Top Rated Documentary Movies on Kanopy - Page 282

The Times of Bill Cunningham

2018

The Times of Bill Cunningham

2018
The story of legendary New York Times photographer Bill Cunningham told through the photographer's own words, including a recently unearthed 1994 interview.
Chasing Portraits

2018

Chasing Portraits

2018
One man's art. One woman's unexpected path to healing. An American woman's emotional quest to find the art of her Polish-Jewish great-grandfather, lost during World War II.
City of Joel

2018

City of Joel

2018
"City of Joel" is documentary - with unprecedented access - to a 1.1 square mile shtetl in the suburbs that is home to 22,000 members of an one of the most insular and orthodox Hasidic sects. We follow the battles they are waging to survive. Just 50 miles north of New York City, the Satmar sect has built Kiryas Joel as a religious haven where they can be fruitful, multiply and follow the 613 rules of the Talmud. But with some of the highest rates of marriage, birth and religious observance in the country, they have been almost too successful. Developers have come up with a plan to double the size of the village to keep up with this growth, but their neighbors fight back because they believe it will harm the environment and tilt the balance of political power.
Killer Volcanoes

1997

Killer Volcanoes

1997
Documentaries by Katia and Maurice Krafft feature some of the amazing footage shot by the renowned volcanologists, who perished in 1991 while filming a volcano in Japan. The duo documented more active and erupting volcanos than any other scientists in the world, and their dedication shows in Deadly Peaks and Killer Volcanos, two educational films that capture the scientists on the edge of a hot ash blast and floating on a lake of sulfuric acid. The films visit Mount Kilimanjaro and examine some of the less-known dangers such as carbon monoxide gas that builds under crater-formed lakes. They also take an in-depth look at the eruption of Mount St. Helens and the lengths to which people will go to save their communities. Venturing to places where most people would never dare, the Kraffts gave their lives to promote the study of volcanos and left behind a legacy of courage in the name of science. --Shannon Gee
The Journey of the Lion

1992

The Journey of the Lion

1992
Brother Howie is a Jamaican Rastifari who dreams of the land of his ancestors: Africa. On a journey in search of his roots and his identity he travels through three continents and (with great humor and sensitivity) discovers the world and Africa.
Under the Same Sky

2017

Under the Same Sky

2017
The Chinese government is sponsoring a national campaign on "equal" education. UNDER THE SAME SKY documents school children in the city as well as the country to compare the two educational experiences. UNDER THE SAME SKY had been nominated for best short documentary at the 2017 Asian Pacific Film Festival, 2017 St. Louis International Film Festival, Long beach indie Film Festival and Los Angeles Chinese Film Festival. It's also been shown and won awards at 15 other film festivals around the world, including the Cannes Short Film Corner and The Impact Docs Awards.
Great White Lies

2015

Great White Lies

2015
Focusing on the Western Australian Government's decision in January 2014 to hunt and kill the protected great white shark, filmmaker Skyler Thomas visits Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand to learn more about the shark culling practices in each of those locations. Interviewing scientists, politicians, surfers, and activists, Great White Lies thoroughly examines the history of shark culling.
Why the Jews?

2018

Why the Jews?

2018
The stunning accomplishments of the Jews raise a question no film has dared ask before. How do they do it? Some of the world’s most prominent thinkers tackle a mystery shrouded in ignorance and prejudice. They tear back the curtain on a taboo and draw a startling link between a people’s achievements and the darkest hours in its history.
Ralph Ellison: An American Journey

2002

Ralph Ellison: An American Journey

2002
The life and work of author Ralph Ellison, whose novel "Invisible Man" won him many awards and honors.
Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey

2001

Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey

2001
Few remember the name, much less the historical achievements, of Dr. Ralph Johnson Bunche. Yet, this African American mediator and United Nations diplomat was the first person of color anywhere in the world to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.
Behind a Portrait. The Italian Treasures from Accademia Carrara

2025

Behind a Portrait. The Italian Treasures from Accademia Carrara

2025
Art documentary about the Accademia Carrara gallery, which reopened in 2015 after seven years of extensive restoration.
A Long Journey to Guadalupe

1996

A Long Journey to Guadalupe

1996
The veneration for Tonantzin-Guadalupe has been an essential Mexican theme underlying Mexican cultural and political values since the 16th century. Guided by the testimonies of Indigenous people, Mexicans of mixed heritage and Chicanos about this complex subject matter, we can understand why. The film was shot in 16mm and produced between July 1987 and February 1996.
Write Down, I Am an Arab

2014

Write Down, I Am an Arab

2014
"Write Down, I am an Arab" tells the story of Mahmoud Darwish, the Palestinian national poet and one of the most influential writers of the Arab world. His writing shaped Palestinian identity and helped galvanize generations of Palestinians to their cause. Born in the Galilee, Darwish's family fled during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and returned a few years later to a ruined homeland. These early experiences would provide the foundation for a writing career that would come to define an entire nation.
Nellie Bly Makes the News

2018

Nellie Bly Makes the News

2018
An animated documentary about the legendary journalist who changed the game for women in reporting before women even had the right to vote. Examining boundaries between reporting and storytelling, it creates a dynamic portrait of a woman who refused to accept the status quo.
Le bouillon d'awara

1996

Le bouillon d'awara

1996
The awara soup is a kind of stew containing all sorts of ingredients from French Guiana. People say that if someone eats that dish on Easter, he is sure never to leave Guiana.
Corpus: A Home Movie About Selena

1999

Corpus: A Home Movie About Selena

1999
CORPUS explores the mass adulation and explosive posthumous recognition of Selena Quintanilla, the Tejano rock singer murdered by the president of her fan club in 1995. Pushing beyond the mainstream media's fascination with her violent death, Portillo interviews Selena's family and friends as well as the devoted fans that pilgrimage to Selena's grave in Corpus Christi, Texas, to pay homage to the slain star. Moving and provocative, this humble investigative portrait explores Selena's cultural significance as a pop icon and shines a light on the hopes, fantasies, fears, and realities of young Latinas today.
Cuddle

2014

Cuddle

2014
From award winning filmmaker Jason O'Brien comes a brand new documentary chronicling a unique and revolutionary movement taking place around the world ... examining the trend of cuddle parties and snuggle houses, cuddle therapy, and much more.
Women's March

2017

Women's March

2017
A story about democracy, human rights, and what it means to stand up for your values in America today. On January 21, 2017, hundreds of thousands of women marched on Washington, DC. That same day, hundreds of sister marches took place across the country and around the world.
How To Power A City

2018

How To Power A City

2018
Across the United States a white-hot revolution is taking place. Amidst near-daily headlines about climate change gloom, political gridlock, and hurricanes destroying entire electric grids, hope abides. Daring people from all walks of life lead the way to transition their city, home, or business to use electricity created by sun, wind, hydropower, and geothermal. Deeply rooted forces from politics to ignorance get in the way, but this diverse cast fight and prevails, and clean energy starts to become parts of U.S. towns and cities. Two “snapshots” show the stories from Las Vegas and Puerto Rico.
Central Texas Barbecue

2015

Central Texas Barbecue

2015
In Central Texas, Barbecue is more than a way to cook meat - it's a way of life, a path to salvation, and a sure-fire way to start an argument at the dinner table. This documentary covers five barbecue establishments.