Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, October 28: BY SIDNEY LUMET

Nancy Buirski’s tribute to the acclaimed director debuted at Cannes last year. Screenings followed at Tribeca, Jerusalem, Deauville, Full Frame, Traverse City, Austin, Mumbai, the Hamptons, and at Jewish fests in Atlanta, Toronto, and Philadelphia, among other events.

Filmed before Lumet’s death, the prolific director serves as the only voice in Biurski’s portrait, save, of course, for those of his various characters, presented here via numerous clips. Eschewing a dry chronological review, the film instead is more organically organized by the themes that re-emerge across Lumet’s oeuvre. While the director himself denies a conscious seeking out of these connections, their presentation here is thoughtful and well-executed, presenting audiences with the scope of Lumet’s work but still teasing out the commonalities. For his part, Lumet offers a matter-of-fact appraisal of his films, peppered with the occasional anecdote and biographical history, such as the harrowing memory experienced in India which bookends the doc, and, in many ways, informs the key moral concerns evinced in his movies. Buirski’s admirable project will no doubt direct several viewers to reacquaint themselves with films like 12 ANGRY MEN, RUNNING ON EMPTY, and LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT to witness the master in action.

Coming to theatres this Friday, October 28: UNDERFIRE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF PFC TONY VACCARO

Max Lewkowicz’s look at a WWII soldier’s photographic chronicle of the war debuted at Shanghai. Other festival appearances have included Margaret Mead, Tallgrass, Edmonton, San Diego, and GZDOC.

Tony Vaccaro spent about a year as a part of the US Army’s 83rd Infantry, beginning with the invasion of Normandy up to the end of the war. Drafted right after high school, he had an interest in photography, but was too young to be assigned to the Signal Corps, which oversaw combat photography. Instead, he used his own camera, shooting nearly 8000 images, even developing negatives himself in Army helmets using chemicals found in bombed out photography shops. Deeply affected by his experiences, Vaccaro, who became a professional photographer, never took another combat photo. He put away his WWII images upon returning to civilian life, not releasing them publicly until the 1990s, when they became lauded among historians and photographers alike. Lewkowicz follows the now 93-year-old as he returns to Europe, shares his thoughts on his war experiences, and reveals the stories behind several of his photographs, making for a compelling and poignant consideration of the nature and impact of war.

New to DVD and VOD this week: INDIAN POINT

Ivy Meeropol’s look at nuclear power plant safety debuted at Tribeca last year. Screenings also included Hot Docs, DC Environmental, Traverse City, Hamptons, St Louis, Big Sky, Thessaloniki Doc, Salem, and Cleveland, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, October 25: PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT

Lisa Immordino Vreeland’s profile of the art world patron debuted at Tribeca last year. Its fest circuit also included Nantucket, AFI Docs, Provincetown, San Francisco Jewish, New Zealand, Melbourne, Adelaide, Vancouver, Chicago, and Stockholm, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, October 25: CHILDREN OF THE ARCTIC

Nick Brandestini’s look at the lives of Alaskan youth premiered at Zurich in 2014. It went on to screen at Santa Barbara, Big Sky, Cinequest, Salem, Guam, Anchorage, Available Light, and Oxford, among other events.

I previously wrote about the doc here.