Category Archives: Documentary

New to VOD this week: RABIN IN HIS OWN WORDS

Erez Laufer’s chronicle of the assassinated Israeli prime minister debuted at Haifa last year, where it won the best documentary award. Its circuit has also included Hot Docs, Cleveland, Other Israel, and the Atlanta, Toronto, and Miami Jewish fests.

Constructed almost entirely from archival sources featuring Yitzhak Rabin, including public appearances, interviews, and personal letters, Laufer’s film, per its title, functions as almost an autobiography of the Israeli politician, who was twice elected prime minister, as well as serving as the nation’s US Ambassador and minister of defense. Demonstrating his skillful editing, Laufer directs Rabin’s own voice to relate the leader’s life and career, from personal reflections on a strict upbringing and about meeting his wife, to candid thoughts on his involvement in nation-defining events like the Six Day War as head of the Israeli Defense Forces. Summarizing decades of public service against the backdrop of ever-present tensions or all-out conflict in the Middle East, Laufer uses some shortcuts that may prove unclear to viewers not intimately aware of Israeli politics and history, but, for the most part, the film provides just enough context to remain always engaging. The film is particularly compelling as it lays out Rabin’s contentious diplomatic efforts with the PLO for peace through the Oslo Accords, which sadly led ultraconservative factions to rally against Rabin, inspiring Yigal Amir to assassinate him in 1995.

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 14: DOGLEGS

Heath Cozens profile of an underground wrestling league which includes disabled competitors had its world premiere at Hot Docs last year. Other screenings have included Fantastic Fest, Cleveland, and Nippon Connection. It now comes to VOD platforms via FilmBuff.

The titular Tokyo-based setting originated decades ago as a support group for the disabled. Seeing the potential of confronting spectators – and themselves – about disability and ableism, the participants organized wrestling bouts pitting themselves against able-bodied opponents. Rather than going the route of providing a space for a feel-good display of inclusion, however, this league is confrontational – disturbingly so, as evidenced by the seemingly neverending rivalry between founders “Sambo” Shintaro, who has cerebral palsy, and “Antithesis” Kitajima, the group’s non-disabled volunteer leader. Likened to SM play, Kitajima is ruthless in the ring, not only physically, but psychologically, hurling humiliating insults about Shintaro’s frailty. Another combative pair, married couple L’Amant, a crossdressing alcoholic with severe cerebral palsy, and Mrs L’Amant, twice his size, also publicly work out their complex psychodramas in the ring. Cozens presents his audience with often shocking images, making the viewer question from one scene to the next whether what’s on display is empowering or exploitative – or, somehow, both – making for an ever-provocative, complex re-assessment of one’s conscious or subconscious perspectives on the disabled.

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Saturday, June 11: HE NAMED ME MALALA

Davis Guggenheim’s look at the influential activist had its world premiere at Telluride last year. Screenings followed at DOC NYC, Toronto, Tokyo, Mumbai, Adelaide, London, Hamptons, and Athena, among other fests. The film now comes to VOD exclusively via Hulu.

I previously wrote about the doc here.