On VOD: DINA

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, January 9:
DINA

Directors:
Antonio Santini and Dan Sickles

Premiere:
Sundance 2017

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Nantucket, True/False, Full Frame, SF Jewish, Seattle, Sheffield, Sun Valley, Sarasota

About:
A profile an unforgettable woman as she seeks to realize her desires.

My pre-Sundance look at the doc may be found here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: A WOMAN CAPTURED

Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Bernadett Tuza Ritter

A WOMAN CAPTURED
Bernadett Tuza-Ritter reveals a disturbing case of modern-day slavery in Hungary.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
Hungary
Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance

On DVD: THE JAZZ LOFT ACCORDING TO W EUGENE SMITH

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, January 9:
THE JAZZ LOFT ACCORDING TO W EUGENE SMITH

Director:
Sara Fishko

Premiere:
New Orleans 2015

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Rotterdam, Full Frame, Cleveland, Florida, BAFICI, Copenhagen Jazz Film Festival

About:
An insider look at NYC bohemia in the late 1950s-early 1960s.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: WESTWOOD: PUNK, ICON, ACTIVIST

Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Pierre Verdy

WESTWOOD: PUNK, ICON, ACTIVIST
Lorna Tucker profiles the uncompromising British designer.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
UK
Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance

On TV: INTO THE AMAZON

Coming to PBS’s American Experience tomorrow, Tuesday, January 9:
INTO THE AMAZON

Director:
John Maggio

Premiere:
American Experience (January 2018)

About:
Former President Teddy Roosevelt faces death during a South American expedition.

In 1913, still stinging from his electoral defeat which would have given him a third term as president, Roosevelt set off on an adventure to re-energize his spirits. Joining with famed Brazilian explorer Cândido Rondon and a team of six Americans which included his son, Kermit, Roosevelt was tasked to chart an unexplored Amazon tributary known as the River of Doubt. As detailed in Maggio’s well-executed, if conventional, retelling, the experience turned out far more challenging and treacherous than anyone anticipated, costing the lives of several on the trek, and nearly adding Roosevelt’s to that number.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: THIS IS HOME

Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Gidalya Pictures

THIS IS HOME
Alexandra Shiva reveals the experiences of newly arrived Syrian refugees in Baltimore.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
USA/Jordan
Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: SHIRKERS

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

SHIRKERS
Sandi Tan recounts the tangled mystery of what happened to her first feature film.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
USA (about Singapore)
Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance

On TV: UNREST

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens this coming Monday, January 8:
UNREST

Director:
Jennifer Brea

Premiere:
Sundance 2017

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Sheffield, CPH:DOX, SXSW, RiverRun, Cleveland, Nashville, New Zealand, Melbourne

Notable Recognition:
The doc was shortlisted for the Academy Awards.

About:
A personal and candid look at life with a debilitating and widely misunderstood medical condition.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: A POLAR YEAR

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

A POLAR YEAR
Samuel Collardey chronicles the culture clash facing a Danish teacher on assignment in Greenland.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
France
Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: OUR NEW PRESIDENT

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

OUR NEW PRESIDENT
Maxim Pozdorovkin reveals American politics through the distinct, and decidedly warped, lens of the Russian newsmedia.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
Russia/USA
Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance