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The Greening of Southie
The story of Boston's first LEED-certified residential green building, and the people who made it possible.
72 minutes
Directed by Ian Cheney
Produced by Curt Ellis
Director of Photography: Taylor Gentry
Editor: Ian Cheney
Music: Force Theory
Animation: Claire Cheney
Produced by Wicked Delicate Films
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Note: This special offer is available only for use in worker training whether by trade schools or unions.
In the traditionally Irish-American working-class neighborhood of South Boston, MA, a new kind of building has taken shape. From wheatboard cabinetry to recycled steel, bamboo flooring to dual-flush toilets, the Macallen building is something different: a leader in the emerging field of environmentally friendly design.
But Boston's steel-toed union workers aren't sure they like it. And when things on the building start to go wrong, the young developer has to keep the project from unraveling.
Building Boston's first LEED Gold-certified building turns out to be harder than anyone thought. Yet among the I-beams and brickwork emerges a small cadre of unlikely environmentalists who come to connect their work with the future of their children
Created by the co-producers and stars of King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis.
[Note: For community screenings of THE GREENING OF SOUTHIE please email us at southie@bullfrogfilms.com]
Grade Level: Grades 7 - 12, College, Adult
US Release Date: 2008
Copyright Date: 2007
DVD ISBN: 1-59458-766-3
VHS ISBN: 1-59458-765-5
Reviews
"This inspiring film...argues for widespread adoption of green building practices, while still presenting the contradictions and quandaries...and revels in the greening of southern Boston's construction workers, born skeptics who rise to the occasion." True/False Film Fest Program
"If the idea of watching a documentary on the construction of a condo building doesn't sound too exciting to you, I cannot recommend this film enough to anyone who is or wants to be a part of green building. It presents the challenges and excitement of building green with equal measures of idealism and cynicism, juxtaposing the suits who see the project as ideas and paper with the laborers who actually have to put the building together. As the project grows, the two come closer to understanding the other side." Joel Bittle, GreenBuildingElements.com
"A balanced but incisive look at a complex issue that affects us all." Bostonist
"Like the community it portrays, The Greening of Southie is both gritty and engaging. Not so long ago, the only thing green about South Boston was its proud Irish-American population, with barely a street tree or patch of grass visible among Southie's rowhouses and storefronts. Greening shows the human side of the green building story, the homely hopes, fears and frustrations behind the fancy facades and sleek solar panels that many of us, especially in Southie, associate with sustainability. Ultimately, Greening tells the story of change and of one neighborhood's tentative, if ineluctable, step toward the future." William Shutkin, Chair in Sustainability, University of Colorado Boulder Leeds School of Business, Author, The Land That Could Be: Environmentalism and Democracy in the Twenty First Century
"Cities such as LA and San Francisco are vying to be the 'greenest' big city in California. But what does it take to 'embrace green'?...The challenges of building green involve more than changing the practices of the building industry; they also include important social and political issues regarding who gets to live in our downtown neighborhoods. Interviews around the neighborhood show this broader context of urban redevelopment. This thoughtful and thought provoking film deserves to be seen widely." Greg Andranovich, Professor of Political Science, California State University, Los Angeles
"An insider's perspective...The film does not skirt the issues of economics or the social impact of gentrification in this rapidly changing community. For individuals with an interest in green building, Greening of Southie provides a primer on the LEED certification process as well as a social commentary on this growing trend in construction." Hilary Nixon, Assistant Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, San Jose State University
"For laypeople and students, The Greening of Southie unlocks the mysteries of what constitutes LEED certification. More importantly, the film also analyzes both the benefits and the hidden contradictions of the LEED program. To their credit, the filmmakers do so objectively, letting the key players in the construction of Boston's first 'green' building speak for themselves. The film thus humanizes the construction story through rich portraits of certain project developers, architects, construction workers and potential tenants. In so doing, it uniquely addresses the myriad (and also often hidden) social implications of today's 'green wave', including class inequality and conflict, urban gentrification and the costs of even environmentally conscious consumerism." Melissa Checker, Assistant Professor of Urban Studies, Queens College, Author, Polluted Promises: Environmental Racism and the Search for Justice in a Southern Town
"It is easy to see why this unique documentary has received so many awards and it is a wonderful primer on 'building green' for general audiences as well as classroom use. Highly recommended for high-school, college, and public libraries." Barbara Butler, University of Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Educational Media Reviews Online
"An engaging documentary that offers an exciting glimpse into the future of Earth-friendly construction...Literally a globetrotting affair that forcuses on the materials and personnel involved in the design and construction of the Macallen building...Recommended." Video Librarian
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Reduced rates for activist and grassroots groups. Please inquire.
"I cannot recommend this film enough to anyone who is or wants to be a part of green building." Joel Bittle, GreenBuildingElements.com
DVD Features
includes 2 versions of the film. The original version is 72 minutes long; the short version 46 minutes. Both are closed captioned and include chapters. Both include optional "bleeped" versions for classroom use.
Links
The film's website
Film clip
Awards and Festivals
Earth Day Selection, "The Green", Sundance Channel
True/False Film Fest
Seattle International Film Festival
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital
Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival
Independent Film Festival of Boston
Rhode Island International Film Festival
Black Bear Film Festival
Princeton Environmental Film Festival
Camden International Film Festival
Sonoma Environmental Film Festival
Berks Movie Madness Film Festival
Reel Work Labor Film Festival
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... more Reviews
"A new film about green jobs that deserves the widest possible audience...Is particularly remarkable as a film about environmental issues that deals directly and honestly with class as well...As President Obama promises to make creation of green jobs a major priority, The Greening of Southie is an entertaining and provocative tool for staring discussion in almost any setting." Matt Witt, World Wide Work
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