well enough to hold some type of job and provide himself with a better life. By the end, she realizes that its really out of her control and no amount of love from her or anyone is going to fix his brain. Its very bittersweet. Definitely watch it!