Watch My Brooklyn

My Brooklyn is a powerful and poignant documentary that explores the stark transformation of Brooklyn's neighborhoods in the twenty-first century. Directed by Kelly Anderson, the film begins with a nostalgic look back at the filmmaker's own childhood in a diverse and vibrant Brooklyn community, which has since been subsumed by gentrification and rising property costs.

The film takes the viewer on a journey through the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Gowanus, exploring how these communities were once hubs of cultural and ethnic diversity, but are now being shaped by the forces of gentrification and corporate development. Anderson's approach is both personal and informative, using a mix of interviews, archival footage, and her own personal experiences to illustrate the complex issues at play.

My Brooklyn begins by examining how the city planners and developers of the 2000s drastically altered the landscape of Williamsburg, once a working-class neighborhood with a large Hasidic Jewish population. Through interviews with former residents, Anderson shows how these changes displaced many long-time residents, particularly those in non-white communities, and led to the rapid gentrification of the area. She also highlights the city's use of zoning laws and tax incentives to attract large-scale developers, resulting in the construction of high-end luxury condos that are unaffordable for many Brooklynites.

The film also looks at how these changes have affected the community's cultural identity. Many former residents express a sense of loss for the diverse and creative community that was once at the heart of Williamsburg, with its thriving DIY scene, art galleries, and music venues. Anderson's interviews with local business owners and activists highlight how the commercialization of the area has pushed out smaller businesses and independent artists, leaving behind a sterile and homogeneous landscape of chain stores and luxury boutiques.

Moving on to Gowanus, Anderson shows how this once industrial neighborhood is now being transformed by developers into a high-end residential area. The film exposes how the city's rezoning plan and tax incentives have given corporations power to displace marginalized communities, and allowed these businesses to profit from the area's history without addressing the pollution and environmental damage caused by industrial waste.

My Brooklyn is a film that combines personal reflections with an unflinching look at the ways in which gentrification and development can strip a community of its history and culture. It asks fundamental questions about what it means to be a community and how urban development can be carried out in a way that benefits all residents, rather than just those with the most resources. Anderson's approach is both nuanced and compassionate, providing a window into the human stories behind Brooklyn's transformation.

Through her interviews with former residents and activist groups, Anderson highlights the important role that grassroots organizations can play in resisting gentrification and preserving the identity of the community. She shows how these groups can unite in opposition to corporate-driven development, and how their actions can help to maintain affordable housing, protect historic sites and save neighborhoods from the homogenizing, commercial developments that are eating away at the heart of Brooklyn.

My Brooklyn is a powerful and thought-provoking film that will resonate with anyone who has witnessed the effects of gentrification and urban development on their own neighborhood. Through Anderson's unique perspective and empathetic approach, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the issues that are shaping the city's future and be inspired to act in defense of their own communities.

My Brooklyn is a 2012 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 65.