Sprawling from Grace - Driven to Madness

David Edward's Documentary Reveals the Consequences of the Suburbs

Nov 6, 2009

Global peak oil, rapid industrialization of emerging nations, and failing infrastructure have made understanding the flaw in suburbanization the United States imperative.

Director David Edward's documentary Sprawling from Grace draws attention to the desperate need for a new lifestyle paradigm in the United States. Suburbanization, unlimited sprawl near the highways, and increasing dependence on the automobile are in conflict with a need to decrease oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions. Suburbia may be too costly for the future, as unchecked development has no sustainability; the suburbs require lots of car trips because they are so spread out.

Economic, environmental, and practical solutions are needed to put the country on a new track, one that does not require the millions of lane-miles like the current failing plan. Most freeways become obsolete in a matter of years, with traffic congestion, commute time, and vehicle miles travelled per consumer ever on the rise. The suburbs have led us to depend on the automobile, which has meant in increasing dependency on oil. We can no longer afford this lifestyle.

Dependence on Oil, the Automobile, and the Freeways from Suburbanization

The suburbs became part of the American Dream, with people fleeing inner cities and the isolation of rural communities, to come to the suburbs with the promise of a little breathing space and a lot of convenience. The United States had the land mass to allow this new form of unchecked development to grow and grow along her highways. Yet the plan has proven to be unsustainable; with peak oil facing the globe, it is time for a reassessment of priorities.

Experts such as former President Bill Clinton and former presidential candidate Michael Dukakis join several other experts in discussing how to move to a more sustainable lifestyle. The need for agriculture to be grown and consumed locally, the need for public transportation, the need for alternative sources of energy, and the need for a "New Urbanist Movement" to take place are all outlined. The film reveals how suburban development has left American dependent on the automobile for transportation.

Sustainable Cities, Urban Reinvestment, and Energy Technology are the Answers

The film starts off like a musical score that builds to an expected crescendo, yet never quite delivers the melodic excitement one might expect. It is informative, and many interesting interviews are witnessed. Yet the seriousness of the problems, the desperate need for leadership, environmental intervention and sustainable housing, are not fully revealed. One infrastructure failing is highlighted - that of the bridge collapse on August 1, 2007, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Some innovative urban redevelopment plans are discussed briefly.

Yet despite the warning gong, softly played, the film seems neutral and lacking in impact. It has the feel of an educational film developed for a community college, informative and a bit dry. This is one to see to gain insight into the breadth of the problem facing the U.S. regarding urban sprawl, but is not as motivating as the subject matter would demand. Many pertinent issues such as population control, poverty, water, and the food supply are omitted or given small space. The film does, however, highlight the need for a return to urbanization and local business practices.

The copyright of the article Sprawling from Grace - Driven to Madness in Documentary Films is owned by Barbara DeGrande. Permission to republish Sprawling from Grace - Driven to Madness in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.