Top Rated Documentary Movies on Kanopy - Page 159

Maker

2014

Maker

2014
4.8
A documentary on the maker movement and its impact on society, culture and economy in the U.S.
Dangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greene

2013

Dangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greene

2013
1
The documentary uses Graham Greene's own words from his books and recordings, as well as photographs and clips from his many films, to reveal the fascinating life of one of the great writers of the twentieth century.
Stories of A

1974

Stories of A

1974
1
French documentary campaigning for the liberalization of abortion and contraception, directed by Charles Belmont and Marielle Issartel in 1973.
Brilliant Moon: Glimpses of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

2010

Brilliant Moon: Glimpses of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

2010
7
Brilliant Moon chronicles the life of the writer, poet, and meditation master Khyentse Rinpoche, one of Tibet's most revered 20th-century Buddhist teachers. Spiritual guide to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Royal Family of Bhutan, his life and teachings were an inspiration to all who encountered him. Richard Gere and Lou Reed provide the narration for his dangerous journey out of China, the subsequent spread of his influence and the search for his reincarnation after his death.
Grace Kelly: The American Princess

1987

Grace Kelly: The American Princess

1987
6.5
A biography of American actress Grace Kelly from her early days as an aspiring actress to her death as Princess of Monaco.
These Hands

1993

These Hands

1993
8
A day in the life of Mozambican women refugees working in a quarry outside Dar es Salaam.
Honor Diaries

2013

Honor Diaries

2013
8
Honor Diaries is the first film to break the silence on ‘honor violence’ against women and girls. Honor Diaries is more than a movie, it is a movement to save women and girls from human rights abuses – around the world and here in America.
American Jesus

2013

American Jesus

2013
5.5
AMERICAN JESUS is an exploration of Christianity in every faction of American Life, from the breadline to the yoga studio, from the humble churches of snake handlers to the mega churches in the ex-urbs. Christian cowboys, bikers and musicians, comedians, surfers and cage-fighters, they are all doing it for Christ. Aram Garriga travels from his native Barcelona to the politically divided United States to chronicle the sometimes bizarre relationship between faith, materialism, politics and personal passions in this uniquely American tableaux. Populated by an array of religious and secular characters offering candid, often illuminating testimonials, AMERICAN JESUS is a vivid mosaic of personalities and conflicting points of view that emerges as a portrait of an America yearning for solace and meaning in the modern world.
Watershed: Exploring a New Water Ethic for the New West

2012

Watershed: Exploring a New Water Ethic for the New West

2012
6
As the most dammed, dibbed, and diverted river in the world struggles to support thirty million people and the peace-keeping agreement known as the Colorado River Pact reaches its limits, WATERSHED introduces hope. Can we meet the needs of a growing population in the face of rising temperatures and lower rainfall in an already arid land? Can we find harmony amongst the competing interests of cities, agriculture, industry, recreation, wildlife, and indigenous communities with rights to the water? Sweeping through seven U.S. and two Mexican states, the Colorado River is a lifeline to expanding populations and booming urban centers that demand water for drinking, sanitation and energy generation. And with 70% of the rivers’ water supporting agriculture, the river already runs dry before it reaches its natural end at the Gulf of California. Unless action is taken, the river will continue its retreat – a potentially catastrophic scenario for the millions who depend on it.
Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain

2007

Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain

2007
6
Over a thousand years ago, the sun-washed lands of Southern Spain were home to Muslims, Christians, and Jews living together and flourishing. Their culture and beliefs intertwined and the ...
Farewell, Herr Schwarz

2014

Farewell, Herr Schwarz

2014
8.5
A documentary about the outcome of a decision made by a brother and sister in 1945. One missed meeting, two families, and three generations.
The Wonder Year

2011

The Wonder Year

2011
4.8
A year in the life of CEO, NAACP ambassador, Duke University professor, husband, father, son and Grammy Award winning producer 9th Wonder. The film follows one of soul music’s most dynamic figures from his childhood home to late nights in the studio and everywhere in between. Featuring: Drake, DJ Premier, DJ Green Lantern, J. Cole, Murs, Phonte, Sha Money XL, Young Guru, The Alchemist & more.
The Anonymous People

2013

The Anonymous People

2013
3.5
An independent feature documentary about the over 23 million Americans living in long-term recovery from alcohol and other drug addictions.
Rivers of Sand

1974

Rivers of Sand

1974
6
The people portrayed in this film are called Hamar. They dwell in the thorny scrubland of southwestern Ethiopia, about one hundred miles north of Lake Rudolph, Africa's great inland sea. They are isolated by some distant choice that now limits their movement and defines their condition. At least until recently, it has resulted in their retaining a highly traditional way of life. Hamar women eagerly accept their ritual whipping when boys come of age. Part of that tradition was the open, even flamboyant, observance of male supremacy. In their isolation, they seemed to have refined this not uncommon principle of social organization into a remarkably pure state. Hamar men are masters and their women are slaves. The film tries to disclose the effect on mood and behavior of lives governed by the idea of sexual inequality.
The Rise & Fall of Penn Station

2004

The Rise & Fall of Penn Station

2004
9.5
In 1910, the Pennsylvania Railroad successfully accomplished the enormous engineering feat of building tunnels under New York City's Hudson and East Rivers, connecting the railroad to New York and New England, knitting together the entire eastern half of the United States. The tunnels terminated in what was one of the greatest architectural achievements of its time, Pennsylvania Station. Penn Station covered nearly eight acres, extended two city blocks, and housed one of the largest public spaces in the world. But just 53 years after the station’s opening, the monumental building that was supposed to last forever, to herald and represent the American Empire, was slated to be destroyed.
The 78 Project Movie

2014

The 78 Project Movie

2014
6.5
The 78 Project is a journey to connect today's musicians with the recordings of the past. Using a 1930's Presto recorder, artists get one take to cut a 78rpm record anywhere, finding in that adventure a new connection to our shared cultural legacy.
I Am a Girl

2013

I Am a Girl

2013
5.8
Six girls coming of age, ready to become something extraordinary.
Soul Food Junkies

2012

Soul Food Junkies

2012
8
To many African Americans, soul food is sacrament, ritual, and a key expression of cultural identity. But does this traditional cuisine do more harm to health than it soothes the soul?
In Search of Ancient Mysteries

1974

In Search of Ancient Mysteries

1974
6
An examination of mysteries of the ancient world and their connection to the possibility that aliens visited Earth.
Homegoings

2013

Homegoings

2013
6.5
Through the eyes of funeral director Isaiah Owens, the beauty and grace of African-American funerals are brought to life. Filmed at Owens Funeral Home in New York City's historic Harlem neighborhood, Homegoings takes an up-close look at the rarely seen world of undertaking in the black community, where funeral rites draw on a rich palette of tradition, history and celebration. Combining cinéma vérité with intimate interviews and archival photographs, the film paints a portrait of the dearly departed, their grieving families and a man who sends loved ones "home."