Radiant City

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Radiant City

2006

1h 26m

Documentary

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In this documentary, director Gary Burns explores the advent of post-World War II suburbia to its present state. As professors and writers offer commentary on the effects of the suburban landscape on society, the film follows the exploits of the Moss family as they join in the urban sprawl. Despite long work commutes, dependence on cars, artificial environments, and isolation, suburban living has become the norm for most families in North America.

Noel Murray

AV Club

The faux-documentary aspect of Radiant City is a huge gamble that doesn't pay off.

Rated: D+

May 31, 2007

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V.A. Musetto

New York Post

Suburban sprawl takes a well-deserved hit in Radiant City, a documentary by Canadian filmmaker Gary Burns and journalist Jim Brown.

Rated: 3/4

May 30, 2007

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Matt Zoller Seitz

New York Times

Blending documentary elements and some dramatic material, Radiant City is an acerbic position paper on the cultural damage done by postwar architectural fads.

Rated: 3/5

May 30, 2007

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David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

Gary Burn's wry exploration of an Alberta, Canada "new town" has a teen, wise beyond his years, show us his hood from atop a cell-phone tower.

May 26, 2020

Full Review

Louis Proyect

rec.arts.movies.reviews

A sardonic look at suburban sprawl in Calgary. With its wry surrealistic touches, this is a movie that makes you smile while it makes you think. Highly recommended

Jan 23, 2009

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Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

a very well crafted and easy to watch movie

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 1, 2008

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Audience Member

Why do they call this a documentary? It is made to look like a documentary but the people involved are all actors? Oops was that a spoiler? Serves you right Brown and Burns!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Okay, so I may have been the stupid one who forgot that the movie was fictional (the family, not the talking heads) but because I did, I bought right into it! Thus the unveiling at the end was huge and shocking for me. But then when I learned the truth, I didn't care what more anyone had to say; they were just talking heads. Otherwise, it looks great, is very well acted for amateurs and had a cool soundtrack (that I sadly had blaring)! It was really, REALLY informative too! I liked it a lot! Very smart!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

Honestly, since the acting was SO obviously scripted, it made it too painful to watch.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Taking an actual drive through these type of neighborhoods makes me wonder why would people waste $$$ to live in such big houses & why would you want to live that close to your neighbors??? A great film that makes you feel sorry for the people who actually have to live in the burbs.Who knew they had it so rough? Feel sorry for the trees that had to be cut down or the land that had to be bulldozed so rich people could have a place to live or the poor people who were pushed out a neighborhood so people with $$$ could move in, take over & jack up the prices

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's an interesting way of making a "documentary." I'm not sure that it's wholly successful, though I get why they did it. However, since I totally sympathize with their argument, I'm willing to overlook the issue.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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Audience Member

A Terrific "Documentary" About Suburban Life. Balances A Narrative With Interviews With Experts.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

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Gary Burns

Director

Jim Brown

Director

Daniel Jeffery

Nick Moss

Bob Legare

Evan Moss

Jane MacFarlane

Anne Moss

Ashleigh Fidyk

Jennifer Moss

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Synopsis

In this documentary, director Gary Burns explores the advent of post-World War II suburbia to its present state. As professors and writers offer commentary on the effects of the suburban landscape on society, the film follows the exploits of the Moss family as they join in the urban sprawl. Despite long work commutes, dependence on cars, artificial environments, and isolation, suburban living has become the norm for most families in North America.

Director: Gary Burns, Jim Brown
Producer: Shirley Vercruysse, Bonnie Thompson
Screenwriter: Gary Burns, Jim Brown
Production Co: Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Genre: Documentary, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 30, 2018
Runtime: 1h 26m