Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to OVID tomorrow, Thursday, October 13:
HIGH ON CRACK STREET: LOST LIVES IN LOWELL

Director:
Jon Alpert, Maryann DeLeo, Richard Farrell

Select Festivals:
IDFA, DOC NYC

About:
A harrowing chronicle of addiction in an economically depressed blue-collar Massachusetts town.

The film screened at DOC NYC for its 20th anniversary, for which our program notes read:
Jon Alpert and Maryann De Leo teamed with former drug addict Rich Farrell, a resident of Lowell, Massachusetts, for this harrowing chronicle of addiction in the economically depressed blue-collar town. Filmed over a year and a half, Brenda, Dicky, and Boo-Boo are followed in and out of crackhouses, rehab, and jail, seeking an escape from the despair of their surroundings. Their lives later served as the inspiration for THE FIGHTER, for which Christian Bale, portraying Dicky, won an Oscar.

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, October 11:
AMERICAN RAPSTAR

Director:
Justin Staple 

World Premiere:
CPH:DOX 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, SXSW, Doc’n Roll

About:
An eye-opening exploration of the SoundCloud rap phenomenon, a scene of troubled, young, lo-fi rappers that has used social media to develop a rabid fan base.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, October 11:
HALLELUJAH: LEONARD COHEN, A JOURNEY, A SONG

Director:
Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine

World Premiere:
Telluride 2021

Select Festivals:
Venice, IDFA, CPH:DOX, Vienna, Gent, Tribeca

About:
The definitive exploration of singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen as seen through the prism of his internationally renowned hymn, Hallelujah.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, October 4:
‘TIL KINGDOM COME

Director:
Maya Zinshtein

World Premiere:
Docaviv 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, IDFA, Chicago, Denver, Double Exposure

About:
An investigation of unlikely political bedfellows between America and Israel.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, October 3:
THE LAST OUT

Director:
Sami Khan, Michael Gassert

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Hot Springs Doc, Virginia, Heartland, New Horizons

About:
Three talented Cuban athletes leave everything behind to pursue the ultimate dream of Major League Baseball, but face exploitation and unfulfilled promises.