Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, October 11: BREAKING A MONSTER

Luke Meyer’s inside look at the promotion of a new band premiered at SXSW last year. Screenings followed at Hot Docs, Sheffield, BAMcinemaFest, Sydney, Traverse City, Melbourne, Camden, Mill Valley, CPH:DOX, RIDM, Big Sky Doc, IndieLisboa, and Durban.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, October 11: HUSTLERS CONVENTION

Mike Todd’s look at the roots of hip-hop premiered at Sheffield last year. Its circuit included DOC NYC, Harlem, and the San Francisco Black fest.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 11: SHERPA

Jennifer Peedom’s chronicle of the aftermath of a mountaineering accident debuted at Sydney last year. Screenings followed at Telluride, Toronto, Melbourne, Aspen, Palm Springs, Washington DC’s Environmental, New Zealand, Dubai, and London, among other events.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to Pivot as part of International Day of the Girl tomorrow, Tuesday, October 11: DRIVING WITH SELVI

Elisa Paloschi’s portrait of an Indian woman’s dreams of independence made its debut at Raindance last year. Screenings followed at IDFA, Hot Springs Doc, United Nations Association, Mumbai, Margaret Mead, Thessaloniki Doc, Movies That Matter, Documentary Edge, and Bentonville, among other events.

Selvi was essentially sold by her brother into marriage as a child and suffered abuse at the hands of her older husband, who forced her into prostitution. She eventually escaped, finding her way to a group home where she learned how to drive. Eventually, she parlays this skill into a career, becoming the first female taxi driver in southern India. Paloschi follows the appealing Selvi for the better part of a decade, as she turns her life around, supports herself, and finds happiness. While there’s some roughness technically, given the longitudinal approach taken, the film successfully captures a sense of unexpected but genuine hopefulness in the face of grim reality and a traumatic past.

Coming to DVD and VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 11: THE MISSING INGREDIENT

Michael Sparaga’s look at a restaurant’s attempts to find success had its world premiere at DOC NYC last year. Its festival circuit has included Santa Barbara, RiverRun, Newport, and Feast, among others. In addition to its DVD release, it now comes to VOD platforms including iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Vimeo on Demand, and Google Play.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
A story of two Manhattan restaurants: Gino’s, an Upper East Side fixture for more than six decades, and Pescatore, a Midtown staple on Second Ave since 1993 now facing stiff competition as the neighborhood changes. After taking over Pescatore, new restaurateur Charles Devigne seeks to shake up things in a bid for new business. His controversial decision to borrow one of Gino’s iconic features inspires Michael Sparaga’s exploration of that undefinable quality which transforms a simple eatery into an institution.

Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, October 10: FROM THIS DAY FORWARD

Sharon Shattuck’s portrait of her transgender father had its premiere at Full Frame last year. It also screened at DOC NYC, AFI Docs, Hot Docs, Framline, Outfest, Camden, Traverse City, and several LGBT fests around the country.

I previously wrote about the doc here.