Category Archives: Documentary

Coming to VOD today, Friday, November 20: SKY LINE

Miguel Drake-McLaughlin and Jonny Leahan’s look at science fiction potentially becoming reality just had its world premiere this past week at DOC NYC. It now comes to various VOD platforms via FilmBuff.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
In his 22nd century-set 1979 novel, THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE, noted sci-fi author Arthur C Clarke imagined an elevator connecting Earth with an orbiting satellite, eliminating the need for costly and environmentally destructive rockets. While scientists have considered such a project, they have been hampered by the lack of sufficiently advanced technology… until now. The entertaining and illuminating SKY LINE follows a group of scientists and entrepreneurs as egos collide in an attempt to reach for the stars.

Coming to theatres today, Friday, November 20: KINGDOM OF SHADOWS

Bernardo Ruiz’s exploration of cartel violence made its premiere at SXSW this year. It also screened at DOC NYC, Full Frame, Ambulante, San Francisco Latino, Ambulante California, Sedona, and the upcoming IDFA. In addition to a limited theatrical run, the film comes to VOD via Google Play and iTunes today.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Bernardo Ruiz’s compelling investigation into the human costs of the Mexican drug war, on both sides of the border, reveals the links between the lives and experiences of an activist nun in northern Mexico, a rancher in Texas who used to smuggle marijuana, and a US drug enforcement agent on the border. A raw history of the violence affecting countless lives, the film sheds critical light on a growing human rights crisis.

Coming to CNN tonight, Thursday, November 19: THE HUNTING GROUND

Kirby Dick’s powerful indictment of campus rape had its world premiere at Sundance at the beginning of the year. It went on to screen at True/False, Seattle, Traverse City, Martha’s Vineyard, Stockholm, and Poland’s American Festival, among other fests, as well as at special screenings at universities around the country. It also screened this past week as part of DOC NYC’s Short List.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, November 20: SWEET MICKY FOR PRESIDENT

Ben Patterson’s chronicle of a musician’s bid for political office had its world premiere at Slamdance this year, where it won the best doc award. The doc’s fest circuit has included Hot Docs, Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Reykjavik, and Documentary Edge, among others.

After Haiti’s devastating earthquake, the island nation and its ineffective government comes under scrutiny. Taking special note are Haitians living abroad, such as Pras Michel, the celebrated Grammy Award-winning musician who was a founder of the acclaimed group The Fugees. Pras believes his homeland is in need of a drastic change in leadership to help its recovery, and puts his energy behind a most unlikely candidate: Michel Martelly, otherwise known as the local pop star Sweet Micky. Despite no political experience between them, the duo sets out on an underdog journey that seems to be making unlikely strides – until Wyclef Jean, another former Fugee, enters the race. Pras functions here as a too-present but not unlikeable narrator, moving the story along its familiar election countdown trajectory at a good pace. While presenting few surprises given how the Haitian election was covered due to its celebrity sensationalism, Patterson does offer candid behind-the-scenes access to the main players that makes the proceedings worthwhile.

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, November 20: VERY SEMI-SERIOUS

Leah Wolchok’s tribute to The New Yorker‘s cartoons debuted at Tribeca this year. It also screened at San Francisco, Seattle, Montclair, AFI Docs, and Traverse City, among other fests.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to theatres this Friday, November 20: DRONE

Tonje Hessen Schei’s look at modern unmanned warfare debuted on European television in April 2014. The feature version has screened extensively at festivals, including IDFA, CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, AFI Docs, Bergen, Sheffield, True/False, DOXA, Doc Aviv, Docs Against Gravity, Zurich, and It’s All True, among others.

Exploring the use of the titular remote-controlled armed aircraft, Tonje Hessen Schei offers multiple viewpoints on the controversial topic in an intelligently-crafted film. Despite claims of the surgical precision of drone strikes, the film explores their physical and psychological impact on the Pakistani community of Wajiristan, subject to seemingly endless drone warfare. The other side of the combat, from the safety of American control rooms half a world away, is represented by subjects like Brandon Bryant, a former drone pilot who has experienced a crisis of conscience together with PTSD from his experiences, and now speaks out for restrictions on drone usage. So does Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell’s former chief of staff, who describes drone employment more as murder than as warfare, and notes the impossibility of winning a war when each drone strike creates more potential terrorists than it kills.