Waste Land

Role credits on another great year for documentary film.

One of my favorite films this year, Lucy Walker's Waste Land, has been collecting awards throughout 2010, including the International Documentary Association's Feature Film Award and the World Cinema Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. For good reason.

Brazilian artist Vik Muniz is renowned for creating photographic art from found objects. For his latest project on garbage, he decides to journey from New York to his native Brazil - the site of the world's largest landfill, Jardim Gramacho. He meets a group of professional recyclable material pickers trying to make a living amid poverty and despair, and finds his inspiration.

Muniz collaborates with his photographic subjects and in the process, uplifts them. They each help build their art pieces with the materials they collect each day, while sharing their individual, often heart-breaking life stories. It is an intimate and moving film experience to behold.

Filmed over the course of three years, Waste Land offers a wondrous lesson in the power of art and a helping hand to transform the human spirit - fantastic reminders as we enter a brand new year of life and documentaries.

Make it a great one!

International

I've been expanding my doc horizons over the past several months, catching a number of noteworthy international (sub-titled) films at various festivals and screenings. It beats airline travel these days.

Kings of Pastry screened over the summer at the LA Film Festival. For foodies and chefs, it is a gastronomic feast - documenting the rigorous Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (M.O.F.) competition among pastry chefs to attain the Best Craftsman in France designation. It is also an edge-of-your-seat nail-biter, I kid you not. The woman next to me jumped out of her seat more than a few times. The film explores the thrill of victory and agony of defeat - all wrapped up in phyllo dough and topped with creme anglaise. Pounds gained just by viewing: 10.

I checked out a recent German film festival screening of Autumn Gold a few weeks ago. What an inspirational and moving film. It follows five athletes competing at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Finland - which would seem rudimentary, except for the fact that all of these world-class athletes are between the ages of 80-100+!! Check out the trailer at the link above to put a smile on your face all day.

At Docu Weeks LA a few months ago, I caught an engrossing and intimate documentary about coming of age in the 1980s Soviet Union. My Perestroika follows several ordinary Russians as they reflect on growing up during an age of political and societal upheaval, and the state of post-Soviet Russia. For everyone who also grew up in the Reagan era when these changes were happening, it is fascinating to get some deep insight into the last generation brought up behind the Iron Curtain.

I'm also planning to check out Passione at an upcoming Italian Festival in town. Actor John Turturro explores the exciting music scene of Naples in this new film. The doc recently had its North American premiere at the Toronto Film Festival - on my list of festivals to check out when I feel like travelling again.

But with all of these wonderful docs, do I really need to? :)

Politics

Yesterday, I decided to tackle the stack of political propaganda that makes its way to my mailbox every election. I am an active voter (you are too, RIGHT?) and try to set aside quality time to review the current issues and candidates on the ballot. In California, we generally have a good share of hot topic issues to ponder each election and this year seems to be no different.

I came across a DVD mailer for the documentary film, Gerrymandering, about the same time that I glanced at a Los Angeles Times article on the film - so I figured it must be one of the aforementioned hot topics this time around. Plus, I was impressed at the savvy marketing job - sending it directly to voters while concurrently screening it in selected theaters.

If you don't remember from your school civics or poly-sci classes, gerrymandering is the act of redrawing electoral districts for political gain. It is referred to in the film as the "blood sport of politics", which is saying a lot. The film documents the problems inherent in letting politicians draw their own districts - which seem fairly obvious, but the film highlights a number of crazy, recent examples of this practice in action across the U.S. Like a NY state assembly election wherein an incumbent gerrymandered his opponent's street right out of the district and thus, the election. Say what? The issue bubbles up after each census' Congressional reapportionment, so here we are.

The film is quite one-sided, but not partisan, and I am glad to have this enlightening documentary reminder of how to help keep our legislative houses in order.

Baseball

For a lifelong NY Yankees fan, George Steinbrenner's death this summer was the end of an era. Love him or hate him, the Boss changed the game of baseball and reinvigorated the most storied team in sports history (and certainly elicited more than a few Bronx cheers from baseball fans over the years!). His legacy will continue to impact the sport for years to come.

ESPN's 30 for 30 series continues this fall, and tonight's film directed by the famed documentarian Barbara Kopple explores The House of Steinbrenner. I've already set my DVR in anticipation of reliving the days of George at the helm of my beloved Bronx Bombers.

In other baseball news, I had the fantastic privilege to meet one of my documentary heroes, Ken Burns, last month at a Dodgers game reception honoring him and his upcoming PBS film with Lynn Novick, The Tenth Inning, which airs 9/28-9/29. What a thrill and I am looking forward to viewing the new chapter to his treasured PBS Baseball series of 1994.

I'm going to go settle in now to enjoy the early days of fall baseball. America's pastime continues to delight, and what better way to relive all of the thrills than through documentaries!

Summer

Eek, it's been a while. I've been blazing through the wintery-like Southern California summer, but of course have still found time to check out a bunch of new captivating docs.

HBO Documentaries has once again been showcasing a number of fine films in their esteemed, now annual Summer Series. I recently attended a screening for the film 12th and Delaware, an intense look at one Florida intersection where an abortion clinic and pro-life center sit within steps of each other. The incendiary abortion rights debate finds its ground zero here, in a daily battle for women at a crossroads (literally). That film stayed with me for a while.

I also have queued up on my dvr Smash His Camera, the story of pioneer paparazzo Ron Galella, whom you may remember as Jackie O's New York City street nemesis during the '70s and '80s. I can't wait to watch that one, nor Lucky - a film on the aftermath of winning the lottery.

My Sundance favorite, Gasland, also made the lineup - I'm glad their story of the consequences of natural gas fracking has reached a wider audience, to hopefully raise the level of public awareness and debate.

There are a number of other strong films - check them out Monday evenings on HBO. By the end of summer you will hopefully not only have a glowing tan, but be well versed on a plethora of fascinating stories from around the globe!

Elephants

I ventured downtown a few weekends ago to LA Live, the new venue for the Los Angeles Film Festival. While not a fan of the new location (long live Westwood!), I did enjoy a number of fine documentaries on topics including rogue economists, pastry chefs and elephants.

One Lucky Elephant, directed by Lisa Leeman, tells the heartwarming and bittersweet tale of Flora, an orphaned African elephant rescued from the wild and then raised by circus owner David Balding. When Flora starts to become restless in her circus life, Balding goes on a nearly ten-year quest to find the perfect home for her and struggles with the long-term effects of raising a wild elephant in captivity. It's a love story that ultimately weighs the complex issues of human emotions against the humane interests of our animals. And it made me cry. Much like the recent Mine documentary that just won the PBS Independent Lens 2010 Audience Award.

I have also been making my way through another true elephant tale, Modoc, a book by Hollywood animal trainer Ralph Helfer. The story of a boy and his elephant, born on the same day and raised together to share a lifetime of high adventures, is a truly captivating read.

You can watch the "elecam" of some of the elephants at Flora's current sanctuary here to get your video fix of majestic pachyderms in action.

Midnight Express

Do you remember that great line in the movie Airplane, where Peter Graves as Captain Oveur asks his young passenger, "Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?" So funny, right?

Yeah, well not if you're Billy Hayes. He's the subject of Nat Geo's new documentary "The Real Midnight Express", which is premiering next week as part of its new season of Locked Up Abroad. I screened the film last night at the Paley Center - one of my favorite venues in LA (and NY) to soak up media and pop culture.

You may remember Midnight Express, the Oscar®-winning movie from the late '70s starring Brad Davis and adapted by Oliver Stone from Hayes' book of the same name. The film dramatizes the story of Hayes' hashish drug arrest, imprisonment and daring escape from a brutual Turkish prison. It has been criticized over the years for its alteration of some events for dramatic effect and for its portrayal of the Turks, but remains a solid pick among prison films. Nat Geo is presenting the story as a documentary, anchored by an interview narration with Hayes and a dramatic re-enactment of his full story, which for the first time Hayes is able to share. He is past the point of being a wanted man in Turkey - as he noted in a Q&A last night, he was actually invited back there for an event not so long ago - but his story still fascinates. He was accompanied by attorney Dick Atkins, who worked on Hayes' case and has helped thousands of Americans since get out of legal trouble abroad (and is now going to be in my rolodex next time I venture outside of the U.S.!). Atkins' tip: buy low-cost travel insurance, which helps provide assistance with many international emergencies.

Or I say, just stay home and watch documentaries instead!

Brothers

Better late than never, I always say.

I finally screened the 2001 HBO dramatic miniseries Band of Brothers this week. After being engrossed in The Pacific this year, I wanted to see its epic and much-heralded predecessor. I had missed the original run - living in NY with the events of 9/11 eerily transpiring a few days after its launch.

My friend loaned me the impressive box set, and it only took a week's worth of TV viewing time as the summer doldrum of post-season finales set in. Perfect time to catch up on a real masterpiece of the medium. Somehow, I've become a war buff of sorts - but this series really set a high-water mark.

If you haven't seen it, the 10-part series dramatizes the real men and events of E "Easy" Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment assigned to the 101st Airborne Division - an elite and innovative U.S. Army paratrooper squad assembled at the height of WWII. Among other achievements, these incredible young men parachuted behind enemy lines in the maelstrom of D-Day, were a frontline force outnumbered and without supplies during the wintertime Battle of the Bulge, and ultimately were the first to ascend upon Hitler's infamous Eagle's Nest mountain retreat. Their efforts and the Band of Brothers series that pays tribute to them, remain unprecedented triumphs. Michael Kamen's score alone still gives me chills.

I also checked out the many extra features on the DVD set, including a magnetic documentary, We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company. The film includes interviews with the surviving men portrayed in the miniseries, interspersed with actual footage of the battles re-enacted during it. This was a terrific aid in understanding all of the episodes, and was honestly quite emotional. I can't wait to also finally read Stephen E. Ambrose's book on which the series is based.

I'm glad I made the time for Band of Brothers. It's so easy to forget each day the sacrifices of those who came before us and the true bravery of soldiers who were just kids - pulled from their quiet lives and thrust into hell. Kids who saved the world, but didn't consider themselves heroes. Just a band of brothers.

Joan

Over the weekend, I caught up with a documentary that I had missed at Sundance and which has been getting great buzz ever since - Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work. An added bonus: Rivers appeared live for a brief but engaging Q&A after the show.

Known best in recent years for her multiple plastic surgeries, Joan Rivers is an icon in comedy circles - a pioneer that blazed a trail for brash female comics like Kathy Griffin and Sarah Silverman. Once named the permanent guest host for "The Tonight Show", then permanently shunned by Johnny Carson for defecting to Fox, Joan has been through many ups and downs in a career that has spanned over 50 years.

The film opens on her makeup-less face and declares at the outset that it covers "A year in the life of a semi-legend". Filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg were originally set to follow Rivers in her 76th year as she develops a new play based on her life, and tries to keep her career going. The play dead-ends but the glimpse inside her world absolutely fascinates. Her biggest fear is an empty calendar, so she self-admittingly proclaims to never turn down anything and keeps working non-stop at nearly 80 years old. The cinema verite film includes hilarious segments of Joan's comedy act and is intertwined with cool footage from her early career.

I left the theatre with a new-found admiration for Rivers, whom I had mainly associated with awkward red carpet interviews, QVC, and her penchant for the going under the knife. The film captures the brutality of show business - especially for performers as they age - but Joan has outlasted many who dismissed her talent and tenacity.

Check out the film and watch Joan keep on working it.

Rock and Roll

I FINALLY visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland this week, on my first trip to the great state of Ohio. My focus was on the popular exhibit currently running, "From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen". As a lifelong fan, it didn't disappoint and it also reminded me that I really have to finish watching Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run documentary off of Springsteen's Born to Run 30th Anniversary package.

I raced through the rest of the museum, which was also really cool and rustled up some great memories of all the fantastic music and artists I've encountered over the course of my life and career. Bliss.

Last night, coming off of my Rock Hall triumph and recovered from my jet lag, I was all settled in to watch When You're Strange: A Film About The Doors, the new and intimate documentary on another favorite band. "Was" being the operative word, as I somehow managed to delete the film off of my DVR in an attempt to play it. Ugh!! Of course, it's no longer playing down the street at my local theatre, so I am desperately waiting to receive the golden email from PBS American Masters letting me know if and when it will be airing locally again (soon, please please).

Until then, I will be firing up my iTunes to relive the glory days of rock and roll.

NBA

Laker fever is taking over LA once again, as the NBA Finals this year feature one of the fiercest basketball rivalries in history - the Los Angeles Lakers v. the Boston Celtics. Bring it!

A few months ago, I watched a cool documentary on HBO, Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals. It captures the decades of intense rivalry between NBA legends Ervin "Magic" Johnson and Larry Bird. The film chronicles their renowned competition starting from their college days facing each other in the 1979 NCAA championship game between Michigan State and Indiana State, respectively. It carries them through their NBA careers, playing for (you guessed it), the Lakers and the Celtics, respectively, when both teams dominated and transformed the sport in the 1980s. A story of opposites in many ways, it is also a story of the unlikely friendship that can develop between people with a shared experience. The film is a great travel down the court for any basketball fan and aired in conjunction with Bird and Johnson's joint (with Jackie MacMullan) book release, When the Game Was Ours.

Although living in LA for as long as I have means I turn up to cheer on the Lakers at pivotal moments, I confess that my heart still belongs to the east coast of my youth, and the sometimes hapless New York Knicks. That is why I was so excited to also recently screen Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks on ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary series. In another fantastic NBA rivalry, we jump to the mid-1990s as Miller's Indiana Pacers battle the Knicks - an epic conflict between America's Heartland and The Big City. What a fun ride remembering Miller and #1 Knicks fan Spike Lee trash-talk and psych each other out during their pivotal and theatrical matchups. Check it out during an upcoming repeat.

Basketball is nothing if not entertaining, and once again, documentaries help us relive all the fun on and off the court.

Wooden

It's tough to think of a life these days more worthy of celebration than Coach John Wooden. The iconic coach, teacher and author passed away last Friday night and I think at least everyone in the Los Angeles area breathed a collective, heavy-hearted sigh. At 99 years old and with recent health challenges, his passing was not exactly surprising but a profound loss for the sports world and beyond nonetheless.

I am glad to report that HBO2 will be re-airing The UCLA Dynasty documentary in tribute to him this Friday, June 11th at 7:30pm ET/PT. It captures the amazing run of UCLA's 10 NCAA men's basketball championships under Coach Wooden's leadership.

I had the honor of meeting him once, briefly, at a book signing at the Westwood Borders - down the street from the campus where he made history all those years ago. He was promoting his book, Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization, which he graciously signed, along with my all-time favorite, Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and Off the Court. I told him how I had often given copies of that book to others over the years because it meant so much to me. I will never forget that moment and his lasting inspirational messages that have served so many athletes and everyday folk in finding success and a life well-lived.

One of my favorite John Wooden quotes: "Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."

Thanks Coach.

World Cup

I am watching Invictus tonight, finally catching it on PPV. This inspiring movie dramatizes Nelson Mandela's efforts to build post-apartheid unity through South Africa's national rugby team performance in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. It has gotten me really excited about the upcoming FIFA World Cup soccer tournament in South Africa this month.

I confess that I have not followed soccer closely over the years - nor rugby for that matter - although I did enjoy watching it re-enacted in the movie tonight. I didn't jump on the soccer train even through our successful U.S. Olympics team performances, but did catch some World Cup matches last time around and was reminded of its huge worldwide appeal. Then, a few years ago I attended a screening of the wonderful documentary, Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos. I loved the story of this soccer team's brief heyday in the frenetic New York of 1975, when Pele came to America and galvanized the country. His departure just two years later precipitated the sport's decline in the U.S. for years. Luckily, we have been experiencing a national renewed interest in soccer over the last 15 years and hopefully will see success in this year's World Cup.

I have also been supporting a great new non-profit, Global Girl Media, which is launching their Kick It Up! pilot program around the World Cup this month. The program will train underserved young women in Soweto and Los Angeles as the next generation of citizen journalists. These women will be reporting on both the World Cup events and issues in their lives and communities - using their voices to help change the world. Check out this fantastic organization and lend your support to empower young women around the globe, as you catch all the action on the soccer field.

Ole Ole!

Fest Pt. 3 (International)

I've been trying to add more international doc films and festivals into my screening repertoire; luckily the Los Angeles area is chock full of opportunities to see fantastic documentaries from around the globe.

Recently, I attended the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, where I screened Beijing Taxi, a documentary by Miao Wang. The film is a fascinating study of a city on the move, examined eloquently, intimately and metaphorically through the changing lives of three area taxi drivers. As Beijing prepared to host the 2008 Summer Olympics, it experienced not only a rapid rise in development and activity, but a society that was morphing from ancient to modern, an economy shifting from communist to capitalist, and a population that was struggling to adapt to it all against the global spotlight of the Olympic games. After seeing the Beijing Olympics successfully come to life (remember the pageantry of their opening and closing ceremonies), it was interesting to get a look at how transformational such an event can be.

I unfortunately missed Last Train Home at this festival and a few others recently, but also want to see this acclaimed doc on Chinese migrant workers' annual pilgrimages home for the Chinese New Year.

Finally, I am hoping to make my first trip to the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival next month for a dynamic line-up of films from this country. Like all of the other international doc festivals, I am sure it will make me even more eager to soak up the culture of other lands.

I've got the whole world in my (doc) hands.

Fest Pt. 2 (Art)

More from my film festival files, in which our heroine - me - screens more recent documentaries here, there and everywhere.

While at the Newport Beach Film Festival last month, I screened The Great Contemporary Art Bubble, which follows London art critic Ben Lewis as he investigates the activities that led to the art market collapse in tandem with the world econmonic crisis. He suggests that the credit boom, along with artificial inflation of auction prices and backroom deals by galleries, auction houses, artists and collectors, sent prices into the stratosphere at record levels in the last ten years - and they had nowhere to go but down. This intriguing yet sometimes quirky film explores the habits of the uber-rich art community and how their activities affected the markets as a whole. It's like a very special episode of "Dynasty" from the '80s.

It's also not the only recent documentary suggesting that the art world is actually kind of creepy. I recently screened Don Argott's The Art of the Steal, which I missed at the Palm Springs International Film Festival earlier this year (only because I couldn't drag myself out of bed in time to drive down there), but caught at a local theater last month.

This provocative film chronicles one the most long-standing art world controversies, concerning the priceless art collection cherished (or held captive, depending on which side you fall on) within the walls of the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania. The self-made Dr. Albert C. Barnes collected an unbelievable trove of master works in his lifetime, with the intent that they be used for intimate study - not mass public exhibition, the likes of which he abhorred in the nearby Philadelphia Museum of Art with its elite Main Line benefactors. Unfortunately, Dr. Barnes didn't have the best foresight and between his sudden death, restrictive estate instructions, revolving door of governance issues, and ultimately some suggested high-stakes collusion, his beloved art collection is now set to end up exactly the way he didn't want - in the hands of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The film is heavily skewed but serves as another compelling reminder that while money can't buy you love, it can buy you some art.

And support your (my) documentary film habit.

Fest Pt. 1 (Earth)

I try to catch as many docs as I can at film festivals throughout the year but most slip through the cracks. Luckily, there are still premier broadcast outlets who devote key programming hours to the documentary form. In commemoration of Earth Day this past week, I am highlighting a few earth-friendly docs of note.

I enjoyed a leisurely trip down to Newport Beach yesterday for their annual festival, where I checked out Miranda Bailey's humorous Greenlit, a new documentary about the noble attempts of one film crew to go green. Attempt is the key word, as the film industry - despite its reputation as being liberal and environmentally friendly - is actually one of the chief polluters around and green doesn't seem to fit into any production budget line item yet. Despite the presence of an environmental consultant on set to oversee the greening, struggles ensue between idealism and the reality of Hollywood (oxymoron alert).

I also missed a few other docs in the past several months despite multiple attempts to catch them around town. Fortunately, my fav series PBS Independent Lens is featuring them this month. Dirt! The Movie explores the Earth's living, breathing skin and how we need to build a more sustainable relationship with this critical natural resource. It's a cool look at an unlikely subject. My favorite segment is a discussion with Harvard researchers about microbial fuel cells in dirt which can be used to power ground lighting in developing countries.

I am also excited to finally see Garbage Dreams, which is premiering tomorrow evening. It chronicles the remarkable story of a village in Cairo, Egypt which manages to recycle 80% of its waste, and the children who are born into the trade of collecting trash. The introduction of corporate trash collection service threatens their way of life and the efficiencies of the recycling system as a whole.

It's not so easy being green, but give it a try this month in honor of Mother Earth.

Dog

I am a dog lover - fiercely protective and dedicated to my awesome dog who gives me so much joy and love. So, imagine how excited I was to hear about an upcoming PBS doc and catch a few other ones recently on the wonderful waggies who enrich our lives. Pretty darn excited.

Tomorrow night, PBS is airing Through the Eyes of a Dog, about service dogs for people with special needs. Based on the book with the same name, the film takes a look at the incredible bonds that form between canines and humans, and the work of an exemplary national service dog organization. If you don't feel anything after this one, you may want to check your pulse.

I also recently watched Mine, about the animals that were left behind in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. At times both heartbreaking and heartwarming, the film chronicles the stories of several frantic owners who are trying to track down the dogs and other pets they abandoned in the wake of the storm - either out of necessity, understandable thinking that they would quickly return, or due to possible negligence. The number of animals that ultimately perished from the disaster are too large to think about. Many other animals were heroically rescued by dedicated volunteers and adopted out to new owners. This sets up some complex and compelling custody battles for people still trying to rebuild their lives from the storm - leading to the inevitable ethical and legal questions of what constitutes pet ownership. Love is not always enough. Check it out on PBS Independent Lens.

Finally, I watched War Dogs of the Pacific on the Military Channel in preparation for watching The Pacific miniseries on HBO. The documentary tells the true story of the brave dog soldiers that faithfully served alongside U.S. Marine platoons in WWII. This one tugs at the heartstrings too, as it documents the stories of the bonds between these amazing dogs and their handlers in the fury of combat.

Now go hug a dog today.

Life

It has been a while since I've stopped by the ol' blog - I have been consumed by the Discovery Channel's Life documentary series. It's AWESOME!

This 11-part nature series from the networks that brought us Planet Earth (you know how I loved that one, too) captures the various life forms that inhabit the planet. It's narrated by Oprah Winfrey (my main, if petty complaint about the project; her voice doesn't quite seem to fit and I'm a bit distracted by the fact that it's Ms. Winfrey) and explores how the various species survive, interact with each other, and procreate.

Last night, I watched the episode on insects, and the filmmakers somehow captured grass-cutter ant colonies chew apart grass, carry it back to their ant hills and use it to fertizlize the fungus that is their food supply. It's like the real Antz or A Bug's Life without Hollywood recasting. Crazy! There is more where that came from: hunting chase sequences that are more nail-biting than any big budget thriller, delicate mating rituals and emotional family moments, all enveloped in bar-raising cinematography. I got my new HD tv just in time.

Check it out - I am sure Discovery will play it many times over as it has garnered its best debut ratings in a decade with this series; this weekend features the final installments and a "making of" episode, where I hope to learn more about the production of this incredible doc series.

Burma

I had Burma on the brain recently, and all thoughts pointed to documentaries (shocking, I know).

A comic book connoisseur acquaintance was determined to find a comic that could be my entry point into fandom of this genre. I had my doubts, tearing through several options unsuccessfully until he presented me with Guy DeLisle's graphic comic, "Burma Chronicles". I quickly discovered that it was essentially a documentary in comic book form, and boy was I hooked!

The book details via black and white drawings the cartoonist's experience in Burma (officially known as the Union of Myanmar, located in SE Asia), working and caring for his young son while his wife was working with Doctors Without Borders. The country is under authoritative control of the ruling military junta, whose censorship and curtailment of free speech is ongoing and oppressive. So, under challenging circumstances for an artist, he manages to describe the life there in a dry but revealing tone. It's a deeply interesting way to delve into the story of what is happening there, since Burma rarely seems to make the cut with our sorry U.S. news outlets.

I can't wait to dive into his similar chronicles of North Korea and China.

I also attended a screening of the Oscar®-nominated Burma VJ documentary. Having read "Burma Chronicles", I was at least somewhat familiar with the state of this closed country, where video crews are banned. It was still shocking to see many of the horrors captured. This gripping film presents footage shot by an underground troupe of reporters, who manage to capture video of atrocities surrounding a 2007 march by Buddhist monks. These intrepid VJs smuggle the footage out of the country and broadcast it back into Burma and around the world via the internet, knowing they will likely be tortured, imprisoned or killed if discovered. Their footage stands in stark contrast to the propaganda being spread by the ruling military regime.

I'm glad once again that through documentaries - in all their forms - I have a better understanding of what the heck is going on around the globe.

Oy.

The Cove

I'm making my way through the Oscar®-nominated documentaries; just one more to go. I saved my Netflix copy of The Cove for a recent rainy day here in Southern California, knowing that this was not going to be a sunshine kind of film. I wasn't wrong.

Part real-life horror film and part thrilling investigative journalism piece, The Cove exposes the gruesome practice of dolphin slaughter in the Japanese seaside hamlet of Tajiji. It all started with Flipper on television in the 1950s (remember him and his happy theme song?), who kicked off the worldwide fascination with these lovable marine mammals. Honestly, how many times have you been to Sea World just to see the dolphin show? A lot, that's how many.

Flipper's trainer was Richard O'Barry, who unwittingly set off the booming dolphin captivity industry for aquariums and marine shows around the world. Upon realizing the harmful effects of captivity on dolphins, he has spent the last several decades as an activist trying to end it. Dolphins are apparently big business, particularly for Tajiji, which is the largest dolphin supplier in the world. However, not every dolphin even makes it into captivity. From September through March every year, 23,000(!) dolphins are slaughtered in a secret cove in Tajiji, away from the sightline of residents. The remaining dolphin meat, full of toxic mercury, is often sold as whale meat to unsuspecting consumers in Japan.

The filmmakers start covertly filming the activities at the cove in order to expose this sickening practice. What is captured on film is heartwrenching, but the hope is that this film can help shame the Japanese into ending this practice before this year's slaughter begins, and allow these beautiful creatures to live freely in the oceans (although that just seems like it will eventually be the lesser of two evils at this point in the environmental decline).

This is an opportunity for a documentary film to make a direct impact on an urgent issue, so I for one hope that The Cove filmmakers get their 45 seconds on Oscar® night to trumpet their message to the masses.

Win one for the Flipper.

Papers

I have always been fascinated by the '70s Watergate era - All the President's Men, Katherine Graham and The Washington Post, Executive branch hubris and more. One of the most intriguing events of this era spurred my favorite legal case - New York Times Co. v. United States - otherwise known as the Pentagon Papers case.

Earlier this month, I had the great pleasure to attend a UCLA screening of the new Oscar®-nominated documentary about this event, The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers. Judith Erlich and Rick Goldsmith have crafted an enthralling film that plays out like an nail-biting thriller. It's a must-see.

Daniel Ellsberg was a Defense Department analyst at RAND, who at one time was a Pentagon employee and Vietnam War envoy patrolling the jungles. He became disillusioned that the U.S. government was lying to the American people about the scope of our involvement and likelihood of victory in the war, in the midst of escalating conflict. In 1971, he covertly copied and leaked the Pentagon Papers, a classified history of U.S. involvement in the war, to the New York Times in order to expose these lies. Their publication of the documents sparked the historic court case which went to the core of First Amendment rights, changed public opinion about the war, and ultimately helped end it. It also led to President Nixon forming his White House Plumbers Squad to discredit Ellsberg, and later, to the events of Watergate.

Dr. Ellsberg attended the event for a lively Q&A and discussion after the screening. It was quite a thrill to hear from this legendary whistleblower at a time when the U.S. is once again engaged in a similar decades-long conflict in Afgahnistan. Whatever your politics, Ellberg's story of great personal risk in the face of a moral dilemma is awe-inspiring and certainly begs the question, "What would you have done in his shoes?".

Hmm.

Black History

I've been catching some great docs this week in celebration of Black History Month.

HBO is airing Elvis Mitchell and Timothy Greenfield-Sanders' The Black List: Volume 3, the third annual installment of this provocative first-person documentary series, featuring intimate portraits and candid insights from some of today's most fascinating African-American icons. The cinematography in particular is terrific - the subjects are shot beautifully against a plain blackdrop, which makes their stirring perspectives stand out even more.

The fine folks at VH1 Rock Docs have assembled a fun history of the legendary, influential television dance series, Soul Train in Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America. The documentary celebrates the 40th anniversary of this landmark show, which was steered by charismatic host and executive producer Don Cornelius, and was the longest-running, first-run syndicated series in history. It was also the arbiter of African-American music and culture through the eras of soul, disco and hip-hop, before ending its successful run in 2006. After watching the film, I feel like standing up for the Soul Train dance line - who's with me?!

I also want to see PBS Independent Lens' upcoming documentary, Behind the Rainbow, which chronicles the changes in South Africa's post-apartheid political landscape. Looks to be a compelling film about that nation's struggles with equality.

Check these out for cool reflections and inspiring voices in the history of the African diaspora.

Cirque

Funny how things are intertwined sometimes.

Catching up on my DVR queue again (always), I recently watched the charming documentary, Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven on HBO.

Foodies like me who grew up in and around NYC in the '70s and '80s know Le Cirque restaurant as the legendary and treasured hub of Manhattan's glamorous restaurant scene. The film follows the story of owner Sirio Maccioni and his three sons as they prepare for the closing of Le Cirque, through its re-birth a few years later. Running any family business is tough, but imagine doing it in the worldwide spotlight. The film offers an intimate peek at father-son and sibling dynamics, the struggle to ensure a culinary and cultural legacy, and the shift from the old guard to the new. Plus, the food looks fantastic.

The film reminded me that I had a double Cirque experience several years ago, when I visited Le Cirque's restaurant at the Bellagio before a fantastic performance of Cirque du Soleil's "O" in Las Vegas. I was quite excited recently to attend another Cirque du Soleil performance of their "Kooza" show in my neighborhood. It is just mind-boggling and completely entertaining to watch such an effort come together under the big top.

Quite a circus, indeed.

Sundance

I finally made it to Sundance. Not in it, but at it. A day trip to check it out - I like to call it my "Sundance Sampler".

I arrived just in time to check out the new documentary film, Gasland, which ultimately was named Winner of The Special Jury Prize for Documentary at the festival.

The film provides a fightening look at the effects of "fracking", a drilling process for natural gas - the supposed great solution to our energy crisis. Filmmaker Josh Fox finds out fracking is coming to his area of Pennsylvania, and sets off on a multi-state journey to investigate what this means. The results are shocking (or maybe not so shocking if you lean toward corporate cynicism to begin with): Natural gas creeping into the water supply of homes near drillng sites - water that can be lit on fire right out of the faucet, people getting mysteriously sick, crazy gas explosions, toxic sludge and dying animals.

Over 30 states now have this drilling going on and the numbers are expanding - natural gas companies are circling the New York City Watershed like wolves, with the intent to build 20,000 more wells! Check out the film website for more up-to-date information, and spread the word.

The amazing thing about documentaries is that they continue to bring such critical and timely issues to light. And thanks to the folks at Sundance for putting this one at the top of the pile.

Mockumentary

I love a good mockumentary, whether via film or tv. Christopher Guest, I bow to you, for such laugh-tastic classics as This is Spinal Tap and Best in Show. And I applaud myself for seeing you on that plane from JFK once and not disturbing you like the crazed fan that I could be.

I recently attended a fun event at The Paley Center for Media in celebration of Parks and Recreation, now in its sophomore season on NBC Thursday nights. I must agree with critics that it is much improved from its abbreviated first season, and applaud NBC for sticking with it. Starring SNL veteran Amy Poehler, the series is a mockumentary sitcom in the vein of (and with some of the creators of) The Office, another favorite (albeit aging) show of mine. It centers around the parks and recreation department of the fictional city of Pawnee, Indiana, and is a sweet and funny love letter to city governments across the land. My friends in the local parks and recreation department enjoyed attending the event with me, so I'm taking that as another ringing endorsement. Check it out for an ensemble cast and writing that is coming together nicely.

I am also enjoying the freshman season of Modern Family on ABC Wednesday nights. This mockumentary about a wacky and diverse family has become quite popular this season, striking a fine balance between comedic and relatable family situations.

Check out both shows for a light-hearted television salute to the documentary form.

Anvil!

This decade was a Golden Age of docs if you ask me. 2009 saw its share of terrific films, but one in particular still resonates with me as not only my favorite documentary this year, but my favorite film, period.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil, recently was the big winner at the International Documentary Association Awards. Canadian musicians and BFFs Steve 'Lips' Kudlow and Robb Reiner, have been chasing the dream of music stardom since they were in their teens, but bad decisions and unlucky breaks have plagued them all the way. The film follows their attempts to make a new album, "This is Thirteen" (signifying their 13th album), and finally make it big. Think This Is Spinal Tap, but in real life.

The director, Sacha Gervaci, met Anvil and toured with them when he was a teen, never forgot their determination, and was amazed upon reconnecting with them that they were still at it. The story of how this documentary was made and distributed is a movie in and of itself.

I saw this film back in April to a packed theatre - by the end, I don't think there was anyone who didn't want to personally try to make their dream a reality. I just wanted to give them a hug. The band played their rousing "Metal on Metal" song from their first album live after the screening, and the place went nuts.

Go see this film - it is truly the most uplifting and spirit-raising film, and well on its way to being a doc classic. Here's hoping the next decade of docs is half as good.