Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to PBS’s POV this Friday, September 25: ART AND CRAFT

Directors Sam Cullman and Jennifer Grausman and co-director Mark Becker’s profile of a notorious and unrepentant art forger made its bow at Tribeca last year. The doc went on to screen at Nantucket, Hot Docs, Montclair, and San Francisco, among others, and made the Documentary Feature Oscar shortlist.

I previously wrote about the film here.

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, September 22: BY BLOOD

Marcos C Barbery and Sam Russell’s chronicle of contested identity debuted at New Orleans last year. Other screenings have included Big Sky, Cleveland, deadCENTER, and the San Diego Black film fests. FilmBuff now releases the doc across various VOD platforms.

In an effort to modernize Native American tribal ways at the turn of the 19th century, the federal government introduced the concept of slavery as a means to improve farming practices. As a result, the Cherokee Nation, among others, became an African slave-owning tribe, and even fought for the Confederacy. After the conclusion of the Civil War, the Cherokee’s slaves were released, granted tribal membership, and referred to as Freedmen. In more recent decades, however, the Cherokee, like other First Nations, have begun to deny tribal citizenship to the descendants of Freedman. Barbery and Russell’s even-handed exploration of this contentious issue offers provocative questions about the boundaries of race, identity, sovereignty, and politics, and demonstrates the powerful pull of one’s need to belong.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, September 22: THE GREAT MUSEUM

Johannes Holzhausen’s exploration of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum had its world premiere at Berlin last year. Screenings have followed at San Francisco, Seattle, Sydney, New Zealand, Los Angeles, Jerusalem, London, IDFA, CPH:DOX, Vancouver, and the Hamptons, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.

Now available on VOD: WE DON’T WANNA MAKE YOU DANCE

Lucy Kostelanetz’s decades-long chronicle of would-be celebrity made its debut at DOC NYC in 2013. Other festival berths have included St Louis, Minneapolis-St Paul, IndieLisboa, Raindance, and In-Edit in Barcelona, Colombia, and Brazil. MusicFilmWeb now makes the doc available on demand.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
In a rock band twist on the 7 UP series, Lucy Kostelanetz intermittently checks in on a white teen funk band – three brothers and their friend – whose plan of making it big in 1980s NYC didn’t exactly pan out. In 1983, Miller, Miller, Miller & Sloan seemed on the brink of stardom, with positive press and gigs at CBGB. Five years later, fame had still not found the foursome. By 1993, they’d broken up, but a reunion fifteen years later reveals the paths where creativity took them as adults.

Coming to DVD and VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 22: THE OTHER MAN: FW DE KLERK AND THE END OF APARTHEID

Nicolas Rossier’s consideration of the South African leader premiered at Durban last year. It went on to screen at IDFA, and was released theatrically this past Winter.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to theatres today, Friday, September 18: BEING CANADIAN

Rob Cohen’s survey of all things Canadiana had its world premiere at Hot Docs. It went on to screen at Nantucket, and Traverse City.

I previously wrote about the doc for Nantucket’s program, saying:
Like many who have made it in Hollywood, comedy writer Robert Cohen (THE SIMPSONS, THE BIG BANG THEORY) has long harbored a dark secret: He’s Canadian. Realizing that his American friends and colleagues dismiss his homeland as little more than a joke, Cohen sets out on a coast-to-coast journey to dispel the stereotypes of self-effacing, igloo-dwelling, beer-swilling yokels, and to show off the best that Canada has to offer. Drawing on the hilarious insight of a star-studded group of fellow Canucks, including Mike Myers, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, and Dave Foley, Cohen rediscovers his own national pride in a country that’s more than just “America’s hat.”

Coming to DVD today, Friday, September 18: SALAD DAYS: A DECADE OF PUNK IN WASHINGTON, DC (1980-1990)

Scott Crawford’s exploration of DC punk scene history debuted at DOC NYC last year. Other screenings have included Sound Unseen, Big Sky, Asbury Park Music in Film, Florida, Helsinki’s Night Visions, BAFICI, and at engagements around the country.

I previously wrote about the doc here.