If you attended public school, you may have forgotten that there are many different kinds of schools out there educating students in a variety of different ways. Take a look at some of these unusual schools, and see how they touch the lives of their students.
“Boys of Baraka” (2005)
Twenty “at risk” 12-year-old boys from the tough streets of inner-city Baltimore leave home to attend Baraka, an experimental boarding school located in Kenya, East Africa. Here, these brave kids begin the daunting journey towards putting their lives on a fresh path. This documentary was directed by award-winning filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady. Continue reading “Alternative Learning: Docs About Unusual Schools”
Creating films often leads to a flurry of activity and decision making that is itself interesting to capture on film. Check out these documentaries that capture films being made.
“Becoming Bulletproof” (2016)
A diverse group of disabled people from across the U.S. take on leading roles in a Western filmed on vintage Hollywood locations. This film within a film immerses us in a dynamic, inclusive world of discipline and play, raising questions about why we so rarely see real disabled actors on the big screen.
Continue reading “Shot by Shot: Docs Featuring a Film Within a Film”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“Presenting Princess Shaw”
Website / Reviews / Trailer
Playing at the True/False Film Fest in 2016, this film is the true story of the incredible Princess Shaw and the enigmatic composer Kutiman, who discovers her from the other side of the world. By day, Samantha Montgomery cares for the elderly in one of New Orleans’s toughest neighborhoods. By night, she writes and sings her own songs as Princess Shaw on her confessional YouTube channel. Continue reading “New DVD List: Presenting Princess Shaw & More”
The Cinema Eye Honors are annual awards that recognize outstanding craft and artistry in nonfiction film. To celebrate their 10th anniversary, the Cinema Eye organization recently announced 20 films that have been named as among the top achievements in nonfiction film-making over the last decade. Here’s the assembled list of films in the library collection: Continue reading “Cinema Eye Honors: Top Docs Of The Last Decade”
William Shakespeare may have been gone for 400 years, but his cultural influence still looms large today. How do modern people react and interact with his work? Check out these documentaries that explore Shakespeare’s works in a modern context.
“Shakespeare Behind Bars” (2005)
Convicted felons at Kentucky’s Luther Luckett Correctional Complex rehearse for the Shakespearean production, “The Tempest,” as part of the Shakespeare Behind Bars Program. The play’s underlying theme of forgiveness parallels themes in the lives of the prisoners. Continue reading “All the World’s a Stage: Docs Involving Shakespeare”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“The Boys of ’36”
Website / Reviews / Trailer
This documentary is based on the 2014 One Read book “The Boys in the Boat” and recently played on PBS. In 1936, nine boys from the University of Washington took the rowing world and a nation by storm when their eight-oar crew team captured the gold medal at the Olympics in Berlin. The boys’ victory, and their obstacles, inspired a nation. Continue reading “New DVD List: The Boys of ’36 & More”
The rules of society are sometimes flaunted by criminals. Who are these people, and what makes them tick? Check out these documentaries that feature various outlaws.
“The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia” (2010)
A shocking and outlandish year-in-the-life documentary about the White Family of Boone County, West Virginia’s most notorious extended family. The film includes shoot-outs, robberies, gas-huffing, drug dealing and using, pill popping, murders and tap dancing. Continue reading “Against the Grain: Docs About Outlaws”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“Angie Tribeca”
Season 1
Website / Reviews
Rashida Jones plays Angie Tribeca, a 10-year veteran of LAPD’S RHCU: Really Heinous Crimes Unit. The show is a hilarious spoof of police procedurals in the spirit of “The Naked Gun” and was created and executive produced by Steve and Nancy Carrell. Continue reading “New DVD List: Angie Tribeca, House of Cards & More”
Running is a sport that attracts many people young and old. What drives them to run, and how has it transformed them as people? Check out these documentaries that give insight into different kinds of runners.
“Spirit of the Marathon” (2008)
A look at the Chicago Marathon, which stretches 26.2 miles, and the runners who participate from all walks of life, each with their own story. The film is an inspirational journey of perseverance and personal triumph — a spectacle that will be embraced by runners and non-runners alike. Continue reading “Racing Forward: Docs About Runners”
Families can go into crisis mode when faced with stressful situations. How will family members deal with the situation and how will it transform their relationships with each other? Check out these docs that focus on families in a state of crisis.
“Tarnation” (2005)
Part documentary, part narrative fiction, part home movie, and part acid trip. Faced with the haunting remnants of his past, including a family legacy of mental illness, abuse and neglect, Jonathan Caouette returns home to aid in his schizophrenic mother’s recovery. Continue reading “Blood Relations: Docs Featuring Families In Crisis”
