Coming to PBS’s American Masters tomorrow, Tuesday, October 19:
BECOMING HELEN KELLER
Director:
Michael Pressman
World Premiere:
American Masters PBS broadcast (October 2021)
About:
An exploration of the complex life and legacy of the author, advocate, and human rights pioneer, Helen Keller, who used her celebrity and wit to champion rights for women, people with disabilities, and people living in poverty.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to PBS’s POV today, Monday, October 18:
LA CASA DE MAMA ICHA
Director:
Óscar Molina
World Premiere:
Cartagena 2020
Select Festivals:
Philadelphia Latino, Slamdance Miami, North Carolina Latino
About:
Decades ago, Mama Icha migrated to the United States to help her daughter with the care of her grandchildren; now, she feels near the end of her life and only thinks about one thing: going back to her native Colombian hometown.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to theatres today, Friday, October 15:
INTRODUCING, SELMA BLAIR
Director:
Rachel Fleit
World Premiere:
SXSW 2021
Select Festivals:
Hamptons
About:
In a quest to take control of her personal health after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, actor Selma Blair adapts to new ways of living while pursuing an experimental medical procedure.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres today, Friday, October 15:
GORBACHEV. HEAVEN
Director:
Vitaly Mansky
World Premiere:
IDFA 2020
Select Festivals:
Visions du Réel, Docaviv, Dokufest, Tallinn Black Nights, Sofia, Hong Kong, BelDocs, Docs Against Gravity
About:
Gorbachev, the architect of glasnost and perestroika, but condemned by his own people, lives out the last days of his life in an empty house in the suburbs near Moscow.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to theatres today, Friday, October 15:
ALL ABOUT MY SISTERS
Director:
Wang Qiong
World Premiere:
Rotterdam 2021
Select Festivals:
New York Film Festival, Hamburg, BFI London, San Diego Asian
About:
An intimate, deeply felt portrait of Jin and her family filmed by her sister.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to Discovery+ today, Thursday, October 14:
CRUTCH
Director:
Sachi Cunningham, Vayabobo
World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2020
Select Festivals:
Cleveland, ReelAbilities, Bentonville
About:
From angry skatepunk to international provocateur, the emotional story of a one-of-a-kind artist’s struggle to be understood.
The film previously screened at DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Dance, art, performance, and disability politics converge in this entertaining and enlightening portrait of Bill Shannon, an internationally renowned artist, break dancer, and skate punk, who wields his crutches as tools of expression and instruments for audience provocation. The film journeys through a decade of intimate access and a lifetime of archival footage that includes Shannon’s stage work for Cirque du Soleil, the Sydney Opera House, the Tate Modern, and the Chicago MOCA.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
New to the Criterion Channel this week:
FILM ABOUT A FATHER WHO
Director:
Lynne Sachs
World Premiere:
Slamdance 2020
Select Festivals:
Doc Fortnight, Sheffield, Docaviv, Doclisboa, RIDM, Indie Memphis, Sarasota
About:
The filmmaker attempts to make sense of her wayward father.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to MUBI today, Wednesday, October 13:
CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY
Director:
Jonathan Perel
World Premiere:
Berlin 2020
Select Festivals:
IDFA, IndieLisboa, Art of the Real, BAFICI, Sheffield, Cinema du Reel, Havana, FIDM, Jihlava,
About:
Excerpts from a 2015 report demonstrating corporate responsibility during Argentina’s repressive dictatorship are related in front of several of the culpable companies’ factories.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to theatres and virtual cinemas today, Wednesday, October 13:
DEEP BLUES (1991)
Director:
Robert Mugge
Select Festivals:
Sundance
About:
A journey deep into the heart of the North Mississippi Hill Country and Mississippi Delta, exploring the rich musical history and vibrant contemporary performers of the region.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
New to DVD this week:
ROADRUNNER: A FILM ABOUT ANTHONY BOURDAIN
Director:
Morgan Neville
World Premiere:
Tribeca 2021
Select Festivals:
Nantucket, AFI Docs
About:
A remarkably constructed portrait of the uncommon life and untimely death of the late storyteller, explorer, and chef.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
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