Category Archives: Recommendations

Sundance 2017: Even More Additional Titles Announced

sundance 2017Two more additions have been made to the lineup of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, which begins next Thursday, January 19:

DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES:
TRUMPED: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL UPSET OF ALL TIME

Directors: Banks Tarver, Ted Bourne, & Mary Robertson / USA
In a behind-the-scenes look at the biggest political upset in recent history, Mark Halperin, John Heilemann and Mark McKinnon offer unprecedented access and never-before-seen footage of candidate Trump, from the primaries through the debates to the dawning realization that the controversial businessman will become the 45th President of the United States. World Premiere

PREMIERES:
NEWNESS

Director: Drake Doremus, Screenwriter: Ben York Jones / USA
In contemporary Los Angeles, two millennials navigating a social media–driven hookup culture begin a relationship that pushes both emotional and physical boundaries. Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Laia Costa, Danny Huston, Courtney Eaton, Matthew Gray Gubler, Albert Hammond Jr. World Premiere

Earlier lineup announcements include the US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions, plus NEXT; New Frontier; Premieres, Documentary Premieres, Midnight, Spotlight, Kids, and Special Events; AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL; late feature additions; and Shorts.

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2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: CRIES FROM SYRIA

cries from syriaCRIES FROM SYRIA
Evgeny Afineevsky presents an overarching account of the impact of Syria’s civil war on its people.

Festival Section:
Documentary Premieres
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2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: BENDING THE ARC

bending the arcBENDING THE ARC
Kief Davidson and Pedro Kos chronicle the paradigm-shifting healthcare efforts of a determined team of advocates.

Festival Section:
Documentary Premieres
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On DVD/VOD: BY SIDNEY LUMET

by_sidney_lumetComing to DVD and VOD today, Monday, January 9:
BY SIDNEY LUMET

Director:
Nancy Buirski

Premiere:
Cannes 2015

Select Festivals:
Tribeca, Jerusalem, Deauville, Full Frame, Traverse City, Austin, Mumbai, the Hamptons, Jewish fests in Atlanta, Toronto, and Philadelphia

About:
An appreciation of the noted film director.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: 500 YEARS

500 years500 YEARS
Pamela Yates completes her epic Guatemalan trilogy, which began in 1983.

Festival Section:
Documentary Premieres
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On DVD/VOD: SOUTHWEST OF SALEM

salemComing to DVD and VOD today, Monday, January 9:
SOUTHWEST OF SALEM: THE STORY OF THE SAN ANTONIO FOUR

Director:
Deborah S Esquenazi

Premiere:
Tribeca 2016

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Sheffield, DocuWest, AFI Docs, Frameline, Outfest, Inside Out

About:
Four Latina lesbians seek exoneration for a shocking miscarriage of justice.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE WORKERS CUP

workers cupTHE WORKERS CUP
Adam Sobel follows the action as migrant workers building Qatar’s World Cup infrastructure compete in their own tournament.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
UK (about Qatar)
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2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: WINNIE

winnieWINNIE
Pascale Lamche profiles the polarizing South African political leader and activist.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
France/Netherlands/South Africa
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On TV: BRIGHT LIGHTS: STARRING CARRIE FISHER AND DEBBIE REYNOLDS

brightlights-1600x900-c-defaultComing to HBO tomorrow, Saturday, January 7: BRIGHT LIGHTS: STARRING CARRIE FISHER AND DEBBIE REYNOLDS

Directors:
Alexis Bloom & Fisher Stevens

Premiere:
Cannes 2016

Select Festivals:
Telluride, New York, Chicago, AFI Fest

About:
A portrait of the famed mother/daughter celebrities, who recently died just one day apart.

It’s hard not to watch Bloom and Stevens’ loving film as a bittersweet elegy in the wake of Fisher and Reynolds’ passing, though of course there was no predicting at the time of its making that Fisher, at the least, would be dead just days after Christmas 2016. Reynolds, on the other hand, is shown in the film to be slowing down and experiencing some health concerns, lending an air of prescient urgency to this enjoyable celebrity profile. Bloom and Stevens deftly manage to convey the breadth of both women’s lives and careers, while more intimately capturing the messy but loving bond between them. Living next door to one another, they demonstrate a caring, symbiotic relationship, but they also reference past tensions. This is nicely showcased in an early clip in which Reynolds puts a teenage Fisher on the spot to perform, begrudgingly, speaking to the inescapable complexity that came from growing up with celebrity. Ultimately, however, it’s clear that the two legends had long ago made their peace, and audiences are fortunate to have this bouncy, entertaining chronicle of their lives together.

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2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: TOKYO IDOLS

tokyo idolsTOKYO IDOLS
Kyoko Miyake examines gender and sexuality in Japanese popular culture.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
UK/Canada (about Japan)
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