Category Archives: Recommendations

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.

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 21:
BARBARA LEE: SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER

Director:
Abby Ginzberg

World Premiere:
San Francisco 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, San Francisco Jewish, Pan African, Cleveland

About:
A portrait of the outspoken US Congresswoman.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
An intimate, inspiring, and timely portrait of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a true pioneer of American civil rights who was the lone voice in opposition to the authorization of military force after the September 11th attacks. A unique selection of political commentators, activists, politicians, and family members add depth to the story of the highest-ranking Black woman in the US Congress. Uncompromising and conscientious to the core, she is its most steadfast voice for peace, and for economic and racial justice.  

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 21:
DOWN A DARK STAIRWELL

Director:
Ursula Liang

World Premiere:
True/False 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, New Orleans, Human Rights Watch, BlackStar, Los Angeles Asian Pacific, San Diego Asian, Montclair, Hot Springs Doc, Milwaukee, Ashland,

About:
A death in a Brooklyn housing project sets off a complex fight for justice by two marginalized communities.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
In 2014, Peter Liang, a Chinese-American police officer, shot and killed an innocent, unarmed Black man named Akai Gurley in the dark stairwell of a Brooklyn housing project. In the midst of high racial tension surrounding police conduct, Liang becomes the first NYPD officer to receive a guilty verdict in such a case in over a decade. The highly publicized incident polarizes New York’s Asian and African American communities in this insightful look into the complexities of police reform.

Coming to Epix this Sunday, September 19:
FIASCO

Showrunner:
John Marks

World Premiere:
Nantucket 2021

About:
Spanning continents and time zones, this docuseries, based on Leon Neyfakh’s hit podcast, dives into one of the least understood of all political scandals and reveals the true scope of Iran Contra.