Documentary
Atlantic Records: The House that Ahmet Built
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Atlantic Records: The House that Ahmet Built

2007
With a $10,000 loan from his dentist, Ahmet Ertegun co-founded Atlantic Records in 1947. By the 1950s Atlantic was the country's premier R&B label. Ertegun's wondrous rise is recounted in this lively episode from the PBS series "American Masters." It took director Susan Steinberg more than four years to capture Ertegun in candid conversations with music greats Robert Plant, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Ray Charles and many others.

Directed by:

  • Susan Steinberg
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    The Future We Will Create: Inside the World of TED
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    The Future We Will Create: Inside the World of TED

    2007
    Hailed "the hottest gathering in the world" by Wired magazine, TED is an annual event where an eclectic group of brilliant minds exchange bold ideas for the future. Actress Daphne Zuniga is your host on this all-access tour of the conference.

    Directed by:

  • Daphne Zuniga
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Prison Town, USA
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    Prison Town, USA

    2006
    Hoping to cash in on the prison-building boom of the 1990s, the struggling town of Susanville, Calif., welcomed the construction of a correctional facility, a development that completely transformed the rural community. Through conversations with those most affected, including a dairy farmer, an inmate's family and hopeful prison guard candidates, this documentary reveals the penal colony's drastic social and economic effects on the small town.

    Directed by:

  • Katie Galloway
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    Race to Nowhere
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    Race to Nowhere

    2009
    Director Vicki Abeles interviews numerous teachers and children in this cautionary documentary that focuses on the potential adverse impacts of parents' increasing obsession with their children's academic results. The collateral effects of this extra stress on students and the impacts on entire families are hard to quantify, but the highly emotional reactions of parents and kids captured on camera underscore its importance as a social issue.

    Directed by:

  • Vicki Abeles
  • Jessica Congdon
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    Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt
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    Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt

    2004
    While singer, songwriter and quintessential outsider Townes Van Zandt never found lasting mainstream success, his music found a home in the repertoire of diverse artists such as Norah Jones, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris and The Meat Puppets. Through archival footage and interviews with Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett and more, Texas-based filmmaker Margaret Brown's directorial debut presents a moving portrait of an influential artist.

    Directed by:

  • Margaret Brown
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Egypt's Golden Empire
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    Egypt's Golden Empire

    2002
    This three-part program tracks the development of Egypt's glorious New Kingdom, a majestic era marked by the rise of powerful rulers, the birth of a sophisticated civilization and advances in art, culture and politics that would influence the world for years to come. Originally broadcast on PBS, the series blends archival documents and ancient artifacts with on-location footage and expert interviews to weave a complex but compelling narrative.

    Directed by:

  • Richard Bradley
  • James Hawes
  • Ciara Byrne
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    The Devil Came on Horseback
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    The Devil Came on Horseback

    2007
    In this unflinching documentary chronicling the genocide in Darfur, former Marine Capt. Brian Steidle is forever transformed by the atrocities he witnesses as a military observer for the African Union.

    Directed by:

  • Ricki Stern
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    China: A Century of Revolution
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    China: A Century of Revolution

    2000
    This powerful, comprehensive documentary series takes an objective, firsthand look at China's tumultuous 20th century, examining the nation's social, political and cultural upheaval through personal interviews and rare historical footage. Beginning in 1911 with the fall of the last emperor, the program journeys through the decades, following China's growth into one of the world's largest economies.

    Directed by:

  • Sue Williams
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Return with Honor: American Experience
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    Return with Honor: American Experience

    1999
    Oscar-winning filmmakers Freida Lee Mock and Terry Sanders present the stories of the brave American fighter pilots who were shot down over North Vietnam and survived torture, solitary confinement and other harrowing experiences as prisoners of war. Among other honored veterans, the documentary features Everett Alvarez, the first American pilot captured by the Vietnamese, who was held captive for eight-and-a-half years.

    Directed by:

  • Terry Sanders
  • Freida Lee Mock
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    All of Us
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    All of Us

    2008
    While investigating the high rate of HIV infections among black women, South Bronx physician Mehret Mandefro examines the personal lives of her patients Chevelle and Tara, women whose past and current situations place them at high risk for infection. As she looks at her patients' struggles with drug dependence, poverty and sexual abuse, Dr. Mandefro reflects on her own history and discovers many surprising vulnerabilities.

    Directed by:

  • Emily Abt
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    Helen Keller in Her Story
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    Helen Keller in Her Story

    1954
    This Oscar-winning film uses newsreels, interviews and photographs to introduce the remarkable story of Helen Keller, from the childhood illness that stole her sight and hearing to her pioneering work for the rights of the disabled. Made when its subject was 74 years old, the documentary follows Keller on a day-in-the-life tour of her normal activities and social visits, including a special meeting with President Eisenhower.

    Directed by:

  • Nancy Hamilton
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    Countdown to Zero
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    Countdown to Zero

    2009
    Since the first atomic bomb exploded in 1945, scientists and world leaders have grappled with the apocalyptic dangers and paradoxes posed by nuclear weapons. Lucy Walker's documentary presents an unblinking look at humanity's lethal predicament.

    Directed by:

  • Lucy Walker
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    Frontline: The Madoff Affair
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    Frontline: The Madoff Affair

    2009
    Sentenced to 150 years in federal prison, Bernie Madoff perpetrated the largest financial fraud in history. Following a timeline dating back to the 1960s, Frontline takes you inside the web of deception that snagged investors for $65 billion.

    Directed by:

  • Martin Smith
  • Marcela Gaviria
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    The Dhamma Brothers
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    The Dhamma Brothers

    2008
    This compelling documentary follows a group of prisoners at a maximum-security Alabama penitentiary as they embark on a transformative odyssey by immersing themselves in a grueling, 10-day meditative retreat rooted in Buddhist teachings. During the wrenching course of self-examination and self-discipline, the inmates are forced to confront their crimes, inner demons and dark memories -- which ultimately puts them on a path to deep-seated healing.

    Directed by:

  • Andrew Kukura
  • Jenny Phillips
  • Anne Marie Stein
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Ballets Russes
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    Ballets Russes

    2005
    The legendary Ballets Russes troupe gave Russian dancers who were never allowed to grace the stage in their home country a chance to shine, especially in the 1930s and '40s, when the company achieved worldwide renown. But even as early as the 1900s, it had been a showcase for such big-name talents as George Balanchine and Vaslav Nijinsky. When the '50s hit, though, the enchantment began to fade in the harsh light of fiscal realities.

    Directed by:

  • Daniel Geller
  • Dayna Goldfine
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Autism: The Musical
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    Autism: The Musical

    2007
    Filmed over a six-month period, Tricia Regan's inspiring, Emmy-nominated documentary captures the transformation of five autistic children as they develop and rehearse "The Miracle Project," an original musical about autism. Supported by their families and led by educator and coach Elaine Hall (whose son is in the production), the kids slowly develop social skills as they learn to work with one another. For some, the metamorphosis is nothing short of amazing.

    Directed by:

  • Tricia Regan
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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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