Coming to PBS’s American Masters today, Friday, April 9:
OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE
Director:
Ric Burns
World Premiere:
Telluride 2019
Select Festivals:
New York, Hamptons, AFI Fest, Palm Springs, Glasgow, Full Frame, Big Sky Doc, Virginia, ReelAbilities, Atlanta Jewish
About:
Facing a terminal diagnosis, the famed British neurologist and popular science author reflects on his life and work.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Festival:
The 26th É Tudo Verdade/It’s All True
Dates:
April 8-18
About:
This Brazilian nonfiction event returns with approximately 35 new documentary features.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, April 6:
ACASA, MY HOME
Director:
Radu Ciorniciuc
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, IDFA, Docaviv, DOK.fest Munich, Thessaloniki Doc, Doc Edge, One World, Moscow Doc, Sarajevo, Cartagena, Krakow, Transilvania, Zurich, Cologne, El Gouna
About:
A Roma family is forced to leave their self-sufficient life off the grid for the city.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to Netflix today, Monday, April 5:
CODED BIAS
Director:
Shalini Kantayya
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
Select Festivals:
Human Rights Watch, Hot Docs, Full Frame, SXSW, San Francisco, Hamptons, Provincetown, New Zealand, Melbourne, DokuFest, BlackStar, Docaviv, Warsaw, Mill Valley, Denver
About:
An exploration of the disturbing gender and racial bias prevalent in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to FX tonight, Friday, April 2:
HYSTERICAL
Director:
Andrea Nevins
World Premiere:
SXSW 2021
About:
A look at stand-up comedy from the perspective of female comedians.
Stand up comedy has long been a boy’s club. Women in the field have been dismissed as just not being funny, frequently are pitted against each other, and subjected to sexual harassment or worse. This and more is covered in filmmaker Andrea Nevins’ survey, which gathers the perspectives of 15 or so female comedians, ranging from vets like Margaret Cho and Judy Gold to more relative newcomers like Kelly Bachman. Separated into loose chapters – unfortunately complete with that over-used convention, the definition entry heading – the film explores the real obstacles that have been in the way of woman in comedy, but ultimately embraces an affirming tone that celebrates its subjects achievements. The comics featured are funny, candid, and vulnerable, making the project worth the watch, but the film suffers from the basic problem of surveys: in attempting to profile so many subjects, and cover so many topics, it can only scratch the surface before moving on to the next funny lady or the next serious point.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to the newly re-opened Film Forum today, Friday, April 2:
THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS
Director:
Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, IDFA, Cannes, Telluride, Toronto, New York, San Sebastian, Zurich, Hamptons, Mill Valley, El Gouna, Aspen, Taipei Golden Horse, Thessaloniki Doc, Stockholm, Singapore
Notable Recognition:
The doc has been shortlisted for the Academy Awards.
About:
Enter the secretive world of the only people–and dogs–who are able to find the elusive white Alba truffle, the most expensive ingredient in the world.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to virtual cinemas via the Metrograph tomorrow, Friday, April 2:
MAŁNI – TOWARDS THE OCEAN, TOWARDS THE SHORE
Director:
Sky Hopinka
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
Select Festivals:
True/False, Dokufest, BlackStar, Milwaukee, RIDM, Vienna, ImagineNative, Art of the Real
About:
A poetic reflection on indigenous language, myths, and the spirit world.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to PBS’s American Masters tomorrow, Friday, April 2:
NEVER TOO LATE: THE DOC SEVERINSEN STORY
Director:
Kevin S Bright, Jeff Consiglio
World Premiere:
Cleveland 2020 (unscreened)
Select Festivals:
Full Frame, Nashville, Milwaukee, Virginia, Guanajuato, Mill Valley, BendFilm, Tallgrass, Portland, Sound Unseen
About:
A portrait of the legendary TONIGHT SHOW bandleader.
Doc Severinsen entered the homes of American audiences nightly for three decades as the eccentrically-dressed bandleader of Johnny Carson’s TONIGHT SHOW. While the musician left the show upon the host’s retirement in 1992, he never stopped performing. Now, in his nineties, Severinsen maintains a grueling touring, performance, and teaching schedule, working out multiple times a week to maintain his health and strength. Filmmakers Kevin S Bright and Jeff Consiglio compose a loving tribute to the performer, exploring both his past and his present-day activities. While they address some heavier elements – notably the impact of Doc’s career on his personal life, including some infidelity – the filmmakers generally keep the proceedings fairly light and entertaining, resulting in a solid portrait with considerable nostalgic appeal.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Festival:
The 6th Neighboring Scenes: New Latin American Cinema
Dates:
March 31-April 12
About:
This annual showcase from Film at Lincoln Center and Cinema Tropical goes online this year with a scaled-back lineup that includes only three doc features:
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, March 30:
COWBOYS
Director:
Bud Force, John Langmore
World Premiere:
Austin 2019
Select Festivals:
Sun Valley, Thin Line, Lone Star
About:
A portrait of modern-day cowboys over a year.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
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