American Suburbia: Urban Paradise (2005)
2h 21min
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- Synopsis:
These video's showcase the stark contrast between the life-styles of people living in overcrowded cities under pitiable conditions and those enjoying a luxurious life-style in spacious well-planned suburbs. One theme that clearly runs through the entire presentation is "the age of rebuilding is here". Basically, the first of the two video's deals with the pathetic condition of New Yorkers - shortage of houses, exorbitant rents, crowded streets, unending traffic jams and noise pollution, to name a few. The housing projects that sprung up in New York just before World War II were seen as the answer to these problems. The video includes a clip that reveals delightfully, how cities grew in the early part of America's history. It also records how they outgrew their natural resources. Graphic documentation of children playing in crowded, dirty streets and running across busy railway lines for want of play grounds provides an insight into the extent of the problem of overcrowding and evokes sympathy. The second video is more pleasing to watch. The message here is clear - we must remold our old cities and build new communities, better suited to our needs. Shot in color, the films showcase the determination of city planners in replacing old building with new ones- even if it meant tearing down old structures that had served as landmarks for decades. The arguments presented by them (the planners) seem to have won over those of the protestors as you see demolition of some old buildings in some of the clips. A practical approach was preferred over a sentimental one in rebuilding cities. Skillful photography, well-selected locations, lively narration and a good musical score are clearly recognizable in these video's. It is difficult to miss the point these video's make - everybody deserves a decent home and that the suburbs are the only answer to overcrowding in cities. - Studio:
- TravelVideoStore.com
- Genres:
- Documentary, Special Interest