Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to The WORLD Channel’s America ReFramed series tomorrow, Tuesday, October 5:
FIVE YEARS NORTH

Director:
Zach Ingrasci, Chris Temple

World Premiere:
Full Frame 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Seattle, Mountainfilm

About:
An exploration of the complexity of the immigration debate through the stories of an undocumented Guatemalan teenager and a Cuban-American ICE agent.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to PBS and streaming tomorrow, Friday, October 1:
LOS HERMANOS/THE BROTHERS

Director:
Marcia Jarmel, Ken Schneider

World Premiere:
Woodstock 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Miami, Havana, GlobeDocs, BendFilm, Mill Valley, Ashland

About:
During the thaw in US/Cuban relations, two brothers, both gifted musicians, long separated by borders, reunite for a joint tour through both countries.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, October 1:
KAREN DALTON: IN MY OWN TIME

Director:
Robert Yapkowitz, Richard Peete

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2020

Select Festivals:
Docaviv, Minneapolis-St Paul, Melbourne

About:
A portrait of the forgotten figure from the 1960s NYC folk music scene.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Blues and folk singer Karen Dalton was a prominent figure in 1960s New York. Idolized by Bob Dylan and Nick Cave, Karen discarded the traditional trappings of success and led an unconventional life until her early death. Since most images of Karen have been lost or destroyed, the film uses Karen’s dulcet melodies and interviews with loved ones to build a rich portrait of this singular woman and her hauntingly beautiful voice. 

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 28:
ROADRUNNER: A FILM ABOUT ANTHONY BOURDAIN

Director:
Morgan Neville

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2021

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, AFI Docs

About:
A remarkably constructed portrait of the uncommon life and untimely death of the late storyteller, explorer, and chef.

Coming to theatres and to VOD today, Friday, September 24:
ON THESE GROUNDS

Director:
Garrett Zevgetis

World Premiere:
SXSW 2021 (under original title SPRING VALLEY)

Select Festivals:
IFF Boston

About:
After an explosive viral video shows a white policeman throwing a Black teenager from her school desk, a woman uproots her life to help the girl, face the officer, and dismantle the system behind the assault.

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, September 21:
WHAT WE LEFT UNFINISHED

Director:
Mariam Ghani

World Premiere:
Berlin 2019

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Sheffield, San Francisco, Kerala, Nashville, Rhode Island, Heartland, Hot Springs Doc, Philadelphia Asian American, St Louis, WatchDocs, San Diego Asian American, Cinema Verite, Goteborg, DocPoint Talinn, Ann Arbor

About:
A meditation on incomplete films made in Afghanistan during periods of instability between 1978-1992.

I previously wrote about the doc here.