A shocking portrayal of homelessness
A homeless drug addict and her five-year-old daughter struggle to find shelter after escaping from an underground camp. Top is a shocking depiction of poverty and distress. The majority of the film is seen from the perspective of an innocent child. She is taken from one dangerous situation to another. Carried by a desperate mother whose fear of authorities puts them both in danger of being exploited. Top is fiercely outrageous. My heart hurt all the time.
Top opens on the dirty grounds of an abandoned New York City subway tunnel. Little (Zhaila Farmer) lies by a ladder leading up to a metal hatch. She sees a child’s tablet and waits for her mother, Nikki (Celine Held), to return. Nikki and Little live in a dilapidated underground poor society. They get buckets of water from an old pipe. Nikki charges the tablet and her phone at a rusty electrical outlet. She sings for her daughter as they stare at their Christmas lights strewn ceiling. A neighbor, John (Fatlip), chastises Nikki for not having Little in school. She asks him for help in getting another solution. He curses her for having a child in the tunnel.
Little wanders around as Nikki disappears for hours at a time. She is a little aware of the other homeless. John feeds her. He insults Nikki again when she returns. He refuses to help her get drugs. Flashlights and voices appear at the end of the tunnel. The MTA has come to throw them out. They had received several warnings. John tries to distract them from seeing Little and Nikki. The couple runs away as the camp gets torn down. They climb up the ladder into the subway and the streets above. Little is afraid of the bright light and noise. Nikki has nowhere to go. Tired and withdrawn, she makes a foolish decision.
Life in the tunnels under New York City
Top opens with a quote from “The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City”. Nikki and Little’s underground residence is dark and dirty. But it is warm, safe and with others willing to help them. They flee into a cold winter. Then become instant targets on the ruthless streets. Nikki prostitutes herself for drugs and money. My blood boiled when her dealer / pimp discovered she had a young daughter. He can earn “thousands” with a little girl. These scenes are terrifying. They portray a terrible truth. Homeless women and children are particularly vulnerable to evil predators. The tunnel seems like a terrible place. It protected them from the harsh surroundings.
Celine Held, who stars as Nikki, writes and directs with her partner, Logan George. They pull no punches in their feature film debut. Nikki is a heroin addict. She knows the state will take Little from her. Nikki is obsessed with her love and selfishness. Having your child underground, not in school, and in the presence of violent criminals is unscrupulous. We sympathize with her situation. But she is guilty of neglect and danger to children. Nikki’s avoidance of law enforcement is ruthless. Little safety and well-being are paramount. The film’s climax addresses this directly.
Seeing the tunnel through Little’s eyes
Top is busy with many contrasts. The scenes underground are dimly lit and from low angles. We’re supposed to see the tunnel through Little’s eyes. On the street, the camera moves with quick edits. We are inundated with a cacophony of city noise. This represents Little’s confusion and anxiety in a chaotic environment. The last act is from Nikki’s point of view. Celine Held is captivating in front of and behind the camera. We feel her fear, hopelessness and raw exhaustion.
Top is an unshakable film. As a New Yorker, I was overwhelmed by different emotions. The homeless are the city’s biggest problem. Mentally ill and dangerous addicts have been a severe nuisance. They do not represent the vast majority of homeless people. But masslessness cannot be allowed in a civilized society. Criminals must be imprisoned. The insane placed in institutions. Shelters and roads to self-help established for those in need.
People do not choose cold and hunger. A child should never starve in the richest and most powerful country. How many billions are wasted each year? We have the resources to tackle widespread homelessness. Being indifferent and complaining is where society sadly falls short. Nikki and Little are people who need help. Top reflects the stark reality of those we ignore, step over, and regard as a nuisance.
Top is a production of ELO Films, K Period Media, Likely Story, Level Forward and Red Crown Productions. It will have a VOD on March 25 and limited cinema release from Vertical Entertainment.
Read Next
About the author
