Category Archives: Releases

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, January 17:
WIZARD MODE

Directors:
Jeff Petry and Nathan Drillot

Premiere:
Hot Docs 2016

Select Festivals:
DOXA, Portland, Rendezvous with Madness

About:
A portrait of a pinball champion who is on the autism spectrum.

Robert Gagno showed an early fascination with mechanical devices, while also struggling with language. Diagnosed with autism, his parents feared he would never be able to communicate, but despite challenges, he defied medical prognoses and is now a very communicative young adult. He’s also a pinball master, having found an affinity for the game and quickly ranking up with the elite players. Petry and Drillot’s appealing film follows Gagno on the competition circuit while also revealing the background and personality of their likeable, refreshingly vulnerable subject as he aims to master the hidden wizard levels of his favorite games and works toward attaining greater independence in life.

New to VOD this week:
HARRY AND SNOWMAN

Director:
Ron Davis

Premiere:
Full Frame 2015

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Nantucket, New Orleans, Hamptons, Virginia, Provincetown, Sedona, Hot Springs Doc

About:
A story of love and friendship between a man and his horse.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD this coming Tuesday, January 17:
DANCER

Director:
Steven Cantor

Premiere:
Los Angeles theatres, September 2016

Select Festivals:
Zurich, BFI London, Calgary

About:
A profile of the bad boy of modern ballet, Sergei Polunin.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to the WORLD Channel’s Reel South series this Sunday, January 15:
DEEP RUN

Director:
Hillevi Loven

Premiere:
Frameline 2015

Seelct Festivals:
DOC NYC, Outfest, San Diego, Indie Grits, RiverRun, Belfast, Woodstock, LGBT fests in Austin, Denver, Stockholm, Atlanta, Miami, Melbourne, Seattle

About:
A portrait of transgender life in the rural South.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Growing up transgender in rural North Carolina, Cole has remained remarkably upbeat despite rejection from his family, school, and church. With religion deeply ingrained as part of his identity, Cole longs to find acceptance within a community of faith, but doesn’t want to hide who he is or who he loves. Can the affable young trans man live openly with his true love in the Bible Belt? Hillevi Loven explores the intersection of modern identity and faith in the American South.

Previously available on iTunes and other VOD platforms, but new to Amazon Video this week:
TOWER

Director:
Keith Maitland

Premiere:
SXSW 2016

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Seattle, Karlovy Vary, Jerusalem, Melbourne, Fantasia, the Hamptons, BFI London, Sitges, Mill Valley

Notable Recognition:
The doc has been shortlisted for the Academy Awards.

About:
An animated re-telling of a sniper’s attack on school campus in 1966.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, January 13:
RESET

Directors:
Thierry Demaizière and Alban Teurlai

Premiere:
French TV 2015

Select Festivals:
Tribeca, Sydney, Jerusalem, Melbourne, IDFA, Seattle, Vancouver

About:
A new director aims to shake up the Paris Opera Ballet.

Acclaimed choreographer, New York City Ballet principal, and BLACK SWAN choreographer/performer Benjamin Millepied took on the prestigious post of dance director for the Paris Opera Ballet in late 2014. Attaining privileged access, Demaizière and Teurlai follow the charismatic, forward-thinking newcomer as he prepares for his first show while trying to reinvigorate the institution by diversifying casting and updating staging technologies. As the film counts down to the opening night, Millepied is seen developing movements and overseeing his dancers, while the camera also spotlights the physical spaces of the Ballet itself. Given its lack of any real narrative drama, the film, while somewhat overlong, works best as an institutional portrait, one that is beautifully lensed and well edited – with the exception of intermittent rapid-fire montage sequences which prove more distracting than instructive.