Now on DVD, released this week: FAMBUL TOK
Sara Terry’s film on grassroots truth and reconciliation in Sierra Leone made its world premiere at SXSW earlier this year. It went on to win festival awards at Nashville and elsewhere since.
I wrote about the film out of SXSW here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Dear Documentary Filmmakers: Do you really need to zoom in on your interview subject as s/he begins to cry?
The above example is a cliché at this point, but that doesn’t mean it’s not being done anymore – quite the contrary. You’ve managed to get your interviewee to open up about some painful subject and you notice tears beginning to well. You think, “This is it, this is the shot!” and you abruptly zoom in so that the audience is sure to catch that tear in all of its magnified glory on the giant theatrical screen in your mind. Continue reading
Filed under Dear Documentary Filmmakers, Documentary, Film
Coming to NYC’s IFC Center this Friday, October 28: URBANIZED
Gary Hustwit rounds out his design trilogy that also included HELVETICA and OBJECTIFIED with this look at city design and planning. The film made its world premiere at Toronto last month and has been traveling around the US (and even Ireland) since. Additional screenings and theatrical engagements may be found at the film’s website.
I wrote about the film out of Toronto here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD next Tuesday, November 1: HOT COFFEE
Attorney-turned-filmmaker Susan Saladoff brought her scathing exposé on how Americans have been misled into weakening their own ability to wage civil lawsuits to Sundance for its world premiere. It was picked up by HBO for broadcast this past Summer.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Releases, Sundance
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 25: THE PEOPLE VS GEORGE LUCAS
Alexandre O Philippe premiered his look at STAR WARS fandom at SXSW last year, and made the rounds at numerous other fests since then. The doc had a limited theatrical release beginning this past May.
I wrote about the film upon its theatrical release
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
The director of TWO TOWNS OF JASPER and BANISHED takes on the deadly consequences of US immigration and the economic disparity between the US and countries to the south.
Marco Williams, already known for a number of films exploring issues of social justice and racism in America, turns his camera on the story of would-be undocumented workers who attempt to cross into the Arizona from Mexico, but end up dying in the unforgiving Sonoran Desert. Driven to migrate due to a lack of economic opportunity, and unable to do so legally because of current immigration policies, more than 1500 have died in this manner in the last decade. Williams traces their stories, taking a multiperspectival approach – following ill-prepared migrants planning to cross, border agents who try to stop them, humanitarian groups who try to provide resources such as water, forensic teams that work to identify dead bodies, and migrant families back home who often don’t know what’s happened to their loved ones. Focusing primarily on those who have already died, Williams aims to give voice to those who have already been silenced, and create a dialogue among the living to stop further needless deaths.
Filed under Documentary, Film, In the Works
Coming to NYC’s AMC Empire 25 tomorrow, Friday, October 21 (and expanding in November): ELEVATE
Anne Buford’s film focuses on the potential of basketball to change the lives of players in Senegal. The doc premiered at SXSW and went on to screen at notable fests like BAMcinemaFEST and Dallas, where I was on the jury that awarded it the Grand Jury Prize.
I wrote about the film out of Dallas here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Dear Documentary Filmmakers: Why would you make a doc on a trans person yet insist on using pronouns your subject doesn’t?
This couldn’t be simpler, as far as I’m concerned: If you, as a filmmaker, convince individuals that you’re the right person to tell their stories, then you should treat them with respect. They’re entrusting you with access to their lives, so show them the same level of trust with how you represent them. Continue reading
Filed under Dear Documentary Filmmakers, Documentary, Film
Coming to PBS’ Independent Lens tomorrow, Thursday, October 20: DONOR UNKNOWN
Jerry Rothwell’s entertaining look at sperm donation and family connections made its world premiere at Sheffield last year before making appearances at other major fests including IDFA and Tribeca, where it snagged the Best Feature Award for the online component of the latter event.
In my coverage of IDFA for indieWIRE, I wrote:
Rothwell’s film was introduced as covering a lighter topic than many of the more social issue-oriented selections, but while perhaps not as ultra-serious in approach, its core is still thought-provoking. The titular figure is Jeffrey, a Venice Beach RV dweller who used to make a substantial amount of money by donating sperm to the California Cryobank. After some of his many biological offspring find one another thanks to an online registry database, leading to a New York Times cover story, he reveals his identity. The film focuses on one of his daughters, JoEllen, as she explains how she found more than a dozen half-siblings (so far), and sets out to meet Jeffrey in person for the first time. In the process, the film explores concepts of family and parenthood, and attains poignancy when Jeffrey’s kids and their mothers confront the reality behind who he is versus their idealized fantasies based on his donor questionnaire.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
The Hamptons International Film Festival wrapped up its 19th edition yesterday, with awards announced at a ceremony the previous evening. Because of scheduling issues, it had been quite a few years since I’d been able to attend the festival, but I was happy to make it this year for a couple of nights. The fest has an easy-going feel while still remaining true to its upscale setting, especially with regard to its party locations. Even if the weather in October doesn’t match that of the summer season, just being in East Hampton feels like a welcome getaway from the city. While in town, I managed to see most of the docs I had hoped to, though I sadly had to leave PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY early to catch the jitney back into the city – for that reason, I’ll hold off writing about it until I see the epilogue. That said, my thoughts on seven other films: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief
