‘Down the Arm of God’: Caleb Landry Jones Project, Created With People Without Housing, Is a “Conversation Starter, Not an Advocacy Film”
A new film debuting at the Locarno Film Festival follows a young pastor in a Texas town who seeks to support homeless individuals during a severe winter, encountering resistance from his parish. Directed by Peter Brunner and starring Caleb Landry Jones, the production was developed over several years through direct collaboration with people experiencing homelessness, drawing from actual events.
The filmmaking team positions the work as conversation-opening rather than political messaging, aiming to challenge stereotypes by centering firsthand accounts of homelessness. Director Brunner emphasises that the film examines homelessness through the lens of systemic factors rather than individual circumstances. The project has partnered with The Art of Elysium to develop companion educational materials focused on empathy, creativity and human connection.
- Film 'Down the Arm of God' premiered at Locarno, depicting a pastor's attempts to assist homeless people during winter in Texas amid congregation resistance
- Directors spent five years developing the screenplay in collaboration with homeless individuals, portraying homelessness as rooted in systemic failures
- Filmmakers frame the project as a dialogue starter rather than advocacy, emphasising human experience over statistics and stereotypes