Coming to theatres this Friday, April 4: THE UNKNOWN KNOWN
Errol Morris’ reckoning with Donald Rumsfeld’s attempted shaping of history made its debut at Telluride last year. It went on to screen at Toronto, Venice, DOC NYC, Chicago, Dubai, CPH:DOX, and IDFA, among others.
I included the film in my Toronto coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, April 1: WHEN JEWS WERE FUNNY
Alan Zweig’s rumination on Jewish humor had its world premiere at Toronto last Fall, where it won Best Canadian Feature. It went on to screen at Jewish fests in New York, Atlanta, Vancouver, Charlotte, and Miami, as well as the upcoming Sarasota and River Run fests.
I included the doc in my Toronto coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, April 1: CAMPAIGN OF HATE: RUSSIA AND GAY PROPAGANDA
Michael Lucas’ exploration of homophobia in his native Russia has bypassed festivals to make its debut on DVD. Co-directed with Scott Stern, the film will also be available on VOD in May via its distributor, Breaking Glass Pictures.
Lucas, well-known as a gay porn director, star, and entrepreneur, as well as an outspoken and often controversial political activist, trades on his notoriety to help expose the realities of LGBT life in Putin’s Russia, appearing onscreen throughout as an at times bilingual interviewer. The use of on-screen interviewers in docs is generally a clunky device, lending a TV news magazine feel, and that’s the case here, especially because, unless the viewer already is familiar with Lucas, his Russian background, or his body of work, the documentary offers none of that context. While this surprising restraint of ego perhaps might make the film somewhat more palatable to a more mainstream audience, it robs it of some specificity and voice. That said, Lucas does gain access to a wide range of subjects, from Vitaly Milonov, the principle legislator responsible for Russia’s horrendous gay propaganda law, to Anton Krasovsky, a TV news anchor who lost his job after coming out on air, as well as numerous everyday Russian citizens, gay and straight. While his survey approach is workmanlike, the content of the interviews he conducts effectively demonstrates the scapegoating of LGBT people by a cynical and corrupt regime, and the dehumanization, persecution, and humiliation that has resulted.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to theatres and to VOD today, Friday, March 28: MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS
Tom Berninger’s semi-fictionalized tour film with The National debuted as the closing gala of Tribeca last year. Its fest circuit also included Seattle, Denver, BFI London, Cork, Leeds, Cleveland, Big Sky, Vancouver, and CPH:DOX, among others.
I previously wrote about the film out of Tribeca here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, March 28: FINDING VIVIAN MAIER
John Maloof and Charlie Siskel’s mesmerizing exploration of the life and work of the posthumously celebrated street photographer made its debut at Toronto. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, New Orleans, Berlin, Palm Springs, and Boulder, among other events.
I included the doc in my Toronto coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to VOD this coming Tuesday, April 1: I AM DIVINE
Jeffrey Schwarz’s portrait of John Waters’ superstar muse debuted at SXSW last year. It went on to screen extensively at LGBT fests including Inside Out, Tel Aviv, Frameline, and Outfest, New Orleans’ Film-O-Rama, Cleveland, Nashville, DOXA, Sheffield, Sydney, and Provincetown, among many others. The film now becomes available via VOD and digital download.
I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens next Monday, March 31: MEDORA
Andrew Cohn and Davy Rothbart’s look at a community through its high school basketball team had its world premiere last year at SXSW. Its fest circuit included Sarasota, Full Frame, Woods Hole, Sidewalk, Raindance, and Woodstock, among others.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, March 25: THE PUNK SINGER
Sini Anderson’s look at the life and career of musician Kathleen Hanna premiered at SXSW last year. The doc’s fest circuit included DOC NYC, Seattle, London, IFF Boston, Sidewalk, Melbourne, and Hot Docs, among others, before a theatrical and VOD release last Fall.
I included the film in my Hot Docs coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, March 25: LET THE FIRE BURN
Jason Osder’s riveting look at a radical group’s face off against authorities debuted at Tribeca last year, winning two awards. Its fest circuit included Hot Docs, Vancouver, London, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and AFI Docs, among others, before a limited theatrical release.
I previously covered the doc out of Tribeca here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to NYC’s Mayles Cinema via the Documentary in Bloom series today, Monday, March 24: BROTHERS HYPNOTIC
Reuben Atlas’ profile of the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble debuted at SXSW last year. Its fest circuit included Hot Docs, Montclair, Los Angeles, Film Society’s Sound + Vision, Urbanworld, Antenna, Indie Memphis, Sound Unseen, RIDM, Pan African, Big Sky, and Noise Pop.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
