Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to PBS’s American Masters this Friday, February 19: CAROLE KING: NATURAL WOMAN

George Scott’s portrait of the accomplished singer-songwriter makes its world premiere on the popular public television series devoted to US artists and cultural icons.

Timed to coincide with the 45th anniversary of King’s influential solo album, Tapestry, still beloved for producing such classics as “I Feel the Earth Move,” and “It’s Too Late,” Scott’s film gives the acclaimed musician her due. Interviews with the eminently likeable King herself, both present-day and archival, provide the thread through which her life and career are revealed, offering early biographical details as the young would-be teacher instead pursued a musical path. King, who partnered with lyricist Gerry Goffin, and fellow songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil reveal fascinating details about their roles in the factory songwriting process which allowed them to churn out hit songs for a revolving door of pop performers like The Shirelles and Aretha Franklin, often in the space of days if not hours. The doc importantly also details King’s evolution from behind-the-scenes creator to public performer, part of the wave of singer-songwriters that emerged in the 1970s, with numerous clips demonstrating the talent that led to four Grammy Awards, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize, among other accolades, as well as the popular Broadway musical, BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, February 16: THE IRON MINISTRY

JP Sniadecki’s observational profile of Chinese train travel made its world premiere at Locarno in 2014. Other screenings have included the NYFF, Rotterdam, Vancouver, Edinburgh, Camden, Chicago, DocLisboa, Viennale, CPH:DOX, RIDM, and Ambulante.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, February 16: BONNIE & CLYDE

John Maggio’s look at the lives of the infamous criminal duo debuted on PBS’s American Experience last month.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to The WORLD Channel’s America ReFramed tomorrow, Tuesday, February 16: THE MOSQUE IN MORGANTOWN

Brittany Huckabee’s look at a Muslim woman’s controversial stand against her local mosque debuted at True/False in 2009. It also screened at San Francisco Asian American, where it was awarded best documentary. The film was nominated for an Emmy after its initial public television broadcast.

Morgantown is a West Virginia college town with a small but vibrant Muslim community, largely drawn from the nearby school. The Islamic Center of Morgantown doubles as their place of worship and community hub. When Asra Nomani returns from a stint in Pakistan as a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, she believes her hometown will be the best place to raise her child. After recognizing signs of intolerance among the mosque’s more conservative leaders and prejudicial treatment of women, Asra decides to take a very visible stand, drawing media attention and criticism against supposed “extremism” in the mosque, and, in the process, precipitating a schism among its members. Huckabee deftly charts the fallout, following not only Asra in her crusade, but other members of the mosque, both allies and those alienated by her tactics, to craft a provocative exploration of the tension between tradition and progressive ideas in today’s Islam with regard to gender.