Documentary
American Casino
rating:3.4.png

American Casino

2009
Leslie Cockburn directs this documentary that delves into the Wall Street collapse of 2008 and captures the devastating effects the white collar-created catastrophe have on the blue-collar citizens of America. By way of insightful interviews with an assortment of bankers, stock market insiders and the like, Cockburn captures the culture of greed, callousness and corruption that led to the United States' $8 trillion meltdown.

Directed by:

  • Leslie Cockburn
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love
    rating:3.4.png

    Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love

    2008
    This documentary from filmmaker Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi chronicles the controversy surrounding renowned Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour, who recorded his stirring album "Egypt" as a celebration of his Islamic faith. Considered too irreverent by religious conservatives in Senegal, and initially met with suspicion by audiences in a post-9/11 America, N'Dour nevertheless persists and meets both challenges with grace.

    Directed by:

  • Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    Mrs. Goundo's Daughter
    rating:3.3.png

    Mrs. Goundo's Daughter

    2009
    Years after she fled her troubled country of Mali, a mother must convince a U.S. immigration judge that if her family is sent back home, her 2-year-old daughter will be subjected to the ritual of female genital cutting. In interviews with women in Malian villages, as well as West African immigrants in America, this chilling documentary examines the consequences of this ancient practice, which affects nearly all Malian women.

    Directed by:

  • Barbara Attie
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    Into The Fire: American Women in the Spanish Civil War
    rating:3.3.png

    Into The Fire: American Women in the Spanish Civil War

    2002
    Filmmaker Julia Newman interviews more than a dozen American women -- including nurses, notable authors and others -- who defied the U.S. government in 1936 to support the newly elected democratic government of Spain in its fight against a right-wing military faction led by Gen. Francisco Franco. The result is a thought-provoking study of the Spanish Civil War, a key battle in the European fight against fascism.

    Directed by:

  • Julia Newman
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    Huxley on Huxley
    rating:3.3.png

    Huxley on Huxley

    2009
    This documentary uses interviews with celebrated figures like Ram Dass to shine a light on the extraordinary life of Aldous Huxley's wife, Laura, who authored several books and founded a nonprofit organization.

    Directed by:

  • Mary Ann Braubach
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    Billy the Kid
    rating:3.3.png

    Billy the Kid

    2007
    Filmmaker Jennifer Venditti documents the engrossing life of Billy P., a teen in small-town Maine enamored with girls and pro wrestling. But as the cameras roll, a more complex portrait emerges of a troubled but ultimately triumphant young man. From finding the courage to ask a girl on a date to confronting his painful childhood with remarkable humor, Billy is a testament to the power of love and family to overcome any obstacle.

    Directed by:

  • Jennifer Venditti
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    The Order of Myths
    rating:3.3.png

    The Order of Myths

    2008
    Dating back to the 1700s, Mobile, Alabama's Mardi Gras celebration is the oldest in the country -- and it's still going strong today. With the annual event as its focus, this documentary explores the city, its mystical societies and race relations. Tens of thousands of enthusiastic revelers descend upon downtown Mobile each year to take part in a variety of colorful parades, balls and festivities. Margaret Brown's work was nominated for Best Documentary for the Independent Spirit Awards.

    Directed by:

  • Margaret Brown
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    Jockey
    rating:3.3.png

    Jockey

    2004
    Follow the lives of three dedicated thoroughbred riders -- Shane Sellers, Randy Romero and Chris Rosier -- as they strive to cope with their often life-threatening profession's twists and turns. Highlighted by footage of dramatic moments in horse-racing history, HBO's eye-opening "America Undercover" exposé introduces viewers to the high-stakes sport of horse racing in a unique fashion. Award-winning documentarian Kate Davis directs.

    Directed by:

  • Kate Davis
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    It Came from Kuchar
    rating:3.3.png

    It Came from Kuchar

    2009
    Director Jennifer M. Kroot examines the works of filmmaking twins Mike Kuchar and George Kuchar and explores the undeniable influence they've had on independent directors such as Atom Egoyan, John Waters and Buck Henry. Known for creating eccentric, no-budget films like The Thief and the Stripper, Hold Me While I'm Naked and The Secret of Wendel Samson, these movie maverick siblings are true pioneers of underground cinema.

    Directed by:

  • Jennifer M. Kroot
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    Coal Country
    rating:3.3.png

    Coal Country

    2009
    Increasingly, Big Coal is spelling big trouble for Appalachian communities whose members have worked the mines for generations. This documentary reveals why with its explanation of the effects of mountaintop-removal mining on the region. Miners, coal company officials and area residents weigh in on the high price of "cheap energy" -- especially when it involves blowing off mountain summits to expose seams. Journalist Michael Shnayerson narrates.

    Directed by:

  • Mari-Lynn Evans
  • Phylis Geller
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    On the Ropes
    rating:3.3.png

    On the Ropes

    1999
    Filmmakers Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen's bracing documentary goes behind the scenes to chronicle a year in the lives and careers of three upstart pugilists determined to fight their way out of the ghetto against almost insurmountable odds. Their stories are recounted through the perspective of trainer Harry Keitt, an aging former boxer who, despite constant setbacks, relentlessly guides his charges toward the Golden Gloves championships.

    Directed by:

  • Nanette Burstein
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    Daughter from Danang: American Experience
    rating:3.3.png

    Daughter from Danang: American Experience

    2002
    This documentary follows an adopted American woman -- one of thousands of Vietnamese children who were separated from their families and flown to America in 1975 -- who gets more than she bargained for when she's reunited with her birth mother. The film emphasizes how much culture, rather than innate physical characteristics, can shape an individual. The film won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival.

    Directed by:

  • Gail Dolgin
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    El General
    rating:3.3.png

    El General

    2009
    Filmmaker Natalia Almada's documentary traces 100 years of Mexico's history through the story of her great-grandfather Plutarco Elías Calles, whose brutal regime as president from 1924-28 overshadowed his heroics during the Mexican Revolution. A rich portrait of the Mexican people and the country's tumultuous history emerges as Almada contrasts her family's memories of Calles with the collective memory of her country.

    Directed by:

  • Natalia Almada
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    All We Are Saying
    rating:3.3.png

    All We Are Saying

    2005
    Actress and filmmaker Rosanna Arquette takes a deep look into the art and business of contemporary music in this illuminating documentary featuring conversations with dozens of iconic artists who discuss their inspirations, balancing life and art, and the state of the music industry today. Musicians include Chrissie Hynde, Peter Gabriel, David Crosby, Iggy Pop, Yoko Ono, Annie Lennox, Sting, Joni Mitchell, Steven Tyler, Marilyn Manson and more.

    Directed by:

  • Rosanna Arquette
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    Sarah Palin: You Betcha!
    rating:3.3.png

    Sarah Palin: You Betcha!

    2011
    Filmmaker Nick Broomfield tracks down friends, relatives and colleagues of polarizing Alaska politician Sarah Palin in this irreverent documentary. Among those interviewed are Palin's father and plenty of folks with axes to grind.

    Directed by:

  • Nick Broomfield
  • Joan Churchill
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    Pucker Up
    rating:3.3.png

    Pucker Up

    2006
    From a New Jersey poultry guy to a nerdy corporate exec, the folks profiled here have one thing in common: They're serious about whistling. Kate Davis and David Heilbroner traveled to Louisburg, N.C. -- site of the International Whistling Competition -- to make this joyful movie about the no-nonsense business of competitive whistling. Presenting a year in the lives of several competitors, the film culminates with the event's nail-biting finale.

    Directed by:

  • Kate Davis
    • rating:3.3.png 3.3 Average Rating


    Find On Amazon
    Now and Then
    rating:3.8.png

    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


    Find On Amazon
    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   
    We periodically update our movie database by adding new female directors and their movies. If you would like to receive notice of these new additions when they happen, please email us at:
    frances 'at' femaledirectors.com