Detroit’s story has encapsulated the iconic narrative of America over the last century – the Great Migration of African Americans escaping Jim Crow; the rise of manufacturing and the middle class; the love affair with automobiles; the flowering of the American dream; and now… the collapse of the economy and the fading American mythos.
Direction
Grady and Ewing let Detroit speak for itself.
Cinematography
Ruin porn that actually respects its subject.
Sound
Diegetic soundscapes of a city holding its breath.
Director
Heidi Ewing
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released at peak 'Detroit bankruptcy' discourse, it predicted the city's 2013 Chapter 9 filing by mere months.
The filmmakers intentionally avoided experts and politicians, choosing instead to follow a blogger, a union rep, and a bar owner—people capitalism actually touched.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
