Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to the History Channel tomorrow, Thursday, September 11: REBUILDING THE WORLD TRADE CENTER

Marcus Robinson’s chronicle of rebirth from the perspective of construction workers made its debut on Britain’s Channel 4 last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, and now screens on the anniversary of the fall of the Twin Towers.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
As construction began on Ground Zero, with new towers being raised in a symbolic rebirth from 9/11, artist and filmmaker Marcus Robinson documented the entire process. Stunning time-lapse photography, paintings, drawings and, most affectingly, interviews with the men and women working on the site, capture both the physical enormity of the six-year task and the emotional impact the undertaking has on the workers, and, by extension, New York as a whole.

Coming to NYC’s Film Forum today, Wednesday, September 10: BORN TO FLY: ELIZABETH STREB VS GRAVITY

Catherine Gund’s portrait of a pioneering pop action choreographer debuted at SXSW this year. It went on to screen at Cleveland, Full Frame, MountainFilm, Seattle, Sydney, Brooklyn, Sheffield, Frameline, and deadCENTER, among others.

Elizabeth Streb has developed philosophy of movement over decades, putting it into gloriously experimental practice in her Brooklyn-based Streb Extreme Action Company. The film delves into the self-assured taskmaster’s past and present, recounting the evolution of the MacArthur genius’ unusual synthesis of acrobatics, dance, and circus performance even as she prepares her troupe for their most impressive spectacle yet – performing death-defying actions on and off famed London landmarks as part of the 2012 Olympics. Gund deftly captures a palpable sense of what Streb subjects her performers – and herself – to, flinging themselves against objects and leaping off of whirling machinery, often risking serious injury. Though lacking a driving conflict or transformative arc, the film nevertheless offers a compelling profile of a self-assured, successful artist unwilling to stop pushing herself from attempting the impossible.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, September 9: THE GALAPAGOS AFFAIR: SATAN CAME TO EDEN

Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller’s chronicle of a bizarre 1930s murder mystery bowed at Telluride last year. It went on to screen at the Hamptons, Berlin, New Orleans filmOrama, Palm Springs, and Bermuda, among others.

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

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, September 9: TEENAGE

Matt Wolf’s meditation on the emergence of the teenager premiered at Tribeca last year. It went on to Hot Docs, AFI Docs, Melbourne, Traverse City, BFI London, DMZ Docs, Hot Springs, CPH:DOX, Denver, and Big Sky, among others.

I included the doc in my Tribeca coverage here.

Coming to PBS’s POV this coming Monday, September 8: THE GENIUS OF MARIAN

Banker White and Anna Fitch’s reckoning with Alzheimer’s disease made its debut at Tribeca last year. It went on to screen at IFF Boston, Berkshire, AFI Docs, Sebastopol Doc, Heartland, Woods Hole, and Moscow.

I included the doc in my Tribeca coverage here.