Author Archives: basiltsiokos

Coming to PBS’s America ReFramed tomorrow, Tuesday, May 17: OPERATION POPCORN

David Grabias’ investigation of conspiracy and arms dealing among a refugee community had its world premiere at Minneapolis-St Paul last year. Screenings have followed at Big Sky, Kansas City, CAAMfest, Hawaii, and San Diego Asian fests, among others. Its broadcast now is tied to Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Recruited by the CIA to assist the United States against North Vietnam, the Hmong people of Laos found themselves escaping communist persecution by becoming refugees in America in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Decades later, the close-knit community learns about continued human rights abuses against their people back in Laos, inspiring Hmong-Americans such as Locha Thao to become activists. Grabias focuses on a strange episode in which Thao works with mysterious American partners to procure arms in the hopes of overthrowing the communist Lao government – despite the apparent objections of venerated American-based Hmong leaders like General Vang Pao. Unfortunately, Grabias fails to bring much clarity or a compelling sense of storytelling to the proceedings – overcomplicating an already fuzzy story by fleetingly introducing distracting, unrelated elements that cast further doubt upon his main subject’s trustworthiness – resulting in an unsatisfying project as a whole.

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Friday, May 13: I AM THALENTE

Natalie Johns’ portrait of a homeless street kid turned skateboarder debuted at Los Angeles last year, where it won an audience award. Other fest berths have included Bahamas, TIFF Next Wave, and Portland. The film now comes to VOD platforms including iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, Sony Playstation, Xbox, and various cable VOD providers.

Thalente Biyela escaped an abusive home to live on the streets of Durban, South Africa as a young boy. Seeking refuge from the stark realities of his situation, he spent time in skateparks, finding escape through skateboarding. Finding support there, Thalente’s skills eventually drew the attention of star skateboarders like Tony Hawk and Kenny Anderson, and, eventually, paved the way for his relocation to Los Angeles. Johns includes some captivating footage of Thalente within his South African community – particularly his mentor/best friend, Tammy – but largely follows his adjustment to life in America, including studying for his driver’s license and preparing to become an instructor in a kids’ skate camp. While she has found a likeable young subject with an ingratiating, ultimately uplifting story, the filmmaker could have given the doc much more heft and contrast by focusing more on Thalente’s time in South Africa. Still, it’s clear that the heartfelt project has resonated with audiences.

New to VOD this week: FURSONAS

Dominic Rodriguez’s inside look at a Furry community and its controversies made its debut at Slamdance earlier this year, where it picked up a special award. Screenings have followed at Newport Beach, Atlanta, Boston LGBT, and DocuWest. The doc was released on iTunes earlier this week.

Rodriguez, a member of Pittsburgh’s Furry fandom – for the uninitiated, individuals who like to dress up in anthropomorphic animal mascot suits and attend gatherings or conventions with other likeminded people – sets out to represent his subculture as well-rounded people, in contrast to most media representations which focus on the freak factor, including the idea that Furries like to have sex in costume. Despite his insider status, members of the community are skeptical about the filmmaker’s intentions, including their self-appointed leader, Uncle Kage, who comes off here as an obnoxious megalomaniac. Kage has been policing his flock, insisting on media training to prevent the wrong kind of Furry image to be propagated, such as that of the oddball Boomer the Dog, an outsider who has tried to legally change his name and whose paper-based shaggy dog outfit has drawn jeers from more traditional Furries. Other local Furries interviewed here, most of whom are male and either gay or sexually ambiguous, express concerns about being ostracized by the community if they speak honestly and stray from the sanitized version of fandom that Kage endorses. While the idea of self-policing within this very small subculture has potential, unfortunately the execution here is wanting – the filmmaker is in this talking heads-heavy film far too much, making the project feel too indulgent and insular to transcend its immediate cliquish audience.

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens tonight, Tuesday, May 10: THE ARMOR OF LIGHT

Abigail Disney’s exploration of the dichotomy of those who are both pro-life and pro-gun made its bow at Tribeca last year. Additional screenings included Traverse City, AFI Docs, Hamptons, Galway, Montclair, Milwaukee, St Louis, Heartland, Oxford, and SF Jewish fests. It now screens on PBS as part of a special two-night event about escalating gun violence in the US, Armed in America.

I previously wrote about the doc here.