With his country going through one its darkest periods, the great filmmaker of systems and institutions, Frederick Wiseman, takes a lucid and optimistic look at the potential for change at the municipal level. While the film is carried by the inspiring Boston mayor Marty Walsh, a son of Irish immigrants and a fierce defender of social justice, Wiseman’s camera stays as alert as ever to the countless arcane details that comprise a municipal government. From meetings to press conferences to observations out in the streets, the illustrious filmmaker unpacks the realities of a city hall’s workings, set in contrast to many shots of a city with a history both rich and burdensome. A positive anti-Trump broadside, City Hall is an essential work for anyone who wants a better understanding of the realities and challenges of politics today. (Bruno Dequen)

Presented in collaboration with Radio-Canada

City Hall