Lead Me Home (2021)/Audible (2021)

It shouldn’t be news to anyone that there’s a homelessness epidemic in American cities, especially on the West Coast. That’s the only message Lead Me Home has to offer. It spends more time on aerial footage of said cities than the handful of unhoused individuals whose heartbreaking stories are featured. There isn’t much depth to these stories nor any causes or solutions to the problem presented.

The subjects of Audible are deaf high school students who are all associated with their football team’s winning streak. These students are also connected in their grief over the death of their friend and former classmate. The short touches on many subjects that teenagers are dealing with, such as sexuality, mental health, family issues, and being part of a community, but unfortunately that’s a lot to unpack in 40 minutes so it remains mostly on the surface. 

Oscar Nominations: Best Documentary Short Subject (Lead Me Home; Audible)