Category Archives: Documentary

New to DVD this week: THE MESSENGER

Su Rynard’s investigation into the dangers facing songbirds made its world premiere at Hot Docs last year. Screenings followed at Jackson Hole Wildlife, Vancouver, Mill Valley, Reykjavik, Calgary, and Bergen, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, May 3: BIKES VS CARS

Fredrik Gertten’s consideration of personal transportation choices debuted at Tempo Documentary Festival last year. The film went on to screen at SXSW, Docs Against Gravity, Sydney, Melbourne, Transilvania, Big Sky, Sedona, SF Green, and DC’s Environmental fest.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to Logo tomorrow, Tuesday, May 3: MIND/GAME: THE UNQUIET JOURNEY OF CHAMIQUE HOLDSCLAW

Rick Goldsmith’s portrait of a basketball star’s struggle with mental illness made its debut at Nashville last year, where it won an audience award. The film went on to screen at Frameline, Atlanta’s Out on Film, San Francisco Jewish, and Queens World, among other events.

Chamique Holdsclaw emerged from a championship career in college basketball to be a number one draft pick in the WNBA, nicknamed the “female Michael Jordan” and deemed by some sports writers as good enough to compete against any pro, female or male. Despite her potential, her professional career didn’t go as planned, as chronicled in Goldsmith’s featurette. Instead, the athlete found herself struggling with clinical depression, unsure how to even seek out help. Over time, she thankfully got the help she needed, and became an advocate for mental health awareness. While the film has some serious issues – chiefly very awkward narration, and, to a more limited extent, a strange semi-avoidance of Holdsclaw’s sexuality – it does offer some interesting insight into the challenges of addressing mental health within African American communities and among athletes.

Coming to theatres today, Friday, April 29: TRANSFIXED

Alon Kol’s chronicle of an unconventional couple had its world premiere at Thessaloniki Doc last year. Screenings followed at Montreal’s Nouveau Cinema, Cinequest, and Inside Out, among other events.

Martine and John met in a support group for Asperger’s Syndrome in Toronto and began dating in 2003. They’re a happy couple, but in John’s view, one major thing has kept them from being as close as they’d like: Martine is transgender, but has not yet had bottom surgery. He refuses to marry her – or have intercourse – until she addresses that issue. Complicating matters, just as Martine is about to have gender reassignment surgery, the Ontario government decides to stop including such costly procedures under health care coverage. Middle aged and working class, Martine feels she has no choice but to become an activist, and sues the government on the grounds of discrimination, ultimately winning her case. Despite the victory, Martine’s weight and corresponding health issues create significant delays to gaining medical approval to proceed with the surgery. Kol follows her as she seeks a solution, through the surgery, and into her recovery, in the process exploring Martine’s relationship with John. The couple’s Asperger’s, and John’s additional Tourette Syndrome, at times make it difficult to connect with the viewer – John in particular often comes off as brusque – and Kol’s filmmaking is decidedly on the rougher side, but theirs is ultimately an appealing underdog story.