They Killed Sister Dorothy (2008)

A nun is murdered in the Brazilian rainforest because of her advocacy for its preservation. This documentary follows the trials of those accused, including eye-witness interviews, as well as footage in the courtrooms. Martin Sheen narrates.

I wonder what the other side of the story is.

I saw this film as part of the Sedona International Film Festival.

They Killed Sister Dorothy on IMDb

The Soviet Story (Latvia, 2008)

A documentary on the atrocities committed by the Soviet Union before, during, & after World War II, & Stalin's connection with Hitler throughout.

As with many documentaries, these film makers definitely had an agenda. The narration was overly dramatic, & the editing was artful. Even so, they raised some interesting questions about history & how it is written.

I saw this film as part of the Sedona International Film Festival.

The Soviet Story on IMDb

Protagonist (2007)

A documentary including four men who went through extreme u-turns in their lives: a German terrorist, a bank robber, an "ex-gay" evangelist, and a martial arts student.

At first, the German didn't seem to fit with the rest of the interviewees, I guess because I didn't identify with him as quickly as I did with the rest. The other three seemed to be ordinary people who had made major mistakes in life, but the German seemed to be no ordinary man. By the end of the film, though, I realized that perhaps the director Jessica Yu was trying to show that we are all just ordinary people doing the best that we can. It's interesting that a female director chose to include only men in this study.

The puppet element definitely could have been left out. It took the profundity of the film's message & turned it into silliness. It reminded me of Being John Malkovich. However, in that film, the silliness of the puppetry was kind of the point.

Protagonist on IMDb

Cocalero (Bolivia, 2007)

There's no way that footage like this would be published about our own president!

Cocalero on IMDb

Iraq in Fragments (2006)

A three-part documentary that shows the US occupation of Iraq from the perspectives of Sunnis, Shia, & Kurds. It was interesting to see all of the anti-US opinions. The photo on the movie poster looks like the aftermath of a bombing, but it's just a brick kiln spewing pollution into the air.

Iraq in Fragments on IMDb

Grizzly Man (2005)

This is the story of a man lost, in search of his life's fulfillment. He lived 13 summers in the Alaskan outback, encroaching on bear territory, & befriending wild foxes. This film includes the man's own footage taken during his stays in Alaska, as well as interviews with friends & family members.

It's films like this that make me thankful that I'm not that crazy. Timothy Treadwell was a troubled soul, a manic depressive with no direction. As we all do, he was looking for happiness. But he chose to seek it out in the midst of giants, eventually being crushed by them.

I recently saw another film by Werner Herzog, Encounters at the End of the World (2007), in which the film maker was sarcastic & impatient with his subjects. I expected the same for this movie, since there was no shortage of opportunities to criticize Treadwell. Instead, Herzog was respectful, kind, & sometimes even emotional. What could have happened to him in the interum?

Grizzly Man on IMDb

Encounters at the End of the World (2007)

I saw this as part of a double feature presented by Backyard Cinema, an event hosted by the Phoenix Independent, Foreign & ArtHouse Film Club. We were outside in very chilly weather, so it was a true sensory experience!

Werner Herzog directed & narrated this film about nothing in an Antarctic town. His commentary is sarcastic, impatient, & down-right pissy throughout the movie. The scenery was awesome, though, especially the underwater shots.

Encounters at the End of the World on IMDb

The King of Kong (2007)

I saw this as part of a double feature presented by Backyard Cinema, an event hosted by the Phoenix Independent, Foreign & ArtHouse Film Club.

The film makers did a great job of building up the rivalry, no small feat considering the subject matter. I'm just amazed that anyone could spend so much time on one video game.

The King of Kong on IMDb

God Grew Tired of Us (2006)

Whoa. Heavy stuff.

I used to teach English for Lutheran Social Ministry, a refugee organization in Phoenix. (No, I'm not Lutheran either.) I had a few of the Lost Boys in my classes. They were amazing: so dedicated to studying & achieving their best. After all that they had been through, it would seem that they would appreciate a respite from suffering. But as this film shows, many of them feel obligated to help their friends & family still in Africa who don't have the same opportunities that they do. They carry a heavy burden that I cannot begin to understand.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301555/

The Order of Myths (2008)

A documentary on Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama, & how the event continues to be racially segregated. There is a "white" Mardi Gras & a "black" Mardi Gras, both with their own king & queen. They have separate parades on the same day, Fat Tuesday of course.

I have family in Louisiana, where the black/white line is still drawn firmly, so the subject is not new to me. The thing that I liked about this particular film was that it showed the two royal couples making an effort to accept the other, giving us hope for the future.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157694/