Category Archives: Recommendations

Photo © Agence Vu/Gabriel | Courtesy PBS

Director:
Ian MacMillan

World Premiere:
PBS (June 2019)

About:
An in-depth look back at the Chinese student protest movement that captivated the world three decades ago.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to PBS’s America ReFramed tomorrow, Tuesday, September 3:
COUNCILWOMAN

Director:
Margo Guernsey

World Premiere:
Big Sky Doc 2019

Select Festivals:
Workers Unite, Laborfest, Salem, Havana NY, CineLasAmericas, NY Dominican, Latino fests in Los Angeles, San Diego, Philadephia

About:
A portrait of a working-class Dominican politician in Providence.

Carmen Castillo is a full-time housekeeper in a Providence RI hotel. When she puts away her uniform, the Dominican immigrant switches gears to her other job: city councilwoman. With neither job alone paying sufficiently to make ends meet for her family, the resilient Castillo leads the charge for fair wages for working families. Dismissed as “just” a maid by some, she demonstrates the dignity of honest work and the power of grassroots organizing, particularly as her seat is challenged. While director Margo Guernsey struggles to adequately include Castillo’s personal life, the determined woman’s appealing personality still shines through. Though focused on local politics, and candid about its challenges, this smaller profile nevertheless speaks to the importance of political engagement.

Coming to PBS’s POV tonight Monday, September 2:
FARMSTEADERS

Director:
Shaena Mallett

World Premiere:
Athens International Film and Video Festival 2018

Select Festivals:
Cucalorus, Big Sky Doc, IFF Boston, Indie Grits, Hot Springs Doc, Newburyport Doc, Chagrin Doc, Southern Circuit

About:
An Ohio couple attempts to restart a family dairy farm.

Providing an intimate look at the struggles of small scale farmers in America, Shaena Mallett’s understated but thoughtful portrait follows Nick and Celeste Nolan, who are working the land that previously belonged to Nick’s late grandfather. Unwilling to see his family’s farm become swallowed up by large industrial farming, Nick tries to reinvent it, with Celeste leading the charge on the cheese production that keeps them afloat. When tragedy strikes their biggest customer, the couple fears for the farm’s sustainability, and worries if they will have anything left to pass on to their young children.

New to DVD this week:
BE NATURAL: THE UNTOLD STORY OF ALICE GUY-BLACHÉ

Director:
Pamela B Green

Premiere:
Cannes 2018

Select Festivals:
Telluride, New York, London, Deauville, Rio, Göteborg

About:
Unearthing the largely forgotten story of the world’s first female film director.

I previously wrote about the doc here.