Category Archives: Recommendations

New to DVD this week:
INSIDE LEHMAN BROTHERS

Director:
Jennifer Deschamps

World Premiere:
ARTE TV France (Sept 2018)

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Hot Docs, Santa Barbara, Cleveland

About:
Lehman Brothers whistleblowers look back on their efforts to sound an alarm.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Ten years after the Wall Street meltdown of 2008, questions still linger over whether insiders could see it coming or do more to stop it. Director Jennifer Deschamps conducts an involving autopsy of what led to the largest bankruptcy filing in US history. The film profiles several insiders who had early warning signs about the dangers of subprime mortgages and tried to sound alarms from within. The stories of these whistleblowers deepen our understanding of the mindset that caused the crash and serve as a stark warning for the future.

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Wednesday, October 16:
STUFFED

Director:
Erin Derham

World Premiere:
SXSW 2019

Select Festivals:
Seattle, Woods Hole, Vancouver, Nashville, Maui

About:
An exploration of the misunderstood world of taxidermy.

For many, taxidermy might seem like an antiquated, morbid, or even distasteful hobby. Director Erin Derham takes a closer look to challenge these perceptions, and to gain a greater appreciation of the different types of taxidermy still being done and of the people behind the activity. Her subjects are not the stereotypical game trophy hunters, but instead an assortment of artists and natural history enthusiasts who express themselves, or try to capture the essence of an animal, through this painstaking work. Some tackle the detailed work as purists, attempting to bring the highest level of verisimilitude to the animal, while others construct fanciful hybrid or mythological creatures, demonstrating less scientific rigor and more artistic expression. While the film doesn’t dig particularly deep, it offers an intriguing glimpse into a world of curiosity.

Coming to OVID.tv today, Tuesday, October 15:
THE APOLOGY

Director:
Tiffany Hsiung

Premiere:
Hot Docs 2016

Select Festivals:
Human Rights Watch, Göteborg, Vilnius, Busan, Cork, Cinemalaya, DocPoint

About:
Former comfort women speak out about the abuse they suffered in WWII.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, October 15:
EMANUEL

Director:
Brian Ivie

World Premiere:
Bentonville 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC

About:
The aftermath of the church shooting in Charleston.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 15:
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING

Director:
Tom Donahue

World Premiere:
Toronto 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Hamptons, Chicago, Martha’s Vineyard, Napa Valley, Stockholm, Miami, Thessaloniki Doc, Docville, Riverrun, Edinburgh

About:
An investigation into the entertainment industry’s long-running problem with gender discrimination.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 15:
RUDEBOY: THE STORY OF TROJAN RECORDS

Director:
Nicolas Jack Davies

World Premiere:
London 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, IDFA, CPH:DOX, Doc’n’Roll, Glastonbury, Thessaloniki Doc

About:
The history of the pioneering label that popularized Jamaican music in the UK and beyond.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
During the late 1960s and early 70s, London’s Trojan Records label became one of the most influential record companies in history. By tapping into Jamaican migration to England, the label became a force in spreading ska, rocksteady, and reggae. Rich interviews with colorful characters reveal the stories behind beloved songs such as “Rudy, A Message to You,” “The Israelites,” and “You Can Get if You Really Want.” The film celebrates how immigration and innovation transformed popular culture.