Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to Link TV tonight, Wednesday, June 10: UNITED IN ANGER: A HISTORY OF ACT UP

Jim Hubbard’s look back at the influential activist group debuted at MoMA’s Documentary Fortnight in 2012. It went on to screen at Hot Docs, and at several LGBT fests, including Frameline, Outfest, and Mix Brasil.

I previously wrote about the film out of Hot Docs here.

Now available on VOD and coming to theatres this Friday, June 12: THE YES MEN ARE REVOLTING

Laura Nix and The Yes Men’s portrait of a life of prankster activism made its debut at Toronto last Fall. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, Berlin, CPH:DOX, Seattle, Movies That Matter, Human Rights Watch, !f Istanbul, DOXA, Documentary Edge, and Calgary Underground, among several others. The Orchard has made the doc available on VOD platforms beginning this week, in addition to select theatrical dates around the country.

The third of three films chronicling the often jaw-droppingly brazen actions of The Yes Men, Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno, a duo who have made it their life’s mission to call to task corporate and government interests that are rarely aligned with the public good. In the face of climate change denial, industrial accidents, or other malfeasance that has consequences for the ordinary citizen, The Yes Men stage publicity-generating interventions, typically involving hoodwinking the major media into believing that they themselves are corporate spokesmen finally willing to make mea culpas. Their latest film takes a more reflective approach, focused not only on the pair’s continuing concern about mankind’s disastrous impact on the environment, but also on the toll that a life of dedicated activism can take on their personal lives and relationships. The result is a welcome, humanizing look behind The Yes Men’s typically unflappable public personae.

Coming to PBS’s America ReFramed today, Tuesday, June 9: WHERE GOD LIKES TO BE

Anna Hudak and Nicolas Hudak’s profile of young Native Americans debuted at Big Sky last year. It also screened at New Orleans, Margaret Mead, St Louis, and Spokane, among others.

Set in Montana’s Blackfeet Nation, the Hudaks’ beautifully lensed observational film focuses on three young protagonists: New father Doug, who lives with his wife, baby daughter, and extended family, and takes deep pride in his culture and work as a cowboy; Andi, a high school honors student who finds her college freshman year away from family and community to be particularly challenging; and Edward, an unhappily unemployed young man in a garage band. While Edward’s story may not resonate as strongly as those of the other two characters, the filmmakers successfully craft a portrait of rural Native life which manages to be affirming rather than dour, despite the lack of opportunities and the prejudices their young subjects relate.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, June 9: FAREWELL HERR SCHWARZ

Yael Reuveny’s exploration of family secrets premiered at Haifa in 2013. It went on to screen at DOK Leipzig, Cottbus, and at the Miami, Toronto, and Palm Beach Jewish fests, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD this coming Tuesday, June 9: RED ARMY

Gabe Polsky’s exploration of Cold War politics through the USSR’s ice hockey team had its world premiere at Cannes last year. Festival screenings followed at Telluride, Toronto, DOC NYC, the New York Film Festival, Chicago, Austin, Vancouver, Karlovy Vary, and the Hamptons, among others.

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

Coming to VOD today, Friday, June 5: AN HONEST LIAR

Justin Weinstein and Tyler Measom’s look at a professional truth seeker keeping his own secrets made its debut at Tribeca last year. It went on to screen at Nantucket, Hot Docs, AFI Docs, and Outfest, among other fests. After a limited theatrical release, it now comes to VOD via iTunes and Vimeo on Demand.

I previously wrote about the doc here.