Documentary
Protagonist
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Protagonist

2007
A German terrorist, a thief, an "ex-gay" Christian evangelist and a martial arts student put their obsession with self-control on display in filmmaker Jessica Yu's absorbing documentary about lives lived on the fringe. With her interweaving narrative, Yu explores the lives of four men who go to extremes with violence, crime, physical dominance and religion to work through the aftermath of their harsh childhoods.

Directed by:

  • Jessica Yu
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    American Pit Bull
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    American Pit Bull

    2007
    Thomas Jefferson owned two. Helen Keller and the Little Rascals were also proud owners. So how did the pit bull devolve from America's most beloved dog to its most feared? Filmmaker Marilyn Braverman explores this strange transformation. The intriguing documentary follows the breed from its upper-class roots to its ascendance in the dog-fighting scene and its more recent role as an inner-city guard dog.

    Directed by:

  • Marilyn Braverman
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    Pictures from a Revolution
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    Pictures from a Revolution

    1991
    In this emotional documentary, acclaimed photojournalist Susan Meiselas revisits many of the locations in Nicaragua where she captured some of the most powerful images from that country's bloody civil war of the 1970s and '80s.

    Directed by:

  • Alfred Guzzetti
  • Susan Meiselas
  • Richard P. Rogers
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    The Flute Player
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    The Flute Player

    2003
    After the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia in 1975, 9-year-old Arn Chorn-Pond was thrust into the darkness of Cambodia's Killing Fields. For four years, Arn's musical talent kept him from perishing in a genocide that took the lives of 2 million Cambodians. Now, after living in the United States for 20 years, Arn faces the dark shadows of his war-torn past as he fights to save Cambodia's once-outlawed traditional music from extinction.

    Directed by:

  • Jocelyn Glatzer
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    Our Brand Is Crisis
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    Our Brand Is Crisis

    2005
    Following members of a political consulting firm to Bolivia, where they've been hired to help controversial candidate Gonzalo "Goni" Sanchez de Lozada reclaim the presidency, filmmaker Rachel Boynton reveals the manipulation and orchestration involved in big-time political campaigning. With only a few weeks before the election, consultants Jeremy Rosner, Stan Greenberg and James Carville work their magic, shaping Goni into the ideal candidate.

    Directed by:

  • Rachel Boynton
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    In the Mirror of Maya Deren
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    In the Mirror of Maya Deren

    2002
    Director Martina Kudlacek gives motion picture pioneer Maya Deren her just due in this fascinating documentary, establishing her superlative contributions to film editing, cinematography and art. In the 1940s, dancer-writer Deren made her mark in the film world with her groundbreaking avant-garde movies. This biographical portrait is a must-see for film buffs looking to expand their cinematic knowledge.

    Directed by:

  • Martina Kudlacek
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    American Outrage
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    American Outrage

    2007
    This documentary follows the story of elderly Native American sisters Mary Dann and Carrie Dann as they fight the U.S. government's attempts to seize their horses, which graze on land granted to the Western Shoshone Nation in an 1863 treaty. Filmmakers Beth Gage and George Gage chronicle the spirit and fire of these grandmothers, who confront bureaucrats, gold mining companies and others as they push their case all the way to the Supreme Court.

    Directed by:

  • Beth Gage
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    Rachel
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    Rachel

    2009
    When 22-year-old activist Rachel Corrie tried to prevent Israeli army bulldozers from leveling a Palestinian home in the Gaza Strip, her life came to an abrupt end as she tripped and was buried under a mountain of dirt. This film tells her story. Blending footage of the incident with photos, interviews with witnesses, activists and army personnel, and excerpts from Rachel's own diary, the film illuminates the risks activists face in the region.

    Directed by:

  • Simone Bitton
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    Sunset Story
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    Sunset Story

    2003
    Sunset Hall in Los Angeles is home to two remarkable retirees, 81-year-old Irja and 95-year-old Lucille. Despite their years, Isja and Lucille exhibit a zest for life and show interest in the world at large. They delight in their past accomplishments and take each day as it comes -- full of promise and relying on each other for friendship. Old age can truly be the golden years, as filmmaker Laura Gabbert proves in her life-affirming film.

    Directed by:

  • Laura Gabbert
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    Blossoms of Fire
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    Blossoms of Fire

    2000
    Maureen Gosling and Ellen Osborne's documentary reveals the fascinating history of the town of Juchitan in Oaxaca, Mexico. Hundreds of years ago, a matriarchal society existed in the area, and Juchitan still exhibits a remarkable link to its past. Women run most of the town's businesses, manage family finances, act as government leaders and activists, and enjoy a rare level of social equality uncommon in the rest of the world.

    Directed by:

  • Maureen Gosling
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    New Muslim Cool
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    New Muslim Cool

    2009
    Jennifer Maytorena Taylor's documentary follows Puerto Rican American rapper Hamza Pérez, a former drug dealer and gang member who converted to Islam, became a grassroots activist and moved to inner-city Pittsburgh to establish a religious community. While Pérez raises his children and settles into a new marriage, the FBI raids his mosque. Now he must delve even deeper into his faith to forge connections with other communities in a post-9/11 world.

    Directed by:

  • Jennifer Maytorena Taylor
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    Sisters in Law
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    Sisters in Law

    2005
    Two legal dynamos from Kumba, Cameroon, fight deeply entrenched attitudes in their male-dominated justice system to take on crimes against women in this festival favorite from filmmakers Kim Longinotto and Florence Ayisi. With ferocity and humor, prosecutor Vera Ngassa and judge Beatrice Ntuba take on cases of adultery, rape and abuse in their tiny one-room court -- including that of a Muslim woman who bravely accuses her husband of beating her.

    Directed by:

  • Florence Ayisi
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light
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    Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light

    1996
    The son of a Russian-Jewish immigrant, Richard Avedon became one of the most famous photographers in the world of fashion. Beginning with his work in post-World War II Paris, the film follows Avedon's 50-year career photographing both the famous and the not so famous. Avedon himself provides commentary on his signature black-and-white style in this documentary created for the "American Masters" series.

    Directed by:

  • Helen Whitney
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    Darfur Diaries
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    Darfur Diaries

    2006
    Leaving thousands dead and homeless, the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region raged for years before the world intervened. This documentary provides a record of the events through the voices of refugees, women and children. Chosen by Amnesty International as an educational tool for its members, the film provides a historical and cultural context through which to understand the current political and humanitarian crisis.

    Directed by:

  • Aisha Bain
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    Journeys with George
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    Journeys with George

    2002
    California Democratic congresswoman Nancy Pelosi's daughter, Alexandra, followed presidential hopeful George W. Bush on the campaign trail with her camera. The result is a personal portrait of a man who would become the leader of the free world.

    Directed by:

  • Alexandra Pelosi
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    Broken Rainbow
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    Broken Rainbow

    1985
    This Oscar-winning documentary tells the story of the forced relocation of 12,000 Navajo Indians in Arizona that took place after U.S. Secretary of the Interior James Watts sold inexpensive leases to developers in 1983. Claiming the land rightfully belonged to the Hopi, the U.S. government moved the Navajo residents to tract homes in other areas. Both Navajo and Hopi Indians describe how a century of bureaucratic racism has affected their lives.

    Directed by:

  • Maria Florio
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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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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