Category Archives: Documentary

Coming to virtual theatrical today, Wednesday, April 29:
AN ENGINEER IMAGINES

Director:
Marcus Robinson

World Premiere:
Irish Film Institute Documentary Festival 2018

Select Festivals:
Newport Beach

About:
A tribute to Irish structural engineer Peter Rice, known for iconic architectural works including the Sydney Opera House and the Pompidou Centre.

Filmmaker Marcus Robinson structures his film around Rice’s posthumously released influential book by the same name. Before the engineer’s death in 1992, he was behind several of the past century’s most notable structures, but rarely received the same level of attention as their architects. Noting early on that there’s no difference between an engineer and an artist, the film sets out to spotlight the beauty of Rice’s work, in addition to his inventive approach to design. A noted cinematographer making his directorial debut here, Robinson employs time-lapse photography of several of Rice’s structures, while also showcasing how people interact with them. This visual aspect works far better than the interviews, which can take on an almost hagiographic reverence that may feel offputting to viewers not already Rice acolytes.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, April 28:
TREAD

Director:
Paul Solet

World Premiere:
SXSW 2019

About:
The bizarre tale of a vengeful man with a bulldozer run amok.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to Independent Lens tonight, Monday, April 27:
JIM ALLISON: BREAKTHROUGH

Director:
Bill Haney

World Premiere:
SXSW 2019

Select Festivals:
Seattle, IFF Boston, Woods Hole, Full Frame, DocLands, , Minneapolis-St Paul, Sedona

About:
A Texan scientist doggedly pursues immunotherapy as a potential way to cure some cancers.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

New to DVD this week:
MILFORD GRAVES FULL MANTIS

Director:
Jake Meginsky

Co-Director:
Neil Young

Premiere:
Rotterdam 2018

Select Festivals:
SXSW, CPH:DOX, Sheffield, Art of the Real, Sarasota, Indielisboa, Maryland

About:
An eclectic portrait of the avant-garde jazz percussionist.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to virtual theatrical today, Wednesday, April 22, in commemoration of Earth Day:
EATING UP EASTER

Director:
Sergio Mata’u Rapu

World Premiere:
Hawai’i 2018

Select Festivals:
Los Angeles Asian Pacific, NY Asian American, CAAMFest, Martha’s Vineyard, Global Peace, Margaret Mead, St Louis, Wild & Scenic, Minneapolis-St Paul, Washington DC Environmental,

About:
A personal examination of the deleterious impact of globalization and tourism on Easter Island.

To the outside world, Rapa Nui is known as Easter Island, famed for its stone statues, which have attracted curiosity and inspired outlandish theories of extraterrestrial or supernatural origins. In addition, they have drawn an increasing stream of visitors, making tourism a leading economic driver for the island, officially part of Chile. Unfortunately, as revealed in native Rapanui filmmaker Sergio Mata’u Rapu’s project, these tourists have brought with them an unsustainable amount of waste, taxing the resources of Rapa Nui and degrading its environment. Composed as a story to his infant son, Rapu’s film profiles several islanders who respond to the issues of development and sustainability, including a woman who focuses on recycling efforts, a couple who are attempting to preserve local cultural through the construction of a music school, and the filmmaker’s own father, a real estate developer. Unfortunately, Rapu struggles to balance these disparate threads, losing the environmental focus at times, and sacrifices a sense of urgency with an approach that, while thoughtful, feels too personal to be particularly impactful to the viewer.