Film

In recent years, Flint, Michigan has become a byword for American urban blight, spoken of mostly in terms of its crime rate, lagging economy, and ongoing water crisis. This beautifully observed documentary serves as a refreshing reminder that for many, Flint is also home, a community where residents strive, struggle, and dream like anywhere else. Profiling the 2012 graduating class of the majority-black Flint Northern High School as they get ready for prom, Midnight in Paris (the theme of that year’s dance) captures the elaborate preparations for the big night—from the high-stakes search for the perfect dress to the fretting parents who inevitably worry about “kids these days”—with humor, vitality, and a subtle but powerful political conscience.

Q&A with filmmakers Roni Moore and James Blagden