Category Archives: Film

Coming to Discovery+ today, Monday, August 16:
THE SMARTEST KIDS IN THE WORLD

Director:
Tracy Droz Tragos

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2018

About:
American teens studying abroad offer a lens on contrasting educational systems.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Based on Amanda Ripley’s bestselling book, Tracy Droz Tragos’ film follows four American teenagers who go abroad to study in the Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland, and South Korea–nations that dramatically outperform the US in education. Following her acclaimed debut about three boys in an impoverished community, RICH HILL, the filmmaker now turns to those who are most impacted by the shortcomings of the US education system—students themselves—to find out what could improve our schools.

Coming to MUBI today, Friday, August 13:
THE AMERICAN SECTOR

Director:
Courtney Stephens, Pacho Velez

World Premiere:
Berlin 2020

Select Festivals:
Art of the Real, Docaviv, Camden, AFI Fest, RIDM, Maryland

About:
A road trip tracking several of the remnants of the Berlin Wall now held by American collectors and institutions.

Coming to theatres and VOD today Friday, August 13:
THE MEANING OF HITLER

Director:
Petra Epperlein, Michael Tucker

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2020

Select Festivals:
Docaviv, Atlanta Jewish, Sofia, Philadelphia

About:
A provocative consideration of the lasting influence and draw of Hitler.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
What can history tell us about the present? Filmmakers Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker search for answers, taking inspiration from Sebastian Haffner’s 1978 German best-selling book The Meaning of Hitler. Shot in nine countries, the film explores what Hitler means in the current waves of white supremacy, antisemitism, and the weaponization of history. We hear provocative insights from historians and writers such as Martin Amis, Deborah Lipstadt, and Saul Friedlander, along with famed Nazi hunters Beate and Serge Klarsfeld, on why understanding history is more urgent than ever. 

Coming to theatres and virtual cinemas tomorrow, Friday, August 13:
SEARCHING FOR MR RUGOFF

Director:
Ira Deutchman

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2019

Select Festivals:
Palm Springs, Cleveland, Wisconsin, Galway, Mill Valley

About:
A look back at the outsized personality behind legendary art house distributor Cinema 5.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Ira Deutchman reveals the untold story of the creative genius behind 1960s-’70s film distribution company Cinema 5. Filmmakers, critics, collaborators, and family members paint a vivid portrait of Donald Rugoff, a volatile, self-destructive, and fearless champion of independent and art films. Drawing from a rich archive and colorful interviews, veteran distributor, producer, and former Rugoff employee Deutchman brings us closer to his legendary and controversial mentor, who took risks and fought for great cinema while facing personal battles of his own.

Coming to Ovid.tv tomorrow, Friday, August 13:
STOP

Director:
Spencer Wolff

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2014

About:
A young man takes on the NYPD’s policy of racial profiling.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to theatres this Friday, August 13:
NOT GOING QUIETLY

Director:
Nicholas Bruckman

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
SXSW, Oxford, Cleveland, Annapolis, Provincetown, San Francisco Jewish

About:
When a young father chances to meet a powerful senator on an airplane, their exchange goes viral, sparking one of the most unlikely political movements in a generation.

Coming to Ovid.tv today, Wednesday, August 11:
THE OTHER SIDE OF EVERYTHING

Director:
Mila Turajlic

World Premiere:
Toronto 2017

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, IDFA, Double Exposure, DocPoint, ZagrebDox, Thessaloniki Doc, Tempo Doc, One World, Göteborg, Vilnius, Hong Kong, Doc10, Cleveland, San Francisco, Vision du Reel, DOK.fest Munich, Docs Against Gravity, Seattle, Docaviv, Doc Edge, Sydney, Dokufest, Melbourne

About:
The filmmaker explores her remarkable mother and Serbia’s tumultuous political inheritance.

I previously wrote about the doc here.