For personal reasons, Saturday was my last day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. I caught two documentaries. A Science Fair Highly-motivated high school students compete in local and national science fairs for fun and college tuition. They also hope to place in the biggest such event, the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). This … Continue reading My Last Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Category: Social Issues
Take Action Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Friday was the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival's Take Action Day, which, when you think about it, is a strange name for sitting on your butt all day. They screened five political documentaries at the Castro that day. I saw the first three. None of these could reasonably be called Jewish films. The Festival justified … Continue reading Take Action Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Freedom of Expression, Liz Garbus, & The Fourth Estate
Thursday night, my wife and I visited the Castro for the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival's Freedom of Expression Award, which goes to a Jewish filmmaker who has worked to preserve our freedoms. This year, the award goes to documentarian Liz Garbus, the maker of Girlhood, Bobby Fischer Against the World, and What Happened, Miss … Continue reading Freedom of Expression, Liz Garbus, & The Fourth Estate
Shining a light on Dark Money
B Political documentary Directed by Kimberly Reed Kimberly Reed's documentary covers one of the most important issues in America today: the legal bribery system that drives the American form of democracy. Aside from global warming - and of course there's a connection - It's about as important an issue as you could think of. Unfortunately, … Continue reading Shining a light on Dark Money
Sorry to Bother You, but you don’t want to miss this movie
A- Comedy Written and directed by Boots Riley I worry that people will assume that this very pointed comedy is nothing but a Get Out rip-off. Both movies combine humor, horror, and social commentary, and were made by an African-American neophyte director with a decidedly black point of view. But if you know anything about … Continue reading Sorry to Bother You, but you don’t want to miss this movie
Eating Animals: Knowing what you consume
A- Documentary Directed by Christopher Dillon Quinn From the book by Jonathan Safran Foer Warning: This documentary contains many horribly gruesome images. And unlike the gore in horror movies, you know that it's all real. Considering the film's title and the involvement of outspoken vegan (and movie star) Natalie Portman, one would assume that Eating … Continue reading Eating Animals: Knowing what you consume
Black Powers coming to Modern Cinema
Black filmmakers illuminate the African-American experience in SFFILM and SFMOMA's latest Modern Cinema series, Black Powers: Reframing Hollywood. The series/festival runs from July 12–29. As with all Modern Cinema series, this one takes place at SFMOMA's Phyllis Wattis Theater. Neither organization is calling this a festival, but I think the title fits, because you can … Continue reading Black Powers coming to Modern Cinema
