Watch The Alley Cat

The Alley Cat tells the harrowing tale of a homeless and sometimes bottom feeding prostitute who is forced to confront her past transgressions if she hopes to find a brighter future. Jenny Strubin delivers a strong performance as the film's protagonist, Saffron, centering the gritty drama in a story of personal redemption that manages to be both heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.

From the outset, The Alley Cat makes it clear that this is an unflinching look at the harsh realities of life on the streets, showing us the grimy alleys and dark corners where Saffron and her fellow prostitutes struggle to survive. But far from glamorizing or eroticizing their lives, the film makes it clear that these are people who are forced into the sex industry by a combination of desperation and circumstance - there's no joy or satisfaction to be found in their work, only a grueling day-to-day slog in which every dollar becomes a weapon of survival.

The central plot of the film kicks off when Saffron realizes she is pregnant, a revelation that prompts her to reach out to her family for help. Her father tells her that they will accept her back into the family only if she agrees to give up her lifestyle and move on from the streets. For Saffron, this is a daunting prospect - she's faced countless obstacles and hardships as a working girl, and she's not sure if she's able to walk away from the only life she's ever known.

As she struggles to make the right choice for herself and her unborn child, Saffron begins to fall for a kindhearted butcher named Javier, played by Omero Arreola. With his friendly demeanor and gentle soul, Javier proves to be a beacon of hope in Saffron's otherwise bleak existence, and she starts to see a future where she might be able to turn her life around if only she can make the right choices at the right time.

The tension and conflict that builds over the course of the film are palpable, with Saffron's father and the other authority figures in her life offering her little hope of redemption. But even as she faces setbacks and struggles to regain her footing, Saffron never loses her tenacity or her drive to survive. In the hands of Strubin, Saffron becomes a complex and nuanced character, one who is both sympathetic and tough-as-nails at the same time.

Dana Bernadine rounds out the cast with a strong performance as Saffron's best friend and fellow prostitute, Lottie. As Saffron's confidant and supporter, Lottie serves as a source of strength and inspiration in moments of doubt and fear. Together, the duo forms a bond that is unbreakable, one that speaks to the enduring power of human connection and the resilience of the human spirit even in the darkest of times.

Overall, The Alley Cat is a gripping and intense drama that doesn't shy away from the difficult complexities of its subject matter. With excellent performances from its cast and a deft directorial touch from writer-director Marie Ullrich, the film is a powerful statement on the ongoing struggles faced by many people living on the fringes of society. Despite the bleakness of its setting and its storyline, however, the film ultimately offers a message of hope and optimism, showing that even in the darkest of times, there is always a chance for redemption and a brighter future.

The Alley Cat is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 5 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.