Documentary
Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator
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Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator

2002
Helen Stickler's brilliantly constructed documentary charts the rise of skateboarding culture in the 1980s, using the life of the era's most celebrated skater, Mark "Gator" Rogowski, as a focal point. A mix of jaw-dropping skateboarding footage, '80s nostalgia, music and interviews re-creates the era with great energy and feeling, while presenting an intimate character study of fame gone sour. Stoked premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival.

Directed by:

  • Helen Stickler
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    Triumph of the Will
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    Triumph of the Will

    1934
    Leni Riefenstahl's infamous propaganda film documenting the Third Reich's 1934 Nuremberg Party Rally features a cast of thousands -- including Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels, Rudolf Hess, Hermann Goering and other top officials. Images of cheering crowds, precision marching, military bands, banners lining Nuremberg's streets and Hitler's climactic speech illustrate with chilling clarity how Germany fell under his spell.

    Directed by:

  • Leni Riefenstahl
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    Gypsy Caravan
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    Gypsy Caravan

    2006
    Join five international bands for a six-week tour of North America in an extravaganza of music and culture. The lyrical documentary features performances by Esma Redzepova, Maharaja, Fanfare Ciocarlia and other artists. Celebrate the diversity of the Romani people and their music, which includes flamenco, brass band, Indian folk, Romanian violin, jazz and raga. Johnny Depp, a fan of the Gypsy lifestyle, appears in this joyful musical portrait.

    Directed by:

  • Jasmine Dellal
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    The Wobblies
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    The Wobblies

    1979
    This fascinating documentary explores the group that won an eight-hour workday and fair wages in the early 20th century. Founded in 1905, the Industrial Workers of the World, aka the Wobblies, changed the course of history as they attempted to organize unskilled workers into one overarching union. Replete with striking archival footage, the film pays tribute to American workers who put their lives on the line to battle rampant corporate greed.

    Directed by:

  • Deborah Shaffer
    • rating:3.5.png 3.5 Average Rating


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    Marathon Beirut: For the Love of Lebanon
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    Marathon Beirut: For the Love of Lebanon

    2008
    Deborah Harse directs this documentary that chronicles the Beirut Marathon Association's heroic efforts to put on its annual road race in late 2006, when Lebanon was still reeling from a military invasion and a high-profile political assassination. Despite the upheaval and risk to their personal safety, more than 20,000 runners hit the course in a proud display of their resilient spirit and enduring love for their war-torn land.

    Directed by:

  • Deborah Harse
    • rating:3.5.png 3.5 Average Rating


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    The Ecological Footprint
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    The Ecological Footprint

    2005
    In an effort to promote dialogue on the future of our planet, Dr. Mathis Wackernagel outlines the Ecological Footprint, an accounting tool that he co-created to measure Earth's supply of natural resources and how much of that supply we are using. With most countries currently running on ecological deficits, consuming more resources than the planet generates, Wackernagel emphasizes the need for a global commitment to sustainability.

    Directed by:

  • Patsy Northcutt
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    Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh
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    Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh

    2008
    Joan Allen narrates this riveting portrait of Hungarian poet Hannah Senesh, a remarkable woman who risked her own life to parachute behind enemy lines -- enduring capture, torture and, ultimately, death -- to rescue Jews from Nazi persecution. Ahead of her time and on a mission of incredible odds, Senesh ultimately became a martyr in Israel, evoking the spirit of warrior-heroine Joan of Arc and earning the gratitude of those she saved.

    Directed by:

  • Roberta Grossman
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    Southern Comfort
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    Southern Comfort

    2001
    This moving documentary chronicles the last year in the life of Robert Eads, a female-to-male transsexual dying of ovarian cancer. We're introduced to several prominent figures in Robert's life -- most importantly, his life partner, Lola Cola. Lola is a transsexual who's become Robert's life partner and caretaker. The two prepare to lead a panel at the annual Southern Comfort conference, a yearly event created for transgendered individuals.

    Directed by:

  • Kate Davis
    • rating:3.5.png 3.5 Average Rating


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    Bluegrass Journey
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    Bluegrass Journey

    2004
    A treat for the eyes and ears, this musical documentary charts the history -- and captures the joyful spirit -- of bluegrass through interviews with and performances from some of the most celebrated artists of the genre. Featured acts include the Del McCoury Band, Nickel Creek, Jerry Douglas and Tim O'Brien. Fusing traditional Appalachian folk music with the energy of the blues, the timeless sound of bluegrass continues to win over new fans.

    Directed by:

  • Nancy Kennedy
    • rating:3.5.png 3.5 Average Rating


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    Who Does She Think She Is?
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    Who Does She Think She Is?

    2008
    Academy Award-winning filmmaker Pamela Tanner Boll (Born Into Brothels) explores the challenges female artists face when they decide to have children while still pursuing their creative endeavors. Focusing on five diverse women from across the country, Boll's film delves into the connection between motherhood and art and questions the assertion that the pursuits are mutually exclusive.

    Directed by:

  • Pamela Tanner Boll
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    Alone in Four Walls
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    Alone in Four Walls

    2008
    In rural Russia, children convicted of theft, murder and rape are sent to a home for delinquents. Without the outside world's pressures, they're finally allowed to act as children, but for some of them, this new life proves to be a challenge. This documentary tells the stories of several of these adolescents, who must endure separation from their families and who, upon release, are unlikely to be forgiven for their crimes.

    Directed by:

  • Alexandra Westmeier
    • rating:3.5.png 3.5 Average Rating


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    Detropia
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    Detropia

    2012
    As the focus of this sobering documentary, the decline of Detroit also reflects the nation's larger failure to keep up in a modern global economy. The film also examines the efforts of its residents to maintain Detroit's vibrant cultural base.

    Directed by:

  • Heidi Ewing
    • rating:3.5.png 3.5 Average Rating


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    Babylon: Past, Present and Future
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    Babylon: Past, Present and Future

    1996
    Depicted in the Bible as both a center for social, economic and religious power and as a woman riding a seven-headed, 10-horned beast, the city of Babylon has served as a source of fascination for scholars, archaeologists, theologians and everyday people alike for thousands of years. This compelling documentary-style program unravels the mysteries of Babylon's past, as well as the realities and possibilities for its future.

    Directed by:

  • Linda Scobee
    • rating:3.5.png 3.5 Average Rating


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    National Geographic: Inside American Power: The Pentagon
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    National Geographic: Inside American Power: The Pentagon

    2002
    The Pentagon is the military nerve center of the United States, reaching out to far-flung battlefields with information, technology and a culture that permeates more of America and the world than many realize. This film depicts the Pentagon's 58-year history, taking viewers into the restricted inner workings of the Pentagon, and includes coverage of the response following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.

    Directed by:

  • Nancy LeBrun
    • rating:3.5.png 3.5 Average Rating


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    The Second City: The First Family of Comedy
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    The Second City: The First Family of Comedy

    2006
    A behind-the-scenes look at the Second City comedy club and troupe, this retrospective spans from the early days to the hit "SCTV" series and beyond. Dan Aykroyd, Tina Fey, Martin Short, Alan Arkin and Mike Myers share their stories.

    Directed by:

  • Sharon Bartlett
    • rating:3.5.png 3.5 Average Rating


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    The Ride
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    The Ride

    2010
    Cowboys put life and limb to the test in packed arenas all around the Professional Bull Riders circuit -- a touring show that combines pyrotechnics and bruising competition among 45 of the most skilled riders on earth. The documentary also highlights the lives of the men competing -- part of a unique cowboy culture that lives on in the American West -- as the tour winds its way toward the world title competition in Las Vegas.

    Directed by:

  • Meredith Danluck
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    Now and Then
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    Now and Then

    1995
    Waxing nostalgic about the bittersweet passage from childhood to puberty in this tender coming-of-age tale, four childhood girlfriends -- Teeny, Chrissy, Samantha and Roberta -- recall the magical summer of 1970. During their walk down memory lane, they reconcile experiences with boys, secrets, bullies and more. Lesli Linka Glatter directs; Gaby Hoffmann, Ashleigh Aston Moore, Cloris Leachman, Thora Birch and Christina Ricci co-star.

    Directed by:

  • Lesli Linka Glatter
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Now and Then (1995)
    A heartwarming movie about four childhood girlfriends who, in adulthood reunion, relive their experience of the life-changing summer of 1970, including a mystery death, divorce, standing up to the boys, first kiss, and the meaning of true friendship. Each explores her unique identity amidst family and friends. Beautifully directed by Lesli Linka Glatter.
    - Frances   
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