Documentary
Only When I Dance
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Only When I Dance

2009
To achieve their shared dream of becoming ballet superstars, two young black dancers from the slums of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, must overcome poverty, prejudice and incredible odds -- a journey captured in this inspiring documentary. Filmmaker Beadie Finzi chronicles the day-to-day struggles of these gifted performers as they challenge the notion that ballet is the province of the wealthy, white elite.

Directed by:

  • Beadie Finzi
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    Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire
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    Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire

    2004
    As Europeans worked to conquer the world and extend their reach to other parts of the globe -- at times imposing their beliefs on citizens of other countries -- the people of Japan were decidedly isolationist, advocating separation as it nurtured its culture and traditions under its leader, Tokugawa Ieyasu. This documentary spotlights 16th and 17th century Japan as seen through the eyes of the samurai, the artist, the foreigner and many others.

    Directed by:

  • Lyn Goldfarb
  • Deborah Ann DeSnoo
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin
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    Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin

    2003
    This Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominee chronicles the life of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, who, among many contributions to the cause, is best known for organizing the 1963 March on Washington, D.C., involving hundreds of thousands of people. But Rustin's skin color wasn't the only thing that reinforced the feeling that he was an outsider in America. He was also openly gay at a time when most gay men -- particularly black men -- remained in the closet.

    Directed by:

  • Bennett Singer
  • Nancy D. Kates
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Frontline: Facing Death
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    Frontline: Facing Death

    2010
    This powerful installment of the long-running PBS series takes a look at the complex -- and often agonizing -- end-of-life decisions that must be made by physicians, those facing the prospect of death and their loved ones. Doctors, patients and families discuss key issues such as when to disconnect a breathing tube, when to continue treatment, when to bring in hospice and the affordability of the mounting costs associated with end-of-life care.

    Directed by:

  • Miri Navasky
  • Karen O'Connor
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Witness to Hope: The Life of John Paul II
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    Witness to Hope: The Life of John Paul II

    2002
    Pope John Paul II -- actor, poet, playwright, mystic and head of the Roman Catholic Church -- is the subject of this fascinating documentary chronicling the extraordinary life of the religious leader, the first non-Italian pontiff in four centuries. Archival and on-location footage filmed in Rome and Krakow, Poland, recount John Paul's life from underground seminarian in his Nazi-occupied homeland to contemporary human-rights defender.

    Directed by:

  • Judith Dwan Hallet
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    American Experience: The Rockefellers
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    American Experience: The Rockefellers

    2000
    The name is synonymous with immense American wealth. But with prosperity came a tarnished legacy. This edition of PBS's Emmy Award-winning documentary series chronicles four generations of Rockefellers. From the unethical business practices that built their huge oil empire to the struggle to reconcile the controversial profits with an unwavering philanthropic commitment, it's a fascinating look at an influential family.

    Directed by:

  • Adriana Bosch
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    Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognita
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    Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognita

    2007
    This documentary follows the journey of neurologist Dr. Jack Kessler, who was inspired to apply stem cell research to find a cure for spinal cord injuries after his daughter Allison was paralyzed in a skiing accident. Exploring the science of modern stem cell research through a personal prism, the film offers a candid look at the bioethical issues and puts a human face to those living with injuries like Allison's.

    Directed by:

  • Maria Finitzo
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq
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    Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq

    2007
    Nearly every soldier who survives the Iraq War experiences an "alive day," in which they narrowly escape death on the battlefield. This sobering, Emmy-nominated documentary examines 10 veterans who suffer from "alive day" physical and emotional trauma. Recovering back home, the soldiers discuss the effect their brutal experiences have had on their views of the war and serving their country. The film was executive produced by actor James Gandolfini.

    Directed by:

  • Jon Alpert
  • Ellen Goosenberg Kent
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    Flow: For Love of Water
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    Flow: For Love of Water

    2008
    From both local and global perspectives, this documentary examines the harsh realities behind the mounting water crisis. Learn how politics, pollution and human rights are intertwined in this important issue that affects every being on Earth. With water drying up around the world and the future of human lives at stake, the film urges a call to arms before more of our most precious natural resource evaporates.

    Directed by:

  • Irena Salina
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Been Rich All My Life
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    Been Rich All My Life

    2006
    Join the Silver Belles, a group of five former Harlem showgirls now aged 84 to 96, as they continue to entertain in this documentary by Heather MacDonald. From dancing together in the hottest venues such as the Cotton Club to performing with world-renowned bandleaders Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington, the gallivanting gals were the toast of the town during the 1930s; in 1985, they renounced retirement and reunited to grace the stage once again.

    Directed by:

  • Heather MacDonald
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Suzanne Farrell: Elusive Muse
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    Suzanne Farrell: Elusive Muse

    1996
    For over 20 years, ballerina Suzanne Farrell was the last muse and quintessential interpreter of choreographer George Balanchine. Through numerous interviews with Farrell, her mother, dance partner, Jacques d'Amboise and others, this documentary traces her development as a dancer and expores the dramatic story of her relationship with "Mr. B" and the years following his death.

    Directed by:

  • Anne Belle
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Panama Deception
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    Panama Deception

    1992
    Filmmakers Barbara Trent and David Kasper explain the untold truths behind the United States' 1989 invasion of Panama in this hard-hitting documentary that illuminates the complex relationship between Gen. Manuel Noriega and the U.S. government. Juxtaposing interviews with experts and eyewitnesses with historical media reports, the film shows how the press helped win the American public's approval despite widespread condemnation abroad.

    Directed by:

  • Barbara Trent
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Salesman
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    Salesman

    1968
    Before delivering Gimme Shelter, cinema verité filmmakers Charlotte Zwerin and brothers Albert and David Maysles hatched this culturally significant documentary examining the utterly American profession of the traveling salesman. The film follows four reps of the Mid-American Bible Company as they peddle gold-embossed versions of "the Word" to families with little interest in fancy scriptures, providing a searing portrait of life on the road.

    Directed by:

  • Albert Maysles
  • David Maysles
  • Charlotte Zwerin
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    Mario's Story
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    Mario's Story

    2007
    Shot over the course of seven years, this documentary from filmmakers Susan Koch and Jeff Werner relates the inspiring true story of Mario Rocha, an East L.A. teen who unlocked his talent for writing while serving out a murder sentence behind bars. As his family and a team of pro bono attorneys labor on the outside to clear his name for a crime he didn't commit, Mario keeps himself grounded on the inside by writing poems, short stories and plays.

    Directed by:

  • Susan Koch
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Frontline: Bad Voodoo's War
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    Frontline: Bad Voodoo's War

    2008
    For many civilians, military conflict is an abstract concept; this powerful documentary brings the personal drama of the Iraq war right into viewers' homes. At the height of America's military presence in Iraq in June 2007, director Deborah Scranton gave cameras to Bad Voodoo Platoon, a National Guard infantry unit, so they could tell their own stories, conveying intimate first-person accounts of the progress of their dangerous mission.

    Directed by:

  • Deborah Scranton
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Straightlaced: How Gender's Got Us All Tied Up
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    Straightlaced: How Gender's Got Us All Tied Up

    2009
    Issues of gender and sexuality confront today's teens everywhere they turn. This documentary -- which features frank interviews with 50 young people from a variety of backgrounds -- explores the effects of this preoccupation. Startlingly honest, these kids show the rest of us how gender identity shapes everything from our choice of clothes to the products we consume, as well as how culture, race and class figure into the equation.

    Directed by:

  • Debra Chasnoff
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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
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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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