Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 30: BORN TO FLY: ELIZABETH STREB VS GRAVITY
Catherine Gund’s profile of an acclaimed choreographer debuted at SXSW last year. It also screened at Cleveland, Full Frame, Seattle, Sydney, Brooklyn, Sheffield, and Frameline, among others.
I previously wrote about the film here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, June 29: THE OVERNIGHTERS
Jesse Moss’ portrait of the limits of community altruism debuted at Sundance last year, where it won a special jury prize. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, Traverse City, Hot Docs, True/False, Tribeca, Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Dallas, among others, and was shortlisted for the Academy Awards.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to PBS today, Friday, June 26: CAPTURING GRACE
David Iverson’s look at a dance therapy program had its world premiere at Mill Valley last year. It went on to DOC NYC, Denver, Dance on Camera, Wisconsin, Sedona, Sarasota, and Minneapolis-St Paul, among others.
I wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Recognizing that music and rhythmic activity can help those suffering from Parkinson’s disease achieve greater control of their mobility, two dancers from New York’s Mark Morris Dance Group lead a workshop teaching dance and movement to a group of Parkinsonians. As the tenacious participants joyously regain a sense of bodily freedom, they rehearse for a public performance that celebrates the transformative power of art and community to upend expectations and provide hope.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres today, Friday, June 26: A MURDER IN THE PARK
Shawn Rech and Brandon Kimber’s investigation into a celebrated anti-death penalty case debuted at DOC NYC last year. It also screened at Cleveland and now begins a multi-city theatrical release though the end of next month.
I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
With his execution just 48 hours away, Anthony Porter’s life was saved by a Northwestern University journalism class. Their re-investigation of the crime for which he was convicted – a double homicide in a Chicago park – led to the discovery of the real killer, Alstory Simon, whose confession exonerated Porter. If it all sounds too good to be true, it’s because, as compellingly argued in Rech and Kimber’s film, Porter actually is guilty, Simon is an innocent man, and both are just pawns in a much larger plan.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres and VOD tomorrow, Friday, June 26: FRESH DRESSED
Sacha Jenkins’ exploration of early hip hop fashion bowed at Sundance earlier this year. It has gone on to screen at Dallas, RiverRun, Sarasota, Nashville, and Hawaii, among others.
I previously profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films tomorrow, Friday, June 26: SAM KLEMKE’S TIME MACHINE
Matthew Bate’s look at a life through decades of video diaries made its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year. It also screened at Rotterdam, Cleveland, Hot Docs, Open City Docs, Docville, and Doc Aviv.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to theatres today, Wednesday, June 24 and to VOD exclusively via Netflix this Friday, June 26: WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE?
Liz Garbus’ nuanced portrait of the legendary Nina Simone debuted at Sundance this year. It went on to screen at True/False, San Francisco, Hot Docs, Montclair, and Nantucket, among other fests.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Now on DVD: STOP THE POUNDING HEART
Roberto Minervini’s hybrid meditation on unattainable love premiered at Cannes in 2013. It went on to Karlovy Vary, Toronto, London, Thessaloniki, New Directors, Biografilm, San Francisco, and Sydney, among others.
I previously wrote about the film out of Toronto here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, June 23: FEAR NO FRUIT
Mark Brian Smith’s love letter to an unsung produce pioneer bowed at the San Luis Obispo fest earlier this year. It has also screened at Newport Beach, where it picked up an award. FilmBuff now releases the doc on VOD platforms including iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, XBOX, and Vudu.
Smith’s subject is Frieda Caplan, who inadvertently became a trailblazer with the produce industry by becoming the first woman to work in Los Angeles’ wholesale market in the early 1960s, previously the exclusive domain of men. Building up her business, Caplan further changed the face of American produce by introducing a wide array of exotic fruits and vegetables into the US market – most notably kiwi – and, notably, by bringing the idea of marketing into the field. Still an active part of her company, which was taken over by her daughters in the 1980s, the nonagenarian makes for a likeable subject for what is otherwise a very conventional and overextended biography, brightened up only too briefly with some nice archival footage.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to America ReFramed today, Tuesday, June 23: A SELF-MADE MAN
Lori Petchers’ portrait of a transgender youth advocate debuted at Provincetown in 2013. It went on to screen at Margaret Mead, Portland Women’s fest, Rhode Island, Frameline, and LGBT fests in Santa Barbara, Vancouver, Paris, Athens, Seattle, and Copenhagen, among others.
Tony Ferraiolo was born female but identified more as a boy growing up. While he took on a lesbian identity when he was older, he felt dissatisfied, and contemplated suicide until he finally embraced his maleness. After he transitioned, Ferraiolo drew on his own struggles and experiences as an FTM to help others through the process – specifically young people and their families, recognizing that kids are recognizing their gender identity at younger and younger ages now, and families don’t always know how best to respond. Petchers featurette is a candid portrait of the affable youth advocate and his increasingly vital work.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
what (not) to doc 