The Human Scale

With over 50 percent of the world’s population now living in cities, our urban landscapes must accomodate exponential growth. Danish filmmaker Andreas Dalsgaard neatly explores the possibilities for new urbanism with this aesthetically pleasing documentary. Visiting a host of cities from Chongqing in China to Christchurch in New Zealand, we embark on a scholarly journey exploring the irrational nature of current urban planning, such as prioritising automobiles over pedestrians. Dalsgaard’s message is unambiguous – something big needs to change. Despite a heartfelt attempt to pose a sobering global challenge, the film's academic tone risks boring the mainstream audience it's intended to reach.