Festival:
The 17th True/False Film Fest
Dates:
March 5-8
About:
Approximately 35 new and recent documentary and hybrid features make up the lineup of this well-loved Columbia MO event. Continue reading
Category Archives: Documentary
True/False 2020 Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On DVD/VOD: 1275 DAYS
Coming to DVD and VOD today, Tuesday, March 3:
1275 DAYS
Directors:
Katie Green and Carlye Rubin
World Premiere:
Heartland 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC
About:
An exploration of the impact of juvenile incarceration and harsh sentencing laws.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
In Elkhart IN, 16-year old Blake Layman attempts to rob a home, only to see his friend and accomplice, Danzele, lose his life to the homeowner’s gun. Even though Blake did not pull the trigger, he faces a 55-year prison sentence under the felony murder rule. Directors Katie Green and Carlye Rubin chart the unwavering efforts of Blake’s mother and his devoted girlfriend to appeal his conviction so that he doesn’t spend a lifetime behind bars for one bad decision.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Special Screening & On TV: THE TRADE
photo by Ross McDonnell
THE TRADE
Director:
Matthew Heineman
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
About:
An investigation into human smuggling, sex trafficking, and the plight of migrants.
I profiled the docuseries before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On VOD: WHILE I BREATHE, I HOPE
Coming to VOD today, Friday, February 28:
WHILE I BREATHE, I HOPE
Director:
Emily Harrold
Premiere:
New Orleans 2018
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Hot Springs Doc, Cucalorus, Toronto Black, Oxford,
About:
A portrait of a young African-American politician in the South.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On VOD: TREAD
TREAD
TREAD
Director:
Paul Solet
World Premiere:
SXSW 2019
About:
The bizarre tale of a vengeful man with a bulldozer run amok.
On June 4, 2004, after years of persecution and slights by well-connected rivals and the local government of small town Granby CO, Marvin Heemeyer, a welder and owner of a muffler shop, took his revenge on the community – or so the audience of Paul Solet’s at times absorbing film are initially led to believe. Heemeyer’s familiar, underdog origin story seems to, in part, justify his brazen plan – the demolition of several buildings with a bulldozer that the intrepid citizen customized into an impenetrable tank, represented here through overly slick recreations, audio recordings of Heemeyer’s grievances, and interviews with sympathetic friends. Eventually, however, the director reveals his would-be anti-hero to be instead more of a delusional, sociopathic super-villain, his unreliable version of the events contradicted by the facts. Solet relies far too much on re-enactments to tell the story, veering into awkward docudrama territory, but the sheer strangeness of the incident still makes the film a worthwhile watch.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
On TV: THE KINGMAKER
Coming to Showtime tomorrow, Friday, February 28:
THE KINGMAKER
Director:
Lauren Greenfield
World Premiere:
Venice 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Toronto, Telluride, Camden, London, El Gouna, Hamptons, Chicago, AFI Fest, Mill Valley, Warsaw
About:
A candid portrait of Imelda Marcos as she influences politics in the Philippines behind the scenes.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Special Screening: HUMAN NATURE
Coming to NYC’s JCC Manhattan tomorrow, Thursday, February 27:
HUMAN NATURE
Director:
Adam Bolt
World Premiere:
SXSW 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Hot Docs, Full Frame, AFI Docs, CPH:DOX
About:
An exploration of the potential implications of a major DNA technology.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Breakthroughs in scientific discovery have never been as potent, controversial, or radical as the gene-editing technology called CRISPR. With the ability to rewrite DNA and alter life as we know it, CRISPR also offers an opportunity to eradicate diseases and genetically engineer our children. Leading scientists, journalists, terminal patients, and bioethicists debate the significance of the science and the moral quandaries of CRISPR in this timely, cutting-edge documentary.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On DVD: AFTER PARKLAND
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, February 25:
AFTER PARKLAND
Directors:
Emily Taguchi and Jake Lefferman
World Premiere:
Tribeca 2019
Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Traverse City, Denver, Camden, Martha’s Vineyard, AFI Docs, Key West
About:
A profile of several survivors and family members as they reckon with the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
On TV: MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL
photo by Guy Le Querrec
MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL
Director:
Stanley Nelson
World Premiere:
Sundance 2019
Select Festivals:
Sydney, Miami, Cleveland, Atlanta, RiverRun, Montclair, Krakow, Seattle, Munich, Indielisboa, Tallgrass, Milwaukee,
About:
An expansive portrait of the life and work of the jazz pioneer.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On TV: ALWAYS IN SEASON
photo by Washington Post
ALWAYS IN SEASON
Director:
Jacqueline Olive
World Premiere:
Sundance 2019
Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Full Frame, RiverRun, Dallas, Salem, Minneapolis-St Paul, Oxford, Sun Valley, Cleveland, Indie Grits, Atlanta, Freep, Florida, Thin Line, San Francisco, Bentonville, Provincetown, AFI Docs, BlackStar
About:
An interrogation of the disturbing, lasting legacy of lynching in America.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
