Category Archives: Recommendations

On TV: HANNA RANCH

hannaComing to PBS’s America ReFramed tomorrow, Tuesday, April 21: HANNA RANCH

Mitch Dickman’s meditation on the life and death of an eco-rancher bowed at Denver in 2013. Other appearances included the Durango and Crested Butte fests, as well as a number of educational and community screenings.

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

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

On TV: THE GREAT INVISIBLE

1201x782-GREAT-INVISIBLE-courtesy-of-RADiUS-copy-1160x652Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens today, Monday, April 20: THE GREAT INVISIBLE

Margaret Brown’s look at the human impact of the Deepwater Horizon disaster debuted at SXSW last year, winning the documentary grand jury prize. It went on to DOC NYC, New Orleans, Hot Docs, London, Camden, Abu Dhabi, Zurich, Full Frame, and Philadelphia, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

Visions du Réel 2015 Overview

visionsThe long-running Swiss nonfiction event, Visions du Réel, begins tomorrow, Friday, April 17, and concludes next Saturday, April 25. More than 100 features will screen during the 46th event, which takes place annually in Nyon, with highlights noted below: Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations

In Theatres: SALAD DAYS: A DECADE OF PUNK IN WASHINGTON, DC (1980-1990)

saladComing to theatres tomorrow, Friday, April 17: SALAD DAYS: A DECADE OF PUNK IN WASHINGTON, DC (1980-1990)

Scott Crawford’s look back at a legendary decade of music had its world premiere at DOC NYC last year. It has also screened at Sound Unseen, Big Sky, and at engagements around the country.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
As a teenager in the 1980s, Scott Crawford began a fanzine documenting the explosion of a distinctive brand of hardcore punk music in Washington, DC, exemplified by bands like Minor Threat, Bad Brains, and Fugazi. Drawing from his own immersion in that world, and featuring a who’s who of musicians, label owners, photographers and writers, his new documentary explores the development and evolution of the DC punk scene, and how it shaped independent music and popular culture in the decade that followed.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

Special Screening: VESSEL

vesselComing to NYC’s Maysles Cinema as part of the DocWatchers series tomorrow, Thursday, April 16: VESSEL

Diana Whitten’s look at a unique solution to reproductive rights restrictions had its world premiere at SXSW last year, where it picked up two awards. It went on to screen at Nantucket, DOC NYC, Hot Docs, Sheffield, Jerusalem, Sarasota, and IFF Boston, among other events.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations

On DVD: MAIDAN

maidanComing to DVD today, Tuesday, April 14: MAIDAN

Sergei Loznitsa’s meditation on resistance in Ukraine debuted at Cannes last year. Its fest circuit has included Toronto, London, Karlovy Vary, Vancouver, DOK Leipzig, Zurich, Sarajevo, and IDFA, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

On DVD: ANTARCTICA: A YEAR ON ICE

antarcticaComing to DVD today, Tuesday, April 14: ANTARCTICA: A YEAR ON ICE

Anthony Powell’s exploration of life at the South Pole debuted at New Zealand International Film Festival in 2013. Fest berths have included Calgary, Anchorage, Cleveland, and Thin Line, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

On VOD: MISERY LOVES COMEDY

misery loves comedyComing to VOD today, Tuesday, April 14: MISERY LOVES COMEDY

Kevin Pollak’s survey of the work behind stand-up comedy debuted at Sundance this year. It will also screen at Tribeca next week. The doc comes to iTunes now, followed by a limited theatrical engagement later this month.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

Tribeca 2015: Documentary Overview

tribecaTomorrow, Wednesday, April 15 sees the opening of the 14th Tribeca Film Festival, which this year will present over fifty feature documentaries before it closes on Sunday, April 26. The event’s nonfiction programming has consistently proven to be noteworthy, and organizers have recognized that in recent years, presenting documentaries as the event’s opening selection, such as this year’s LIVE FROM NEW YORK!, Bao Nguyen’s look at the history and enduring popularity of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. What follows are some highlights of this year’s nonfiction slate: Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations

Special Screening: KING GEORGES

kinggeorges-570Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction series tomorrow, Tuesday, April 14: KING GEORGES

Erika Frankel’s portrait of an influential French chef debuted this past weekend at Full Frame. In addition to opening the new season of STF, the film will screen at IFF Boston later this month as it continues its festival run.

French chef Georges Perrier moved from Paris to Philadelphia in the late 1960s, and by the early 1970s established his restaurant, Le Bec-Fin, as one of the best French restaurants in the country. Despite decades of success and critical acclaim, the changing economy and shifts in taste have left the fate of Le Bec-Fin up in the air. Frankel follows the outspoken Perrier over several years as he attempts to hold on to his restaurant, and his legacy, after more than four decades. A partnership with a young head chef, Nicholas Elmi, shows promise, but can Perrier, closing in on 70, maintain the pace that has already cost him on a personal level? Frankel constructs an engrossing, multifaceted portrait of a chef confronting the possible end of his life’s work.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations