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      Flag Wars

      Released Mar 10, 2003 1 hr. 35 min. Documentary List
      67% 6 Reviews Tomatometer 57% Fewer than 50 Ratings Audience Score In the decaying, historically black Olde Towne East area of Columbus, Ohio, residents perceive themselves as being forced out of their homes by affluent gay couples trying to create a neighborhood for themselves. This documentary focuses on Linda Mitchell, a longtime resident who finds herself in danger of losing her house when she cannot afford to maintain her desirable property. With tensions rising, the gay gentrifiers soon find themselves the targets of violence and robbery. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      david f An earnest though somewhat opaque documentary about gentrification in Columbus Ohio. A black neighborhood of deeply-rooted residents is uneasily integrated by gay white people with plans for extensive home improvements. Told mostly in short episodes in a way that does capture the changing way of life of both the established community and the newcomers. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A provocative documentary on gentrification wars that reveal simmering fault lines along race, sexual orientation and socio-economic distinctions. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member One lesson you will learn after watching this movie is to NEVER get too "attached" to a home or property...for when you die it always goes to someone else. Your time in it was just a momentary interlude in the life of the property. Home is where you meet your loved ones, laugh with them, hug them, cry with them. It is not a building...but a sentiment that is fleeting and impermanent. I sympathize with the elderly families trying to hold onto their homes in a former ghetto of Columbus Ohio. For decades, African Americans were forced into all black neighborhoods because bankers wouldn't give them mortgages, Realtors refused to show them homes in predominantly white neighborhoods and those that somehow managed to squeak in such places were quickly ostracized and driven out. Now the near east side of Columbus (which used to be a classy neighborhood in the early 1900's) is undergoing a rush of home buying at cheap prices to be redone as historical homes by groups of white gay men (single and otherwise). The restored homes are then sold as personal homes or treated as investment properties. The problem arises when these buyers push the city of Columbus to list their neighborhoods as historical communities as a way of raising property values. Good for those with the money to extensively gut and remodel these homes. Not good for poor and elderly black families unable to remodel their homes and bring them up to revised building codes for the new "historical" communities. Their taxes go up, zoning codes are stringently enforced and many of these individuals are caught in the cross-hairs. And some neighbors believe it's all a big conspiracy to move the poor and the blacks out so the home are available to be sold. See the movie and make your own decisions... And personally, I felt that hanging Gay Pride flags on houses purchased by gay couples/singles was just a bit much. Almost like having a flag showing your raised 3rd finger. Not a necessary detail. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member really interesting movie on fixing up lower income neighbourhoods and how it affects the people who live there. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting, but took the easy route. Mostly cartoon -vs- cartoon which makes interesting viewing, but doesn't address the real effects. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting documentary. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Ty Burr Boston Globe Too cinema-verite to provide the context viewers need, and too focused on a few colorful individuals at the expense of the larger communities. Rated: 2/4 Jun 4, 2004 Full Review Christopher Null Filmcritic.com goes round and round and never settles anything Rated: 3/5 Mar 14, 2007 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 3/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 3/5 Jun 5, 2004 Full Review Oz eFilmCritic.com Rated: 4/5 Jun 5, 2004 Full Review Paul Sherman Boston Herald Rated: 3/4 Jun 5, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis In the decaying, historically black Olde Towne East area of Columbus, Ohio, residents perceive themselves as being forced out of their homes by affluent gay couples trying to create a neighborhood for themselves. This documentary focuses on Linda Mitchell, a longtime resident who finds herself in danger of losing her house when she cannot afford to maintain her desirable property. With tensions rising, the gay gentrifiers soon find themselves the targets of violence and robbery.
      Director
      Linda Goode Bryant, Laura Poitras
      Production Co
      Zula/Pearl Films
      Genre
      Documentary
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Mar 10, 2003, Wide