Detropia (2012)

A documentary on the city of Detroit and its woes, which are emblematic of the collapse of the U.S. manufacturing base.

Directors:

Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady

Stars:

Noah Stewart, Rachele Gilmnore, Michael Wanko

9 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Noah Stewart	...	Singer: Featured Tenor
Rachele Gilmnore	...	Singer: Also Featired at the Detroit Opera Gouyse
Michael Wanko	...	Singer: Also Featured at the Detroit Opera House
Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra	...	Musicians: Detroit Opera Goyse
The Nyce Band	...	Performers: The Raven Lounge
94 East	...	Performers: The Raven Lounge
Luann French	...	Additional Musician: Violin Sample
Schuyler Campbell	...	Additional Musician: Keys
Todd Cochell	...	Additional Musician: Keys
Dave Graw	...	Additional Musician: Vibes
Crystal Starr	...	Self
George McGregor	...	Self
Tommy Stephens	...	Self
David Dichiera	...	Self
Dave Bing	...	Self (archive footage)

Storyline

The woes of Detroit are emblematic of the collapse of the U.S. manufacturing base. Is the Midwestern icon actually a canary in the American coal mine? DETROPIA is a cinematic tapestry of a city and its people who refuse to leave the building, even as the flames are rising.

---

Plot Keywords:

manufacturing | urban decay | deindustrialization | downsizing | car manufacturing | 

---

Genres:

Documentary

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Quotes

Tommy Stephens: Capitalism is a great system - I love it; but it exploits the weak. It always does. Unfortunately.

---

Soundtracks

India Whiskey
Written by Missy Mazzoli
Performed by Victoire
Courtesy of Missy Mazzoli Music and Good Child Music, Domind Publishing, New Amsterdam Records

User Reviews

Nice pictures, short on information.

This film is interesting to watch, especially the tour through the ruins of Detroit, a fascinating graphic representation of the collapse of a major American city. The haunted landscape with its empty houses and buildings (often very large buildings) evokes emotions of loss and decline, both sad and romantic at the same time. I was thoroughly entertained while I was watching those scenes. This documentary also interviews some of the residents of those devastated areas, and while those survivors are likable and interesting in themselves, they seem to have little insight into what's going on around them or why. This video provides a paucity of information about what brought about those alarming conditions, instead focusing on allowing the pictures to tell the story.

There are a couple of major omissions that are quite glaring, as if the videographers just had to avert their eyes from the truth because of ideology or just a personal aversion. First is the alarming crime rate. Only about 21% of the homicides are solved. There is no indication here about how dangerous Detroit has become. Another omission is the abysmal condition of the public schools. Without decent schools there is literally no hope for the kids still having to live in the Detroit area. My understanding is that it is not due to lack of money because Detroit schools receive more per pupil than the national average. Only 25% of high school students graduate. A young student is more likely to wind up in prison than in college. A third glaring omission is the fact that the city has been ruled by Democratic politicians for 50 years. The city's problems are to a large extent the result of bad politics, misspent money and cronyism. Without a viable opposition who was there to keep the politicians honest?

I don't mind that much if the documentary was just meant to show the wasteland that was once Detroit as a series of visual images for their own sake. However there seems to be something under the surface that is hinted at but never developed. Why did Detroit take such a nosedive in the last decades? I would have preferred a more in-depth analysis. Why couldn't Detroit adapt to changes in the global market? Auto plants in other parts of the US are doing okay. Did the unions kill the auto industry in Detroit? This is a question that is never asked in "Detropia." Perhaps because the filmmakers didn't want to face the answer.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Детропия

Filming Locations:

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,414, 9 September 2012

Gross USA:

$390,024

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$390,024

Company Credits

Production Co:

Loki Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color