"As a documentary about hope, the tenacity of the human spirit, and the silver linings in even the darkest of clouds, the Poppenks' tale of The Motor City and its less-privileged residents is excellent, stunningly shot and well-devised."
Lots of people want to make movies in Detroit... we're a great backdrop for sci-fi thrillers (The Island) or dramas that need a gritty backdrop (Gran Torino). But not many filmmakers make movies ABOUT this notorious city. That is why Grown in Detroit, a documentary by two Dutch filmmakers, is so impressive.
But when all is said and done, it is the unabashed realism of the faculty and staff of the Catherine Ferguson Academy for Young Women that convinces us of the integrity of their good intentions. The Poppenks have made a truly remarkable documentary about a story of real, honest-to-goodness hope in one of the most unlikely places.
"...'grown in Detroit': won best documentary in Austin-- and deserved it. This film has a great pace and a amazingly hopeful, positive message, about a city that is going through some real shit."
"...Poppenk said that while awards are nice, most of the awards are for the content of the film and so she believes the awards are due to the Catherine Ferguson Academy."
Catch this documentary if you have the chance. The sight of an urban environment, usually so far from nature, being transformed not only into a green place, but one that can sustain food (and bees! the bees love it in Detroit!) makes you feel hope where it might seem none is possible.
This "back to the roots" concept is a simple, yet effective solution for a city that has to start all over again and perhaps a lesson to be learned for the rest of the world.
