AllMovie

The term inner city can bring up images of abandoned buildings with broken windows, gutted cars, and profuse graffiti, all in a seedy part of town. In Across the River: Saving America's Inner Cities, Hedrick Smith, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, presents a different picture. There are new champions in the midst of these impoverished and beaten-down areas, who are bringing hope and renovation. This documentary presents several mentoring programs and efforts to move businesses and middle-class people into the inner city. Smith introduces a few fearless urban leaders who are breathing new life into cities. Their message is encouraging and their work to renew these areas is remarkable.