C+ Documentary Directed by Otto Bell We all know that documentaries can lie to us far worse than narratives--which we go into knowing they're false. Otto Bell's doc, about a Mongolian girl who proves she's better than any man, entertains and inspires. But it feels false. Parts of the story are difficult to believe. And almost … Continue reading The Eagle Huntress: Just a little too slick
Category: Documentaries
Mifune and The Handmaiden at the Mill Valley Film Festival
Quick notes on two films screening at the Mill Valley Film Festival. Both films have one more screening at the festival, and both will soon get a theatrical release. Mifune: The Last Samurai I caught this documentary at the Lark Friday night. Director Steven Okazaki introduced the film, describing his first Mifune experience: The Seven … Continue reading Mifune and The Handmaiden at the Mill Valley Film Festival
The Lovers and The Despot
B- Documentary Directed by Rob Cannan and Ross Adam I don't think you could find a stranger story in the history of cinema. Shin Sang-ok was one of South Korea's top filmmakers--a respected director married to movie star Choi Eun-hee. They disappeared in 1978, and five years later turned up making movies in North Korea. … Continue reading The Lovers and The Despot
For the Love of Spock (and Leonard Nimoy)
B+ Documentary Directed by Adam Nimoy When Leonard Nimoy died earlier this year, he was working with his son Adam on a documentary about the character that made the elder Nimoy famous--Star Trek's Mr. Spock. After his father's death, Adam changed his mind and made the film about both Spock and the actor who played him. … Continue reading For the Love of Spock (and Leonard Nimoy)
Lo and Behold! Werner Herzog brings us the Internet
B Documentary Directed by Werner Herzog Even those of us who grew up, married, and had kids before dial-up modems were common now take the Internet for granted. We socialize, work, play, read, find restaurants, and enjoy movies and music through this decentralized network. Werner Herzog tries--and to some extent succeeds--in providing an overview of the … Continue reading Lo and Behold! Werner Herzog brings us the Internet
San Francisco portion of Jewish Festival ends with Mr. Spock
Sunday night I attended the last screening at the Castro Theatre for this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. The festival itself will continue in other Bay Area locations. The film was For The Love of Spock, Adam Nimoy's loving tribute to his father, Leonard, and the character that made his father famous. Adam Nimoy, … Continue reading San Francisco portion of Jewish Festival ends with Mr. Spock
Russian Ark & Buena Vista Social Club: Saturday night at the Pacific Film Archive
I saw Aleksandr Sokurov's Russian Ark and Wim Wender's Buena Vista Social Club Saturday night at the Pacific Film Archive. The first film was part of the ongoing series Guided Tour: Museums in Cinema. The second one closed the long-running series Wim Wenders: Portraits Along the Road. But they had an interesting thing in common. … Continue reading Russian Ark & Buena Vista Social Club: Saturday night at the Pacific Film Archive
Sunday Docs at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
I went to the Castro Sunday afternoon to catch two documentaries screening at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. It wasn't until Monday before I realized what they had in common. Both centered on a very old person. A German Life Brunhilde Pomsel, 103 when she was interviewed for this film, worked as a secretary … Continue reading Sunday Docs at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Frank Zappa doc forces you to Eat That Question
B- Documentary Directed by Thorsten Schütte Early in this documentary on the legendary musician and provocateur, Frank Zappa insists that you can't possibly know someone from an interview. It's artificial; it's unpleasant; it's only two steps away from the Inquisition. And that captures the film's biggest problem. We hear a lot of Zappa's words, but … Continue reading Frank Zappa doc forces you to Eat That Question
The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble
A- Music documentary Directed by Morgan Neville In the year 2000, cellist Yo-Yo Ma decided to take his musical career in a new direction. He gathered up musicians from various countries, all experts in their own cultures' music, and created The Silk Road Ensemble. The idea was to find the beauty in their different traditions … Continue reading The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble
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