Documentary
Heart of a Soul Surfer: The Bethany Hamilton Story
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Heart of a Soul Surfer: The Bethany Hamilton Story

2007
Offering an inspirational story of survival and faith, this documentary explores the infamous shark attack that left teenager Bethany Hamilton with one arm -- and a 16-inch bite out of her surfboard. Rather than be defeated by what happened to her, Hamilton used the incident as a platform to talk to others about the role she believes God has played in her life. She also picked up her surfboard again and hit the waves with a new sense of purpose.

Directed by:

  • Becky Baumgartner
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    I Have Tourette's But Tourette's Doesn't Have Me
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    I Have Tourette's But Tourette's Doesn't Have Me

    2005
    This insightful Home Box Office documentary profiles some American children afflicted with Tourette's syndrome -- a hereditary neurological disorder manifested by recurrent, involuntary vocal and motor tics. More than a dozen youngsters ranging from ages 6 to 13 discuss the stigma of Tourette's, what it's like to grow up with the condition, control measures and the challenges they face to be viewed as normal.

    Directed by:

  • Ellen Goosenberg Kent
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    Better This World
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    Better This World

    2011
    At the 2008 Republican National Convention, friends David McKay and Bradley Crowder went from bandanna-wearing protesters to federal terrorism suspects. This searing documentary aims to separate the rhetoric from the facts in the polarizing case.

    Directed by:

  • Katie Galloway
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    Physics: The Elegant Universe and Beyond
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    Physics: The Elegant Universe and Beyond

    2005
    Brian Greene, a Columbia University physics professor and best-selling author of &NFi;The Elegant Universe&NFi_;, hosts this fascinating exploration of string theory, beginning with an overview of general physics concepts. Greene then moves on to a straightforward and visually stimulating explanation of the more recent string theory that unites relativity and quantum mechanics. A profile of Einstein and an explanation of his theory of relativity are included.

    Directed by:

  • Julia Cort
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    The End of America
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    The End of America

    2008
    Based on Naomi Wolf's sobering best-seller, this documentary examines post-9/11 American freedom. Filmmakers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern present evidence that our society's liberty has been systematically eroded under the Bush administration. Their examples parallel the loss of liberty experienced in other countries as their governments tumbled into fascism, and draw chilling connections between what's already happened and what is yet to come.

    Directed by:

  • Annie Sundberg
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    Mugabe and the White African
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    Mugabe and the White African

    2009
    An unprecedented look inside politically fractured Zimbabwe under dictator Robert Mugabe, this documentary follows Michael Campbell, one of the country's few remaining white farmers, as he bravely battles to protect his land from government seizure.

    Directed by:

  • Lucy Bailey
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    12th & Delaware
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    12th & Delaware

    2010
    Filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady spent a year in the small town of Fort Pierce, Fla., where an ideological tug-of-war rages at the corner of 12th and Delaware, the site of both an abortion clinic and a pro-life crisis pregnancy center. Staff members at the abortion clinic strive to protect their clients -- and themselves -- fearing the escalating violence perpetuated by some factions of the anti-abortion movement.

    Directed by:

  • Heidi Ewing
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    Frontline: Wikisecrets: Julian Assange, Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks
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    Frontline: Wikisecrets: Julian Assange, Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks

    2011
    Intelligence analyst Bradley Manning set off a firestorm of controversy when he released millions of classified documents to the WikiLeaks Web site in 2010. "Frontline" investigates this enigmatic figure's motives and the fallout of his actions.

    Directed by:

  • Marcela Gaviria
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    National Geographic: Volcano: Nature's Inferno
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    National Geographic: Volcano: Nature's Inferno

    1997
    An erupting volcano is perhaps the most devastating force in all of nature. This film from the celebrated National Geographic television series takes a look at these natural wonders, particularly two legendary structures -- Mount Unzen in Japan and Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. Volcanologists are consulted as they predict eruptions and attempt to save lives.

    Directed by:

  • Gail Willumsen
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    Trudell
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    Trudell

    2005
    Filmmaker Heather Rae paints an unforgettable portrait of Native American poet and activist John Trudell, a man known as much for his spoken-word performances as he is for his politics. The documentary includes commentary from Robert Redford, Kris Kristofferson, Sam Shepard, Val Kilmer, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls and Wilma Mankiller, the first woman principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.

    Directed by:

  • Heather Rae
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    Pressure Cooker
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    Pressure Cooker

    2008
    Three Philadelphia high school students negotiate the challenges of the inner city and the demands of their tough-minded culinary arts teacher, Wilma Stephenson, to become contenders in a citywide cooking competition. Charming and surprisingly hilarious, Jennifer Grausman and Mark Becker's inspiring, Emmy-nominated documentary showcases the heights young minds can reach, regardless of their environment, when they're expected to succeed.

    Directed by:

  • Mark Becker
  • Jennifer Grausman
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    Split Estate
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    Split Estate

    2009
    The struggle between preserving public health and public treasures and satisfying the economy's never-ending hunger for new energy sources is played out in the scenic landscape of Garfield County, Colo. Narrated by Ali MacGraw, the film details the oil and natural gas industry's legacy of environmental damage and pollution in Colorado and elsewhere, as well as residents' battle to protect their health and their clean water supplies.

    Directed by:

  • Debra Anderson
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    Bag It
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    Bag It

    2010
    With a humorous tone, Suzan Beraza's documentary follows average guy Jeb Berrier as he embarks on a personal quest to figure out where plastic bags come from, why they're so ubiquitous and where they end up after they're thrown away.

    Directed by:

  • Suzan Beraza
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    The Wavy Gravy Movie: Saint Misbehavin
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    The Wavy Gravy Movie: Saint Misbehavin

    2009
    Explore the meaningful life of longtime clown and political activist Wavy Gravy with this documentary, which follows the popular figure for more than 10 years, revealing his true character, core convictions and biggest contributions to society.

    Directed by:

  • Michelle Esrick
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    Love and Diane
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    Love and Diane

    2002
    Following the real-life drama of a family torn apart, this heart-wrenching documentary reveals what happens when history seems doomed to repeat itself. Taken from their drug-abusing mother, Diane, when they were just children, Love and her siblings entered the foster-care system. But Love's subsequent choices as a young adult have now brought her to a desperate crossroads: She's 18 years old, HIV positive and the mother of an infant son.

    Directed by:

  • Jennifer Dworkin
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 Average Rating


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    Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse
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    Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse

    1991
    It's Francis Ford Coppola vs. natural catastrophe, crazy actors, the Philippine government and crushing self-doubt in this unbelievable account of the making of the 1979 classic Apocalypse Now. Behind-the-scenes location footage is combined with candid 1990 interviews of cast and crew members; the result is a fascinating portrait of a director plunged into the very obsession he sought to portray on film.

    Directed by:

  • Fax Bahr
  • George Hickenlooper
  • Eleanor Coppola
    • rating:3.9.png 3.9 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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