Category Archives: Documentary

Coming to theatres today, Friday, June 7:
THE LAVENDER SCARE

Director:
Josh Howard

World Premiere:
qFLIX Philadelphia 2017

Select Festivals:
Virginia, Sun Valley, Frameline, Inside Out, LGBT fests in Sydney, San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Atlanta, Rochester, Austin, Miami, and Palm Springs

About:
A look back at the Cold War era panic over gays in the government.

In 1953, President Dwight Eisenhower declared war on homosexuals, specifically ordering their purge from the federal government. Motivated by fears over Communist espionage, the premise was that lesbians and gays, forced to break the law to indulge their desires, would be easy marks for blackmail by Russian agents seeking access to government secrets. The result was the destruction of careers, and in some cases lives, as explored through several brief profiles in Josh Howard’s serviceable if sometimes clunky project. While most individuals who were discriminated against had no choice but to go quietly, however, one man, astronomer Franklin Kameny, decided to fight back. Seeking redress for the injustice that ended his scientific career, he sought audience with any politician who might listen, and formed the Washington DC chapter of the gay rights activist organization The Mattachine Society. Howard provides viewers with a worthwhile history lesson about discrimination and resistance, particularly at a time of a present-day administration that is hostile to the victories won by LGBT people.

IF I LEAVE HERE TOMORROW: A FILM ABOUT LYNYRD SKYNYRD

Director:
Stephen Kijak

World Premiere:
SXSW 2018

Select Festivals:
Cleveland, Nashville, Macon, deadCenter

About:
A history and appreciation of the legendary Southern rock band.

In his latest music doc, director Stephen Kijak chronicles the sometimes tragic history of the iconic band behind “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird,” particularly focusing on the 1977 plane crash that claimed the lives of frontman Ronnie Van Zant and several others. Taking a largely chronological approach, the well-produced film tracks the origins and early years of the Jacksonville FL band, and details how the hardworking bandmates crossed over with their honky-tonk Americana. While Kijak addresses the band’s adoption of the controversial Confederate flag as a symbol – mandated by their record company – the warm film otherwise steers fairly clear of overt politics to relate instead the closeness of its members, the consequences of the plane crash, and the continued impact of Van Zant’s loss more than four decades ago.

Coming to theatres today, Friday, June 7:
THIS ONE’S FOR THE LADIES

Director:
Gene Graham

Premiere:
SXSW 2018

Select Festivals:
Sheffield, AFI Docs, San Francisco, Seattle, Montclair, IFF Boston

About:
An insider look at the African American exotic dancing scene of Newark NJ.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, June 7:
THE RAFT

Director:
Marcus Lindeen

World Premiere:
CPH:DOX 2018

Select Festivals:
IDFA, London, Melbourne, Chicago, Doclisboa, Sao Paulo, Bergen, Antenna Doc, Dokufest, Haifa, Zurich, Athens, RiverRun

About:
A look back at an unusual social experiment from 1973.

In 1973, Mexican anthropologist Santiago Genovés launched a study that made international headlines, bringing together 11 diverse strangers to live in cramped quarters on a raft called the Acali on a voyage from the Canary Islands to Mexico over 100 days. The so-called Acali Experiment, though sounding like a prototypical REAL WORLD or BIG BROTHER reality television show, was intended as a scientific study to observe how individuals dealt with conflict, with Genovés on hand to push buttons, encourage sexual liaisons, and instigate quarrels. Coming at a time of women’s liberation and free love, the press was quick to dub the vessel “the sex raft,” but the reality, as revealed here through participants’ present-day recollections, archival footage, and Genovés’ journals, reveal a different story. The scientist’s approach took on dictatorial undertones, leading some participants to still harbor resentment for how he treated them. Lindeen skillfully creates a dialogue between the scientist, who died in 2013, and his surviving subjects, as they call into question Genovés’ “official” version of the proceedings while walking around a scale-model replica of their three-month home at sea. The result is a fascinating interrogation of his social experiment, presented in a compelling and creative manner.

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, June 7:
GHOST FLEET

Directors:
Shannon Service, Jeffrey Waldron

World Premiere:
Telluride 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Toronto, Berlin, Doc Edge, Seattle, El Gouna, Hamptons, Palm Springs, Cleveland

About:
A harrowing look at slavery on the high seas.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
This suspenseful high-seas adventure follows a team of activists who rescue modern-day slaves in Thailand’s illegal fishing industry. Thai activist Patima Tungpuchayakul, nominated for the Nobel Prize for her work rescuing thousands of victims, tracks down escaped slaves who live like Robinson Crusoe on remote islands, helping to bring these long-vanished ghosts back to life and to their families.