The Forgotten City (2006)

Synopsis
A homicide in an impoverished section of once-thriving Buffalo catalyzes an improbable alliance between two 24-year-old filmmakers, Korey Green and Addison Henderson. One is a friend of the victim’s, the other a friend of the murderer’s. The pair retrace familiar terrain---tough neighborhoods filled with people with little opportunity or luck---and expands their exploration to include activists and political leaders. The heart and soul of the film comes from the first-hand accounts of the folks who live in the underclass. One gang member says “maybe we can stop when someone gets us motherfucking niggers some motherfucking jobs.” A young woman fresh from a year in jail is asked what she learned from this experience. She pauses for a moment and then hits us with, “Jobs suck, you are bored for hours and get very little pay.” She says she would not hesitate to make money from crime again and hopes that what she learned from a year in the slammer is what it takes not to get caught. The Forgotten City is a statement for social change; the problems run deep the dialogue about them is direct. The result is an unflinching look at the degeneration of the city, a candid essay on crime, racism and poverty. The filmmakers remind us about the forgotten side of Buffalo and the fact that there are similar stories of racial turbulence and economic hardship in any inner city across America. Filmmaker Addison Henderson says, “I want to show the bad and the ugly, but also let people know there’s hope out there.”

An Interview with Korey Green and Addison Henderson about The Forgotten city
Paul interviews Korey Green and Addison Henderson, directors of the documentary, The Forgotten City.
(11/16/2006 Starz Denver Film Festival)