Themes and message

Homelessness

The short film “Owen” by Kelly Pike explores the theme of homelessness through Hellen, the main character. 

Hellen is a homeless woman who lives on the streets together with her dog, Owen. The film shows how homeless people are subjected to unpleasant situations, like the one presented in the opening scenes where drunk men harass Hellen. On the streets, Hellen often looks uncomfortable, and this underlines how she desperately needs proper housing. 

The film also shows how homeless people are reduced to being a number in the system rather than being looked on as individuals with individual needs, such as the need to keep your pet. The film shows this in many ways. At the local council, Star treats Hellen as a human being, and we get the feeling that Hellen often has to go there. However, the system that Star represents is very rigid and treats Hellen as nothing more than a number. This is seen by...