Category Archives: Releases

August 20, 2019 · 1:31 PM

On VOD: DONKEYOTE

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, August 20:
DONKEYOTE

Director:
Chico Pereira

World Premiere:
Rotterdam 2017

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Hot Docs, True/False, Full Frame, San Francisco, Edinburgh, AFI Docs, Munich, DocsMX, DocumentaMadrid

About:
A Spaniard sets off an a seemingly impossible journey with his animals by his side.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Director Chico Pereira’s 73-year-old Uncle Manolo dreams of walking the Trail of Tears with his beloved donkey Gorrión and his faithful dog Zafrana at his side. Transporting an aquaphobic donkey to America from Spain presents just one of a series of challenges, but Manolo won’t let that stop him from his quixotic quest. Donkeyote captures the distinct personalities of Manolo and his loyal companions in this charming portrait of unlikely adventure.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

August 20, 2019 · 12:01 PM

In Theatres & On VOD: AMERICAN FACTORY

Coming to theatres and to Netflix tomorrow, Wednesday, August 21:
AMERICAN FACTORY

Directors:
Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert

World Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Hot Docs, CPH:DOX, Tribeca, Sheffield, Full Frame, San Francisco, Cleveland, Sarasota, RiverRun, Ashland, Seattle, Documentary Edge, Biografilm, AFI Docs, Sydney, Traverse City

About:
An observational portrait of the culture clash that results when an Ohio factory is opened by a Chinese company.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

August 19, 2019 · 12:01 PM

On DVD/VOD: THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM

Coming to DVD and VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, August 20:
THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM

Director:
John Chester

Premiere:
Telluride 2018

Select Festivals:
Sundance, DOC NYC, Toronto, Berlin, Miami, Hamptons, Napa Valley, AFI Fest, Palm Springs, Thessaloniki Doc, CPH:DOX, Sarasota, Sun Valley, Newport Beach, Montclair

About:
For over eight years, John and Molly Chester find ways to work with nature to establish a biodynamic farm.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

August 16, 2019 · 3:02 PM

In Theatres: WHILE I BREATHE, I HOPE

Coming to NYC’s Stuart Cinema tomorrow, Saturday, August 17:
WHILE I BREATHE, I HOPE

Director:
Emily Harrold

Premiere:
New Orleans 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Hot Springs Doc, Cucalorus, Toronto Black, Oxford,

About:
A portrait of a young African-American politician in the South.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

August 16, 2019 · 2:12 PM

In Theatres: WHAT YOU GONNA DO WHEN THE WORLD’S ON FIRE?

Coming to theatres today, Friday, August 16:
WHAT YOU GONNA DO WHEN THE WORLD’S ON FIRE?

Director:
Roberto Minervini

World Premiere:
Venice 2018

Select Festivals:
Toronto, New York, CPH:DOX, Sheffield, Busan, London, Rotterdam, Göteborg, Mar del Plata, Valdivia, Vancouver, Vilnius, DocPoint, Docs Against Gravity, Munich

About:
An exploration of race in the American South.

Following his focus on marginalized white Louisianans in THE OTHER SIDE, Italian director Roberto Minervini turns his attention to African American subjects, weaving together four separate strands and once again employing his usual hybridized storytelling, where subjects at times may be performing versions of themselves for his camera. The most impactful of the storylines centers on Judy Hill, a woman who has pushed past addiction to try to start over, opening a bar that functions as a de facto community gathering place, only to see gentrification snatch it back from her. Quieter but also effective are the scenes devoted to the protective relationship between brothers Ronaldo and Titus, as well as their mother, worried about the fate of young black men in American society. Had Minervini stopped there, and further fleshed out these characters, the project might have been more compelling as a whole. Instead, the film brings in two lesser threads that are either jarringly incorporated or feel like an afterthought – the former, a look at the New Black Panther Party for Self Defense, and its leader Krystal Muhammad; the latter, underdeveloped, almost throwaway scenes with the Mardi Gras Indians. Given that the four strands never intersect, the film already has an uneven and not wholly satisfying feel, but the incorporation of these additional strands unfortunately exacerbate the disconnect and draw the project out to an unnecessary length without providing any additional revelations.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

August 16, 2019 · 1:31 PM

On VOD: INVENTING TOMORROW

New to VOD via Amazon Prime this week:
INVENTING TOMORROW

Director:
Laura Nix

Premiere:
Sundance 2018

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Hot Docs, CPH:DOX, Seattle, Sydney, Melbourne, San Francisco, Full Frame, AFI Docs, Woods Hole, Greenwich, Montclair, Dokufest

About:
A profile of several international students pursuing answers to environmental issues in their science fair projects.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

August 16, 2019 · 12:01 PM

In Theatres & On VOD: THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN DOCUMENTARY

Coming to theatres and to Hulu today, Friday, August 16:
THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN DOCUMENTARY

Director:
Ben Berman

World Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, BAMcinemaFest, Sydney, New Zealand, San Francisco Jewish, Sheffield

About:
An attempt to chronicle a dying magician’s final tour grows increasingly bizarre.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

August 15, 2019 · 3:02 PM

On VOD: THE GOLD SPINNERS

Coming to OVID.tv tomorrow, Friday, August 16:
THE GOLD SPINNERS

Directors:
Kiur Aarma and Hardi Volmer

World Premiere:
Sydney 2014

Select Festivals:
Melbourne, United Nations Association, Message to Man, Monterrey, Vilnius, Cinema Verite

About:
A look back at the only commercial advertising agency in the Soviet Union.

Established in 1967, at the height of the Cold War, the Estonian company Eesti Reklaamfilm had the distinction of being the sole advertising firm for the Soviet Union. Despite operating within a socialist economy that rejected the consumerism of capitalism, the studio was allowed to operate, creating advertisements – often for products that were unavailable or simply didn’t exist. Directors Kiur Aarma and Hardi Volmer tell the story of Eesti Reklaamfilm and its enterprising head, Peedu Ojamaa, smartly incorporating a wide range of archival clips to give the viewer a sense of just how strange and colorful their commercials were. While the storytelling is, on the whole, fairly academic beyond that, with a great deal of narration and talking heads, the subject matter is unusual and fascinating enough to elevate the project.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

August 15, 2019 · 1:31 PM

In Theatres: AQUARELA

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 16:
AQUARELA

Director:
Victor Kossakovsky

World Premiere:
Venice 2018

Select Festivals:
Sundance, IDFA, SXSW, CPH:DOX, London, BAFICI, Zurich, Göteborg, El Gouna, DocPoint, Glasgow, Revelation Perth, Docs Against Gravity, Biografilm, Istanbul

About:
A round-the-world exploration of water in its various forms.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

August 15, 2019 · 12:01 PM

In Theatres: COLD CASE HAMMARSKJÖLD

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 16:
COLD CASE HAMMARSKJÖLD

Director:
Mads Brügger

World Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, True/False, Hot Docs, Thessaloniki Doc, Göteborg, One World, Movies That Matter, AFI Docs, Docville, It’s All True, Moscow, Docs Against Gravity, DocsBarcelona, Seattle, Transilvania, Greenwich, Encounters, Biografilm, Docaviv, Munich, Melbourne

About:
A provocative investigation of the 1961 death of the United Nations Secretary-General.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance