Category Archives: Film

Coming to PBS’s American Masters tomorrow, Friday, September 14:
BASQUIAT: RAGE TO RICHES

Director:
David Shulman

Premiere:
BBC broadcast (October 2017)

About:
An exploration of the life and art of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Basquiat emerged in late 1970s New York, anonymously using the graffiti tag SAMO© together with collaborator Al Diaz. Eventually, he revealed himself, alienating Diaz and launching himself fully into the vibrant arts and cultural scene with his expressive, singular paintings. Using evocative period footage and interviews with Basquiat’s sisters, friends, and lovers, as well as fellow artists and gallerists, Shulman’s thoughtful film traces the artist’s rise to fame, while also exploring formative influences, and the subtle and overt racism that threatened to limit his potential, and, ultimately, contributed to the self-destructive behavior that cost him his life at the age of only 27.

Coming to theatres this Friday, September 14:
ANTONIO LOPEZ 1970: SEX FASHION & DISCO

Director:
James Crump

Premiere:
London 2017

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, IDFA, Guadalajara

About:
A portrait of an unheralded figure in the 1970s fashion scene.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Antonio Lopez was the most influential fashion illustrator of 1970s New York and Paris, known for discovering talents such as Pat Cleveland, Grace Jones, and Jerry Hall. Filmmaker James Crump takes us back to the swinging seventies when fashion designers and their entourages gained the prominence of rock stars. He explores the intimate relationship between Antonio and Karl Lagerfeld, while unpacking Lagerfeld’s deep-seated rivalry with Yves Saint Laurent. Interviews with Grace Coddington, Jessica Lange, Bill Cunningham, and many others bring this crucial chapter of fashion history to vivid life.

Coming to theatres tonight, Wednesday, September 12:
LIFE IN THE DOGHOUSE

Director:
Ron Davis

Premiere:
Provincetown 2018

Select Festivals:
Frameline, Newport, Sedona

About:
A gay couple turns their home into a dog rescue.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, partners Danny and Ron traveled from their home in North Carolina to lend their support. When they discovered that many dogs had to be left behind during the evacuation and flooding, the pair stepped in. Without intending to, the professional show horse trainers had discovered a new mission in life, and continued their efforts since, taking in unwanted and problem canines through their nonprofit, Danny & Ron’s Rescue, successfully adopting out 10,000 dogs over the next ten years. Davis’ affectionate and often emotional film brings viewers into the controlled chaos of their home – regularly shared with 70 dogs – and offers insight into their passionate advocacy for animals.

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, September 11:
TWO TRAINS RUNNIN’

Director:
Sam Pollard

Premiere:
Full Frame 2016

Select Festivals:
New York, New Orleans, Sheffield, Traverse City, Vancouver, Portland, DocuWest, deadCENTER, March on Washington, Hot Springs Doc, Woodstock, Austin, Chicago

About:
A chronicle of the 1964 search for unsung blues performers.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

New to DVD today, Tuesday, September 11:
WYETH

Director:
Glenn Holsten

Premiere:
Provincetown 2018

About:
An exploration of the popular American painter Andrew Wyeth.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 11:
SUSANNE BARTSCH: ON TOP

Directors:
Anthony&Alex

Premiere:
Hot Docs 2017

Select Festivals:
Docaviv, Seattle, NewFest, Provincetown, Athena, If Istanbul, Melbourne Queer

About:
A profile of the legendary New York City nightlife promoter.

Though born and raised in Switzerland, Susanne Bartsch long ago become synonymous with NYC nightlife. Anthony&Alex pay tribute to the woman whose job is to make sure everyone else has an amazing time, following her from her home in the Chelsea Hotel – where else – to various events, always in eye-catching, creative outfits. At the same time, the occasion of a retrospective of her trendsetting work at the Fashion Institute of Technology provides the context for an even more fascinating consideration of her influence over the decades, including pivotal early work in AIDS awareness, given how tied she is to the gay community.

Coming to PBS’s Doc World tonight, Monday, September 10:
ASK THE SEXPERT

Director:
Vaishali Sinha

Premiere:
Hot Docs 2017

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, New Orleans, IDFA, Sheffield, Melbourne, Bergen, Mumbai, Warsaw, St Louis, Cork, WatchDocs, Ambulante, DocPoint, Big Sky Doc, Movies That Matter, One World, Cleveland, Florida

About:
A portrait of a controversial Indian sex advice columnist.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Dr Mahinder Watsa, a 93-year-old retired gynecologist, is India’s foremost “sexpert.” His daily newspaper column in the Mumbai Mirror dispenses practical, often humorous advice in response to some common and sometimes decidedly unusual questions about sex. Despite his popularity, Dr Watsa is not without critics, who accuse him of contributing to the decline of Indian morality. Sinha’s film is a lighthearted look at India’s answer to Dan Savage. Is he a hero of progress or an enemy of traditional values?

Coming to PBS’s Doc World this Sunday, September 9:
SKY AND GROUND

Directors:
Talya Tibbon and Joshua Bennett

Premiere:
DOC NYC 2017

Select Festivals:
Full Frame, Santa Barbara, Vancouver, Ashland

About:
A family of refugees attempt to make it from Aleppo to Berlin.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
A compelling, ground-level immersion into the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time, Talya Tibbon and Joshua Bennett’s film accompanies the Nabi clan, a large, extended Syrian-Kurdish family, as they painstakingly make their way from their home in Aleppo, bombed out by the war, to the Idomeni refugee camp on the border of Greece and Macedonia. Their goal is Berlin, where they will reunite with family members and seek asylum – but first they must make the arduous and dangerous journey through Serbia, Hungary, and Austria.