These Best Documentary selections include films newly available to libraries that are both important and intriguing. We hope these picks provide a means for readers’ advisory and (socially distanced) conversation.
Several restored classics, a stirring romance starring Issa Rae, a collection of Martin Scorsese's early shorts, and a tribute to Chuck Berry are now available on DVD/Blu-ray.
May's top indie, foreign, and classic DVD/Blu-ray picks include a British New Wave classic with a star turn by Julie Christie, the recent Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, and a Soviet cinema landmark.
The documentary sums up the region's problems astutely and is highly recommended to everyone with an interest in the region or the nation's economy overall.
A forensic pathologist (Amir Aghaee) blames himself when the boy he injured in a car accident turns up in the morgue, in spite of an autopsy showing food poisoning as the most probable cause of death...
Recently released from prison for murdering a prostitute, Franz Biberkopf (Günter Lamprecht) tries hard to go straight by taking a series a menial jobs in Depression-era Germany...
This film is often difficult to watch. Though elephants have survived for two million years, human ambition for unlimited wealth and living space seem to be dooming these intelligent social behemoths. Environmentalists of all stripes will be intrigued.
A fascinating film about a flawed man who shares his point of view, literally, this could inspire future photojournalists or anyone with a camera to look past the selfie and toward creating a narrative with a picture. [See Trailers, LJ Winter 2018.]
Fast-moving and entertaining, No Offence features an outstandingly strong female cast. Recommended for viewers who enjoy a particular style of British irreverence.
Experimental brain surgery makes a genius out of a mentally challenged man who cannot outwit a mouse, but his emotional development does not keep up in Ralph Nelson's big-screen adaptation of the classic Daniel Keyes short story-cum-novel Flowers for Algernon...
This unusual sequel by visionary director Boorman delivers a powerful view of a world in which science, magic, and religion combine as an antidote to demonic horrors. Imperfections exist in editing and script, but the results remain boldly evocative.
Reassigned to emergency dispatching duties while awaiting a disciplinary hearing, a sidelined cop (Jakob Cedergren) at the end of his shift gets a frantic call from a woman being abducted by her husband...
Viewers should freely sample the videos from the series website if they are still unconvinced that poetry discussions can be that fascinating. A quality addition to libraries' literature collections.
This beautifully shot production makes a strong case to viewers. However, the argument is complex, and the group's resources are tiny and no match for the organizations that apparently intend to stop all commercial seal hunting.
Wealthy New Orleans real estate developer Michael Courtland (Cliff Robertson) loses his wife, Elizabeth (Genevieve Bujold), and nine-year-old daughter during a bungled kidnap rescue...
A multilayered chronicle that highlights many of the challenges facing young women worldwide, this will appeal to those concerned with women's rights and the global climate for women's sports.
Strongly recommended for public libraries, as well as education and history collections. Some of the film is graphic, and before viewing, students would need preparation, especially high school classes.
A shock and surprise to many aficionados of flamenco but an appealing inclusion to any serious dance collection, though the price might be prohibitive for many libraries.
Though both films address important history, Resistance at Tule Lake goes deeper and brings lesser-known stories to light. Recommended for historians and World War II buffs.
Stopping at a Mississippi town for a train layover, Philadelphia detective Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) is pressed into helping the local police chief (Rod Steiger) solve a touchy murder case...
A college student (Anamaria Marinca) goes to great lengths to help her desperate roommate (Laura Vasiliu) get an illegal abortion in Cristian Mungiu's (Beyond the Hills; Graduation) humanizing story about a dilemma usually framed in political terms...
A dedicated journalist (Vincent Lindon) recovering from a traumatic injury agrees to assist a Vatican-directed team investigating the claim of a teen novitiate (Galatéa Bellugi) to have witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary...