Posts filed under 'Documentary/History'
LAST TRAIN HOME- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Every year, 200 million Chinese peasants embark on a distant, arduous journey to visit family and celebrate the greatness of China. But as we learn through one family’s odyssey, just getting a train ticket can be an ordeal of Orwellian proportions. First-time Chinese-Canadian director Lixin Fan makes no judgments, allowing the audience to draw their own conclusions about this heavily ritualized act.” Great reviews.
10/10- Barebones documentary, no talking heads and the viewer is left to his own thoughts. I liked it. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
August 28th, 2010
WAITNG FOR SUPERMAN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Dynamic documentarian Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) weaves together the stories of students, families, educators and reformers to shed light on the failing public school system and its consequences on the future of the United States. In this Sundance Audience Award winner for Best Documentary, Guggenheim deftly examines the options to improve public education and provide America’s teachers and students with the help they need.” Very good reviews.
2/11- A well done scathing indictment of our education system showing the real time frustration of parents and good educators equally. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: docmentary
August 25th, 2010
MAO’S LAST DANCER- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “A delegation from Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy selects 11-year-old peasant villager Li Cunxin to study ballet in far-off Beijing, where he trains for seven grueling years to become one of China’s greatest dancers. His efforts win him the opportunity to dance in America, opening his eyes to a new love and the possibility of a dramatic defection from China in this remarkable true story based on Cunxin’s autobiography.” Fairly good reviews but a few said the movie was too timid. TRDB.
8/10- Great dancing makes up for a somewhat weak story. I enjoyed the movie despite all the schmaltz. TRDB.
Tags: docudrama
August 23rd, 2010
WO AI NI MOMMY- Premise by Netflix. “Exploring the multifaceted meanings of love and family, filmmaker Stephanie Wang-Breal traces an 8-year-old girl’s emotional journey from her homeland in China to her new home in the United States, where she’ll live with her adoptive Jewish parents. Born Fang Sui Yong, she’s now known as Faith. But her new name isn’t the only unfamiliar element in the strange — yet undeniably comfortable — situation she now finds herself in.” Only one review but it’s great.
Tags: docmentary
August 22nd, 2010
ARMY OF CRIME- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “This gripping historical drama recounts the story of Armenian-born Missak Manouchian (Simon Abkarian), a woodworker and political activist who led an immigrant laborer division of the Parisian Resistance on 30 operations against the Nazis in 1943. The Nazis branded the group an Army of Crime, an anti-immigrant propaganda stunt that backfired as the team’s members became martyrs for the Resistance. Virginie Ledoyen co-stars as Manouchian’s wife.” Very good review in NY Times on 8/20/10.
1/11- Another good movie about the resistance but with little to add to the wealth of material on this subject. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: docudrama
August 20th, 2010
MAX MANUS- Directed by Espen Sandberg and Joachim Roenning. Premise by Netflix. “Dismayed by Norway’s swift capitulation to Nazi Germany during World War II, Max Manus (Aksel Hennie) — who would become one of Norway’s greatest war heroes — immediately joined the Resistance. This biographical drama tells his story. From his audacious escapes from German captivity (one from a military hospital) to his bold acts of sabotage (which included blowing up warships), the film chronicles all Manus’s derring-do.”
8/10- A very good docudrama about a resistance fighter most people know nothing about. TRDB.
Tags: docudrama
August 15th, 2010
YOO-HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “The history of “The Goldbergs” — and the massive appeal and influence of its Jewish American main character — is explored in this fascinating documentary from filmmaker Aviva Kempner. Though she is not a household name today, Molly Goldberg — the indelible creation of writer and performer Gertrude Berg — was one of the most popular characters on radio and television from the 1930s to the ’50s.” Good reviews.
8/10- A good portrait of this pioneer of radio and TV. It places her well in the context of U.S. society at the time. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary
August 14th, 2010
PEEPLI LIVE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When indigent farmers Natha (Omkar Das) and Budhia (Raghuvir Yadav) stand to lose their land over a loan they can’t repay, a government official comes up with a modest proposal: Commit suicide and collect a subsidy that’s paid to the relatives of deceased farmers. As Natha weighs his options, a journalist learns of his predicament and the media circus begins. Anusha Rizvi directs this satirical take on a real-life crisis afflicting India’s underclass.” OK review in NY Times 8/13/10.
1/11- Interesting idea but this ridiculous film detracted from the importance of the issue. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary, Foreign
August 13th, 2010
THE TILLMAN STORY- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When Pat Tillman, a former pro football player and decorated U.S. soldier, was killed in Afghanistan, the military reported that he’d died battling the Taliban. But later, a much different story emerged: Tillman was killed by friendly fire. Since that day, Tillman’s family has waged their own war, fighting tirelessly with the government in order to unravel the truth behind the cover-up. Filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev documents their struggle.” Very good reviews.
9/10- Very well done and a scathing indictment of the government’s actions in this case. TRDB. Theater.
Tags: documentary
August 12th, 2010
TOOTS- 2006. Premise by Netflix. “Filmmaker Kristi Jacobson celebrates the life of her sharp-tongued grandfather, Toots Shor, a colorful Manhattan restaurateur who counted among his clientele scores of celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, Joe DiMaggio and Dwight Eisenhower. Interviews with Shor’s pals, such as Lauren Bacall, Walter Cronkite and Yogi Berra, recall the post-World War II days when regular folk mingled at the bar with movie stars, sports heroes and politicians.”
8/10- A very good documentary as much about Toot’s friends and New York as about Toots himself. I recommend it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary
August 9th, 2010
Newer Posts
Older Posts