Empire City (1985)

A film essay contrasting the modern metropolis with its golden age from 18301930 with the participation of some of New Yorks leading political and cultural figures Made at a time when the city was experiencing unprecedented real estate development on the one hand and unforeseen displacement of population and deterioration on the other Empire City is the story of two New Yorks The film explores the precarious coexistence of the servicebased midtown Manhattan corporate headquarters with the peripheral New York of undereducated minorities living in increasing alienation