Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by PJ Norman
Against the backdrop of her provocative and inventive performance, Narcissister reflects on the personal impact of her mother’s illness and death.
Festival Section:
New Frontier
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2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: NARCISSISTER ORGAN PLAYER
Against the backdrop of her provocative and inventive performance, Narcissister reflects on the personal impact of her mother’s illness and death.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On DVD: ZUZANA: MUSIC IS LIFE
Coming to DVD this Friday, January 19:
ZUZANA: MUSIC IS LIFE
Directors:
Peter Getzels and Harriet Gordon Getzels
Premiere:
Full Frame 2017
Select Festivals:
DocUtah, Jewish fests in Los Angeles, London, and Washington DC
About:
A survivor of the Holocaust and Communist persecution becomes a pioneer in classical music.
In the Getzels’ portrait, the now-90-year-old Zuzana Ruzickova relates the story of her eventful life, and the central role music has played within it. Growing up Jewish in Czechoslovakia, she survived three concentration camps as a teenager only to return to her homeland under Communist rule, where antisemitism and persecution continued. Despite this, she found both a refuge and a way to excel through music – Ruzickova became the first person to record the complete works of Bach on focused on the harpsichord, re-popularizing he instrument in her country in the process. After the fall of Communism, she worked with her husband to expand musical education in the Czech Republic. While Ruzickova is an impressive figure, the film feels overlong, sometimes detailing elements that are overly familiar and losing its focus on its most distinguishing feature – her music.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: SCIENCE FAIR
Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Pete Alton
Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster profile participants in the world’s premier science fair.
Festival Section:
Kids
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
In Theatres: THE ROAD MOVIE
Coming to theatres this Friday, January 19:
THE ROAD MOVIE
Director:
Dmitrii Kalashnikov
Premiere:
IDFA 2016
Select Festivals:
True/False, Sheffield, Hot Docs, Sarajevo, Docs Against Gravity, Nashville,
About:
A dashboard camera view of modern Russia.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On DVD/VOD: WHAT LIES UPSTREAM
Coming to DVD/VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, January 16:
WHAT LIES UPSTREAM
Director:
Cullen Hoback
Premiere:
Slamdance 2017
Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Seattle, AFI Docs, Traverse City, Dallas, Sonoma, Ashland
About:
The filmmaker investigates the coverup behind drinking water contamination in West Virginia.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: 306 HOLLYWOOD
Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Elan Bogarín and Jonathan Bogarín
Elan Bogarín and Jonathan Bogarín conduct a creative archaeological exploration of their late grandmother’s home and possessions.
Festival Section:
Next
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Slamdance 2018: Documentary Overview
Festival:
The 24th Slamdance Film Festival
Dates:
January 19-25
About:
Just under 30 features screen at this scrappy event taking place during Sundance, including 10 documentaries. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?
Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Jim Judkis
Morgan Neville explores the impact of the beloved children’s television show host on generations of viewers.
Festival Section:
Documentary Premieres
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On DVD/VOD: 100 MEN
Coming to DVD and VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, January 16:
100 MEN
Director:
Paul Oremland
Premiere:
Frameline 2017
Select Festivals:
New Zealand, Outfest, NewFest, LGBT fests in Lisbon, Sydney, and Palm Springs
About:
A personal reflection on how society’s relationship to homosexuality has changed during the filmmaker’s life.
Oremland recounts all the men he has slept with in his life, speaking to those he is able to track down, and in the process considers how these experiences demonstrate changes to the expression of gayness and to society’s acceptance. Following mostly a chronological review, accompanied by the filmmaker’s memories of the incidents – from clandestine, anonymous encounters to more longterm, significant relationships – Oremland also weaves in developments in his career, making film and television projects with gay themes. The focus, however, thankfully remains broader, allowing this to move beyond the insular and diaristic to a more universal consideration of the experiences of gay men between the 1970s and the present, from the sexual freedom of gay liberation to the emergence of AIDS, monogamy to open relationships, exploration of drugs and fetishes, the impact of technology like Grindr on the gay scene, and the opening up of military and marriage to the gay community.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: STUDIO 54
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Matt Tyrnauer revisits the meteoric rise and crushing fall of the legendary NYC nightclub.
Festival Section:
Documentary Premieres
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
