We lose things all the time: keys, rings, our train of thought. In the following documentaries, entire film treasuries were lost, only to be rediscovered decades later by chance. Check out these films that follow the recovery of priceless collections. You’ll emerge appreciating the things you’ve long held onto.
“Saving Brinton” (2017)
An avid “saver” from rural Iowa, Michael Zahs acquired William “Frank” and Indiana Brinton‘s entertainment paraphernalia, which includes early film reels, projection equipment and other turn-of-the-century motion picture technologies. Paying homage to the Brinton traveling picture shows, Mr. Zahs screens the restored films to modern audiences. Beyond the collection itself, the documentary celebrates his passion for preserving and sharing local history. The movie is available on DVD and streaming via Hoopla and Kanopy.
“Dawson City: Frozen Time” (2017)
Watching Bill Morrison’s documentary is like visiting a virtual museum. It narrates the early history of Dawson City, a remote boom town in the Canadian Yukon, which was the last stop for movies distributed in the 1910s and 20s. A half century later, hundreds of these nitrate film reels were unearthed in the permafrost, a lucky discovery given these were likely the last copies in existence. This movie is available on DVD and streaming via Hoopla and Kanopy.
“Finding Vivian Maier” (2014)
In the case of Vivian Maier, she likely intended for her photographs and film negatives to remain out of the public eye. The creator of this Academy Award nominated documentary struggles with that reality while seeking to popularize her incredible body of work. Interestingly, the copyright over her images is currently embroiled in a saga of litigation.
