Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to Disney+ tomorrow, Friday, June 25:
WOLFGANG

Director:
David Gelb

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2021

About:
A mouthwatering portrait of one of the first celebrity chefs and a pioneer in the world of California cuisine, Wolfgang Puck.

Coming to virtual cinemas tomorrow, Friday, June 25:
CHASING CHILDHOOD

Director:
Margaret Munzer Loeb, Eden Wurmfeld

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2020

Select Festivals:
Portland, San Francisco Doc, Cleveland, Harlem, Annapolis, Sarasota

About:
Reformed helicopter parents and education professionals reveal the benefits of allowing kids to have freedom to play unencumbered by schedules and structure.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Overprotected and overdirected, American children are wilting under the weight of well-meaning parents. In the pursuit of keeping them safe and creating an impressive resumé of extracurricular activities to wow admissions boards, over-parenting smothers children across socioeconomic classes. This thoughtful film follows education professionals and reformed helicopter parents who seek and offer solutions for developing more confident, independent young people while restoring some joy and freedom to childhood. 

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Thursday, June 24:
MIRACLE FISHING: KIDNAPPED ABROAD

Director:
Miles Hargrove

Co-Director:
Christopher Birge

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Nantucket, AFI Docs, Sidewalk, Dallas, Brisbane, Trinidad & Tobago

About:
A kidnapped man’s family and friends are forced to negotiate for his release.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens tonight, Monday, June 21:
TWO GODS

Director:
Zeshawn Ali

World Premiere:
Full Frame 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, BlackStar, Montclair, Hot Docs, Camden

About:
A Black Muslim casket maker mentors two boys.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to theatres today, Friday, June 18:
A CRIME ON THE BAYOU

Director:
Nancy Buirski

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2020

Select Festivals:
New Orleans, San Francisco Jewish, Big Sky Doc, Atlanta Jewish, Hamptons Docs

About:
An unjustly arrested Black man and his young Jewish attorney form a lifelong friendship.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Filmmaker Nancy Buirski tells the story of a lasting bond formed between an unjustly arrested Black man, Gary Duncan, and Richard Sobol, his young Jewish attorney. In 1966, 19-year-old Duncan faces the white supremacist court system in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, for daring to touch a white boy’s arm. Standing united, the pair takes Duncan’s case all the way to the US Supreme Court to fight for the rights of all Americans to a fair trial.

Coming to virtual cinemas today, Friday, June 18:
THE AMERICAN SECTOR

Director:
Courtney Stephens, Pacho Velez

World Premiere:
Berlin 2020

Select Festivals:
Art of the Real, Docaviv, Camden, AFI Fest, RIDM, Maryland

About:
A road trip tracking several of the remnants of the Berlin Wall now held by American collectors and institutions.