Radiant City

Aroview: This account of a ‘typical’ nuclear family ensconced in America’s suburban wasteland doubles as a serious expose of consumption, sprawl, and the geological and social after-effects of residential planning en masse.

Although its factoids and sound bytes on the ills of suburbia subscribe to a conventional wisdom and stereotype of people living the suburban lifestyle (isolation, monotony, conformity, picket fences etc.), the directors enliven their grim critique with some situational comedy asides, courtesy of the film’s case study household. While it goes to show that eco-docs don't need to be over-earnest and without a sense of humour, the twist in its tale may feel for some like a bit of cheat.

NZ International Film Festival 2007