Documentary
Mad Hot Ballroom
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Mad Hot Ballroom

2005
Ballroom dancing goes from lame to cool for a group of New York City students in this insightful documentary, which follows a group of 11-year-olds as they learn to dance old-school styles including the merengue, rumba, tango, foxtrot and swing. Candid interviews capture the kids' initial reluctance at learning ballroom dance and their transformation into serious competitors determined to win a citywide competition.

Directed by:

  • Marilyn Agrelo
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    Newton's Dark Secrets: Nova
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    Newton's Dark Secrets: Nova

    2005
    While pursuing his theories on the universal law of gravitation, scientific genius Isaac Newton was also searching out hidden meanings in the Bible, practicing the hidden art of alchemy and pioneering calculus. Using dramatic scenes starring Scott Handy as Newton, this "Nova" documentary re-creates the unique climate of late 17th century England, where a fascination with science and mathematics coexisted with extreme views on religious doctrine.

    Directed by:

  • Karen Barss
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    Frontline: The Released
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    Frontline: The Released

    2009
    Five years after their landmark documentary The New Asylums, filmmakers Karen O'Connor and Miri Navasky return to the Ohio prison system to chronicle the next chapter in the journey of mentally ill inmates: what happens when they leave prison. The film traces the stories of six mentally ill offenders who face daunting obstacles and slim odds as they struggle to transition from life behind bars to life on the outside.

    Directed by:

  • Karen O'Connor
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    The Spartans
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    The Spartans

    2004
    Of the various Greek city-states, Sparta was distinctive because of the rigorous military regimen it ingrained in its people; this presentation documents the history of one of the most fascinating societies in ancient times. The program examines the militaristic, collective and organized social construction assembled by the Spartan people, from the culture's humble beginnings and rise to greatness to its ultimate demise.

    Directed by:

  • Melanie Archer
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe
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    William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe

    2009
    Filmmakers Sarah and Emily Kunstler delve into the life of their father, William Kunstler, whose controversial career and high-profile clients solidified his place in history as one of the most famous -- and reviled -- 20th-century lawyers.

    Directed by:

  • Emily Kunstler
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    Secrets of the Dead: Mumbai Massacre
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    Secrets of the Dead: Mumbai Massacre

    2009
    The chain of terrorist attacks that battered Mumbai, India, over several days in November 2008 -- replayed through the eyes of those taken hostage -- is the focus of this episode of PBS's investigative series. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the program combines survivors' firsthand accounts with an analysis of the ways in which Twitter, cell phones and other media not only abetted the terrorists' coordination efforts but also led to their downfall.

    Directed by:

  • Victoria Pitt
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    Jump!
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    Jump!

    2007
    Filmmaker Helen Hood Scheer takes a look at the sport of jumping rope, which has evolved from a recess activity set to simple schoolyard rhymes into a sophisticated combination of gymnastics and jumping that some expect will become an Olympic event. Following six teams as they train for the USA Jump Rope Nationals, Scheer reveals the innovative routines, remarkable athletic prowess and unexpectedly generous camaraderie the competitors share.

    Directed by:

  • Helen Hood Scheer
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    Zombiemania
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    Zombiemania

    2008
    In this entertaining documentary, filmmaker Donna Davies explores zombie movie fever, which has gripped audiences since the genre's earliest incarnations at the dawn of cinema to its explosion of popularity in recent decades. Featuring a revealing interview with iconic zombie-flick director George A. Romero, this program also examines how real-world zombie tales in Haiti's voodoo religion have influenced Hollywood depictions of the undead.

    Directed by:

  • Donna Davies
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    Monica & David
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    Monica & David

    2009
    Documentarian Alexandra Codina explores the nuances of love and commitment in this cinematic portrait of a soon-to-be married couple with Down syndrome, and the proud but protective mothers who have long shielded them from life's cruel realities. Monica and David don't expect to live a completely independent life. But as adults, they want the same chance that any other "normal" married couple has to succeed or fail.

    Directed by:

  • Alexandra Codina
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    Yes Madam, Sir
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    Yes Madam, Sir

    2008
    Filmmaker Megan Doneman's compelling documentary looks at the tumultuous career of Kiran Bedi, a tennis champ who became a crusading social activist -- and the first woman to join the Indian Police Service. Although Bedi's detractors have labeled her a self-serving publicity seeker, there's no debate about her accomplishments, which include overhauling one of Asia's worst prisons and reforming India's penal system. Helen Mirren narrates.

    Directed by:

  • Megan Doneman
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    Scandalize My Name
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    Scandalize My Name

    1999
    During the McCarthy era, many African American actors faced blacklists, loyalty oaths and casting discrimination. Actor Morgan Freeman hosts this illuminating documentary that explores the impact of the Red scare on the civil rights movement. Paul Robeson, Jackie Robinson, Harry Belafonte, Ossie Davis, Sidney Poitier, Hazel Scott, Canada Lee and Dick Campbell are among the personalities featured.

    Directed by:

  • Alexandra M. Isles
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    The Trials of Darryl Hunt
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    The Trials of Darryl Hunt

    2005
    This poignant documentary details the story of Darryl Hunt, a black North Carolina man who spent 20 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. After the rape and murder of a young white journalist in 1984, public outcry and intense media scrutiny -- along with simmering racial tensions -- pressured officials to close the case. Hunt was quickly convicted. In 1994, DNA evidence proved his innocence, but Hunt wasn't exonerated for 10 more years.

    Directed by:

  • Ricki Stern
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    Harp Dreams
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    Harp Dreams

    2010
    Blythe Danner narrates this music-driven documentary about the prestigious USA International Harp Competition, a discriminating contest held every three years that attracts talented harpists from all over the world. With footage shot in the United States, Paris, Moscow and Zurich, Switzerland, the film follows a handful of young contenders all vying for the coveted grand prize: a lucrative recording contract and a priceless instrument.

    Directed by:

  • Susan Schwibs
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    Rough Aunties
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    Rough Aunties

    2008
    Filmmaker Kim Longinotto profiles Jackie, Mildred, Eureka, Sdudla and Thuli -- five remarkable women who staff Bobbi Bear, a South African nonprofit organization that helps sexually abused children and mobilizes the community to fight abuse. Longinotto follows the diverse group of advocates as they meet with families, work with the authorities to make arrests, and counsel victims, using teddy bears to help children tell their heartbreaking stories.

    Directed by:

  • Kim Longinotto
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter
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    The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter

    1970
    Featuring classic renditions of "Sympathy for the Devil," "Under My Thumb," "Satisfaction," "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Wild Horses," this unvarnished documentary chronicles the Rolling Stones' chaotic 1969 American tour. The film starts off on a high note at a riveting New York City show and concludes in the aftermath of the infamous Altamont Speedway gig, where Hell's Angels who were hired to do security ultimately brutalized concert-goers.

    Directed by:

  • Albert Maysles
  • David Maysles
  • Charlotte Zwerin
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    Veiled Voices
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    Veiled Voices

    2009
    In this documentary, director Brigid Maher examines the private lives and public work of three Muslim women who are speaking out and changing the way their male-dominated societies view the role and concerns of all women. Maher's profiles of Egyptian TV personality Dr. Su'ad Saleh, Lebanese educator Ghina Hammoud and popular Syrian lecturer Huda al-Habash emphasize their belief that Islam can be a catalyst, not an obstacle, for change.

    Directed by:

  • Brigid Maher
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 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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