A Girl from Mogadishu is a dramaticized documentary directed by Mary McGuckian about Somali-Irish activist Ifrah Ahmed. It follows Ahmed’s tumultuous life to her righteous activism today. Ahmed, portrayed by How To Get Away With Murder’s Aja Naomi King, flees a war-torn Somalia as a teenager and is trafficked to Ireland. When thrust into a… Continue reading ‘A Girl From Mogadishu’ Documentary Now Available for Streaming, Featuring Panels about Gender-Based Violence
Tag: documentary
‘Ghost Fleet’ Documentary A Chilling Look Into The Lives Of Thailand’s Trafficked Fisherman
Synopsis: Ghost Fleet, directed by Shannon Service and Jeffrey Waldron, follows a rescue operation across Southeast Asia performed by Patima Tungpuchayakul, co-founder of LPN (Labour Rights Promotion Network Foundation), and her crew. Their mission is to find and bring home those that have escaped the modern-day slavery that often goes undetected on Thai fishing vessels,… Continue reading ‘Ghost Fleet’ Documentary A Chilling Look Into The Lives Of Thailand’s Trafficked Fisherman
SAVING BANKSY
Take a few minutes to walk around any major city: New York, Los Angeles London, Paris, and one will notice the graffiti artwork that scales buildings, rides around on busses, and is scattered across public parks. For years (and still to this day), many people argue that this art form is actually vandalism. Some graffiti artists… Continue reading SAVING BANKSY
RESILIENCE
During the 1990s, Dr. Robert Anda and Dr. Vincent Felitti discovered the connection between emotional childhood trauma and physical health risks. While not well received at the time, by some, it intrigued and informed the masses. Their research study, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) asked people about their health and difficulties in their childhoods. Writer/Editor… Continue reading RESILIENCE
MARATHON: PATRIOT’S DAY BOMBING
Writer/Directors Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg’s Marathon: The Patriots Day Bombing takes viewers back to Boylston Street, documenting the lives of the families who were impacted by a moment of terror that forever changed the city of Boston, the country and the world. (BKP: 4.5/5) Review by Managing Editor Brigid K. Presecky April 15, 2013:… Continue reading MARATHON: PATRIOT’S DAY BOMBING
AUDRIE & DAISY
Audrie & Daisy is a disturbing, heartbreaking, necessary Netflix documentary from husband-wife co-directors Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk. Extremely timely in the wake of Stanford rapist Brock Turner’s release from prison, the filmmakers follow the cases of two rape victims and the painful impact that modern technology had on their already-traumatic experiences. (GEP: 4/5) Review… Continue reading AUDRIE & DAISY
LOOK AT US NOW, MOTHER!
Gayle Kirschenbaum’s documentary is a tragically funny story about her tumultuous relationship with her feisty mother, Mildred Abramowitz Kirschenbaum. The home videos from past and present string together a touching narrative about love and heartbreak between a parent and her child. (BKP: 4/5) Review by Associate Editor Brigid K. Presecky Gayle Kirschenbaum, the documentarian known… Continue reading LOOK AT US NOW, MOTHER!
I DON’T BELONG ANYWHERE
Akerman says in one of her interviews, “I always say that a good fiction film includes some documentary and vice versa. Just by the framing. As soon as you frame something it’s fiction.” Chantal Akerman’s films belong to six decades and at least three transatlantic cities. They capture the incredible range of Akerman’s own experience… Continue reading I DON’T BELONG ANYWHERE
HERE COME THE VIDEOFREEX
In 1968, when Sony made the first portable video camera available to the public, a number of ambitious young artists and journalists came together to see what they could make of this new medium. David Cort and Parry Teasdale founded a group of filmmakers who pioneered the genre of broadcast journalism, obtaining grants from television… Continue reading HERE COME THE VIDEOFREEX
THEY WILL HAVE TO KILL US FIRST
When Islamic jihadists took control of Northern Mali in 2012, Malian musicians from Gao and Timbuktu were forced into exile. In They Will Have to Kill Us First, director Johanna Schwartz tells some of their stories, with reminiscences of life before they lost their freedom, details of their experiences during the rebellion, and celebrations of… Continue reading THEY WILL HAVE TO KILL US FIRST
KING GEORGES
King Georges is Erika Frankel’s documentary debut, following the chaotic life of a French restaurateur who is forced to assimilate to a changing culinary world. It is a compelling glimpse into the kitchen of a historic restaurant that has one man at its heart and soul – a man who is conflicted about seeing 40… Continue reading KING GEORGES
VERY SEMI-SERIOUS
Leah Wolchok goes behind the scenes of the The New Yorker, documenting history of the magazine’s memorable cartoons – and the cartoonists that brought them to life. Although traditional in its format, this engaging HBO project keeps you laughing minute by minute. (BKP: 4.5/5) Review by Associate Editor Brigid K. Presecky Cartoons in The New… Continue reading VERY SEMI-SERIOUS
MAKING ROUNDS
Making Rounds follows cardiologists Valentin Fuster and Herschel Sklaroff as they visit patients at bedside, showing young doctors how to diagnose patients’ illnesses simply by listening to them. Fuster and Sklaroff are working to utilize these techniques to combat doctors’ common habits of resorting to expensive, technologically-advanced tests, which can often be inaccurate. One of… Continue reading MAKING ROUNDS
HEART OF A DOG
Artist and musician Laurie Anderson’s Heart of a Dog is like a collection of journal entries, or a visual record of Anderson’s dreams. Anderson’s own memories and philosophical musings, often deliberately indistinguishable from each other, overlay a collection of images that mirror what Anderson might see in her life: details of Anderson’s favorite places, news… Continue reading HEART OF A DOG
PROPHET’S PREY
Amy Berg’s new documentary Prophet’s Prey is similar to her 2014 release of an FF2 Media favorite, An Open Secret. This time, Berg’s compelling storytelling captures the exploitation of children (and adults) in the community of FLDS – the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. (BKP: 4/5) Review by Associate Editor Brigid… Continue reading PROPHET’S PREY
MEET THE PATELS
Director Geeta V. Patel follows her brother Ravi on his quest to fulfill his parents’ wish – finding a wife. A laugh-out-loud, real-life romantic comedy unfolds with heart and humor captured in every moment. The best documentary I have seen in 2015. Highly recommended! (BKP: 5/5) To read FF2 Media’s chat with the Patels, click… Continue reading MEET THE PATELS
ON BEAUTY
Joanna Rudnick directs this powerful documentary, about challenging the accepted norms of what society perceives as beautiful, and redefining the word itself. (JEP: 4.5/5) Review by Contributing Editor Jessica E. Perry Emmy-nominated director Joanna Rudnick brings us a powerful and uplifting documentary about one man whose photo campaign has redefined the perception of beauty. On… Continue reading ON BEAUTY
ANITA B
Freida Lee Mock’s documentary Anita tells the story of Anita Hill, law professor and civil rights activist. While then-Judge Clarence Thomas was being considered to be a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Hill spoke up about his sexual harassment of her when she worked for him. Since then, Hill has worked to spread awareness about sexual… Continue reading ANITA B