THE SAINT OF FORT WASHINGTON

US, 1994, 98 minutes, Colour.
Danny Glover, Matt Dillon, Rick Avilas, Ving Rhames, Joe Seneca, Nina Siemaszko, Lyle Kessler
Directed by Tim Hunter

The Saint of Fort Washington is a blend of the tough and the gentle, the hardships, language and violence of the streets and the goodness of spirit of so many who are dismissed as 'drifters'. It did not receive a wide theatrical release and found its audience with groups who like to discuss movies and their messages.

It has excellent credentials. Danny Glover is veteran, Jerry, a man who affirms his clients and his friends but who can use muscle to defend those under attack. Danny Glover has made a career out of portraying characters who are serious (Places in the Heart, Grand Canyon, To Sleep with Anger) or who are tough (the Lethal Weapon series). Matt Dillon is Matthew who plays his schizophrenic role close to the normal rather than with a more histrionic style as many stars do when they play people with mental impairment. Ving Rhames is the sleazy Leroy.

The film was directed by Tim Hunter who had directed Dillon in Tex, one of the several adaptations of novels by S.E.Hinton that Dillon appeared in in the early 80s (including Coppola's The Outsiders and Rumble Fish). The film that made Hunter's name was a strong look at disaffected youth, The River's Edge.

While the message of The Saint of Fort Washington is impressive, the film itself runs the danger of seeming a little too predictable for audiences. Despite, Matthew telling his story, the audience would like to know more about Matthew and how he became the kind and gentle man he was that would make him a 'secular saint'.

1. An earnest film about poverty, heroism, integrity? Its lack of popularity at the box office? Audiences not responding to these themes?

2. The New York settings, Fort Washington, The Armory, the place of refuge for the poor? The streets, especially around the George Washington Bridge? Downtown New York, trailer parks, garages? The contrast with the affluence of New York City?

3. The title, the reference to Matthew, Jerry's explanation of Matthew as a saint? The importance of role models in movies? Secular saints? Healing as a sign of a saint, even in the secular city?

4. The focus on Matthew, in the apartment block being demolished? His getting out, taking photos without film in the camera? His age, experience? On the streets? The explanations of his schizophrenia, his being in institutions, his mother being away on holidays and not wanting to have anything to do with him? Going to the shelter, taking the photos, taking Jerry's photo? Jerry's angry response? Finding there was no film, friendly towards Matthew, Matthew and his kindness to an old man, Jerry taking him under his wing?

5. Jerry, the Vietnam veteran, on the streets, the shrapnel in his leg? Going to the shelter, initial anger at Matthew, seeing him being kind, helping him?

6. In The Armory, the vast dormitory, Leroy and his thugs, the homosexual advances, the brutality? Jerry explaining that the bed legs should be put on their possessions so they can't be stolen?

7. Jerry and Matthew going on the streets, cleaning the car windows? Jerry's technique, his encounters with the drivers, his charm, jokes? People being responsive? Jerry's friends and their cleaning the windows, especially Rosario? Matthew and his awkwardness, trying out the jokes but their falling flat, seemingly racist? His ineptness at social graces?

8. The friendship with Rosario, Tamsin and her pregnancy, Spits and his hospitality? Matthew and his ability to heal - Jerry getting desperate, his tablets to relieve the pain, wanting to break into the pharmacy? Jerry massaging his knee? Massaging Spits's hands and healing them? His being declared a saint?

9. Tamsen and her pregnancy, the fall, the miscarriage? Audiences expecting Matthew to heal - but there is no miracle? Rosario and his anger, having to run from the police? Rosario and Tamsen going west?

10. Jerry and Matthew living in the van, makeshift, comfort, shelter? The van being repossessed and their being out on the street? The freeze, the police rounding up the street people to take them to shelters? Jerry getting away? Matthew not wanting to go to The Armory, his being caught, left there?

11. Leroy and his thugs present again, the threats? Matthew and his helping the young lad to settle into The Armory, giving him advice? The approach of Leroy, the violence to the young man, Matthew defending him? His going out, the attack from Leroy, stabbing Matthew to death? Jerry desperately wanting to get to The Armory but too late?

12. The funeral, the Potters Field, the anonymous graves? Jerry wanting to go, the authorities refusing him, his getting on the barge? His presence at Matthew's burial place? His prayer at the grave?

13. Jerry going back to his old ways, enlivened by his experience of Matthew? Remembering Matthew and telling his story?