Documentary
Harsh Beauty
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Harsh Beauty

2005
Eunuchs were once a prized component of India's spiritual life, but now many live in the slums, isolated from the rest of society. Amid these conditions, eunuch trio Jyothi, Usha and Hira Bai struggle for acceptance. Filmed over the course of four years, this surprisingly warm documentary provides an intimate look at eunuch life in India, as the three women work in a harem and share their dreams and frustrations with rare candor.

Directed by:

  • Alessandra Zeka
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power
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    Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power

    1999
    Narrated by actress Anjelica Huston, this 1999 documentary explores the myths surrounding the legendary ruler of Egypt, separating fact from fiction. Was Cleopatra a captivating temptress who seduced her way to the top? Or was she a capable and intelligent leader? With the help of reenactments, location footage, Hollywood film clips and interviews with historians, the fascinating truth about Cleopatra emerges.

    Directed by:

  • Katherine Gilday
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    Sissyboy
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    Sissyboy

    2009
    Follow the improbable rise of Portland-based drag troupe Sissyboy, which, for more than three years, infused its members with pride and a sense of possibility while serving its fans cutting-edge social commentary. In this documentary, Sissyboy members, known for testing the boundaries of good taste, talk about the acceptance they felt as part of the troupe and how this unconventional art movement changed their lives.

    Directed by:

  • Katie Turinski
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    The True Story of Che Guevera
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    The True Story of Che Guevera

    2007
    In the years since his death, revolutionary Che Guevara has attained iconic status. This documentary explores the truth behind the myths, delving into Guevara's plans to spread his philosophy throughout Latin America and his ultimate effect on the Cold War. Biographer Jon Lee Anderson takes viewers from Guevara's Argentine homeland to the battlefields of the Cuban revolution and reveals the CIA's plot to quell the activist's tide of change.

    Directed by:

  • Maria Wye Berry
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    Held Hostage in Colombia
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    Held Hostage in Colombia

    2004
    When Marxist soldiers captured U.S. government contractors Thomas Howes, Marc Gonsalves and Keith Stansell in February 2003 after their plane went down in the Colombian jungle, only reporter Jorge Enrique Botero was allowed to interview them. In this documentary by Karin Hayes and Victoria Bruce, viewers accompany Botero on his visit to the camp where the Americans were being held captive.

    Directed by:

  • Jorge Enrique Botero
  • Victoria Bruce
  • Karin Hayes
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    No Tomorrow
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    No Tomorrow

    2010
    Directors Roger Weisberg and Vanessa Roth detail the 2007 trial of Juan Jose Chavez for the murder of Risa Bejarano, who was a subject of the filmmakers' previous documentary, Aging Out, about teenagers in foster care. Weisberg and Roth grow increasingly concerned when their film becomes a part of the prosecutor's case against Chavez, who himself had also suffered abuse and neglect and is now confronted with receiving the death penalty.

    Directed by:

  • Roger Weisberg
  • Vanessa Roth
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    9500 Liberty
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    9500 Liberty

    2009
    Under pressure from anti-immigration groups, officials in Virginia's Prince William County enact a controversial measure requiring police to step up their efforts to identify and detain suspected illegal aliens. Filmmakers Eric Byler and Annabel Park detail the turmoil that the new law stirs in the community, as well as the efforts of local citizens to resist what they regard as an unconstitutional assault on individual rights.

    Directed by:

  • Eric Byler
  • Annabel Park
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    Aging Out
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    Aging Out

    2004
    This gritty documentary from filmmakers Roger Weisberg and Vanessa Roth offers an unflinching look at America's foster care system as seen through the eyes of three adolescents preparing to exit the program. Released into the unfamiliar landscape of adulthood with no occupational skills, little money and no idea what lies ahead, these self-reliant teens endure homelessness, imprisonment and drug addiction before taking control of their lives.

    Directed by:

  • Roger Weisberg
  • Vanessa Roth
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    Circus Kids
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    Circus Kids

    2010
    Kids from diverse backgrounds find common joy in the circus in this lively documentary about a youth troupe from St. Louis, Mo., that travels to Israel to join forces with the young members of the Arab-Jewish Galilee Circus. The language barrier dissolves at the first juggling pass, and the kids bridge the cultural gap in front of Arab and Jewish audiences across Israel, showing grown-ups how to put aside their differences.

    Directed by:

  • Alexandra Lipsitz
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    Frontrunners
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    Frontrunners

    2008
    The campaign pressures, the rivalries and the emphasis on image could all be taken from a national presidential race. But the candidates profiled in this documentary are competing for student body president at New York's Stuyvesant High School. As the notoriously competitive school's election draws near, the campaign becomes a microcosm for the nation at large, with race, gender and appearance vying for attention with real issues.

    Directed by:

  • Caroline Suh
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    Empires: Peter and Paul and the Christian Revolution
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    Empires: Peter and Paul and the Christian Revolution

    2002
    This SBS-TV production examines the life of Peter and Paul and how they weathered persecution as they led the rise of Christianity, born thousands of years ago when Jesus preached his good word and was nailed to the cross for it. His believers kept his teachings alive in spite of the oppressive Roman Empire, which worked to kill the commitment of the faithful. Instead, the Empire failed and Christianity lives on.

    Directed by:

  • Margaret Koval
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    Intangible Asset No. 82
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    Intangible Asset No. 82

    2009
    After 16 failed attempts, Australian drummer Simon Barker returns to South Korea a final time, looking to meet and study with elusive shaman Kim Seok-Chul, a grandmaster musician officially honored by his country as its 82nd Intangible Asset. Filmmaker Emma Franz captures Barker's life-changing journey as he encounters a variety of colorful characters, overcomes cultural barriers and finally locates Seok-Chul just days before the master's death.

    Directed by:

  • Emma Franz
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    I Can't Marry You
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    I Can't Marry You

    2004
    Helmed by Catherine Gray and narrated by Betty DeGeneres -- mother of lesbian celebrity Ellen DeGeneres -- this hourlong documentary tackles the controversial topic of gay marriage in the United States. Via interviews with civil-rights attorney Evan Wolfson and 20 same-sex couples, the film chronicles their struggles against religious opposition and homophobia -- issues not faced by their heterosexual counterparts.

    Directed by:

  • Catherine Gray
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    Gangland: Bullets Over Hollywood
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    Gangland: Bullets Over Hollywood

    2005
    Exploring Tinseltown's portrayal of the underworld, this made-for-cable documentary is packed with film clips, interviews and archival footage featuring bona fide gangsters. Boasting stars such as Edward G. Robinson and Al Pacino, along with fare ranging from The Godfather to "The Sopranos," the mobster genre has always thrived. James Caan, ex-wiseguy Henry Hill, former G-man Joe Pistone and others discuss our fascination with organized crime.

    Directed by:

  • Elaina Archer
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    Paris Was a Woman
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    Paris Was a Woman

    1996
    Between the World Wars, Paris was the world's artistic capital, attracting cultural titans like Gertrude Stein and others. Through home movies and intimate storytelling, this documentary re-creates the mood of this unique female artistic community.

    Directed by:

  • Greta Schiller
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    S.W.A.T.: L.A., Las Vegas, and Detroit
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    S.W.A.T.: L.A., Las Vegas, and Detroit

    2001
    The S.W.A.T. teams of three cities -- Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Detroit -- are featured on this unique disc. Witness all three teams at work as they're called in to cover the most precarious assignments in law enforcement. See how these elite groups are trained specifically for the types of crimes they're summoned for, and take a glimpse at the highly technological equipment and military-style strategies used by these courageous heroes.

    Directed by:

  • Jennifer Gorman Buckley
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 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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