Too short

A scene close to the end Displays a community meeting in reference with a soon-to-open dispensary. Wiseman plays out this in full, ensuring the variance of angers, frustrations, fatigues, are given their space to make distinction for themselves. This is in contrast to the prior focus on very systematically orchestrated bureaucracy, very assured democratic sentiments. The rift laid bare is clear, incisive and, in the moment of realization, when we are confronted with such unfamiliar behavior in the context of the film, striking ardently at the alienation of a government from the people they insist are represented by and  employers of said body politic.

Nonagenarian national treasure Frederick Wiseman returns with another kaleidoscopic look at the function and practice of community, policy, and civic engagement in shaping Americans’ everyday lives. This time, Wiseman trains his gaze on the inner workings of the city of Boston, taking viewers into the public and backroom discussions that can either inspire or stall municipal action. As in such recent works of penetrative institutional analysis as At Berkeley and In Jackson Heights, Wiseman shows—without editorializing or casting broadsides—a country’s steps toward inclusivity and social reform, as well as the entrenched systems that keep progress in relative check. Wiseman’s top-down approach to representing governmental function speaks to the multicultural and immigrant communities and businesses of Boston’s neighborhoods and suburbs, while also standing in for the whole of a nation constantly wrestling with its legacy and debating its future. A Zipporah Films release.

Nationwide virtual screenings begin at NYFF58 on September 25.

Fun fact: I nearly bodychecked the diminutive Frederick Wiseman at TIFF in 2017 when I was running around a corner to get to my seat, so you can thank my quick reflexes that he's still alive and this movie exists.

NYFF #6

After seeing the incredibly amateurish “The Social Dilemma”, Frederick Wiseman’s “City Hall” brings the king of documentaries back and shows how refreshing it is to see someone actually documenting events and not commentating over them with excuses or terrible insight. Wiseman’s approach is just to sit back and listen to these people. Before this I’ve only seen his previous masterpiece, “Monrovia, Indiana” but this really makes me want to explore more of his films as soon as I can. “City Hall” is a film about listening and learning to make a community better. 4 and a half hours into Boston government will never be as swift and interesting.

love it. i definitely need more 272 minutes. it's way too enjoyable.

not as cloistered a film as I expected, rather a wide-sweeping look at Boston's various communities, much like Monrovia, IN or Belfast, Maine, but surveying them through the tendrils of city government infrastructure.

what emerges is a struggle for non-white citizens to grasp a foothold in the face of rapid development and private partnerships/ownerships. perhaps closer in DNA to The Garden, but instead of leisure during late capitalism, it's residency.

the way Wiseman juxtaposes the voices of displaced citizens with the mayor's almost incessant pride for the city's equitable progression is brilliant.

it's incredible that we've come to expect such towering, political, artistic works so consistently from Wiseman. cruising into the sunset of his life, making a bold claim for one of the most important American filmmakers of our lifetime.

where was the editor 🤪🤪🤪

having spent the first 24 years of my life in and around Boston, proud to say it only took me 80 minutes of this for me to recognize someone I know – some guy I hung out with a few times in sophomore year and talked about Wong Kar-wai with. still trying to figure out if the girl doing parking ticket hearings is someone I went to house shows with, too.

Wiseman should do a sequel just about Allston-Brighton.

56/100

A.V. Club review. The usual (for recent Wiseman) mix of fascinating and tedious, extended in this case to an ass-numbing 4.5 hours. There's a good 90 minutes' worth of meetings in which you can plainly see that the people who are actually in the room would love to be elsewhere. Highlights are strong, though.

Viennale ....fell.....asleep.....found a good shoulder to sleep on at least

The scene where the garbage truck destroys things was a stand out set piece.

Ce que ce Wiseman te dit, par l'entremise de sa représentation du quotidien de la mairie de Boston et par extension de l'idéal de la démocratie américaine que celle-ci tente visiblement de préserver dans l'exercice de ses fonctions (par opposition à l'administration Trump et ce qui se passe à Washington, une autre planète dans le contexte du film), c'est: « Regardez, regardez comme on essaie ». La question devient alors, « Pourquoi donc est-ce que ça ne marche pas? ». (Ceci étant dit, je suis quand même déçu qu'il n'ait pas jugé pertinent d'utiliser « Shipping Up to Boston » des Dropkick Murphys comme chanson de générique, quel gâchis).

Magnifiques 4h30 pendant lesquelles Wiseman nous passionne en montrant la vie de la mairie de Boston et son fonctionnement basé sur le dialogue, l'entraide, l'intégration des différents types de personnes qui composent la société. C'est aussi dense que prenant, et ça parvient même à toucher tant la simplicité du dispositif amène à voir des gens d'une sincérité épatante des deux côtés. Bref, c'est à voir malgré la longueur du projet qui peut effrayer.

A fantastic look at how municipial government works.
Frederick Wiseman delivers a love letter to his hometown and the people who try to make it a better place.

My first Wiseman. Incredible! Should have not lost my water bottle within the first half hour but the thirst was worth it.

City Hall is an incredible portrait of Boston pre-pandemic, and yet it already feels like an ancient text. I was certain I'd split up the 4.5-hr running time, but this remarkably engrossing study of public life/service kept me glued to the tv until 1 AM.