Last spring, two filmmakers swept the country to document the effects of a nationwide trend: corporate consolidation taking over the retail economy. The outcome is a film – independent itself – that showcases dozens of towns trying to remain economically viable on a playing field where corporate America is the burly opponent. The film, “Independent America: The Search for Mom and Pop,” is now being shown in many of the communities participating in the American Unchained! event Nov. 19. Durango is participating for the first time in this national event. On Sun. Nov. 20, the film will play at 5 p.m. at the Abbey Theatre.

Five Durango businesses and their owners are part of the film, which was shot by former national news journalists Hanson Hosein and Heather Hughes. In the spotlight are Maria’s Bookshop, Nini’s Taqueria, Steaming Bean, Magpie’s Newsstand, and the Leland House. The film also includes local insight from Bobby Lieb, executive director of the Durango Chamber of Commerce.

The Telegraph recently caught up with Hosein for a brief interview about Durango’s relationship to the film and filmmakers:

Telegraph: What feelings did you get from Durango’s independent businesses when discussing the impact of chain stores on the local economy?

Hosein: We loved Durango. It has a strongly independent spirit, and that came across loud and clear in the interviews we conducted with business owners. These are people who obviously treasure their community and enjoy making a living while serving it. There’s obviously deep concern over chain retail in Durango, but we also got a sense from people like Peter Schertz at Maria’s Bookshop that independent business owners also need to step up to the plate and compete harder to give shoppers a better experience than what they can get at a Borders or Barnes and Noble.

Telegraph: What drove you to undertake such a project?

Hosein: I’ve lived outside of my country for many years as a journalist for NBC News. Despite that, I was able to develop relationships with my neighborhood retailers. But I always missed the feeling that I belonged to the community, since it wasn’t a place where I could vote, etc. In other words, I was more a consumer than a citizen. But since moving back to North America, I’ve really come to understand the value of a vibrant downtown, independent shopkeepers, and my responsibilities as a citizen.

Telegraph: What are the general sentiments across the country about chain stores?

Hosein: We were surprised to see that independents are doing quite well in some parts of the country (like Durango). And not so surprised to see, especially in the Northeast, that corporate chains have really dominated the retail space. But no matter where we went, there’s definitely a growing awareness among Americans of all political persuasions that they need to do more to bolster their local economies.

Telegraph: When asking for an interview, you agreed so that you could “extol the virtues” of Durango. What are they?

Hosein: If we could live in Durango, we would. I think many people outside of America get the feeling that Americans are not especially thoughtful and only care about money. Absolutely every person we spoke to in Durango had something interesting and important to say about the subject of independent businesses and corporate chains. And they welcomed us warmly to the town.

– Amy Maestas