Devil Plays Hardball - documentary for CBC Newsworld

Toronto. Feb. 5, 2008 -- If you could get one person off the street, would you? Could you? "Devil Plays Hardball" is a radical interventionist documentary by Paperny Films that seeks to answer this question. Four well-established Vancouver residents have 10-months to mentor homeless individuals from various Vancouver neighborhoods who have the desire -- but not necessarily the means -- to re-enter mainstream society. What ensues is a complicated journey that provides an up-close and intimate look at the people most of us choose to ignore -- Canada's homeless. "Devil Plays Hardball" premieres Sun., March 9 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBC News: The Passionate Eye.

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[BrickSquad1017604]

I missed the screenings. How can I watch the complete doc.?

[canadalady]

I am currently being mentored by an ex junkie who lives in the dtes I live in kerrisdale

I let him help me and he calls me his best freind . Since I have met him his life has improved 100% there should be documentaries on the miracles of the homeless instead of the depressing stuff

[Alleyoop777]

This clip saddens my heart. I lived with one of the guys in a shelter when we were teenagers, both coming from horribly dysfunctional homes. He was funny, talented, loyal, caring and tormented by things he was subjected to as a child. I agree we need more shelters. But also agree we need mentors to show those who are struggling there is hope, that we're worthy of a good life and we can realize our potential. Life if full of choices, sometimes we just need a little help to make the right ones.

[johnnymischief]

I missed the screenings. How can I watch the complete doc.?

[audreylaferriere]

I liked the documentary. However, I feel that it will only reinforce the belief of the general population that the street homeless deserve to be on the street.

[audreylaferriere]

Mentors should be for mentoring those that want up the corporate ladder not those that are trying to survive on the street. There are only 545 permanent shelter beds spread out throught metro Vancouver wherein residents can only stay one day or a bit longer is a population for criminality I do not think so.

[99chameaux]

Believe me, Audrey, Shelters, under the current conditions, are the hub for drug dealers, pimps, less desirable companies etc.. When mentoring, one is not merely looking for a place to stay for his/her protégé(e), but tackling a range of issues that homelessness usually encompasses; lack of shelter is only one of them.