Entries Tagged 'Documentary' ↓

IMDB: Blindsight

Basic Plot: Six blind Tibetan teenagers attempt to climb the Lhakpa-Ri peak of Mount Everest.

Outburst: This documentary was eye-opening on many levels. It touches on the dark side of Tibetan culture, where the blind are viewed as cursed and made social pariahs. Halfway through the movie, I became angry at some of the Westerners who were pushing these kids. I would never have dragged them on this expedition to begin with, not because they were blind, but because they were kids and physically unprepared.

— This film is a metaphor for Western foreign policy, showing how we try to solve issues in other cultures using our methods and judging success by our terms rather than the ideals of the culture at hand. It will stretch your mind to new concepts if you let it. Also great for anyone interested in mountain climbing.

WATCH FREE ON HULU!
Watch on Amazon: Blindsight

IMDB: Tibet

Basic Plot: History of Chinese occupation and oppression in Tibet.

Outburst: This film assumes you already have some knowledge of Tibet (which not everyone does). By the first fifteen minutes, I was ready to cry. After an hour, my attention wandered. An amazing research job gathering the material, but some of the segments did not transition smoothly. Feels like something from grade school. They did pay lip service to the Chinese viewpoint, if only marginally.

— You will need a basic understanding of current Chinese/Tibetan events and relationships prior to watching this.

Official Website: Cry of the Snow Lion

Also titled F is for Fakes.
IMDB: F is for Fakes

Basic Plot: Free-form documentary about charlatanism and art forgery.

Outburst: The trouble with Orson Welles (or should I say genius?) is that at the end of the program you are not entirely sure what is true and what is pure invention. This program has held up well over the years.

— If you are into tales of art forgers, you’ll get a kick out of Elmyr.

Wikipedia Entry: F for Fake
Wikipedia Entry: Elmyr (art forger)

BUY IT NOW! F for Fake – Criterion Collection (DVD)

IMDB: District 9

Basic Plot: Part action movie, part mockumentary, the story of District 9 revolves around an alien race forced to live as refugees on Earth. A government agent is exposed to a liquid which begins to transform him into an alien.

Outburst: While the actual gist of the plot is implausible, the reactions of the characters and corporate entities is so believable it carries you along for the ride. This movie will leave you with a dark taste in your mouth as you contemplate the evils of humanity.

/DVD — This is a groundbreaking, original film. It is extremely violent, but not unrealistic. If anything, the realism in the violence depicted only makes it more disturbing to watch.

Official Website: District 9
BUY IT NOW! District 9 [Blu-ray]

IMDB: The September Issue

Basic Plot:  Documentary taking you inside the world of Vogue magazine. It focuses on editor Anna Wintour, whose inscrutable demeanor inspired the movie The Devil Wears Prada.

Outburst:  She really is like her fictional movie namesake. While I am not a fashionista, the artist in me caught the visual message in the prints portrayed. The cynic in me was able to laugh along at the ridiculousness of it all. If you like fashion, you will love this documentary; it casts a surprisingly deep glimpse into the world of a woman not known to be kind to the press. If you don’t like fashion, you will still love this documentary. It is one of the best pieces of non-fiction work I’ve seen in some time.

— Highly recommended, but go see The Devil Wears Prada first if you haven’t already.

Official Website: The September Issue