The Story of Two Square Miles

The historic "city" of Hudson, New York, is confronting a modern Goliath: its own future.

Two Square Miles tracks the conflicts that unfold as a proposed multinational coal-fired cement plant threatens to reshape the small community on the banks of the Hudson River. Hudson's colorful and passionate citizens fight to save the town's unique character and its architectural heritage, breathing life into the exercise of local democracy.

Two Square Miles immerses the viewer in an extended observation of life in an American small city experiencing rapid transition over the course of two years. Building on its focus on the present, brief historical interludes sprinkle the film with context from Hudson's notorious past when it was a whaling port and an internationally famous city of vice and corruption. The scope of Hudson's ups and downs illustrates the cyclical nature of boom and bust and brings attention to the turning point that the city currently faces.

The questions that exist about the future of Hudson are similar to the concerns of citizens in towns and cities across America. How is the global economy affecting our communities? Can a traditional small town main street with mom and pop stores still be viable with the 21st Century competition of big-box stores and consolidation? Can goals of environmental conservation and economic development co-exist?

How can citizens and activists concerned about the direction of their communities be involved in the democratic process, and can idealistic goals drive real political change? And, in the wake of divisive political campaigns, can new and productive political alliances that serve the common good be forged?

To watch Two Square Miles is to peer through the looking glass at the changing fabric of America today. This energetic exploration of small town America at the turn of the 21st Century is a journey beneath the surface of a classic American town, where the layers are peeled back to reveal and celebrate the wide-ranging diversity and unusual characters that make small town America so unique.