Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to Apple TV+ this Friday, November 13:
FIREBALL: VISITORS FROM DARKER WORLDS

Director:
Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer

World Premiere:
Toronto 2020

Select Festivals:
Rome, AFI Fest, Hamptons, Montclair, Chicago

About:
An exploration of meteors and their impact – literal and figurative – on society.

Meteors have long been viewed as portents of extreme significance, making them a natural fit for Werner Herzog’s singular philosophical inquiries. In his latest film, co-directed with and starring his previous collaborator, volcanologist and University of Cambridge professor Clive Oppenheimer, the Bavarian auteur travels the globe – from Mexico to Mecca, Australia to Antarctica – to explore the scientific and spiritual sides of these astronomical phenomena. While Herzog stays offscreen, his memorable narration shines as always, and he leaves the on-air antics to Oppenheimer, a personable academic who mirrors the enthusiasm of his various interview subjects, from a papal astronomer and planetary defense researchers to Antarctic asteroid hunters and quasicrystal experts. While the film’s survey structure leads to a more cursory approach, its topics remain engaging and enjoyable.

Coming to HBO and HBO Max tomorrow, Thursday, November 12:
TRANSHOOD

Director:
Sharon Liese

World Premiere:
Hot Docs 2020

Select Festivals:
AFI Docs, Frameline, Atlanta, Bentonville, St Louis

About:
A longitudinal portrait of trans youth in Kansas City.

Filming for five years, beginning in 2014, director Sharon Liese traces the lives of four young people, ranging in ages 4 to 15 at the start of the project, who – at least at some point during the film – identify as transgender. As that qualification suggests, for at least one subject, the youngest, Phoenix, their self-identification and gender expression changes dramatically by the end of the project, though even more surprising is their mother’s radical shift in attitudes. This change justifies the inclusion of Phoenix among the subjects, as prior to this, their relative youth made them the least developed of the protagonists, and also serves to parallel with the disastrous losses for trans rights that came with the 2016 presidential election. Of course, with all of the kids, their families are also central to Liese’s film, balancing loving and supporting their children with navigating societal pressure, and, in some cases, taking a stand for what’s right. But, in contrast to Phoenix, the remaining young subjects are far better able to articulate their experiences, both positive and negative, whether it’s Avery’s growing discomfort in being a preteen activist, Jay’s hesitation to out himself at school, or Leena’s relief at exploring gender reassignment surgery. While the film’s titular reference to BOYHOOD feels a bit of a stretch, its longitudinal approach effectively creates a level of intimacy that, one hopes, will create empathy even among audiences not already predisposed to supporting LGBTQ rights.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, November 10:
YOU’RE LOOKING AT ME LIKE I LIVE HERE AND I DON’T

Director:
Scott Kirschenbaum

World Premiere:
Camden 2011

About:
An intimate exploration of the life of a woman with Alzheimer’s.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD/VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, November 10:
OUR TIME MACHINE

Directors:
S Leo Chiang and Yang Sun

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2019

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, IDFA, CAAMFest, Palm Springs, Doc Edge, Guth Gafa, LA Asian Pacific, Salem, Indie Street

About:
An artist constructs an elaborate puppet play to explore his father’s fading memories.

I previously wrote about the doc here.