Video

This pretentious book-DVD combo suffers from a number of amateurish features, but it has some surprisingly good points. First, the good: chef Robért Catherine is deft at demonstrating cooking techniques, and some of his recipes are original and interesting. The cost is reasonable for the set. Now the bad: the DVD demonstrates most, but not all, steps in preparing the dishes; some key visuals are missing. Some of the recipes are so laden with fat and calories that their consumption poses serious health risks. The lighting is poor, and much of the time the screen is too dark. Catherine tends to repeat himself, his delivery lacks verve, and his innuendoes fall flat. He should stick to cookery and menus and leave the romance to others. The bottom line: libraries shouldn't waste their money on this title unless they're aiming for exhaustive coverage of the cooking-class genre.—Sheila Intner, Emerita, Simmons Coll. GLIS at Mt. Holyoke Coll., So. Hadley, MA

Artist, dancer, and innovator Martha Graham is paid loving tribute in this excellent collection. The stark, angular beauty of the choreography is emphasized by the black-and-white films from the mid-1950s on the first disc of this two-disc set. A Dancer's World, narrated and hosted by Graham, explains what it means to be a dancer as we watch her troupe go through the motions. There also are complete productions of Graham's brilliant ballets Appalachian Spring and Night Journey. The combination of the conceptual and muscular movements, the exceptional performances (including Graham's in the lead roles), the sets by Isamu Noguchi, and the direction and framing of the film paints pictures on the screen that rival the abstract expressionism that was exploding in museums at the same time. Disc two is filled with extras, including interviews with her dancers, an additional documentary, and excerpts from a technique demonstration narrated by Graham. This set will thrill any fan of modern dance. Highly recommended for public libraries and academic libraries supporting film and dance.—Ellen Druda, Half Hollow Hills Community Lib., Dix Hills, NY

Basically a primer, Nuclear Power begins with the intensive research leading to nuclear weapons, then follows the development of nuclear reactors as electrical power plants. Animation helps explain how nuclear fission creates steam that turns generators. The Three Mile Island and Chernobyl accidents are discussed, while the host summarizes arguments for and against nuclear reactors and asks viewers to make up their own minds. Printed quizzes are included in the case.

Arid Lands looks at the aftermath of decommissioning a nuclear reactor site. It consists of brief interviews with people living or working near the vast Hanford nuclear reactor site in southeast Washington State. Hanford, now used to store local and national radioactive waste, has the world's largest environmental cleanup underway, estimated to last until 2030 and cost $50 billion. Partly as a result, the formerly remote region is becoming more populous and prosperous. However, some level of radioactive contamination is likely to continue for hundreds of years. Nuclear Power seems designed for school and public libraries seeking topical material, but its strictly neutral attitude creates blandness. The award-winning Arid Lands, expressing a distinct point of view, is recommended for all libraries in Washington State and others building up environmental collections.—David R. Conn, Surrey P.L., BC

This docudrama follows five American soldiers stationed at an Iraq checkpoint in 2006. It shows how they react to the daily presence of danger, how they interact with the populace, and, ultimately, how they become embittered against Iraq and Iraqis. The critical scene is when two of the soldiers rape a young Iraqi girl and murder her and her family while their comrades remain passive. The film pieces together fictional footage from various formats that have become common during the Iraq War: a soldier's video diary, embedded journalist reports, a French documentary, Arab newscasts, webcasts, and even insurgent video. The film's fictional though realistic scenes and presentation give it the look and feel of a documentary; some viewers may conclude that it goes too far in blurring the line between fact and fiction. Libraries wanting to add a fictional portrayal of the U.S. occupation in Iraq would find this film a suitably provocative choice, with its powerful antiwar theme. Strong language along with many scenes of violence justifies the R rating.—Lawrence R. Maxted, Gannon Univ. Lib, Erie, PA

From HBO Documentary Films comes this sobering look at the current state of racial relations at the famed Arkansas high school. One of its most poignant moments is when one of the original "Little Rock 9," as the students who integrated the school came to be known, revisits the campus. While archival footage gives us a glimpse of the courage shown by these students, the raw emotion elicited by this visit, even half a century later, speaks volumes. Currently, though the majority of the student body is African American, in many ways the school remains as segregated as it was in 1957. The school's consistently excellent academic record draws a number of affluent, white students who could easily afford to attend private school. While these students—most of whom are shown commuting to school by car—account for a minority of the student body, they are overwhelmingly the majority in all of the advanced placement classes. Opinions vary as to the cause, from a lack of African American family support to economic issues to a lack of belief in the value of education. One thing is clear, however: the dichotomy that exists today at Little Rock is astounding. Watching the film seems at times more like a comparison of two different schools—and in a very real sense it is.—David Gordinier, SUNY at Brockport Lib.

In September 2004, 27-year-old former marine captain Brian Steidle began working in Sudan's Darfur region as one of three U.S. military cease-fire monitors for the African Union. During the following six months of this "cease-fire" between African rebels and the Sudanese government, Steidle took nearly 1000 photos documenting atrocities perpetrated against black African villagers by government-sponsored ethnic Arab militias known as the Janjaweed ("devil on horseback"). The gripping bulk of the film consists of some of these images. Frustrated by the lack of response from the African Union to his detailed reports of near-daily systemic killing, rape, torture, and destruction, Steidle eventually brought his photos to the attention of the New York Times's Nicholas Kristof, who published a selection of them in a six-part series, "The American Witness." Since then, Steidle has testified before Congress and the International Court of Criminal Justice, spoken to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, and appeared at rallies and media venues to raise awareness. As of November 2007, at least 200,000 people are thought to have been killed in Darfur and more than 2.5 million people are believed to have been displaced. Few, if any, documentaries at this time more urgently demand the attention of the American public than this one. Highly recommended for all libraries.—Robert A. Sica, Eastern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Richmond

In 1961, Clarence Earl Gideon was sentenced to five years in prison for petty theft. An indigent drifter with a checkered history, he stood trial without benefit of an attorney. While in prison, Gideon wrote to the U.S. Supreme Court to request a review of his case and for a ruling on his entitlement to representation. Gideon's Trumpet, an award-winning 1980 Hallmark Hall of Fame TV production, tells the story of Gideon's successful appeal and the effect it had on guaranteeing the right to counsel. The story is told without embellishment, often with Gideon, masterfully played by Henry Fonda, speaking to the camera. We come to understand the legal history of the right to counsel through scenes in which Gideon's lawyer, Abe Fortas, argues his case and in which the Supreme Court justices discuss the facts, the legal issues, and the stakes involved. The amount of exposition in these scenes occasionally feels stilted, but the performances are strong, and viewers learn the background behind the ruling. Based on Anthony Lewis's book, Gideon's Trumpet is recommended for legal, history, and academic collections.—Joan Pedzich, Harris Beach PLLC, Rochester, NY

Although its production values are modest and it sorely lacks an organizational scheme as clear or unifying as might reasonably be expected from its claim as the "one and only" resource of its kind, the sheer breadth of this uneven assemblage of interviews and resources nevertheless raises the likelihood that most anyone aspiring to establish or augment a career as an artist in the independent music industry will find helpful pointers here. The three-disc set features approximately two dozen interviews with insiders occupying every major dimension of the industry and provides contact information for many others. Disc one presents an overview through interviews with indie radio station music directors and record store owners who share tips on how to clarify a marketable identity, obtain radio air-play, and sell albums through local record stores. Disc two concentrates on promotion, distribution, and finances through conversations with online distributors, web designers, DJs, and a public access TV director, followed by an outline of relevant tax information and legal issues (e.g., royalties and copyright) conducted by an accountant and an entertainment attorney. An accompanying CD-ROM includes two audio-only interviews concerning online booking and promotion systems. Also included on this disc is the "Indie Bible," a 1000-page PDF file containing names, contact information, and web addresses of music review publications, domestic and international radio stations, and vendors and articles by reputed industry experts. Most of the information in the first two discs can be obtained in greater depth elsewhere separately—in print or commercial online venues—but the 411 package can serve as a useful introduction to the demands of the indie music world. An optional purchase for public libraries.—Robert A. Sica, Eastern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Richmond

The idea behind Casting About sounds good: a filmmaker sorts through over 70 hours of audition footage accumulated during the casting process for his latest project, all featuring multitalented and lovely American and European female actors, and constructs a feature-length "impressionistic collage" based on the experience—and from his perspective. Unfortunately, all that director Hershey has done is string together some of the better-looking highlights, presupposing that the result would naturally possess insight into the craft of acting, the susceptibility of the actors, superficiality vs. depth of character, the tension between men and women, blah blah blah. Presumably, one or more of those reasons account for the not-infrequent and ogling chest shots Hershey includes. In truth, there is nothing that an acting student or other interested party will garner from Casting About that cannot be had from an hour of people-watching at a mall or a bus station, except perhaps a warning from security. If all that casting a movie boils down to is the handsome tedium displayed here, then there is no reason for paying customers or library patrons to witness it. Not recommended.—J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., NB

This documentary focuses on the erotic poetry of Brazilian poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade (1902–87). It juxtaposes images from the beaches and streets of Rio de Janeiro with interviews with elderly men and women who discuss Drummond's work and read some of the poems in Portuguese. What evolves is frank, sometimes shocking conversation about and responses to the poetry and these individuals' reminiscences of past sexual experiences. There is a brief discussion of erotic poetry as a mixture of indecency and art. One of the interviewees plays a record of Drummond reading one of his works. Some of the beauty of the words is lost through the English subtitles, but the meaning and the thoughts expressed reveal the poetry and naturalness interwoven in Brazilian life. Recommended for university libraries with larger poetry collections.—Beth Traylor, Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libs.

These videos are part of the "Vintage World Series Films" series, the Major League Baseball films of the 1943–2006 World Series now digitized for DVD. The older films—the Cleveland Indians 1948 series, for example—have the look and feel of feature-length newsreels. The newer series, like these for the Cincinnati Reds, likely were made to be sold as fan collectibles and are more like promotional videos for the sport or the competing teams. Neither makes any attempt to analyze the particular series or place it in historical or social context. On the other hand, it's probably good that the viewer isn't led to believe that any of this is really important. The videos will appeal most to fans of the teams that regularly appear in and win the World Series. Added features such as "Wahoo! What a finish!" (the 12 most dramatic Cleveland Indians wins at Jacobs Field in 1995) will lure only longtime fans. These programs are recommended as good sports entertainment for fans of local World Series competitors and for comprehensive sports collections.—Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH

Founded in 1980 and housed at Harvard University, American Repertory Theatre (ART) has been duly recognized and honored as one of the best regional theaters in the country. Chaos and Order highlights the relationship among theater, politics, and religion in the rise and development of this masterly form of storytelling and entertainment. It explores the various challenges facing not only ART but theater in general from the vantage points of organization, creativity, audience engagement, and participation, as well as the future of theater. Behind-the-scenes interviews with directors Andrei Serban, Peter Sellars, and Robert Woodruff, as well as lighting/costume designers, production managers, and actors, provide a sense of artistic community. The content is fascinating; however, the viewing experience is flawed by poor lip-syncing and sound in parts of the review copy. An excellent introductory resource for all libraries, especially those with active theater departments.—Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Libs., Johnson City

This uplifting documentary starts with a quote from Lao Tzu: "Nothing is softer than water, Yet for overcoming what is hard and strong, Nothing surpasses it." Water takes the shape of women here, women who are fighting against big business, big government, and centuries of tradition. Like water, they are presumed soft yet they are persistent. Khady battles female circumcision in Senegal, Oraiza taps rubber in the Amazon rainforest despite the powerful logging companies, Bilkusben leads women in protest against the building of a dam on the Ganges that will leave thousands homeless, and Gila organizes vigils against the Israeli occupation of Palestine. The film teaches the power of strength of character and deep conviction, but what we remember most are the faces of the women in dire circumstances, standing up for what they believe. Recommended for academic libraries supporting women's studies and public libraries with a diversified documentary collection.—Ellen Druda, Half Hollow Hills Community Lib., Dix Hills, NY