Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 6:
THE VIEWING BOOTH

Director:
Ra’anan Alexandrowicz

World Premiere:
Docaviv 2019

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Berlin, True/False, CPH:DOX, Sheffield, Dokufest Kosovo, London Open City, Camden, Cork, Jihlava, Boston Jewish, Ann Arbor

About:
The audience observes a young woman as she views and tries to rationalize films that challenge her worldview.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
How open are we to changing our beliefs? Acclaimed filmmaker Ra’anan Alexandrowicz explores this question through a cinematic experiment. He asks Maia, a Jewish-American student and ardent supporter of Israel, to view footage of life in the occupied West Bank, some from official Israeli government sources and others from the progressive human rights organization B’Tselem. As Maia attempts to reconcile these images with her worldview—and, months later, to parse these reactions—what emerges is a fascinating and timely study of cognitive dissonance and the strength of entrenched belief systems.

Coming to theatres and virtual cinemas tomorrow, Friday, August 6:
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.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
In this artfully constructed project, a set of unfinished films commissioned by the state during communist-era Afghanistan revisits a nation that only existed in celluloid. Recovered reels, accompanied by the reflections of filmmakers, actors, and critics, reveal genre films whose stories of love, war, and history offer great insight into the heartbeat of a film industry that tried to persevere from one coup to another, and under the ever-watchful eye of government censors.

Coming to Netflix today, Tuesday, August 3:
PRAY AWAY

Director:
Kristine Stolakis

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
Telluride, Hot Docs, Florida, Doc10, AFI Docs

About:
A powerful exposé on gay conversion programs, revealing the damage inflicted by shame and repression through intimate testimonies from current members and former leaders of the pray the gay away movement.

Coming to PBS’s POV today, Monday, August 2:
PIER KIDS

Director:
Elegance Bratton

World Premiere:
Outfest 2019

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, New Orleans, True/False, BlackStar, Wicked Queer, Frameline, Virginia

About:
A portrait of several homeless queer youth of color in NYC.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Caught up in the precariousness of survival and self-preservation, homeless queer and trans youth of color hang out at Christopher Street Pier, forging their own chosen family. Genuine and charming, these eloquent youth must contend with overwhelming amounts of homophobia and abuse. As real as it gets, and with intimate, immersive access to the hazardous life of its vulnerable but fearless protagonists, director Elegance Bratton’s still-hopeful portrait exposes a raw side of New York City many often choose to ignore.