Detroit ville sauvage

It’s a wonder that more post-apocalyptic films like Mad Max aren’t shot in Detroit – derelict houses lining empty streets in the centre of town, abandoned by more than half the population, where you’re more likely to come across pitbulls than cars – it’s simply the perfect location. Yet in the past Detroit was a highly productive bastion of American industry and people certainly didn’t have anything to complain about, as we’ll see from the archive footage in this spellbinding documentary by French director Florent Tillon. The guides on this hypnotic journey through contemporary Detroit are people from all walks of life – a local philosopher, pianist, stray dog catcher, and even a guy who can fix practically anything. The polished visual compositions from this “ghost town,” together with the subtle soundtrack and intriguing characters, make for a truly unique picture. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)