Public Housing

Frederick Wiseman’s mid-career film takes a deeply humanistic look at public housing in contrast to the stereotypes of mass media.

Set on the Ida B. Wells public housing estate in Chicago, Frederick Wiseman’s 1997 film observes intimate moments of exchange between residents, bureaucrats and activists. Public Housing opens with an impassioned phone call by Resident Advisory Council member Helen Finner advocating for a potential resident. With this, the scene is set for a deeply humanistic film that leans into community: one forged due to a lack of work opportunities and a restrictive and punitive welfare system.

Curator's note
With the news reporting as it currently is and audience appetites shifting to short-form media on social media platforms, there is less time spent diving deep into issues like public housing. The result in media is brief, segmented and rife with stereotypes and shorthand. It takes time to delve deep, and it takes multiple angles and perspectives to paint a holistic picture. Running at over three hours, Public Housing delivers in detail.

Working with US TV network PBS throughout his entire directorial career, Frederick Wiseman ensured creative control and final cut on all of his films. Despite working with and receiving funding from PBS, he rejected standard TV formats and running times. In 1989, he moved into long-form works with his film Near Death, and by the time Public Housing was released, the longer running time and more expansive coverage of the subject became part of his signature style.