There are many experimental documentaries I intend to write about by filmmakers like Su Friedrich, Agnès Varda, Chantal Akerman, Véréna Paravel, Waad Al-Kateab, and Sarah Polley.
A version of this post originally appeared in The Bold Italic.
Quick summary:
In 1964, Carol Doda made history by becoming the first woman to dance topless at the Condor, one of North Beach's most happening Broadway clubs. Marlo McKenzie and Jonathan Parker’s documentary — inspired in part
I was in 7th grade English class with Mrs. Blackburn on 9/11. After another teacher came into the room and whispered in her ear, she turned on the TV and frankly explained to us what was happening. Mrs. Blackburn was a no-nonsense bitch, which I always appreciated. I don&
Vibe:
"Anbessa" made me remember what it's like to be 10 years old: still imaginative and innocent but teetering on the edge of more sophisticated awareness. Pace is slow and plot is nebulous, but the emotional arc is clear. In order to enjoy it, you need
Vibe:
"Romantic Comedy" is a critical essay come to life. Every filmmaker should watch this movie because it's a testament to the fact that you don't need a huge budget to make something fantastic. It's exclusively comprised of clips from romantic comedies
Vibe:
"Underestimate the Girl" may contain elements of cinema vérité, but it's actually a carefully crafted music documentary. The emotional beats are perfectly timed, and the takeaway message is clear: no matter how many times the world tries to crush us, women will continue to rise
Since Trump's election, so many awful things have happened that it's hard to keep track of them all. Each day is a fresh new hell and I want to crawl under the covers instead of facing reality. Whenever I feel especially hopeless (which is often), I
Motorsports isn't typically my jam but if Janet Guthrie were still on the scene, I'd become a quick enthusiast. Like Diana Kennedy, Guthrie was ahead of her time. She pursued her passion with tenacity, ignored the naysayers, and broke down barriers in a ridiculously male-dominated sport.
This film is like a lost episode of "Chef's Table." It's just as good but contains less food porn and more subject development. I don't particularly enjoy cooking, but I do have a special affinity for certain chefs like Erin French, Renee
Vibe:
"Free Solo" is 1/4 celebration of a triumphant athletic endeavor, 3/4 examination of a man who is willing to put himself and all of his relationships at risk to achieve it. The action of the film took place in June 2017, so there's
I must first acknowledge that the Indie Memphis Film Festival programming was excellent this year. One of the films that I knew I couldn't pass up is "Mr. SOUL!," a documentary produced, written, and directed by Melissa Haizlip. For those unfamiliar, "SOUL!" was a
"Here to Be Heard: The Story of the Slits" chronicles one of my favorite punk bands from start to finish. I don't typically feature male directors on this blog, but I was so hyped on the doc that I couldn't turn down the opportunity
Vibe:
"What Happened, Miss Simone?" is a somewhat cookie-cutter documentary about a fascinating, complicated person with immense talent and passion. Comprised mainly of performance footage, snippets from Nina Simone's diary, primary interviews, and a few unnecessary childhood recreations, it's all standard music documentary fare,
