Category Archives: Releases

New to DVD and VOD this week:
UNTOUCHABLE (2016)

Director:
David Feige

Premiere:
Tribeca 2016

Select Festivals:
New Orleans, Cleveland, Tallinn Black Nights, Miami, Cork, Berkshire, Antenna Doc, Big Sky Doc, Maryland, Stockholm, Milwaukee,

About:
An exploration of the impact of sex offender legislation.

In the wake of high-profile cases of kidnapping, rape, and murder of children, such as the Jacob Wetterling case, tough laws were passed against sex offenders, including the development of a sex offender registry for use by law enforcement. Over time, that registry was opened up to the public, and punishments increased, such that now, many individuals convicted as sex offenders are basically punished for life, restricted in their movements and places of residence, and ostracized by communities and employers due to their placement on the registry. The problem, as pointed out in Feige’s even-handed, disturbing film, is that the laws are often so broadly defined that the same registry is used for serial predators as for teenagers sexting. Further, despite popular and legal opinion that tough punishments are necessary because of high rates of recidivism, these are not based on scientific fact; studies instead demonstrate that recidivism rates are remarkably low, and that existing restrictive laws do not make any noticeable difference. Feige profiles several individuals caught up in the system, including habitual pedophiles and individuals who made a mistake or were convicted on technicalities, as well as victims and families of victims who have been part of lobbying efforts to punish those who would hurt those who prey on children. While in no way condoning the abuse of children, the film asks tough questions about a one-size-fits-all system of punishment and society’s blinders when it comes to fact-checking common-sense conclusions not borne out by science.

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, January 18:
THE HEAT: A KITCHEN (R)EVOLUTION

Director:
Maya Gallus

Premiere:
Hot Docs 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Traverse City, San Sebastian, Hot Springs Doc, Edmonton

About:
A portrait of female chefs who have faced the boy’s club of the restaurant industry.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
A woman’s place is in the kitchen… or is it? Men still far outnumber women in the kitchens of restaurants worldwide. Director Maya Gallus profiles seven female chefs who have talent and passion, but have been subjected to shocking sexism as they fought for their careers. A no-holds-barred look into the kitchens of some top North American restaurants, her film exposes the often-toxic boys’ club pervasive in the restaurant industry as it answers the question: Can women chefs really take the heat?

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, January 15:
THE DIPLOMAT

Director:
David Holbrooke

Premiere:
Tribeca 2015

Select Festivals:
San Francisco, Traverse City, Sarajevo, AFI Docs, Mountainfilm, Jerusalem

About:
A tribute to the director’s ambassador father.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

New to Hulu this week:
FYRE FRAUD

Directors:
Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason

Premiere:
Hulu (January 2019)

About:
A chronicle of the disastrous 2017 music festival that was meant to rival Coachella.

Released just days before the Chris Smith helmed Netflix documentary FYRE: THE GREATEST PARTY THAT NEVER HAPPENED, Furst and Nason’s rival Hulu project gives its own spin on the debacle that was Fyre Festival. Conceived by Billy McFarland and musician Ja Rule, and heavily promoted to FOMO-averse, cash-flush Millennials by social media influencers, the Great Exuma, Bahamas music fest was sold as a generation-defining event, but instead generated global schadenfreude when reports spread about how ill-prepared organizers were for attendees. While dismissed by many as #whitepeopleproblems, the Fyre Festival disaster led to multiple lawsuits and accusations of fraud with serious jail time. The filmmakers back up from the epic fail everyone knows and loves to focus on McFarland, who is interviewed throughout, laying out his history of dodgy entrepreneurship – what many featured here instead call con jobs – and how he developed and mishandled Fyre. While delivering jaw-dropping behind-the-scenes details of the doomed event, the doc also offers surprising insight into the psychology of deception, the manipulation of perception, and the power of social media and branding.

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, January 15:
THE INSUFFERABLE GROO

Director:
Scott Christopherson

Premiere:
Sheffield 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Sydney Underground, Calgary Underground

About:
A behind-the-scenes look at the life and work of a low-budget auteur.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens tonight, Monday, January 14:
RODENTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE

Directors:
Quinn Costello, Chris Metzler, Jeff Springer

Premiere:
DOC NYC 2017

Select Festivals:
Full Frame, Big Sky Doc, Wild and Scenic, Oxford, Washington DC Environmental, Salem, Indie Grits, Freep, Sarasota, IFF Boston, RiverRun, Doc Edge, SF DocFest, Woods Hole, Sidewalk, DocUtah, Yale Environmental, Tallgrass, Hot Springs Doc

About:
A wide-ranging look at efforts to protect Louisiana from a giant swamp rat.

I previously wrote about the doc here.