Coming to PBS’s Local USA tonight, Tuesday, June 19:
THE GUYS NEXT DOOR
Directors:
Amy Geller and Allie Humenuk
Premiere:
Sarasota 2016
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, IFFBoston, Maryland, Provincetown, Woods Hole, Rhode Island, Big Sky Doc, RiverRun, MIX Milano, SF Jewish, Washington Jewish
About:
A profile of a gay couple and the woman who helped them have their own family.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, June 18:
QUEST
Director:
Jonathan Olshefski
Premiere:
Sundance 2017
Select Festivals:
Nantucket, True/False, New Directors/New Films, Cleveland, RiverRun, Nashville, Ashland, Hot Docs, Dallas, DOXA,
About:
A longitudinal portrait of an African-American family in North Philly.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films tomorrow, Saturday, June 16:
EXIT MUSIC
Director:
Cameron Mullenneaux
Premiere:
Hot Docs 2018
About:
A portrait of a young artist facing his impending death after a lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis.
Ethan was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis in his infancy, a genetic disorder that primarily impacts the lungs, resulting in difficulty breathing and other severe symptoms. Regularly given a death sentence throughout childhood and into his adult years, Ethan has survived into his late 20s, rechanneling his inability to plan longterm – work, marriage, family – into shorter-term creative endeavors including music and stop motion animation, both of which are peppered throughout Mullenneaux’s film. Despite a supportive family – particularly his stay-at-home caretaker dad, Ed, a Vietnam vet facing his own issues with PTSD – Ethan knows his condition is worsening. The film follows its often disarmingly funny protagonist as he prepares for the end, consulting with his physician about his desire not to have interventions to prolong his life when it reaches a point where he’s ready to let go – something with which Ed, in particular, has a very hard time coming to grips after decades fighting to keep his son alive. Drawing on a lifetime of home movies as well as intimate contemporary interviews, and finding a smart balance between the celebratory and the funereal, Mullenneaux constructs a sensitive and thought-provoking portrait of the process of dying on one’s own terms.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Coming to theatres today, Friday, June 15:
EATING ANIMALS
Director:
Christopher Quinn
Premiere:
Telluride 2017
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, IDFA, CPH:DOX, Docs Against Gravity
About:
An exploration of the impact of factory farming on our food production.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
America’s desire for cheaper, more convenient food has fueled the demise of traditional agriculture and the birth of factory farming. Based on the book by Jonathan Safran Foer and produced and narrated by Natalie Portman, this unflinching exposé features hidden-camera footage exposing animal abuse and the toxic conditions under which our food is produced. Christopher Quinn’s film is an eye-opening look at the American food production industry and the devastating costs of our dietary choices.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres today, Friday, June 15:
BELIEVER
Director:
Don Argott
Premiere:
Sundance 2018
Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Montclair, Miami, Outfest
About:
A Mormon rockstar advocates for inclusion and acceptance of LGBT people in the Church of Latter Day Saints.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Re-issued on DVD this week:
I CALLED HIM MORGAN
Director:
Kasper Collin
Premiere:
Venice 2016
Select Festivals:
Toronto, Telluride, New York, London, Vancouver, Mumbai, Philadelphia, In-Edit, Stockholm, Palm Springs, Thessaloniki Doc, Tempo Doc, CPH:DOX
About:
The story of the ultimately ill-fated relationship between jazz musician Lee Morgan and his common-law wife Helen.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Festival:
The 42nd Frameline: San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival
Dates:
June 14-24
About:
The longest-running LGBT festival in the world offers over 70 features, nearly half of them nonfiction. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Festival:
The 29th Human Rights Watch Film Festival
Dates:
June 14-21
About:
This year’s edition of the long-running event explores vital human rights issues across 13 nonfiction and one fiction feature. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
New to DVD this week:
THE CAGE FIGHTER
Director:
Jeff Unay
Premiere:
True/False 2017
Select Festivals:
New Orleans, Sheffield, AFI Docs, Camden, San Francisco, Seattle, Palm Springs, Milwaukee, Sidewalk
About:
A man risks his family and safety to return to the mixed martial arts arena.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Being re-issued on DVD today, Tuesday, June 12:
THE GOOD POSTMAN
Director:
Tonislav Hristov
Premiere:
IDFA 2017
Select Festivals:
Sundance, Full Frame, Human Rights Watch, Docaviv, Zagrebdox, One World, Thessaloniki Doc, Encounters, Bergen, Dokufest, Flahertiana, Shanghai, Göteborg, Movies That Matter, Docs Against Gravity
About:
An exploration of Europe’s refugee crisis through the lens of a Bulgarian village’s mayoral election.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
