Director Fran Guijarro‘s two-hour-long documentary about the life of a former musician turned panhandler is as fascinating a watch as it is a filmmaking triumph. Making its World Premiere at last year’s Málaga Film Festival, Moses is a 15-year labor of love for Guijarro, who met the titular protagonist on the streets of San Francisco in 2007. With over 600 hours of archival footage, Guijarro crafts a powerful, character-driven story that may feel bloated at times, but stands as a lovely testament to kindness, perseverance, and love.

On Being a Person, Not a Label

Every day, Moses stands across the entrance of a Starbucks in San Francisco’s bustling Financial District. He is homeless and calls the sidewalk near the coffee shop his “office.” Unlike a majority of unhoused people who use handmade signage as a way to evoke offerings from strangers, Moses has a different approach. Moses is charismatic, outgoing, and genuinely desires to get to know the people he meets. He doesn’t beg for money; rather, he is steadfast in his belief that “communication is the key to survival.” This infectious energy catches Fran Guijarro’s attention, and their relationship changes both of their lives forever.

Fran was in film school when he first met Moses. He quickly cast him in a short film he was working on. Striking up a friendship, Fran knew there was more to Moses’ story that had to be told, resulting in the documentary collaboration. With a reputation as a chatty extrovert, Moses lets his guard down around the camera. He shares his painful upbringing in a fatherless household on a farm in Arkansas. He candidly talks about escaping into drug use and other self-medicating intentions. Family estrangement from both siblings and a daughter has also hit him hard. His life is one of struggle and heartache, but it’s not all hardship. Fran discovers that Moses was once a successful musician, and incorporates archival footage and interviews to bring that version of Moses back to life on the screen.

A Testament to the Power of Communication

Moses is more than just a profile documentary on a homeless man. It’s a testament to the power of communication as an essential way to be truly seen. This skill is Moses’ superpower, one that he learned from a promising music career that was abruptly cut short in the 70s. Moses touches on this theme early on, but it isn’t until forty minutes later that we dive into his musical background. Moses’ story is complex and winding, and it’s clear that Fran Guijarro wants to incorporate it all. However, at times, this waters down the energy and pacing of the film. Perhaps trimming the film to 1 hour 40 minutes or so would increase the impact of this heartfelt story.

Takeaway

In a similar spirit to Searching for Sugar Man, Moses is an evocative and heartfelt story of being seen.