Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, May 4:
FTA
Director:
Francine Parker
World Premiere:
Theatrical release (July 1972)
About:
A chronicle of the controversial anti-Vietnam War political vaudeville tour of American military bases, fronted by Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, May 4:
MC ESCHER: JOURNEY TO INFINITY
Director:
Robin Lutz
World Premiere:
Dutch theatrical release (April 2018)
Select Festivals:
Vancouver, Architecture & Design, Nederlands, New Zealand
About:
A biographical celebration of the famed Dutch artist and would-be mathematician.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Festival:
The 18th True/False Film Fest
Dates:
May 5-9
About:
Sixteen new and recent nonfiction features screen in a hybrid format in this thoughtfully-curated Colombia MO-based event.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to The WORLD Channel’s America ReFramed tomorrow, Tuesday, May 4:
FAR EAST DEEP SOUTH
Director:
Larissa Lam
World Premiere:
Cinequest 2020
Select Festivals:
NY Asian American, CAAMFest, LA Asian Pacific, Philadelphia Asian American, Newport Beach, Rocky Mountain Women’s, Oxford, Women Texas, Southern Circuit
About:
A Chinese American family travels from San Francisco to Mississippi in search of their roots in the US.
In search of the grave of his father, KC Lou, Charles Chiu and his family travel from their home in San Francisco to Cleveland MS. Charles’ sons, Edwin and Baldwin, the latter this film’s producer, never took much interest in their family background before, but are surprised to learn of deep, generational connections to the American South, and how this story ties into exclusionary immigration laws that left a lasting mark on their father. While there are some affecting moments, and the shameful history of the Chinese Exclusion Act deserves further exploration, the film feels too personal and is unfortunately technically deficient to a distracting degree, with a sentimental, overly used score, amateur looking titled chapters, and an over-reliance on talking heads.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Currently in virtual cinemas:
IN SILICO
Director:
Noah Hutton
World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2020
Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX
About:
The filmmaker traces a project to build a brain simulation over a decade.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Director Noah Hutton embarks on a 10-year project following a visionary neuroscientist’s quest to build a computer simulation of a brain. With unprecedented access to the inner workings of a multimillion-dollar scientific project led by Henry Markram and a roster of characters that involves the who’s who of neuroscience, the audience is led on a journey that poses provocative philosophical, ethical, and scientific questions.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to PBS’s American Masters tonight, Monday, May 3:
AMY TAN: UNINTENDED MEMOIR
Director:
James Redford
World Premiere:
Sundance 2021
Select Festivals:
Cleveland, CAAMFest, DocLands, Seattle
About:
A profile of the life and career of the noted author.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to virtual cinemas today, Friday, April 30:
DOPE IS DEATH
Director:
Mia Donovan
World Premiere:
True/False 2020
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, IDFA, Hot Docs, Denver
About:
The story of a pioneering acupuncture detoxification program led by the Black Panthers and the young Lords in 1970s South Bronx.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres and to virtual cinemas tomorrow, Friday, April 30:
DUTY FREE
Director:
Sian-Pierre Regis
World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2020
Select Festivals:
Big Sky, Miami, ACT Human Rights
About:
As his recently laid off mother struggles to find a new job at the age of 75, the filmmaker celebrates her lifetime of self-sacrifice.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
After stints as a contributor to CNN and MTV, Sian-Pierre Regis makes his directing debut with this poignant story about his immigrant mother, Rebecca Danigelis. At the age of 75, she’s fired from her lifelong job as a hotel housekeeper. She has scant savings after supporting two sons as a single mother. As his mother struggles to find a new job and faces ageism, Sian-Pierre cares for Rebecca by giving her an unforgettable adventure. Their story was covered in The New York Times article, “My Retirement Plan Is You,” and resonates for a whole generation of adults grappling with how to care for their parents.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Festival:
The 28th Hot Docs
Dates:
April 29-May 9
About:
North America’s largest nonfiction event presents approximately 150 new and recent doc features, available online throughout Canada.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Festival:
The 50th New Directors/New Films
Dates:
Apr 28-May 8
About:
The Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center celebrate a landmark anniversary for this acclaimed annual showcase, this year offering eight documentaries or hybrids among its 27 new feature presentations.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
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