Cleveland International Film Festival } March 30 – April 10, 2022

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The Place That Makes Us

Year: 2020
Country: UNITED STATES
Run Time: 70 minutes

Youngstown, Ohio was once a bustling manufacturing city, but the community faced rapid industrial decline after the collapse of the steel industry in the 1970s. Residents abandoned the city in masses, leaving a community riddled with vacant homes, unemployment, drugs, and crime. While countless fled, some chose to stay working to revitalize their hometown through innovative community development. THE PLACE THAT MAKES US follows four individuals transforming their communities through neighborhood rehabilitation, vacant home renovation, expanding access to home ownership, and involvement in local government. The documentary challenges outsiders’ assumptions about the Rust Belt by showcasing the residents’ efforts to transform their town into a safe place to work, live, and raise a family. Though Youngstown may have been forgotten by some, this documentary provides a stirring portrait of one community’s resilience, innovation, and compassion in reclaiming the place they call home. — R.R.