Finding your next obsession
Finding your next obsession

What does it truly take for someone to change?
Because of the big housing problem in the US many people move into cheap, run down hotels, the so-called Flophouse hotels. Twelve-year-old Mikal was born and raised in a hotel room he shares with his parents, who struggle with substance abuse. Driven by love and a desire for a better life, his greatest wish is for his mother to stop drinking. Mikal is bright and articulate, but his parents’ struggles prevent them from giving him the stability he needs. Through Mikal’s perspective, the film paints an intimate portrait of resilience, hope, and the harsh realities of life on society’s margins.
LUXEN Decision Guide
A real-world choice where the subject itself is the reason to press play, making curiosity and context part of the experience.
Best fit
Who it is for
Best suited to viewers who want to leave a watch with something concrete to think about or learn from.
Commitment
Light commitment · 1h 18m
Use the runtime as a quick check against how much time you have tonight.
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Read the synopsis.
Read the synopsis, then use the documentary cues to decide whether the tone fits.
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