Category Archives: Releases

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, March 6: THE MIND OF MARK DEFRIEST

Gabriel London’s exploration of the history of a notorious prison escape artist debuted at Hot Docs last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, Los Angeles, Tallgrass, Denver, and Lone Star, among others. The film has already led to surprising developments in DeFriest’s case.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
In 1979, teenager Mark DeFriest received a four-year prison sentence for stealing his own tools. After countless outrageous jailbreak attempts – many humorously recounted here through animated sequences – he’s still incarcerated and will be until 2084. Shortly after his confinement began, Mark’s mental competency was questioned, but the opinion of Dr Robert Berland, a single dissenting psychiatrist, kept him behind bars. Now, agreeing to re-examine the oddly amiable but troubled Houdini, Dr Berland may provide the means to finally secure Mark’s freedom.

Coming to theatres this Friday, March 6: AN HONEST LIAR

Justin Weinstein and Tyler Measom’s portrait of a famed paranormal debunker bowed at Tribeca last year. It went on to screen at Nantucket, Hot Docs, AFI Docs, and Outfest, among other fests.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to the WORLD Channel’s Strength of Women series tonight, Wednesday March 4: NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE

Andrea Kalin’s look at a rock band’s efforts to spread awareness of cancer has been screening around the country via TUGG since 2013, and has appeared in events including the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, Awareness Film Festival, Cinequest, and Australia’s Big Picture Film Festival. The film screened nationwide and in Canada on February 4 in commemoration of World Cancer Day.

While most people are aware of breast cancer and its devastating impact, much less attention has been placed on the various forms of GYN cancer that claim the lives of thousands each year. The members of NED – which stands for No Evidence of Disease, a term for remission – do their part to change that, not only by performing benefit concerts and incorporating survivors into their shows, but notably through their day jobs: The six members of the band are gynecological oncologists, specialists in treating ovarian, cervical, labial, and uterine cancers. Kalin profiles each of the doctor bandmates, as well as several courageous patients, but the heart of her intimate and inspirational film is the solitary female physician, Joanie, NED’s compelling lead singer.

Coming to NYC’s Film Forum this Friday, March 6: GREY GARDENS

Albert and David Maysles, Ellen Hovde, and Muffie Meyer’s seminal portrait of an unforgettable mother and daughter bowed in 1975 at the New York Film Festival. It went on to screen at Cannes and Toronto the following year, and is recognized as a classic of nonfiction filmmaking. The film now returns to theatres in a newly restored version for its 40th anniversary.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming back to DVD today, Tuesday, March 3: THE BRIDGE

Eric Steel’s controversial exploration of Golden Gate Bridge suicides made its debut at Tribeca in 2006. It went on to screen at San Francisco, London, Sarajevo, Chicago, and Havana, among others. Initially released on DVD in 2007, Kino Lorber re-releases it now.

After reading that San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge was the most popular site in the world for suicide jumpers, Steel set out to document a year of the bridge, setting up cameras more than a mile away and shooting the expanse of the structure for the entirety of 2004. During this period, they caught several suicides and suicide attempts on film, a selection of which are shown here, accompanied by interviews with family members, friends, and witnesses who provide what background they can on why these individuals made the choice to end their own lives. Additionally, they speak with Kevin Hines, who suffers from bipolar disorder and survived an earlier jump – a rare occurrence as noted here. Steel was criticized for lying on his film permit application about the focus of his film, and even more so for including footage of the suicides he captured on film, with some suggesting he would encourage copycats, and others simply calling the project a snuff film in disguise. Despite these charges of voyeurism and exploitation, the film exposes the deep discomfort around the subject of suicide. As strangers are viewed walking along the bridge, the audience watches with dread as individuals linger, fearful that they may hop over the unprotected railing and fling themselves into the water below. While it’s a relief when this doesn’t happen, it’s still an uncomfortable shock every time it does. Steel’s interviews with survivors reveal something of the jumpers’ lives – and suffering – helping to humanize the disturbing statistics and draw awareness to the underlying issues of depression and other psychological problems that our society still doesn’t want to fully face.

Coming to PBS’s America ReFramed series tomorrow, Tuesday, March 3: OUT IN THE SILENCE

Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer’s personal confrontation with small town homophobia has been screening extensively at festivals, universities, conferences, and community events since 2009. Among the festivals it’s appeared in are Human Rights Watch, Nashville, Rhode Island, aGLIFF, ImageOUT, Reel Affirmations, and Reeling. The film has also received an Emmy Award.

After longtime partners Wilson and Hamer decided to place their wedding announcement in Wilson’s rural hometown newspaper, the simple act sets off virulent homophobia within the community of Oil City PA, with anti-gay activists like Diane Gramley, the heartless and humorless head of the local American Family Association, denouncing gay marriage. A local resident, Kathy, takes note of the controversy, and, with no one else to turn, reaches out to Wilson to somehow help her her teenage son, CJ, the victim of regular bullying at school. Moved by her plea, the filmmaking pair returns to Oil City to explore why the conservative community has reacted so strongly against their declaration of love and commitment, and why Kathy has had such difficulty finding support for CJ’s plight. Believing that commonality trumps difference, they seek out an illuminating dialogue with opponents, forming an unexpected friendship with an Evangelical preacher who criticizes their union, while they also serve as role models for young CJ, providing compassion and hope that he will make it through this challenging time.

Coming to VOD this coming Tuesday, March 3: ACTRESS

Robert Greene’s look at a woman uncomfortably performing a domestic role debuted at True/False last year. Other festival engagements included Hot Docs, Nantucket, AFI Docs, Art of the Real, Sarasota, DMZ Docs, Camden, CPH:DOX, RIDM, and IDFA, among others.

I previously wrote about the film here.

Coming to Al Jazeera America in two parts on Sunday, March 1 and Sunday, March 8: FREEWAY: CRACK IN THE SYSTEM

Marc Levin’s look at the rise and fall of a crack kingpin debuted at Los Angeles’ Pan African Film Festival. It was also shown in a sneak preview earlier this month in NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction series.

I previously wrote about the program here.