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Veteran filmmaker Frederick Wiseman (Monrovia, Indiana, MIFF 2019; Ex Libris: The New York Public Library, MIFF 2018) offers a fascinating longform insight into the dramas, frustrations and triumphs of local government.
For the Boston City Council and its charismatic leader, Mayor Marty Walsh, the work never stops. Whether it’s to hear audacious appeals from parking-fine recipients, officiate a joyful same-sex wedding, or negotiate a dispute between would-be cannabis vendors and reluctant residents, nearly all aspects of daily life fall under their umbrella.
One of 2020’s most critically lauded films, this expansive yet intricate collage continues its 91-year-old director’s lifelong devotion to investigating American public institutions, as always foregrounding the humans – and humanity – that keep things ticking along behind the scenes. Clear-eyed about the things that need to change and full of optimism for the future, City Hall is sure to restore your faith in the potential of political office to make the world a better place.
“Beautifully expansive … [Wiseman] is a wonderful storyteller, a master at locating tension, emotion and drama between the lines of everyday existence.” – Los Angeles Times