Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to theatres today, Friday, November 8:
THE KINGMAKER

Director:
Lauren Greenfield

World Premiere:
Venice 2019

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Toronto, Telluride, Camden, London, El Gouna, Hamptons, Chicago, AFI Fest, Mill Valley, Warsaw

About:
A candid portrait of Imelda Marcos as she influences politics in the Philippines behind the scenes.

The film is screening as part of DOC NYC’s Short List, for which our program notes read:
Acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Lauren Greenfield continues her exploration of extreme wealth with the most political work of her career. Filmed over five years, this portrait of Imelda Marcos chronicles her efforts to exert control in the Philippines through support for President Rodrigo Duterte and the candidacy of her son Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos. Greenfield includes the voices of political dissidents who give damning testimony against the Marcos family.

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, November 8:
16 BARS

Director:
Samuel Bathrick

Premiere:
DocLands 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Miami, Big Sky Doc, Salem, Virginia, Milwaukee

About:
An acclaimed musician leads a transformative program in a Virginia jail.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

New to DVD this week:
FOOD COOP

Director:
Tom Boothe

World Premiere:
Paris theatrical release (October 2016)

Select Festivals:
Planet in Focus, San Francisco Green, Twin Cities

About:
An in-depth look at Brooklyn’s Park Slope Food Coop.

Established in 1973, the Coop is a member-run collective that is able to offer a wide range of fresh food at substantially lower than average prices because they keep down costs by having the membership work the store. Planning his own Paris version of the Coop, director Tom Boothe observes the inner workings while also interviewing various members as they fulfill their work obligations, such as composting, clean up, check out, and walking customers to the subway; follows the activities of some of the small paid administrative staff; and checks in on various committees, who handle disciplinary matters, food selection, events, etc. While the project feels a bit overlong and shapeless, it works as an institutional portrait and successfully captures how this unique entity has managed to be a sustainable, successful business in the long-term.

New to DVD/VOD this week:
LIFE WITHOUT BASKETBALL

Directors:
Tim O’Donnell and Jon Mercer

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2018

Select Festivals:
Athena, Atlanta, IFF Boston, Toronto Human Rights Watch

About:
A Muslim athlete fights back against a ban on the hijab.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
After a controversial basketball ruling about head coverings makes it impossible for Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir to maintain her religious convictions while playing professionally, she begins training the next generation of Muslim girls at an Islamic school’s athletics program. As she reckons with the possibility of life without basketball, Bilqis fights to change the rules of the International Basketball Federation so she might become the first Division I basketball player to play wearing the hijab.

New to DVD this week:
TO END A WAR

Director:
Marc Silver

Premiere:
Colombia (September 2017)

Select Festivals:
Colombian Film Festival NY

About:
The Colombian government tries to broker peace with guerrilla forces to end a 50+ year conflict.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to HBO tomorrow, Wednesday, November 6 and to theatres this Friday, November 8:
THE APOLLO

Director:
Roger Ross Williams

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2019

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Nantucket, Seattle, Chicago, Provincetown, Montclair

About:
On the history and legacy of the legendary Harlem theatre.

I wrote about the doc for Nantucket’s program, saying:
From the director of the Oscar®-nominated LIFE, ANIMATED comes this rich history of Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater. For 85 years, this cultural landmark has played host to legendary African-American artists and to newcomers willing to take the stage on the venue’s famed Amateur Night. Framed around the inaugural staging of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ acclaimed BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME, this portrait demonstrates the pivotal role that the arts play in the African-American experience.

Coming to Fuse tomorrow, Tuesday, November 5:
THE CANDIDATES

Directors:
Alexandra Stergiou and Lexi Henigman

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2019

Select Festivals:
Big Sky Doc, IFF Boston

About:
The 2016 presidential election, as seen by NYC high school story students.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Since 1996, the wonderfully diverse students of a Queens public high school have staged an elaborate mock presidential election for an entire semester, simulating the American electoral process against the backdrop of the real one. In 2016, Ukrainian-American Daniel hams it up as a cocky Donald Trump, while Pakistani-American Misbah, an observant Muslim, portrays Hillary Clinton, with also-rans like earthy Jill Stein thrown in for good measure. As the students reenact the rigors of the divisive political campaign, hard truths about politics are revealed, yet hope lives on.

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens tonight, Monday, November 4:
DECADE OF FIRE

Directors:
Vivian Vazquez and Gretchen Hildebran

Premiere:
DOC NYC 2018

Select Festivals:
Full Frame, Cleveland, Chicago Latino, Harlem, Maryland

About:
A Bronx native revisits the truth behind the boroughs rash of arson in the 1970s.

I previously wrote about the doc here.