Top Rated Documentary Movies on Kanopy - Page 154

Moynihan

2018

Moynihan

2018
8
A biographical portrait of Daniel Patrick Moynihan, twentieth century colossus: public intellectual, policy specialist, ambassador, and NY senator.
Painted Nails

2016

Painted Nails

2016
6
It won't take long to fall in love with the subject of Painted Nails, Van Hoang, a Vietnamese nail salon owner who serves an ethnically diverse group of working class women with acrylic nails and intricate airbrush designs. Through the course of the film, Van unintentionally becomes a contemporary Norma Rae or Erin Brockovich. Painted Nails brings us unprecedented insight into the personal nature of the political movement to regulate one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. Major loopholes in the federal law dating back to 1938 allow the 50-billion-dollar cosmetics industry to put unlimited amounts of chemicals into personal care products with no required testing, monitoring of health effects, or labeling requirements. (via Kanopy)
Struggles in Steel: A History of African-American Steelworkers

1996

Struggles in Steel: A History of African-American Steelworkers

1996
8
This documentary focuses on the Civil Rights Movement in the heavily segregated steel industry and its equally segregated union, The United Steelworkers of America (USWA), at the time when this industry—devastated by mismanagement and global competition—began to crumble. It is a powerful picture of black working-class life in the latter part of the 20th century, told in a combination of interviews and documentary footage. Through live testimonials and revelatory archival materials, Struggles shows the contributions of African Americans to the steel industry and to the labor movement more generally. (via cinema.indiana.edu)
Little Stones

2017

Little Stones

2017
5
From a graffiti artist speaking out against domestic violence in the favelas of Brazil to a dancer rehabilitating sex-trafficking survivors in India, Little Stones profiles four women, each of whom are contributing a stone to the mosaic of the women’s movement through their art. The film and accompanying education initiative have been designed to raise awareness about global women’s rights issues, and to celebrate creative, entrepreneurial, and arts-therapy based solutions to the most pressing challenges facing women globally.
Anne Braden: Southern Patriot

2012

Anne Braden: Southern Patriot

2012
10
Anne Braden: Southern Patriot is a first person documentary about the extraordinary life of this American civil rights leader. Braden was hailed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his 1963 Letter from Birmingham Jail as a white southerner whose rejection of her segregationist upbringing was eloquent and prophetic. Ostracized as a red in the 1950s, she fought for an inclusive movement community and mentored three generations of social justice advocates. Braden’s story explores not only the dangers of racism and political repression but also the power of a woman’s life spent in commitment to social justice.
Rome: Engineering an Empire

2005

Rome: Engineering an Empire

2005
9
Despite their personal short comings, many of the Roman Empires great engineering accomplishments were introduced during the reign of the Caesars. The tradition continued under Vespasian, builder of the Coliseum, Trajan, builder of the Forum, and Hadrian, builder and possibly the designer of the Pantheon. Finally, a decade later Caracalla built a bath complex/recreation center in an effort to secure his own reputation in history.
Womanhouse

1974

Womanhouse

1974
7
Held in 1972 at 533 N. Mariposa Street, Los Angeles was one of the most important cultural events in the United States: "Womanhouse," a feminist art installation and performance space organized by Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro.
Custer's Last Stand

2012

Custer's Last Stand

2012
7
Follow General George Armstrong Custer from his memorable, wild charge at Gettysburg to his lonely, untimely death on the windswept Plains of the West. On June 26, 1876, Custer, a reputation for fearless and often reckless courage ordered his soldiers to drive back a large army of Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. By day's end, Custer and nearly a third of his army were dead.
Last Stop: Palestine

2013

Last Stop: Palestine

2013
10
There is an invisible war going on in the West Bank. The Israeli settlers are waging a daily war on the Palestinians who remain; they harass their neighbours, attack their houses, move their livestock and generally make life unbearable for them. And after years of violent resistance a new generation of Palestinians have undertaken a new strategy and are fighting back with video cameras rather than guns. They post their videos online to show the world what is happening but what does all this mean for the possibility of peace? An in-depth and eye-opening investigation into life in the West Bank.
Where Should the Birds Fly?

2013

Where Should the Birds Fly?

2013
7
The film tells the compelling and moving stories of two remarkable young women living in Gaza and the struggle of Gazans trying to maintain their humanity and humor while hoping to find some sense of normality in a world that is anything but normal.
NOVA: Secrets of Noah's Ark

2015

NOVA: Secrets of Noah's Ark

2015
6
Historians, boat builders and experts examine the tale of Noah's Ark, studying ancient texts and attempting to rebuild a forerunner of the Ark itself.
My So-Called Enemy

2010

My So-Called Enemy

2010
5
In July 2002, 22 Palestinian and Israeli teenage girls came to the U.S. to participate in a women's leadership program called Building Bridges for Peace. "My So Called Enemy" is a coming of age story about 6 of the program participants and how they reconcile their transformative experience in the program with the realities of life back home in the Middle East over the next 7 years. What unfolds is an emotionally-charged film about the human consequences of all conflicts--as seen through the eyes of 6 young women who are thoughtful, intelligent and articulate beyond their years.
The Drawings of Yves Saint Laurent

2017

The Drawings of Yves Saint Laurent

2017
6
The sketches and drawings of iconic designer Yves Saint Laurent come to life in this documentary. Past colleagues and friends discuss his life and work while poring over some of the thousands of sketches the designer created in his lifetime.
The Truth Shall Not Be Killed

2018

The Truth Shall Not Be Killed

2018
8
After being kidnapped in Syria and witnessing the execution of a colleague, war correspondent Témoris Grecko returns to a Mexico submerged in violence and starts a chronicle of the 3 most dangerous years for mexican journalists, from 2015 to 2017.
The Food Cure: Hope or Hype?

2018

The Food Cure: Hope or Hype?

2018
10
THE FOOD CURE presents an intimate portrait of six cancer patients who make the radical decision to turn their backs on conventional medicine and put their faith in a controversial alternative cancer treatment based on food.
Blacks and Jews

1997

Blacks and Jews

1997
6
This documentary attempts to go beyond the sensationalized media coverage and the stereotypes to examine several key conflicts from the point of view of both Black and Jewish activists.
Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel

2018

Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel

2018
8
A team of nice Jewish baseball players takes on the world.
Girl on Wave

2017

Girl on Wave

2017
7
Girl on Wave introduces professional windsurfer Sarah Hauser and documents her journey as a New-Caledonian athlete competing on the American stage of windsurfing.
A Late Style of Fire

2016

A Late Style of Fire

2016
5
The brilliant writing and troubled life of Californian Larry Levis came to an abrupt halt when he died at age 49. Is self-destruction required for a serious life of art? Featuring an original score by Iron and Wine and film excerpts by award-winning Spanish filmmaker Lois Patiño, this innovative documentary explores his childhood working alongside Mexican-American field hands, three marriages, friendships with America’s greatest poets, and his own words for answers.
Design Canada

2018

Design Canada

2018
7
Through the lens of graphic design, “Design Canada” follows the transformation of a nation from a colonial outpost to a vibrant and multicultural society. What defines a national identity, is it an anthem? A flag? Is it a logo or icon? How do these elements shape who we are? In the 1960s and 1970s, these questions were answered by an innovative group of Canadian designers, who used design to unify the nation.