A person in a white shirt gardens within a fenced area, with a chicken nearby and various plants in a suburban yard.

Public Housing

classified 18 (CTBA)

part of Wiseman of the Month

Film

Sat 21 - Mon 30 March 2026

Director
Frederick Wiseman
Cast
Helen Finner
Details
200 mins, 1997, USA
Primary language
English

An absorbing study of daily life in one of Chicago’s poorest housing projects.

‘Community Strength’ reads the slogan on the t-shirt worn by Helen Finner, head of the residents’ council at the Ida B. Wells housing project, home to some of Chicago’s poorest inhabitants. 

Widely regarded as one of Frederick Wiseman's finest films, this affecting, absorbing study of people in and around the project challenges cliched representations of poverty, race and housing inequality.

  • The Four Wisemen: get 20% off the regular ticket price when you book four or more tickets for screenings in our Wiseman of the Month season. Discount automatically applied at checkout.


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