Top 10 Documentaries on Urban Issues

Description: "Dark Days" takes viewers into the lives of homeless people living in the abandoned Amtrak tunnels beneath New York City, highlighting the stark realities of urban poverty and the resilience of those affected.

Fact: The film was shot over two years with the help of the tunnel dwellers themselves, who also helped in the editing process. It won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary.

Description: This film by Gary Hustwit looks at the design of cities and the future of urban life, featuring interviews with architects, planners, and policymakers from around the world.

Fact: It's part of Hustwit's trilogy on design, following "Helvetica" and "Objectified."

Description: This documentary focuses on Jane Jacobs, an urban activist who fought against the urban renewal policies of Robert Moses in New York City, advocating for vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods over sterile urban landscapes.

Fact: The film uses archival footage and animation to bring Jacobs' ideas to life, making complex urban theory accessible to a broader audience.

Description: This documentary follows two designers who attempt to teach design thinking to high school students in rural North Carolina, showing how design can address urban and rural issues alike.

Fact: The film was produced by the same team behind "The Garden," continuing their exploration of community-driven solutions.

Description: Exploring the concept of human-scale urban design, this film looks at how cities can be designed to better serve their inhabitants, focusing on the work of urbanist Jan Gehl.

Fact: The documentary was filmed in cities like Copenhagen, Dhaka, and New York, showcasing diverse urban environments.

Description: This film examines the rise and fall of the Pruitt-Igoe housing project in St. Louis, which became a symbol of urban decay and failed public housing policies. It's a poignant look at how good intentions can lead to unintended consequences in urban planning.

Fact: The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. It also features interviews with former residents, providing a personal perspective on the project's impact.

Description: This film examines the rise and fall of the Pruitt-Igoe housing project in St. Louis, which became a symbol of urban decay and failed public housing policies. It's a poignant look at how good intentions can lead to unintended consequences in urban planning.

Fact: The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. It also features interviews with former residents, providing a personal perspective on the project's impact.

Description: This film examines the rise and fall of the Pruitt-Igoe housing project in St. Louis, which became a symbol of urban decay and failed public housing policies. It's a poignant look at how good intentions can lead to unintended consequences in urban planning.

Fact: The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. It also features interviews with former residents, providing a personal perspective on the project's impact.

Description: "The Garden" documents the struggle of South Central Farm, the largest urban farm in the U.S., against developers and city officials, highlighting issues of land rights, community, and urban agriculture.

Fact: The film was an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival and won the Audience Award for Best Documentary.

Description: Focusing on light pollution, "The City Dark" explores how excessive artificial light affects not only our view of the stars but also our health, wildlife, and energy consumption in urban areas.

Fact: The film was inspired by a New York Times op-ed by the filmmaker, Ian Cheney, about his experience with light pollution.