Beyond the Shadows

An unflinching portrait of a community in crisis as it grapples with one of the largest homeless encampments in Northern California. As hundreds of homeless people set up camp along the Joe Rodota Trail, a scenic bike trail in the heart of Sonoma County, California’s “Wine Country,” controversy is sparked. Some neighbors, moved by compassion, feed, clothe, and provide assistance to the trail residents while others, concerned about drug use, crime, and property values, form a coalition to clear the trail. In the midst of this, County Supervisors attempt to address the issue, but it quickly proves to be a no-win situation and things are not always as they seem. The camp is ultimately "swept" and the residents scattered. The result is a sobering portrait of a community and how we, as a society, deal with the most vulnerable among us.