DETROPIA (Rachel Grady, Heidi Ewing, USA). 91 minutes. Rating: NNNN
The directors of Jesus Camp and 12th & Delaware turn their culturally incisive attention to the city of Detroit, where the citizens, businesses and government of the one-time automotive boom town are on the verge of bankruptcy.
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady explore American economic decay through small, personal moments like a barista having an awkward encounter with obnoxious Swiss hipsters at a coffee shop, and a production of The Mikado that puts various politicians and auto companies on the Lord High Executioner’s Little List.
With its sense of a despairing populace tilting toward chaos while hapless politicians struggle to find solutions both popular and possible, Detropia plays like the prequel to RoboCop. Make of that what you will.
May 5, 5:45 pm, Bloor Hot Docs Cinema.
