Fred Wiseman Documents Democracy
We talk with Fred Wiseman about his latest film “City Hall.” Listen today at 2 on WBUR or anytime on our website.
The master of documentary film is famous for his camera eye that unlocks visual drama in big institutions — the New York Public Library, the Paris Opera, a social services office in New York City, a California public university and many more. In his latest film, Wiseman goes inside the concrete fortress of Boston’s City Hall and shows us — in the faces, meeting rooms and tone of voice in local affairs — the un-Trump and the un-Washington, as Chris put it.
CL: What a relief to be looking close up at street corners, people fighting their parking tickets, city hall wedding, all kinds of close political life. Instead of looking at Trump and Congress, I must say.
FW: I felt the same way. My idea was that a city hall would make a nice addition to my institutional series. And and because of Trump’s idiocies, he becomes a silent character in the film because it’s inevitable that the the viewer makes the contrast between Mayor Walsh and Trump. And Mayor Walsh represents everything that Trump isn’t…he wants to help people.
Fred Wiseman shot “City Hall” in Boston toward the end of 2018 — before COVID, before the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, before the election. It seems like another time, but the film is an artifact, a four and half hour snapshot of a city government that seems to work and the mayor who presides, Marty (Mahty) Walsh.
It became clear to me as a result of the time I spent around City Hall, that a city hall touches a city government, touches more directly more aspects of our lives than any other form of government. Yeah, birth, death, marriage, police, fire, public health, building, construction, building inspection as merge emergency care on and on and on. And we and I can’t I know that I can’t speak for other people, but I know that it’s the kind of thing that I always took for granted without really thinking about how it was done or the people who worked at it on a daily basis. And I came away, both moved and impressed by the dedication of the people I saw at work at City Hall.
For locals the film is especially a treat. The city looks beautiful, and it’s fun to track the shots and scenes and guess where they’re from. All the public meetings and civic activity do restore a kind of faith in democracy, at least on the local level, but there’s a side of things left out of the film. City Councilor Lydia Edwards says to make a film that depicts what happens in City Hall that leaves out the Boston City Council, a key legislative branch is misleading:
Especially this one…the most women ever, the most people of color ever. We actually, unlike his administration, represent the city of Boston demographically…I think it’s a very narrow perspective, a naive one and one based on trying to make the mayor hero in a moment where it’s not heroic to just do your job. It’s not groundbreaking to do your job
Lydia reminded us that one of the stars of the City Council, Ayanna Pressley, made the leap to Congress in 2018, beating the candidate Marty backed — Mike Capuano.
Boston City Hall, the building itself, practically has a speaking part in the film. The brick and concrete fortress has been loved and ridiculed for half a century now. Designed in the 1960’s, the style of architecture was called Brutalist, later renamed the Heroic style. You either love it or your hate it.
A few years ago we recorded an event in the building with Mark Pasnik, Michael Kubo, and Chris Grimey, scholars of “Concrete Architecture and the New Boston” and the creators of the “Brutalist Map of Boston.” Listen here. We promise. you’ll become a brutal fan.
Nerd out on Brutal Boston:
Watch: A French Village
We’re hooked on this series about the French fictional village of Villeneuve occupied by the Nazis from 1940–1944. Some tips there about trauma recovery.
Holiday Gift Idea: Coyneworks
Illustrations from our artist friend Susan Coyne make excellent holiday gifts. Check out the most recent edition of her Coyneworks Newsletter. You’ll see some of our favorite Open Source portraits in there. You can also think about commissioning something unique. We know loads of satisfied customers!
Ephemeral Library
Poltiics, Science and the Remarkable Race for a Coronavirus Vaccine. Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche is reading Barack Obama’s memoir. The Surge. Don’t Blame the Left for the Democrats Losses. We’re trying friluftsliv to get through the pandemic winter.
Open Source is hiring. If you know any talented audio producers, send ’em our way.
We’re off next week, folks, but re-running our Origin Stories show from last year.
We’re thankful for so much this year, but specially all your encouragement and support. Have a wonderful holiday.
The OS Gang
