Category Archives: Recommendations

In Theatres: THE LONELIEST WHALE: THE SEARCH FOR 52

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, July 9:
THE LONELIEST WHALE: THE SEARCH FOR 52

Director:
Joshua Zeman

World Premiere:
Nantucket 2021

Select Festivals:
Boulder

About:
In this fascinating story about isolation and interconnection, the filmmaker and a team of intrepid scientists set out on a wild quest to find the 52 Hertz Whale, which has spent its entire life calling out at a frequency that is different from any other whale.

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Special Screening: TAMING THE GARDEN

Coming to Rooftop Films tomorrow, Friday, July 9:
TAMING THE GARDEN

Director:
Salomé Jashi

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
Berlin, CPH:DOX, New Directors/New Films, Shanghai, Cinéma du Réel

About:
An artful look at the unusual disruption caused by the removal and transport of several massive trees from small Georgian villages.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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On VOD: OVER THE LIMIT

Coming to VOD via Film Movement+ this Friday, July 9:
OVER THE LIMIT

Director:
Marta Prus

Premiere:
IDFA 2017

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Moscow Doc, Visions du Reél, DOK.fest Munich, DocsBarcelona, Zagreb Dox, Krakow, Docpoint, Göteborg, Thessaloniki Doc, One World, Ambulante

About:
A brutally candid look at a rhythmic gymnast’s Olympic training.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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On DVD: STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, July 6:
STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET

Director:
Marilyn Agrelo

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Seattle, San Francisco

About:
A look back at the origins of the pioneering children’s television powerhouse.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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Cannes 2021: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 74th Cannes Film Festival

Dates:
July 6-17

About:
After postponing and then cancelling its 2020 edition, the most influential cinema event in the world returns with a robust slate of nearly 100 new features, counting two dozen docs among that number – although none in either Competition or Un Certain Regard. Its parallel sidebars, meanwhile, offer just three nonfiction works among their combined 37 slots.

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In Theatres & On VOD: SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)

Expanding to theatres nationwide and coming to Hulu today, Friday, July 2:
SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)

Director:
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Hot Docs, True/False, AFI Docs, Provincetown, DocLands, Minneapolis/St Paul, San Francisco Doc

About:
A joyous and thoughtful revisitation of a long overlooked part of Black music history.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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In Theatres: BEING A HUMAN PERSON

Coming to Film Forum tomorrow, Friday, July 2:
BEING A HUMAN PERSON

Director:
Fred Scott

World Premiere:
CPH:DOX 2020

Select Festivals:
Helsinki

About:
Behind the scenes of Roy Andersson’s ABOUT ENDLESSNESS, meant to be the idiosyncratic Swedish auteur’s final film.

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On VOD: PHILLY DA

Coming to Topic today, Thursday, July 1:
PHILLY DA

Director:
Ted Passon, Yoni Brook, Nicole Salazar

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
Berlin, RiverRun, Philadelphia Jewish

About:
An outspoken district attorney attempts to reform a broken criminal justice system in this docuseries.

I profiled the series before Sundance here.

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Docaviv 2021 Overview

Festival:
The 23rd Docaviv: Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival

Dates:
July 1-10

About:
This well-respected Israeli event presents 90 new documentary features in-person and online.

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On DVD: MOBY DOC

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, June 29:
MOBY DOC

Director:
Rob Gordon Bralver

World Premiere:
Theatrical/VOD release (May 2021)

About:
An idiosyncratic portrait of the musician and activist Moby.

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