The United States of Detroit 2017

     Detroit is the biggest city in the United States to file for bankruptcy.  There is a lack of resources in the city and the infrastructure is broken.  There are many vacant lots and many deteriorating buildings that used to be nice homes.  The downtown area has recovered but that has not spread outwards to the communities.  The people of Detroit are trying to turn things around.  They are using many of the vacant lots to grow food to share with the local people.  Churches are tying to help the young men.  There is a high incidence of crime and murder in that age group.

     The gasoline crises of November 1973 affected Detroit and the US auto industry.  Buyers chose smaller and more fuel-efficient cars made by foreign makers.  Thousands of employees were now without jobs in auto industry.  Major stores and hotels closed and many large office buildings were left vacant.  There was criticism of too much of a focus on downtown development.  The feeling that nothing is being done about the high crime rate and lack of city services.  Detroit’s peak population was in the 1950 census with 1.8 million people.  In the 2010 census the city had just over 700,000 residents and the population has declined each year.  The city has a high proportion of poor, a reduced tax base, depressed property values and a high demographic imbalance.  4* (I really liked this movie)

86 min, Doc directed and written by Tylor Norwood (also written by Dana Schwartz).

Note:  Imdb 5.3 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 84% critic 79% audience, Common Sense Media Jeffrey M. Anderson age 16+ 3* positive 2* role models, 4* violence, 3* sex, 4* language, 2* drinking, drugs & smoking, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, screenrant.com 31/2* out of 5* Sandy Schaefer.