Photo courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Director:
Barak Goodman
World Premiere:
American Experience (May 2020)
About:
A two-part biography on the life and career of the 43rd president of the United States.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, July 20:
WE ARE THE RADICAL MONARCHS
Director:
Linda Goldstein Knowlton
World Premiere:
SXSW 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Nantucket, San Francisco, Seattle, Traverse City, AFI Docs, Frameline, Inside Out, Outfest Fusion, IFF Boston, Bentonville, March on Washington, Cine Latino, Virginia, Milwaukee, Hawaii, Palm Springs, Rocky Mountain Women’s, Athena
About:
A portrait of a group of young girls of color on the front lines of social justice.
I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Finding that traditional youth organizations aren’t directly focusing on the issues facing young girls of color, two moms, Anyavette Martinez and Marilyn Hollinquest, begin their own troop, the Radical Monarchs. Based in Oakland, a city with a long history of social justice movements, this progressive group is more likely to participate in protest marches than in bake sales. This inspiring film follows the founders as they try to expand the organization while contending with the country’s growing political divides.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to virtual theatrical today, Friday, July 17:
FLANNERY
Directors:
Elizabeth Coffman and Mark Bosco, SJ
World Premiere:
Hot Springs Doc 2019
Select Festivals:
New Orleans, Austin, Oxford
About:
A biography on the acclaimed Southern Gothic author Flannery O’Connor.
Though she died before reaching 40, with only a handful of published novels and short story collections, Flannery O’Connor left a lasting impression on the American literary scene. Her work is exemplary of Southern Gothic, with a sardonic focus on the grotesque and darker side of humanity, while also reflecting her deeply held Catholic beliefs. Filmmakers Elizabeth Coffman and Mark Bosco, SJ take a respectful approach to their biography, breaking up talking head-driven interviews with friends and experts by weaving in excerpts of O’Connor’s journals and other writing, archival material, and animated sequences. While not wholly successful, these methods help to enliven the proceedings to some extent, though the film feels overlong and suffers from a relentless, distracting score and a seeming hesitation to fully address more controversial elements of O’Connor’s life and work, particularly in relation to race. Still, given the lasting interest in O’Connor, there will be an appreciative audience for this biographical exploration.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
New to DVD this week:
SACRED WATER
Director:
Olivier Jourdain
World Premiere:
DOK Leipzig
Select Festivals:
IDFA, Thessaloniki Doc, Docs Against Gravity, Docpoint, Docville, Margaret Mead, BelDocs, DOXA, Moscow Doc, Ischia, Zanzibar
About:
An exploration of female sexual pleasure in Rwanda.
As recounted in Olivier Jourdain’s light but enjoyable film, there is a well-known legend that explains the apparent widespread phenomenon of female ejaculation in Rwandan society. While her husband was at war, an ancient queen found unexpected sexual release with a servant, producing enough sacred water to fill Lake Kivu, one of the African Great Lakes. Since then, the story goes, Rwandan women have been encouraged to find their own water, for both their own sexual pleasure and to keep their men happy – not surprisingly, the focus here is exclusively on heterosexual couplings. Providing an insider’s perspective is popular radio host and sexual health educator Vestine Dusabe, who discusses in frank terms the importance of female sexual pleasure and awareness of their own bodies, both through her regular broadcasts and visits to schools and communities, but she is but one of several figures who populate the film, from doctors providing remedies for “dried up” water to ordinary Rwandans speaking openly about sex while swimming. The result is a look at a refreshingly open approach to sex education that foregrounds the pleasure for both women and men, unconnected to reproduction, religion, or shame.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
photo by Bryant Fisher
Director:
Andrew Fried
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
About:
A chronicle of the development of the improv hip-hop performance group.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to VOD tomorrow, Friday, July 17:
BLESSED CHILD
Director:
Cara Jones
World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2019
About:
An inside look at life in a controversial religious movement.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
This intimate film revisits director Cara Jones’ upbringing within the Unification Church of Reverend Sun Myung Moon – commonly known as the Moonies – where her parents are high-ranking members. Home videos reveal never-before-seen footage of the inner workings of the controversial movement, considered a cult by some. After Jones separates from the church, she must come to terms with the shift in her relationship with her parents and with the impact of this unusual background on her family.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
New to DVD this week:
ANIMATION OUTLAWS
Director:
Kat Alioshin
World Premiere:
Annecy 2019
Select Festivals:
Slamdance, Woodstock
About:
A history and appreciation of the Spike and Mike Festival of Animation.
In 1977, film and music promoters Craig “Spike” Decker and Mike Gribble launched Spike & Mike’s Festival of Animation, a touring animated film festival that has been credited with launching the careers of scores of animation masters, while also developing an adult fanbase for the genre – particularly in its later embrace of more outrageous content under the moniker Spike & Mike’s Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation, beginning in 1990. Filmmaker Kat Alioshin, who worked for the duo back in the 1980s, takes an appreciative, if insider, approach to her history of Spike and Mike, drawing from an assemblage of animators, other former staff, and admirers of their festival. Largely driven by talking heads anecdotes, though spruced up with clever if chaotic animation, the film highlights the creators and their event’s unique carnivalesque approach, audience interactivity, and guerrilla marketing tactics. It’s hagiography, but there’s no doubting the importance of Spike and Mike to the animation world, and there’s certainly an appreciative audience for a film celebrating them and their work.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
New to VOD this week:
F11 AND BE THERE
Director:
Jethro Waters
World Premiere:
Austin 2018
Select Festivals:
Full Frame, RiverRun
About:
An exploration of photographer Burk Uzzle’s acclaimed 65-year career.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, July 14:
IN BRIGHT AXIOM
Director:
Spencer McCall
World Premiere:
San Francisco DocFest 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Covellite, Rhode Island
About:
An exploration of the work of a secretive group of artists who design transformative experiences.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Welcome to the House of Latitude, where absolute discretion is demanded in exchange for entry into a mysterious social experiment in the form of an elaborate immersive experience. Drawing a community of curiosity seekers, this secret society becomes a way of life for some, putting increasing pressure on the organizers to maintain this sophisticated and fantastical parallel world. Filmmaker Spencer McCall weaves an intriguing cautionary tale about the unforeseen consequences of embracing the unknown.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, July 14:
DON’T BE NICE
Director:
Max Powers
World Premiere:
Hot Docs 2018
Select Festivals:
AFI Docs, Palm Springs, Urbanworld, Bushwick, Black Harvest, Brisbane, Guelph, Vail
About:
The Bowery Slam Poetry Team prepares for the national championships.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
what (not) to doc 