The Pruitt-Igoe Myth

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The Pruitt-Igoe Myth

Released Jan 20, 2012

1h 23m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

86%

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22 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Filmmaker Chad Freidrichs examines the development and failure of a 1950s housing estate in St. Louis.

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

The personal stories told by former residents add a poignancy to the broad trends the film examines.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 26, 2012

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Mark Feeney

Boston Globe

Pruitt-Igoe was the first, and most famous, example of the failure of that sort of public housing.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 5, 2012

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Stephanie Merry

Washington Post

Using archival footage and interviews with former residents, Freidrichs adds human dimension and historical context to what is often viewed in simple terms as a misguided blip.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 9, 2012

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Chris Barsanti

Eyes Wide Open

Freidrichs breaks down the legacy of this infamous public housing complex.

Jul 4, 2020

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Pat Padua

Spectrum Culture

It ultimately confirms the historical record without really getting to the bottom of it.

Aug 30, 2018

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Neely Swanson

Easy Reader (California)

"The Pruitt-Igoe Myth" is surely one of the best and most moving documentaries in recent years.

Sep 18, 2017

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Audience Member

I thought it was one of the best documentaries I've ever seen and it also happened to be extremely insightful into the general human condition of that era.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

The idea of the Housing Project seems like such a good idea in theory, but in practice it fails miserably. This heartbreaking documentary should be educational viewing for anyone who has ever said, "We give 'them' so much and 'they' just ruin it. The Pruitt-Igoe was not meant to be segregated; various economic and cultural forces, bad guessing, and racism made it so. The interviewees who lived the Pruitt-Igoe myth express at first joy at having a clean, healthy home and then sorrow at its devolution into a cruel reminder of what society really thought (thinks?) of them. Their stories are truly worth hearing, and this documentary tells the story of a dream disintegrated and eventually demolished.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

Mankind in microcosm?

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Audience Member

This should be studied in every school, not only in the US, but in every country. I strongly feel that those in power are creating a global Pruitt-Igoe project.This is an important film on many different levels.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Audience Member

Further evidence as to how we came to be as a society. Really captivating.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Audience Member

I really liked this documentary. Great for sociology majors! Excellent look into all perspectives on this....lets you get a good perspective on urban sprawl, projects, inner city living, and a great array of personal stories. Sad story but definitely interesting...if you like documentaries....definitely put this on your list!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Chad Freidrichs

Director

Chad Freidrichs

Writer

Jaime Freidrichs

Writer

Chad Freidrichs

Producer

Jaime Freidrichs

Producer

Brian Woodman

Producer

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Chad Freidrichs examines the development and failure of a 1950s housing estate in St. Louis.

Director: Chad Freidrichs
Producer: Chad Freidrichs, Jaime Freidrichs, Brian Woodman
Screenwriter: Chad Freidrichs, Jaime Freidrichs
Distributor: First Run
Production Co: Unicorn Stencil
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 20, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 11, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $44.7K
Runtime: 1h 23m
Sound Mix: Stereo