DVD Review

“A Hole in the Fence” is about such a place. By accident, the filmmaker discovered (literally through a hole in a fence) an abandoned plot of land in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. Separated only by the fence, the area seems almost like a different little town, a safe have haven for both some homeless and burgeoning graffiti artists as well.

However, it does not look like the area will be around much longer. An Ikea superstore will soon move in nearby and, like most superstores will bring expansion with it, be it in the form of strip malls, other brand superstores, even extra parking.

Young uses the area seen through the hole as a point of origin to explore larger questions regarding urban development and renewal. Yes, there are positives to bringing in an Ikea superstore, such as bringing jobs to the area, as well as likely increasing the value of land in the surrounding area. Furthermore, the area is mainly abandoned plots, so why the concern?

However, Young also presents those concerns regarding this expansion and development. For instance, the superstore will also likely affect the nearby docks, costing Red Hook some of its culture and history. Also, what about the homeless, as well as the poor in a nearby housing project? Will out of town traffic congest the area and adversely affect a nearby park and garden? Will Ikea’s profits even stay in the area?


A key strength of the film is the photography. As I hoped, the film found a kind of grungy beauty in a concrete wall, graffiti, a broken old doc, weeks growing up through concrete and asphalt. Furthermore, its key questions are worth exploring. 



However, the major fault with the film is that it stretches itself too thin. “A Hole in the Fence” does not offer any answers, only asks many questions (maybe because too many of the questions offer “wait and see” as a viable answer). A simple recorded moment in time inside the abandoned lot, with its patches of nature, the makeshift homes of the homeless and the graffiti artists at work, might have proved fascinating on its own. However, when it expands into many interviews with local residents (and discusses not only the abandoned area, but the nearby park and docs as well), it becomes a bit too academic (Urban Development 101) and, well, boring (not to mention one-sided, as no representative from Ikea was ever interviewed to present the company’s opinion).

Still, “A Hole in a Fence” is informative, as well as beautifully photographed. Expansion and development is usually a sign of “progress,” but is losing a part of what your town was (as well as altering the landscape forever) always worth it?

Extras:


The DVD has an additional bonus film, "Views from Red Hook Grain Terminal"; Photo Gallery; Extended Interviews; Resources; Trailer.