Review of Detropia (2012) by Thomas W — 16 Jan 2013

Detropia could be a beautiful love letter to the city of Detroit as if follows a few natives across the city with them professing their love of the once thriving metropolis if it weren't so heartbreakingly sad seeing the decline of one of America's great cities.

In the 1930's, Detroit was the "fastest growing city in the WORLD" because of the jobs offered by the booming industrial centers of the area ... but as manufacturing jobs have been sent overseas in record numbers the past 30 years Detroit has fallen on hard times.

I remember travelling to the bustling city in the early 1980s when my aunt was employed with GM and thinking it was a spectacular place -- busy and full of life. When I flew into Detroit three years ago, just seeing it from the sky told me it was no longer that once lively location.

It was so very sad. Documentary filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp -- see this!!!) have taken on a very broad topic with this documentary and it does feel un-even. What made Detroit great wasn't just one thing .

.. and as the greatness of the city had many facets it is too difficult for these two to capture a clear-clear message of what they are wanting to say -- unless it is simply "Detroit was once great!" Those followed in the film are clearly proud of their home and city -- as they should be.

Many things happened there ... some of them also make a startling claim/revelation that Detroit appears to be much like America as a whole. They assert that we all need to wake up or the entire nation could follow the path of Detroit.

I agree ... we are GIVING away too much so that a very few can have very large bank accounts at the cost of American livelihood. Detroit could arguably be called the "birthplace of the American middle class" .

.. and without a middle class to buffer between oh-so-very rich and the lamentably poor our nation could be headed for disaster.