‘Lady Day’ was one of the greatest jazz vocalists the world ever heard. In 1971, journalist Linda Lipnack Kuehl set out to write the definitive biography of Billie Holiday. Before her mysterious death in 1978, Lipnack Kuehl had taped over 200 hours of interviews. The tapes have never been heard. Now they form the basis of an atmospheric, multi-layered documentary that captures the many complex facets of a proud black woman, violent drug addict, loyal friend, vindictive lover and unforgettable singer of ‘God Bless The Child’, ‘Saddest Tale’ and the haunting ‘Strange Fruit’.
In 1991 three teen girls called Midi, Maxiand Efti became celebrities over night and the suburb Akalla was suddenly known all over Sweden. Fifteen years later two old friends try to make a film about the phenomenon. But Midi, Maxi and Efti no longer have contact, and they are not at all interested in talking about the past. A melancholically journey to the past by two friends who have a hard time letting go. "I like it like it is and I like it like it was but I'm not so sure any more any any more..." From the song "Bad Bad Boys" by Midi, Maxi & Efti.
The American mountaineer Gary Hemming marked the era of the 1960s. The story of this "exceptional" character is intimately linked to that of the rescue of the two German mountaineers on the west face of the Drus, in 1966, a rescue which he had took the initiative. While the official emergency services of the EHM try to reach them from above, a pirate rope made up of Gary Hemming, René Desmaison, Lothar Mauch, Gil Bodin, Mike Brurke, François Guillot, the filmmaker Gérard Bauer organizes to join them from below and succeeded after a fierce struggle the rescue. The press seizes the event and elevates Gary Hemming to the rank of national hero. All the newspapers feature this big guy with a cool attitude, mismatched clothes, jovial smile and long blond hair on the front page. From then on, he was nicknamed: "the beatnik of the peaks".
Ján Langoš – strážca pamäti
Nežný revolucionár
Vyznanie pútnika
Segismundo Morey has spent his last few years facing the challenges imposed by Andrade’s rare disease. This medical condition, which affects his nervous and muscular system, has left a deep mark on his daily life and that of those around him. Over the years, Segismundo has had to overcome physical and emotional obstacles, dealing with difficulties in walking and moving normally. However, despite the constant challenges, he has found comfort and strength in the unconditional love and support of his family. Together, they have faced the adversities of Andrade’s disease, forming an indestructible bond that has been key in their shared journey.
Tati Express dives into Jacques Tati's films and how they look at a changing world throughout the 20th century. It shows how modernity impacts human-beings and goes through that amazing body of work at 100 mph.
It all started when Astrid was going to move to Gothenburg. A first-hand lease in an apartment district turns into a hub for 13 years of life. Many people have lived and slept here. Love has bloomed and life has been changed.
In 1968 Herz Frank made Without Legends (Bez leģendām) at the Kuibishev studios, together with Aloizs Brenčs and Aleksandr Sazhin. The film is based on the memoirs of Hero of Socialist Labor Professor Ivan Vasilyevich Komzin, former head of construction of the V. I. Lenin Volga Hydroelectric Power Station; Hero of Socialist Labor excavator operator V. Klementyev; Honored excavator operator Viktor Vasilyevich Starikov; and writer Konstantin Kirillovich Lapin. Documentary filmmakers from Kuibyshev were making a film about the excavator operator and Hero of Socialist Labor, Boris Yegorovich Kovalenko. However, the material turned out to be too ambiguous to create a film about a model Soviet working man. They turned for advice to the Riga-based documentary filmmaker Herz Frank. He shot additional footage and edited the collected material in such a way that it became a story without legends—about an ordinary person.
One of the highest achievements of the new wave of Kirghiz cinema, which emerged in the mid-1960s. This story of a boy building sandcastles on the shores of the Issyk-Kul Lake becomes a documentary parable on the tensions between an artist and society.
This poetic core in youngsters is also touched in Stanukina's less known Your very personal poetry (Свои, совсем особые стихи, 1982), a wonderful film about a poetry class. It is here that one recalls Kogan's admiration of Lyalya's emotional documentary skills. And it is here that one recalls Kosakovsky's depiction of Lyalya as a person of extraordinarily prosperous feelings, sensitive and energetic, childish and female, shrill and quiet. The young poets are marvellously sneaky, respectfully adoring and creatively playing with - maybe even deconstructing - "Aleksandr Sergeevich", Mr. Pushkin, Russia's exclusive trade mark of high culture and literature.
Movie-lesson observations in the classroom teacher of the Leningrad Conservatory honored artist of the RSFSR N..The Serval. Forty physical steps from the Leningrad Conservatory to the Kirov (Mariinsky) theatre - the way of the artist, overcome, physically and emotionally exhausting rehearsals. Great camera work.
A film about a simple village woman Zinaida Zvereva who married a disabled frontline soldier and lay all the hardships of living together onto herself
A portrait of America's oldest practicing attorney as he embarks on his final case.
Using poetry, interviews with psychologists and survivors, and corporeal imagery, Broca is an experimental documentary hybrid that explores how the mind-body connection is altered after trauma. The Broca’s Area in the brain is involved primarily in speech production. During a traumatic event or when trying to recall a traumatic event, this area shuts down. This makes it harder for a survivor to talk about what’s happened. Our project is an experimental documentary hybrid that offers a platform for survivors to tell their stories both verbally and non-verbally.
Documentary musical essay on the topic of "Grenzwert". It was created in 72 hours.
A contrast between village, peaceful life, and city, hectic life, told through images.
The film tells the fairytale story of a scrawny East Frisian who, despite minimal starting opportunities, has had a unique career. Otto has always trusted his gut feeling, even when he often faced challenges that threatened to jeopardize his career. My Name is Otto shows comical moments and emotional high points, but also addresses the fears of a man who to this day firmly believes that his lucky streak could one day end.
Lionel Rose, Australia's first Aboriginal world champion boxing hero - the man behind the myth