‘Flophouse America’ review: Poverty, addiction and one-room living wreak havoc on a child’s life

Dir: Monica Stromdahl. Norway, Netherlands, US. 2025. 78mins

All the percentages are stacked towards 12 year-old Mikal in Flophouse America. Monica Stromdahl’s unflinching documentary captures a portrait of a kid whose life is outlined by poverty, instability and the alcoholism of his dad and mom. These disadvantages are balanced by an ideal reservoir of affection and good intentions in these household ties. A troublesome watch at occasions, Flophouse America has its rewards within the empathy of Stromdahl’s method and the hope that breaks by way of the heartbreak. Pageant curiosity ought to mushroom following a particular point out within the CPH: DOX Award competitors and screenings at Visions Du Reel.

 There feels no barrier between the viewer and actual life

Stromdahl has spent 15 years on a pictures mission capturing lives on the margins of the American dream. It was by way of this mission that she met Mikal and his dad and mom, and finally spent three years filming their lives. Stromdahl dedicates her movie to all of the Mikals on the earth, and begins with the grim actuality of what he and tens of millions face. Official statistics reveal that there are 34 million folks residing in poverty in America, and one in 10 children stay in a family the place a minimum of one guardian has an alcohol abuse dysfunction. We’re then transported to a budget resort the place Mikal shares a room along with his father Jason and his mom Tonya. Their few possessions are contained inside this one cramped area the place they eat, sleep and survive. The long-suffering cat Smokey is a fellow resident. A wall of household pictures is likely one of the gestures to make the area their very own. 

In the principle physique of the movie, there is just one transient event the place we witness Mikal outdoors of the resort. We by no means see him at college or with associates. As an alternative, he endures a prison-like existence up shut and private with mum and pop. There are frustrations on either side of the era hole. There are additionally many declarations of affection and assist from dad and mom who need a greater life for him than the one they’ve had. Their skill to offer that’s severely compromised by Tonya’s belligerent alcoholism. She spends most of her days in mattress, smoking, taking part in playing cards, making guarantees and ingesting the vodka that may flip these guarantees to mud. Jason holds down a job and brings in a wage, however he additionally has durations when alcohol is inconceivable to withstand.

Mikal is wise and considerate however an unpredictable life takes a relentless toll. He’s drained, retreating into himself, taking refuge in pc video games and lonely retreats to the resort hall. His grades are falling and there are occasions when he would fairly be anyplace else than caught within the resort room.

Stromdahl locations the viewer inside this claustrophobia and chaos. She is even-handed and discreet in what she chooses to indicate, and you may solely marvel on the exceptional belief she has been capable of construct with this specific household.  The resort room is barely sufficiently big for Mikal and his dad and mom, but Stromdahl labored as her personal cinematographer, positioning cameras to witness repeated moments of battle, confrontation and reconciliation. Her presence is so poised and unobtrusive that there feels no barrier between the viewer and actual life. She additionally waited for Mikal to show 18 in order that he may approve the completed movie.

The core of Flophouse America is an intense interval in 2020 that finally results in a turning level. By then, you might be so concerned in Mikal’s every day struggles that there’s an appreciation of the uncommon alternative for change, in addition to the tragedy that brings it about.