Category Archives: Recommendations

New to VOD this week:
STRAD STYLE

Director:
Stefan Avalos

Premiere:
Slamdance 2017

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, AFI Docs, Hamptons, Denver, Antenna Doc, Biografilm, Dallas, Sonoma, Martha’s Vineyard, Salem

About:
An amateur attempts to reproduce a world-class violin.

A project somewhat in the vein of AMERICAN MOVIE, Avalos’ project focuses on Daniel Houk, a man who lives in a rural Ohio farmhouse who has somehow convinced a celebrated violinist that he can build for him a perfect replica of Guarneri’s Il Cannone – one of the most valuable violins in the world – despite having no apparent instrument-making experience. The film follows Daniel’s trial-and-error approach to replication as the clock ticks down to the promised delivery date and a performance by Romanian violinist Razvan Stoica to which the DIY craftsman is invited. While the filmmaker might skimp on some background, and introduces Daniel’s mother and oddball cousin but fails to flesh them out enough, he has found an unlikely underdog who remains eminently watchable, even if some viewers may stay tuned in out of schadenfreude.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, November 7:
THE WAR SHOW

Directors:
Obaidah Zytoon and Andreas Dalsgaard

Premiere:
Venice 2016

Select Festivals:
Toronto, IDFA, Bergen, Reykjavik, London, Dubai, Goteborg

About:
A group of friends capture the de-evolution of Syria’s revolution into civil war.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, November 7:
RESTLESS CREATURE: WENDY WHELAN

Directors:
Linda Saffire and Adam Schlesinger

Premiere:
NYFF 2016

Select Festivals:
Palm Springs, Miami, RiverRun, Athena

About:
After three decades with the New York City Ballet, a prima ballerina faces the reality of impending retirement.

I previously wrote about the doc here

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, November 7:
SWIM TEAM

Director:
Lara Stolman

Premiere:
Hot Springs Doc 2016

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Napa Valley, Oxford, Glasgow, Big Sky Doc, Boulder, Reel Abilities, SXSWedu, San Diego Latino, Sarasota, RiverRun, Nashville, Montclair, Berkshire, Greenwich, SF Docfest

About:
A portrait of three teenage swimmers, all on the autism spectrum.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens tonight, Monday, November 6:
CHASING TRANE: THE JOHN COLTRANE DOCUMENTARY

Director:
John Scheinfeld

Premiere:
Telluride 2016

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Toronto, IDFA, Pan African

About:
An exploration of the life and music of the legendary jazz musician.

I previously wrote about the doc here.