This trailer for SHELTER will take you far from home

Shelter is an upcoming drama that is the writing and directing debut of actor Paul Bettany – last seen as Vision in Avengers: Age of Ultron (and I can’t think of anything more different in tone). It stars Jennifer Connelly (Requiem for a Dream) and Anthony Mackie (one of Bettany’s co-stars in Avengers: AoU) as two people from different worlds, connecting in an often unseen world.

The plot synopsis (via Coming Soon) is as follows:

Hannah and Tahir (Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Mackie) come from two different worlds. But when their lives intersect, they’re at the same place: homeless on the streets of New York. How did they get there? As we learn about their past, we begin to understand that to have a future, they need each other.

There are more than 50,000 homeless people living on the streets and in the shelters of New York City. To most of us they are nameless and faceless, and occasionally a nuisance. But every single person has a story. And Hannah and Tahir are no different. And theirs is a story of loss, love, hope and redemption.

Jennifer Connelly is one of my favourite actors and is at her best when portraying complex emotional characters – and this looks to be one of those roles. Opposite her, Anthony Mackie is putting in a very different performance from what I’m used to from him – vulnerable, hopeful and understated – with a good accent to boot.

The movie looks to humanise those on the outside of regular society by showing how everyday people can fall through the cracks – but still find those essential human connections, and just maybe find their way home.

Shelter, written and directed by Paul Bettany, will receive a limited US release on 13 November and be released in the UK on 27 November – no local dates as yet. It stars Jennifer Connelly and Anthony Mackie, so it’s safe to assume no acting doubles were used in the making of this movie.

Last Updated: October 9, 2015