Category Archives: Releases

June 21, 2019 · 1:31 PM

On TV: ROBERT SHAW: MAN OF MANY VOICES

Coming to PBS’s American Masters tonight, Friday, June 21:
ROBERT SHAW: MAN OF MANY VOICES

Directors:
Pamela Roberts and Peter Miller

World Premiere:
Atlanta Symphony Hall (April 2016)

Select Festivals:
Newport Beach, San Diego Jewish, Breckenridge

About:
An appreciation of acclaimed conductor Robert Shaw.

Born a preacher’s son, Robert Shaw expected to follow in his father’s path, but instead discovered music. Despite being self-taught, he developed into a popular conductor of choral music, with a career spanning six decades and numerous accolades, including several Grammy Awards. Drawing from decades of archival performances and the reflections of family, friends, and admirers, directors Pamela Roberts and Peter Miller tell Shaw’s improbable story, a maestro who undercut his successes with self-doubt. Too conventionally told, this portrait is best geared to classical music fans than to general audiences.

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June 21, 2019 · 12:01 PM

On DVD: MAY IT LAST: A PORTRAIT OF THE AVETT BROTHERS

New to DVD this week:
MAY IT LAST: A PORTRAIT OF THE AVETT BROTHERS

Directors:
Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio

Premiere:
SXSW 2017

Select Festivals:
Full Frame, Nashville, IDFA

About:
A behind-the-scenes look at the folk rock band as they record their latest album.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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June 20, 2019 · 1:31 PM

On DVD/VOD: FELIX AUSTRIA!

New to DVD/VOD this month:
FELIX AUSTRIA!

Director:
Christine Beebe

World Premiere:
Hot Docs 2013

About:
A portrait of a man with aristocratic delusions.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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June 20, 2019 · 12:01 PM

In Theatres: TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM

photo by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, June 21:
TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM

Director:
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Miami, Cleveland, Montclair, Wisconsin

About:
An intimate profile of the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning literary icon.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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

June 19, 2019 · 1:31 PM

On DVD: OZONE HOLE: HOW WE SAVED THE PLANET

New to DVD this week:
OZONE HOLE: HOW WE SAVED THE PLANET

Director:
Jamie Lochhead

Premiere:
InScience 2018

About:
A look back at how the world came together to address a potential global catastrophe.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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June 19, 2019 · 12:01 PM

In Theatres & On VOD: THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY

photo by Orlando Brito

Coming to theatres and to Netflix tonight, Wednesday, June 19:
THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY

Director:
Petra Costa

World Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Hot Docs, CPH:DOX, San Francisco, Montclair, IndieLisboa, Biografilm

About:
A cautionary tale about Brazil’s recent political scandals.

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

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

June 18, 2019 · 3:02 PM

On DVD: THE BRINK

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, June 18:
THE BRINK

Director:
Alison Klayman

Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, Cleveland, Docville

About:
Steve Bannon, post-White House.

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

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

June 18, 2019 · 1:31 PM

On VOD: MEMORY GAMES

MEMORY GAMES

Coming to Netflix tomorrow, Wednesday, June 19:
MEMORY GAMES

Directors:
Janet Tobias and Claus Wehlisch

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2018

Select Festivals:
RiverRun, Docs Against Gravity, DocLands,

About:
A look at the unforgettable world championship of memory athletes.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
You won’t believe your eyes watching this competition of memory athletes. Quickly absorbing complex data, such as random sequences of numbers, through visualization techniques – represented here through creative animated sequences – the competitors repeat it back under high-pressure conditions. The film follows hopefuls from the US, Germany, and Sweden on their way to a world championship.

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June 18, 2019 · 12:01 PM

On DVD: HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, June 18:
HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING

Director:
RaMell Ross

Premiere:
Sundance 2018

Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, True/False, New Directors/New Films, Full Frame, Sheffield, Ambulante, Champs-Élysées, Maryland, DOK.fest Munich, Martha’s Vineyard African American, San Francisco, Montclair

Notable Recognition:
The documentary was nominated for the Academy Awards.

About:
An impressionistic portrait of two young African American men in the American South.

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

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June 17, 2019 · 3:02 PM

On TV: THE LAVENDER SCARE

Coming to PBS tomorrow, Tuesday, June 17:
THE LAVENDER SCARE

Director:
Josh Howard

World Premiere:
qFLIX Philadelphia 2017

Select Festivals:
Virginia, Sun Valley, Frameline, Inside Out, LGBT fests in Sydney, San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Atlanta, Rochester, Austin, Miami, and Palm Springs

About:
A look back at the Cold War era panic over gays in the government.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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