Radiant City

Directed by Jim Brown and Gary Burns, Radiant City documents the inherent flaws of the contemporary suburban system via interviews with prominent planners and philosophers. The film also follows the Moss family – a prototypical suburban brood – as they justify their feelings (both positive and negative) towards their sleek, faceless neighborhood. Infused with a quick pace and colorful visual style, Radiant City is successful as both a documentary on the suburbs and an intimate look at the ups and downs of an admittedly quirky nuclear family. This is despite the fact that the filmmakers are essentially preaching to the choir, as virtually nobody actually likes living in the suburbs. Were it not for the inclusion of a jaw-dropping twist towards the film’s conclusion, Radiant City would have certainly ranked as one of the best documentaries playing at this year’s festival.

**1/2 out of ****