the continuously fractured life

Documentary Recommendation 20.

Black Power Mistape (1967-1975). A film created by a Swedish documentary crew about the Black Power movement in the U.S. between 1967 and 1975. It’s a brilliant and truthful conversation, especially the Angela Davis interview at around the 1-hour mark. This film gives a timely breakdown on the connections between violence, non-violence, drugs, war, revolutionaries, wealth, religion, race, and poverty through the eyes of outsiders (Swedes) and insiders (black revolutionaries and allies, both past and present). 

Documentary Recommendation 019.

Dive! Ok, I admit that I’m a huge sucker for documentaries about saving the world, one stereotypically-quirky family at a time, but I can’t help it. Dive! is not only about reducing waste, dumpster diving, and kind-of combing your hair, but about action being taken to redistribute food to people who need it. Plus, it’s streaming on Netflix, right now.

Documentary Recommendation 018.

The Color of Fear. This is a 1990’s documentary following conversations within a multi-cultural group, about stereotypical (for lack of a better word) racism, inter-ethnic racism, white supremacy, and shame. Not only is this film honest and important, it peels back layers that I forget exist, even as a person who actively works against racism. It reminds me about the continued importance of vulnerable, safe conversations about race, and the important fight against the “everyone is the same” mentality that is held by well-intentioned people. I especially appreciate the conversations around inter-ethnic racism, which is often over-looked in multi-cultural conversations involving white people because explicit conversations about white supremacy take precedence. Excuse the poor quality of the trailer – again this is from the 90’s… and still 100% pertinent.

Documentary Recommendation 017.

Dear Zachary. I was about to try and write why I am recommending this movie but, I think the trailer speaks for itself. Watch it.

Documentary Recommendation 017.

The Interrupters. I first heard about CeaseFire when I was living and working and East Garfield, because their “Please Stop Shooting” stickers were plastered everywhere. Aside from the fact that CeaseFire is doing important conflict resolution work in neighborhoods with high violence, the film is so well executed, I’m recommending it even though it’s only playing in Chicago right now. I loved the film’s actual discussion about why a person might be violent and why violent acts are perpetuated in inner city neighborhoods, instead of just “oh this is so bad. The end.” See it.

Below is the Netflix breakdown of Current TV’s 50 Documentaries You Must See Before You Die. Thanks to my friend Christy for all her research. She doesn’t blog, but her husband does, so Ryan gets vicarious credit via link to his blog. TEAM WORK.

I won’t embarrass myself further by highlighting the ones I’ve seen, but I would be lying if I said this list wasn’t hanging on my office wall right now.

50. Spellbound (2002) - only DVD

49. Truth or Dare (1991) - instant

48. The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002) - instant

47. One Day in September (1999) - dvd

46. Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1998) - dvd

45. The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988) - dvd

44. Burma VJ (2008) - dvd

43. When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006) - dvd

42. Catfish (2010) - dvd

41. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007) - dvd

40. When We Were Kings (1996) - instant

39. Biggie & Tupac (2002) - instant

38. March of the Penguins (2005) - instant

37. Inside Job (2010) - dvd

36. Taxi to the Dark Side (2007) - dvd

35. Paragraph 175 (2000) - dvd

34. Brother’s Keeper (1992) - instant

33. Tongues Untied (1989) - dvd

32. Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001) - dvd

31. Jesus Camp (2006) - dvd

30. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) - dvd

29. Man on Wire (2008) - instant

28. Gasland (2010) - dvd

27. Tarnation (2003) - dvd

26. Murderball (2005) - dvd

25. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005) - dvd

24. Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996) - dvd

23. The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2000) - instant

22. Shut Up & Sing (2006) - dvd

21. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010) - instant

20. Capturing the Friedmans (2003) - dvd

19. Touching the Void (2003) - instant

18. Food, Inc. (2008) - instant

17. Street Fight (2005) - instant

16. Bus 174 (2002)- dvd

15. Crumb (1994) - dvd

14. Dark Days (2000) - dvd

13. The Fog of War (2003) - dvd

12. Bowling for Columbine (2002) - instant

11. Paris Is Burning (1991) - dvd

10. Grizzly Man (2005) - dvd

9. Trouble the Water (2008) - instant

8. An Inconvenient Truth (2006) - dvd

7. The Celluloid Closet (1995) - dvd

6. The War Room (1993) - dvd

5. Supersize Me (2004) - dvd

4. Waltz With Bashir (2008) - dvd

3. Roger & Me (1989) - dvd

2. The Thin Blue Line (1988) - instant

1. Hoop Dreams (1994) - instant

Documentary Recommendation 016.

Darkon. I’m sure there are a lot of important things you could be doing with your time besides watching movies about live action role playing (LARPing), but I want you to know that you need a break. And that break needs to include long speeches about destiny, manufactured war maps, and shields made out of duct tape. This documentary is just great. Really, really great.

Documentary Recommendation 015.

The Lazarus Effect. When you have 32 minutes, you should watch this short film by Spike Jonze on AIDS treatment in Africa. I didn’t realize how treatable and preventable the disease was until I started working with at-risk parents, and the work being done in my country and in other countries is amazing (but not enough). It’s entirely possible for an infected, pregnant female to have an uninfected child if simple, health precautions are taken. We can definitely rejoice in that.