CLASS DIVIDE

US, 2015, 75 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Marc Levin.

This is an HBO documentary, a film made especially for residents of New York City, especially those in south-western Manhattan, the Chelsea area.

The title indicates the theme. It focuses on a particular street. On one side stand the Projects, with 4500 people living there, poor, many African- Americans. These people are very limited in their opportunities for education, employment, careers. On the other side of the street is a comparatively new high school, The Avenues, very modern in its approach to curriculum, to study methods, roundtables and discussions in preference to traditional classroom layout, all kinds of resources, teachers who are also tutors with creativity. The annual fee for attendance of the school is $40,000.

The film is also about urban development and gentrification. An abandoned rail line above the area was remodelled in 2012, providing a spacious walkway for many blocks, providing an incentive for the development of restaurants, the development of more expensive and lavish apartment dwelling.

The film is strong on visuals of both the Projects, the High Line, The Avenue School.

However, there are many talking heads. This is especially true of people in the projects, especially a young girl who is particularly articulate, in her assessment of the Projects and her life there and the lack of possibilities, her awareness of what is happening across the street. There are also interview with a range of parents, with some young African- Americans (one of whom remarks that he noticed the changes when he got out of prison).

On the other hand, there are interviews with parents, professional people who have the finance to send their children To the Avenues. Also interviews with some of the teachers.

What is happening in West Chelsea certainly stands as a symbol of what happens with gentrification in urban development – but, this is quite striking, because it happens on each side of the street.