About: A profile of legendary funk/R&B icon Rick James, capturing the peaks and valleys of his storied career to reveal a complicated and rebellious soul, driven to share his talent with the world.
About: A Cuban heavy metal band explores their past and their nation’s changing future.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read: Despite restrictions beginning under the regime of Fidel Castro, heavy metal band Zeus became icons of the Cuban music scene. Over the decades, the band and their front man, Diony Arce, have challenged the status quo under threat of government suppression. As the bandmates approach their 30th anniversary together in a shifting political and social climate, they embark on a national tour while contemplating the cultural influence of metal as a genre and music as their life’s purpose.
Select Festivals: DOC NYC, Hot Docs, AFI Fest, Big Sky Doc, Cleveland, Wisconsin, Mountainfilm, DOXA, Thessaloniki Doc, Melbourne Doc
About: A comprehensive exploration of the ideology of socialism, increasingly attracting both supporters and detractors in a polarized America.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read: With debates on income inequality and healthcare becoming increasingly prevalent, and figures like Senator Bernie Sanders rising to prominence, socialism has found a new relevance. As Americans confront 21st century issues, the allure of the economic system attracts politicians and everyday citizens alike to its cause. Through a comprehensive history and expert interviews, Yael Bridge’s film unravels the decades-long debate around this misunderstood ideology.
About: A career-spanning exploration of the notable cultural figure.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read: Turning trauma into precise and angry feminist rock, American singer, writer, and actress Lydia Lunch helped birth the No Wave music scene in the late 1970s and early ’80s—and she’s still killing it today. Fellow No Wave pioneer Beth B constructs a lively portrait of this innovative performer, whose confrontational artistry resonates loudly in today’s feminist landscape. Critics, filmmakers, musicians, and friends discuss the relevance of Lydia’s brilliantly vitriolic world.
Coming to Netflix’s UNTOLD series today, Tuesday, August 31: CRIMES AND PENALTIES
Director: Chapman Way, Maclain Way
World Premiere: Netflix (August 2021)
About: They were the bad boys of hockey—a team bought by a man with mob ties, run by his 17-year-old son, and with a rep for being as violent as they were good.
About: An exploration of the tragedy and legacy of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 through the stories of seven children whose fathers died that day.
Select Festivals: Seattle, Guadalajara, Havana, Lima
About: Finding himself stumped for artistic inspiration, an Indigenous painter travels from Lima to his ancestral land in Amazonia, absorbing his family’s stories and finding the strength to confront the painful past of a people nearly extinguished.