Documerica, Self-Portrait of Nation on the Brink

Between 1972 and 1977, about a hundred photographers joined an ambitious project under the Nixon administration. They criss-crossed the US, photographing cities and towns, countryside, mountains and beaches, taking a total of nearly 80,000 images. They captured the consumerist lifestyle and its devastating impact on the quality of water, air and interpersonal relationships. Fifty years and a series of political, economic, and environmental crises later, they sit down again with their photos to reflect on the state of the American landscape and society today. This personal documentary with an epic scope pays homage to their work, which has become a testament to unfulfilled promises.