Popular Documentary Movies on Kanopy - Page 309

TV Family

2015

TV Family

2015
A Texas family reflects on the forgotten television documentary produced about them in 1960, describing how the program both mirrored and distorted the reality of their lives. Combining rare footage with new interviews, TV FAMILY opens a window onto the limitations of television and representations of family in midcentury America.
Bangaologia - The science of style

2017

Bangaologia - The science of style

2017
The African continent has always been a place that evokes a deep sense of wonder and fantasy. It is naturally diverse, with a vast array of people, cultures, and natural beauty. Being the home to ancient civilizations, it is considered the "birthplace of humanity" or "the Motherland". But could it also be the birthplace of style?
The Two Faces of a Bamileke Woman

2018

The Two Faces of a Bamileke Woman

2018
6
The return of a young filmmaker to her home country, Cameroon, and her reunion with her mother.
Caviar Dreams

2017

Caviar Dreams

2017
Over the centuries caviar (i.e. - sturgeon eggs) was strictly reserved for Russian Czars and royalty throughout the world. Nowadays it’s become synonymous with wealth, fame, and indulgence. But why is that? What's so special about caviar? "Caviar Dreams" delves into the complex world of caviar, weaving a tapestry of caviar tales that leaves you knowing more than you ever thought possible about this unique delicacy. Beyond the assumed glamour and luxury associated with caviar, we uncover a story about over-fishing, poaching, near extinction, and a quest for sustainability.
The Phans of Jersey City

1980

The Phans of Jersey City

1980
A South Vietnamese refugee family learns to live in the USA
Who Killed Malcolm Smith?

1992

Who Killed Malcolm Smith?

1992
This is the true story of Malcolm Charles Smith who, like many Aboriginal people, was taken from his family as a child and died a shocking and early death after a life of institutionalisation and deprivation. In this documentary Richard Frankland, who helped investigate his death for the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, revisits Smith's friends and family who tell the story of Malcolm's life and death.
Too Many Captain Cooks

1989

Too Many Captain Cooks

1989
For both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians, Captain James Cook is a figure of great historical significance.
North Korea: Life Inside the Secret State

2013

North Korea: Life Inside the Secret State

2013
3
North Koreans are breaking down the barriers of the gulag state. Following covert filmmakers, this doc shows real life under the new leader Kim Jong Un, highlighting the contrasting ox-drawn farms to the glittering life of the elite in Pyongyang. The starving children on the streets are of artificial food shortages engendered by corruption. See how USBs, cell phones and DVDs from the South are transforming North Koreans' views of their world.
Brave New York

2004

Brave New York

2004
BRAVE NEW YORK is a free-form documentary that loosely chronicles the last twelve years of intense change in the East Village "hood." From the reopening of a newly curfewed Tompkins Square Park and Wigstock in '92 to the destruction of the cherished Loisaida Community Gardens, beyond the yuppie invasions of the "dot com" years to the present era, indelibly stamped with post 9/11 grief, this durable, lusty neighborhood survives in spite of a real estate gold rush that has excluded all but the well-to-do. The movie's main voices are those of the artists and street people whose wisdom and commentaries upon the dominant culture give us pause amidst the speedy approach of a "Brave New World." This Overview was taken from Fandor, where this film is available. 2004.
Walls

2014

Walls

2014
6
A day in the life of Mr. Istvan and Ms. Magdi, neighbors for many years, is narrated by the building of Budapest where both live. The walls surrounding them reveal their small passions, stories and routines.
A Crushing Love

2009

A Crushing Love

2009
1
Sequel to Sylvia Morales' film, "Chicana," which documents how five Chicanas balance their family and work.
Nervous Laughter

2017

Nervous Laughter

2017
When winter swells collide with a chunk of reef off the north shore of Maui, massive waves up to 60 feet rise and crash to create the best big wave on earth. It’s called Peahi, or “Jaws,” and every year it attracts dozens of elite surfers from around the world to attempt the lethal wave. More and more, however, it’s the local crew that steals the show. An eclectic group childhood friends that followed each other into the Jaws lineup as teenagers, and through peer pressure and rivalries, pushed each other to unprecedented performances in the ensuing years. Then came the El Niño of 2016, which promised to serve up the largest swells in big-wave history. Follow the crew for an inside look at a season rife with nerves, injury, triumph and friendship.
Ocean Driven

2017

Ocean Driven

2017
Making a big wave dream come true. Ocean Driven is a true and gripping story that chronicles the development of South African big wave surfer Chris Bertish. His single minded pursuit of his dreams and refusal to let seemingly insurmountable obstacles stand in his way, culminates with his winning the world's premiere big wave surfing competition at Mavericks in California 2010. Moments after nearly drowning, Bertish takes the world by storm in the largest waves ever seen there. Ocean Driven is a tale of overcoming obstacles and fears, redefining possible, and empowering viewers to never give up in pursuit of their dreams. Ocean Driven features countless big wave legends, ocean specialists, and breathtaking images.
95 and 6 to Go

2016

95 and 6 to Go

2016
6
Filmmaker Kimi Takesue captures the cadence of daily life for Grandpa Tom, a retired postal worker born to Japanese immigrants to Hawai’i in the 1910s. Amidst the solitude of his home routines — coupon clipping, rigging an improvised barbecue, lighting firecrackers on the New Year — we glimpse an unexpectedly rich inner life.
The Spirit of the Ancestors

2016

The Spirit of the Ancestors

2016
2.5
Three generations of chroniclers from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) go in search of their nation’s sacred pieces.
They Are We

2014

They Are We

2014
10
The story of an Afro-Cuban group who kept alive songs and dances their ancestor had brought aboard the slave ship from Africa. They were so specific that around 200 years later, a village of Africans watched them, joined in singing, and said simply, joyously: "They Are We". This film tells the story of how they found each other and how they work to be able to reunite.
The Amish: Shunned

2014

The Amish: Shunned

2014
7.6
The story of shunning in Amish communities.
Invitation to Dance

2014

Invitation to Dance

2014
At age 23, Simi Linton was injured while hitchhiking to Washington to protest the war in Vietnam. Suddenly a young disabled college student, she confronted discrimination she couldn't have imagined before. Simi emerges as a resourceful activist, and in time realizes that love, sexuality, and dance can once again be central to her life.
Oleg's Choice

2016

Oleg's Choice

2016
Fighting in eastern Ukraine broke out in early 2014. Since the summer, thousands of young Russians, driven by television propaganda and a thirst for adventure, began to pour in. Among these volunteers were Oleg and Max. Oleg became a battalion commander and Max remained an ordinary soldier. While they prepare to fight, they discuss their motivations and share their own perspective on the conflict. The image becomes a unique personal testimony of one side of the war, one rarely seen in the western media.
A Balinese Trance Seance

1981

A Balinese Trance Seance

1981
Bringing offerings of rice, flowers, and woven coconut leaves, clients visit Jero in her household shrine to determine the cause of their son's death. Jero lights an incense brazier, sprinkles holy water, and recites mantras as preliminaries to trance. Several ancestors and finally the young son speak through her voice, revealing the nature of his premature death (witchcraft) and his wishes for cremation. In contrast to other films about Balinese trance which focus on spectacular, community performances, this film provides an intimate view of a fascinating process of communication between Jero, the spirits, and her clients who are at one point moved to tears. (der.org)