Documentary
Katrina's Children
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Katrina's Children

2008
Training her lens on the plight of children affected by Hurricane Katrina, filmmaker Laura Belsey profiles 19 kids whose lives were torn asunder in 2005 when one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history hit the Southern coast. Shot three years after the storm, the film explores the children's memories about surviving the experience and also shadows them and their families as they work to rebuild their lives.

Directed by:

  • Laura Belsey
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    The Unforeseen
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    The Unforeseen

    2007
    Robert Redford and Terrence Malick executive produce director Laura Dunn's vivid examination of unchecked development at the expense of environmental sustainability, specifying the Barton Springs aquifer of Austin, Texas, as case in point. The documentary draws on archival footage and interviews with Redford, former Gov. Ann Richards, lobbyist Dick Brown and Austin land developer Gary Bradley to contemplate the true cost of the American Dream.

    Directed by:

  • Laura Dunn
    • rating:3.1.png 3.1 Average Rating


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    Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst
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    Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst

    2005
    Gillian Armstrong's documentary unravels the many layers of designer Florence Broadhurst, who was found murdered in her studio in 1977. Best known for her wallpaper designs, the enigmatic Australian crafted multiple identities, including singer, socialite, fashion boutique owner, painter, wife and mother. Archival images, animation, reenactments and interviews help paint a vivid portrait of a remarkable -- and secretive -- woman.

    Directed by:

  • Gillian Armstrong
    • rating:3.1.png 3.1 Average Rating


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    Sunshine
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    Sunshine

    2009
    In this compelling documentary, filmmaker Karen Skloss explores the meaning of family through a personal journey to understand both the legacy of her birth and the non-traditional family she created by co-parenting with her ex-boyfriend. As an unwed teenager, Skloss's mother gave her up for adoption in 1975. Now Skloss reconnects with her biological mother as she contemplates her own relationship with her daughter, 9-year-old Jasmine.

    Directed by:

  • Karen Skloss
    • rating:3.1.png 3.1 Average Rating


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    The Jews: A People's History
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    The Jews: A People's History

    2009
    Exploring 4,000 years in the history of the Jews -- from their ancient roots in the Middle East all the way to modern-day Judaism -- this exhaustivedocumentary weaves stories from the past and present to reveal a rich tapestry of Jewish identity. Seeking to represent the diversity of the Jewish people, director Nina Koshofer's ambitious film spotlights Jews both rich and poor, famed and obscure.

    Directed by:

  • Nina Koshofer
  • Sabine Klauser
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    The World Within
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    The World Within

    1990
    Influential Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung riffs on the images from his own subconscious in these rarely seen interviews based on his famed Red Book, in which the renowned thinker kept a record of his dreams and fantasies. Jung also extemporizes on memory, archetypal figures and the importance of ritual. Bonus features include "Remembering Jung," a 20-minute collection of Jung reminiscences from British writer Laurens Vander Post.

    Directed by:

  • Suzanne Wagner
    • rating:3.1.png 3.1 Average Rating


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    Black and Gold: The Story of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation
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    Black and Gold: The Story of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation

    2001
    In 1994, New York's biggest and most influential street gang, the Latin Kings, disavowed crime to become the Latin King and Queen Nation, a political organization. This documentary reveals the 3,000-member gang's two-year quest for legitimacy. As the Nation championed prison and police reform, the NYPD and federal authorities clamped down, their efforts ending in a 1998 raid that was the FBI's largest coordinated action since Prohibition.

    Directed by:

  • Rick Rowley
  • Jacqueline Soohen
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    Richard Serra: Thinking on Your Feet
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    Richard Serra: Thinking on Your Feet

    2005
    Maria Anna Tappeiner's documentary reveals the creative process and philosophies of American artist Richard Serra, who, in interviews, discusses his major influences, his approach to sculpture, the controversies surrounding his works and more. His signature large-scale minimalist sculptures can be found in New York City's Federal Building, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain and London's Liverpool Street Station.

    Directed by:

  • Maria Anna Tappeiner
    • rating:3.1.png 3.1 Average Rating


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    Is It True What They Say About Ann?
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    Is It True What They Say About Ann?

    2004
    Deeply polarizing political commentator and author Ann Coulter is the subject of this authorized documentary by Elinor Burkett and Patrick Wright. Disliked by liberals -- whom she loathes with equal, if not greater, venom -- Coulter seldom watches her words. But who is she, really? Using footage from her numerous public appearances, speeches and interviews, the filmmakers attempt to find an answer to the intriguing question.

    Directed by:

  • Elinor Burkett
    • rating:3.1.png 3.1 Average Rating


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    Journey of the Heart: Henri Nouwen
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    Journey of the Heart: Henri Nouwen

    2003
    Filmed just a year before his death, this inspiring documentary captures charismatic scholar and spiritual leader Henri Nouwen knee-deep in his thought-provoking work, ministering to people with severe developmental disabilities. Melding rarely seen footage with a string of fascinating interviews with Nouwen's friends, colleagues and family members, this intimate portrait is a snapshot of a modern-day saint.

    Directed by:

  • Karen Pascal
    • rating:3.1.png 3.1 Average Rating


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    Internationally Speaking
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    Internationally Speaking

    2005
    In this documentary, voices from around the world address America and its foreign policy, sharing their opinion of the world's only "superpower," its government, its foreign policy and its people. In the midst of growing international anti-Americanism, real people tell Americans what they think and why in an attempt to further understanding and compassion. Features Medea Benjamin, Noam Chomsky and Michael Ratner. Christine Rose directs.

    Directed by:

  • Christine Rose
    • rating:3.0.png 3.0 Average Rating


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    Meditate and Destroy
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    Meditate and Destroy

    2007
    Anybody who thinks a punk rock sensibility and a Buddhist philosophy are mutually exclusive will think again after watching this film about punk rocker, meditation teacher and community leader Noah Levine. Using his own story of personal transformation to inspire others, Levine takes his meditation classes on the road -- to prisons, youth centers and juvenile halls -- to show how spirituality and community service can lead to redemption.

    Directed by:

  • Sarah Fisher
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    In 500 Words or Less
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    In 500 Words or Less

    2009
    Training their cameras on a quartet of college-bound high school students, filmmakers Molly M. Fowler and Amanda Zinoman capture the inherent drama of preparing an all-encompassing essay that's 500 words long -- or less. It's not easy to define oneself at 17, especially in such a short space. But as the subjects work through the word count, they make surprising new discoveries about their goals and accomplishments.

    Directed by:

  • Amanda Zinoman
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    Araya
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    Araya

    1959
    Director Margot Benacerraf offers this acclaimed 1959 film that chronicles the harsh existence of Venezuelan laborers who manually recover salt from the tropical marshes in Araya, an ancient salt-producing region in that country. As Benacerraf documents the harsh daily lives of three families dependent on the salt trade, she also captures the stark, otherworldly beauty of the marshes and the peculiarly lyrical pace of life in Araya.

    Directed by:

  • Margot Benacerraf
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    Rebels with a Cause
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    Rebels with a Cause

    2000
    Using news clips, archival footage and recently conducted interviews to put it all in context, director Helen Garvey spins a fascinating documentary about the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), the passionate, often contentious but deeply committed activist group that blazed its way through the issues of the day (Vietnam, in particular) in the 1960s. Interviewees include former senator Tom Hayden, Todd Gitlin and Bernardine Dohrn.

    Directed by:

  • Helen Garvy
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    Code of the West
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    Code of the West

    2012
    This political documentary follows a 2011 attempt by Montana lawmakers to repeal the state's medical marijuana law -- the first U.S. state to do so. The film portrays the complexities of the legislative process and the emotions raised by the issue.

    Directed by:

  • Rebecca Richman Cohen
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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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