Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to PBS’s American Masters tomorrow, Friday, August 2:
WORLDS OF URSULA K LE GUIN

Director:
Arwen Curry

World Premiere:
Sheffield 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Ashland, Mill Valley, BendFilm, Austin, Boston Sci-Fi, Berlin Sci-Fi, Sebastopol Doc, Belfast, Newport Beach

About:
An intimate portrait of the pioneering author.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Ursula K Le Guin: world builder, feminist, and fantasy author. Despite her early marginalization, Le Guin’s work challenged the male-dominated industry of literature, and demanded consideration of complex topics such as gender and identity, decades before these issues became contemporary talking points. Following Le Guin’s death in January 2018, Arwen Curry’s intimate portrait – featuring interviews with authors and Le Guin admirers Neil Gaiman and David Mitchell – is a moving tribute to a prescient female warrior and an homage to our shared love of storytelling.

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Wednesday, July 31:
JAY MYSELF

Director:
Stephen Wilkes

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2018

Select Festivals:
deadCENTER, Newport Beach

About:
A renowned photographer prepares to leave his longtime home and studio.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Acclaimed photographer Jay Maisel bought a six-story, 72-room building on the Bowery in 1966. Ever since, the site has served as his home, studio, and repository for a breathtaking collection of items that inspires his photographic work. But now it must be emptied out following its sale in the largest private real estate deal in NYC history. As Maisel prepares for this monumental move, a true end of an era, he reflects on his life and work for the camera of his mentee, photographer and filmmaker Stephen Wilkes.

Coming to DVD/VOD today, Tuesday, July 30:
MEETING GORBACHEV

Directors:
Werner Herzog and Andre Singer

Premiere:
Telluride 2018

Select Festivals:
Toronto, CPH:DOX, Tribeca, DocPoint, Dok Leipzig

About:
The German auteur has a meeting of the minds with the legendary final leader of the Soviet Union.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

FOR SAMA

Directors:
Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts

World Premiere:
SXSW 2019

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Cannes, Sheffield, Hot Docs, AFI Docs, Traverse City, Riverrun, Minneapolis-St Paul, Seattle, Biografilm, Belfast, deadCENTER, Maryland, New Zealand, Guanajuato, Munich, Galway, Melbourne, Mountainfilm

About:
An intimate chronicle of life during war.

I previously wrote about the doc for the Nantucket program, saying:
Filmmaker Waad al-Kateab courageously captures life in Syria through five years of civil war, bearing witness to the brutal conflict. During this time, she falls in love with a young doctor, marries, and has a daughter, Sama. Once a mother, al-Kateab must decide between remaining in Syria to fight for her country’s freedom or leaving to protect her child against the threat of constant danger.