Category Archives: Recommendations

New to DVD this week:
LYDIA LUNCH: THE WAR IS NEVER OVER

Director:
Beth B

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2019

Select Festivals:
SXSW, Rotterdam, Jihlava, Doclisboa, Melbourne, Ashland, Revelation Perth

About:
A career-spanning exploration of the notable cultural figure.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Turning trauma into precise and angry feminist rock, American singer, writer, and actress Lydia Lunch helped birth the No Wave music scene in the late 1970s and early ’80s—and she’s still killing it today. Fellow No Wave pioneer Beth B constructs a lively portrait of this innovative performer, whose confrontational artistry resonates loudly in today’s feminist landscape. Critics, filmmakers, musicians, and friends discuss the relevance of Lydia’s brilliantly vitriolic world.

Coming to theatres today, Friday, August 27:
UNAPOLOGETIC

Director:
Ashley O’Shay

World Premiere:
BlackStar 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, New Orleans, Black Harvest, St Louis, Cucalorus, Big Sky Doc, Athena, Cleveland, Human Rights Watch, Outfest Fusion

About:
Two fierce abolitionist leaders offer a deep look into the movement for Black Lives.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Fed up with misdeeds committed by Chicago law enforcement and a political system unwilling to hold anyone accountable, two millennial Black women take action. Spoken-word artist Bella and PhD candidate Janaé work tirelessly rallying the community and challenging a power structure that historically turns a deaf ear to young, Black, female voices. Over the course of a year, filmmaker Ashley O’Shay documents these courageous activists in their quest for political liberation and social justice.  

Coming to Discovery+ today, Thursday, August 26, and to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 27:
LILY TOPPLES THE WORLD

Director:
Jeremy Workman

World Premiere:
BlackStar 2020

Select Festivals:
Cleveland, Florida, Ashland, Minneapolis-St Paul, San Francisco, Maryland, RiverRun, Sarasota

About:
20-year-old Lily Hevesh—the world’s greatest domino toppler and the only woman in her field—in a coming-of-age story of artistry, passion, and unlikely triumph.

Coming to Discovery+ today, Monday, August 23:
GENERATION GROWTH

Director:
Mu Sun

World Premiere:
Heartland 2020

Select Festivals:
Hot Springs Doc

About:
A Bronx educator who has developed an indoor gardening curriculum to bring hope, health, and opportunity to low-income students works to expand the program across the country.

New to VOD this week:
UNDER THE VOLCANO

Director:
Gracie Otto

World Premiere:
SXSW 2021

About:
The story of George Martin’s AIR Studios Montserrat and the island that changed music forever.

Coming to theatres today, Friday, August 20:
MISSING IN BROOKS COUNTY

Director:
Lisa Molomot, Jeff Bemiss

World Premiere:
Dallas Docufest 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Double Exposure, United Nations Association, Hot Springs Doc, Rocky Mountain Women’s, Fargo, Salem, Sonoma, Thin Line, Cleveland, Annapolis, Ashland, Sarasota, RiverRun, Mountainfilm

About:
The deadly consequences of America’s immigration policy are revealed in a Texan border town.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Just 70 miles north of the Mexican-US border is a land haunted by ghosts. Brooks County, Texas is a barren landscape designed as a deterrent to illegal crossings, but people continue to attempt to cross, and many die trying. The municipality lacks the resources to properly deal with this sad reality, and the numbers keep rising. Multiple locals proffer contrasting opinions as two families search for their loved ones, and the toll of an unsustainable immigration policy is laid bare.

Coming to HBO Max this Sunday, August 22:
MR SOUL!

Director:
Melissa Haizlip

Co-Director:
Sam Pollard

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2018

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, True/False, AFI Docs, New Orleans, Rotterdam, Durban, BlackStar, Urbanworld, Pan African, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, London, Indie Memphis, Woodstock, Heartland

About:
A portrait of the pioneer behind SOUL!, the acclaimed African-American public television cultural variety show.

I previously wrote about the doc here.