Stone Pillow

Lucille Ball is primarily known for her television work, with I LOVE LUCY seemingly destined to remain in the hearts and minds of American viewers for all eternity. But she carved out an impressive resume as an actress, and chalked up over 100 appearances before her untimely death in 1989. STONE PILLOW was made just before she passed away, and stands as a fine testament to Ball's talents. Acting against type, she plays Florabelle, an aging New York bag lady who forms an unlikely friendship with social worker Carrie Lang (Daphne Zuniga) after the two meet in a homeless shelter. Carrie wants to learn about life on the streets of the Big Apple, and gets a few eye-opening surprises as Florabelle teaches her every trick in the book. A moving, thoughtful film, STONE PILLOW manages to avoid slipping into condescension thanks to some great performances and a well-written script, ultimately providing viewers with a realistic slice of a life that has fallen far from the beaten track.