Interview, video and photos © Elisa Pozzoli 2026
Spotlight on “Down the Arm of God” at the 79th Locarno Film Festival. This is a powerful feature film exploring homelessness in Texas. The Austrian director Peter Brunner and Caleb Landry Jones spent years with homeless people in order to understand their struggles: the voices of the homeless form the heart of this film. A young pastor – played with incredible transparency by Caleb Landry Jones – goes through a harsh winter in a small Texas town, where his mission to help the homeless is faced with resistance by his congregation, exposing deep-seated prejudices. It’s a moving and powerful drama, inspired by real stories, at a time when homeless people are increasing around the world and Brunner’s film asks for solidarity and empathy for them. The film could not be more timely, because the effects of climate change really threaten thousands of homeless. The project has reunited the celebrity Caleb Landry Jones with Brunner (after “To the Night) and the producer Luc Besson (who directed him in “Dracula. A Love Tale” and “Dogman”). I have met Caleb and Peter together with part of the cast: India Marie Cross, John P.W. Jones, Kip Lee Billups, Christopher Israel and Bart Guthrie. Peter Brunner tells Hastagch that: «what inspired me the most was when Caleb and I met the homeless people after we wrote the script».
Caleb Landry Jones about the collaboration with Brunner: «We developed a real friendship, a real trust and respect for each other and for what we do». Christopher Israel assures that «this trust is contagious».
About the homeless people that took part in the film, India Marie Cross adds: «As an actress I was very enlightened by their performance, even if they weren’t professional actors»; according to her, this film is «a humanitarian project».
«It’s real life, real experiences» are the words of John P.W. Jones, while Burt Guthrie adds: «We had to bear many difficulties, however Peter managed to keep everyone at ease».
According to Kip Lee Billups «the whole team was wonderful to work with».
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