Coming to theatres today, Friday, October 4:
MEMORY: THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN
Director:
Alexandre O Philippe
World Premiere:
Sundance 2019
Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, Karlovy Vary, BAFICI, Hong Kong, Jerusalem, Melbourne, Seattle, Munich, Hawaii, Istanbul, Sitges, Taipei Golden Horse
About:
An expansive film essay on the origins of ALIEN.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
New to VOD this week:
ONE NATION UNDER STRESS
Director:
Marc Levin
World Premiere:
Pure Nonfiction (March 2019)
About:
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr Sanjay Gupta investigates why American life expectancy is on the decline.
With US life expectancy seeing a decline a surprising three years in a row, Dr Sanjay Gupta sets out to determine the root cause. Focusing on the corresponding increase in disturbing “deaths of despair” – including suicide, opioid overdose, and conditions related to alcohol abuse, like cirrhosis of the liver – Gupta hones in on one underlying culprit: stress. Speaking to a variety of medical, social, and even economic experts, the neurosurgeon explores the chronic stress resulting from today’s economic uncertainty and social instability, and its detrimental impact on health. Wisely acknowledging that such factors are multivalent, the film also explores mitigating factors, such as class, race, and community support structures. While fairly conventional in its approach, the film is informative and offers a sense of practical steps that may be taken to help alleviate chronic stress and reverse its ill effects.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
New to DVD this week:
RAÚL JULIÁ: THE WORLD’S A STAGE
Director:
Ben DeJesus
World Premiere:
Los Angeles Latino 2019
About:
A tribute to the life and legacy of acclaimed Puerto Rican actor Raúl Juliá.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
New to DVD this week:
THE PROPOSAL
Director:
Jill Magid
Premiere:
Tribeca 2018
Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Sheffield, Rotterdam, Dokufest, New Orleans, Camden, Docaviv, Docs Against Gravity, Ambulante, Antenna, RIDM, Palm Springs, Hamptons, Vancouver, Göteborg, Portland, Salem, DocPoint
About:
The artist/filmmaker engages in a polite battle of wills over access to – and the legacy of – a celebrated Mexican architect’s work.
I previously wrote about the film hereL.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to theatres today, Wednesday, October 2:
CELEBRATION
Director:
Olivier Meyrou
World Premiere:
Berlin 2007
Select Festivals:
IDFA, True/False, Docs Against Gravity, Seattle, Vilnius
About:
A long-unreleased look at Yves Saint-Laurent at the end of his career.
Though commissioned by YSL’s business partner and former lover, Pierre Bergé, Olivier Meyrou’s film was prevented by him from screening again after its debut at Berlin over 12 years ago, until now. Finally having gotten the controlling Bergé’s blessing, this revealing behind-the-scenes portrait re-emerged at IDFA last year and has been playing several festivals since. Meyrou spent three years filming various aspects of YSL’s fashion house in the waning years of the visionary designer’s long reign, detailing the activities of the dedicated seamstresses, cutters, show organizers, and models, while YSL and Bergé observe and pass judgement. Largely observational, but tinged at times with telling moments of nostalgia for the heyday of the haute couture house, the film at the same time provides a rare inside glimpse of the world of high fashion while revealing the subtle power dynamics between Bergé and YSL.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD and VOD today, Tuesday, October 1:
MAIDEN
Director:
Alex Holmes
World Premiere:
Toronto 2018
Select Festivals:
Sundance, Nantucket, SXSW, IDFA, CPH:DOX, Tribeca, Seattle, Biografilm, DocPoint, Glasgow, Dublin, Sydney
About:
The immersive, against-all-odds story of sailor Tracy Edwards, who skippered the first all-female international crew in the 1989 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to Starz tomorrow, Tuesday, October 1:
SILICONE SOUL
Director:
Melody Gilbert
World Premiere:
Thessaloniki Doc 2018
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, One World, Fargo, SF DocFest, Minneapolis-St Paul, Sofia, BendFilm, Chagrin Doc, AmDocs, DocuWest
About:
Profiles of individuals who have developed attachments to lifelike dolls.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Romance traditionally has been the domain of humans. This film, however, shows it is possible between men and the life-size dolls. Disarmingly candid interviews highlight the bonds formed between synthetic beings and lonely souls who have struggled to find the “one,” while other subjects profiled reveal unexpected attachments to eerily lifelike dolls. Melody Gilbert’s documentary sensitively explores the meaning of and desire for companionship and emotional connection.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 1:
GENERAL MAGIC
Directors:
Matt Maude and Sarah Kerruish
World Premiere:
Tribeca 2018
Select Festival:
Palm Springs, Cleveland, Florida, Doc Edge, Sidewalk, Philadelphia, Hot Springs Doc, Milwaukee, Denver, Hawaii
About:
A look back at an ahead-of-its-time tech company.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to HBO this coming Tuesday, October 1:
DIEGO MARADONA
Director:
Asif Kapadia
World Premiere:
Cannes 2019
Select Festivals:
Telluride, Sheffield, Karlovy Vary, Biografilm, Jerusalem
About:
An archival portrait of the celebrated but controversial soccer star.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to PBS’s POV this coming Monday, September 30:
THE SILENCE OF OTHERS
Directors:
Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar
Premiere:
Berlin 2018
Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Sheffield, AFI Docs, Reyjkavik, Docs Against Gravity, Cairo, Hamptons, Mar del Plata, Los Angeles, Moscow
Notable Recognition:
The doc was shortlisted for the Academy Awards.
About:
Victims and survivors of Franco’s brutal regime take to Argentine courts to seek justice.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
