Category Archives: Documentary

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, March 28: FINDING VIVIAN MAIER

John Maloof and Charlie Siskel’s mesmerizing exploration of the life and work of the posthumously celebrated street photographer made its debut at Toronto. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, New Orleans, Berlin, Palm Springs, and Boulder, among other events.

I included the doc in my Toronto coverage here.

Coming to VOD this coming Tuesday, April 1: I AM DIVINE

Jeffrey Schwarz’s portrait of John Waters’ superstar muse debuted at SXSW last year. It went on to screen extensively at LGBT fests including Inside Out, Tel Aviv, Frameline, and Outfest, New Orleans’ Film-O-Rama, Cleveland, Nashville, DOXA, Sheffield, Sydney, and Provincetown, among many others. The film now becomes available via VOD and digital download.

I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens next Monday, March 31: MEDORA

Andrew Cohn and Davy Rothbart’s look at a community through its high school basketball team had its world premiere last year at SXSW. Its fest circuit included Sarasota, Full Frame, Woods Hole, Sidewalk, Raindance, and Woodstock, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, March 25: THE PUNK SINGER

Sini Anderson’s look at the life and career of musician Kathleen Hanna premiered at SXSW last year. The doc’s fest circuit included DOC NYC, Seattle, London, IFF Boston, Sidewalk, Melbourne, and Hot Docs, among others, before a theatrical and VOD release last Fall.

I included the film in my Hot Docs coverage here.

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, March 25: LET THE FIRE BURN

Jason Osder’s riveting look at a radical group’s face off against authorities debuted at Tribeca last year, winning two awards. Its fest circuit included Hot Docs, Vancouver, London, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and AFI Docs, among others, before a limited theatrical release.

I previously covered the doc out of Tribeca here.

Coming to NYC’s Mayles Cinema via the Documentary in Bloom series today, Monday, March 24: BROTHERS HYPNOTIC

Reuben Atlas’ profile of the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble debuted at SXSW last year. Its fest circuit included Hot Docs, Montclair, Los Angeles, Film Society’s Sound + Vision, Urbanworld, Antenna, Indie Memphis, Sound Unseen, RIDM, Pan African, Big Sky, and Noise Pop.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens this coming Monday, March 24: ALL OF ME

Alexandra Lescaze’s look at the impact of weight loss on a group of overweight female friends had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival last year. It went on to screen at Austin and the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, in addition to numerous community and health-based events around the country.

Lescaze explores a once-tight-knit group of friends who bonded over their common size online and at social gatherings for big women and the men who love them. As some women start pursuing surgical options to reduce their weight over health concerns, the group dynamic shifts, with jealousy and vanity leading to rifts. The film focuses on three women in particular: Dawn, who once celebrated her size as a fat fetish model, but whose weight loss has stalled out, leading to problems with her husband; Judy, whose dramatic weight loss is accompanied by a shift to holistic lifestyle; and Zsalynn, the youngest of the three, who has struggled with yo yo dieting even as she is active as a fat acceptance activist. These and the other subjects speak with emotional honesty, serving as powerful examples of the impact society’s sizeism has on us all.