Get Real: Great Documentaries on DVD
Prefer your cinema….vérité? Hundreds of great documentaries are available from the Toronto Public Library. While feature films hog the spotlight, documentaries shine the spotlight on their subjects, presenting a version of reality that will entertain, enlighten, and on occasion, even enrage you. Check out the large collection available at the North York Central Library. Here's a choice selection:
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20 Feet From Stardom: Winner of the 2013 Oscar for Best Documentary, Morgan Neville's film honours the sublimely talented backup singers who performed with the biggest names in Motown and rock and roll. Watch Merry Clayton re-live the night the Rolling Stones got her out of bed to record Gimme Shelter. You will get chills listening to her haunting howl that made Mick holler out loud in the recording booth.
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work: The late, great Joan Rivers as you have never seen her before. Ms Rivers walks us through the serious business of comedy and the reality of being an (older) female comic. Directed by Riki Stern and Anne Sundberg. Highly recommended.
Searching For Sugar Man: Swedish director Malik Bendjelloul follows fans in search of an enigmatic musician, Sixto Rodriguez, who may or may not be dead. This critically acclaimed film won many awards including an Oscar. Sadly, Bendjelloul committed suicide a year after the film's release.
Man on Wire: This Oscar-winning British documentary follows Phillipe Petit's 1974 (highly illegal) death-defying high wire walk between the doomed twin towers of the World Trade Centre. You have to see it to believe it.
Being Elmo: Kevin Clash's talent for puppeteering at a young age caught the eye of Jim Henson, the Muppets' creator. Clash went on to invent Elmo, a furry red monster with a high voice. Clash became separated forever from his beloved creation when he left Sesame Street after ongoing controversy in his personal life. Also available in eVideo.
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The Boxing Girls of Kabul: Canadian director Ariel Nasr examines the challenges faced by an extraordinary group of young female boxers in Afghanistan who hope to represent their country one day at the Olympics.
The World Before Her: A Canadian documentary about two young Indian women on two very different paths: one is vying to be Miss India, the other trains to join a Hindu nationalist group. Directed by Nisha Pahuja, this film won Best Canadian Feature at the Hot Docs Film Festival.
Narco Cultura: This film directed by Shaul Schwarz explores the phenomenon of Mexican drug lords glorified in local pop culture via narcocorrido music. More Breaking Bad than Bieber, these 'heroes' are truly terrifying.
When Jews Were Funny: Canadian filmmaker Alan Zweig tells the story of Jewish comedians from the Borscht Belt to present day. Be prepared to laugh your kishkas off watching interviews and performances from the best in the biz.
Blackfish: This film investigates killer whales in captivity. Focusing on Tilikum, an orca at Seaworld who had killed humans, this film is a passionate defense for exploited marine life. It has also caused waves in many industries – Pixar re-wrote the ending of its upcoming sequel to Finding Nemo because of this film.
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Gasland: Director and activist Josh Fox investigates the environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Winner of the Sundance Special Jury Prize, Fox has since released Gasland Part 2.
Glickman: The story of the great Jesse Owens' experience at the 1936 Olympics under Hitler is well-known. Less known is the story of Owens' teammate, Marty Glickman. Glickman, along with another Jewish-American athlete, was pulled from the team the day before his event. Owens protested, to no avail. Glickman went on to become a major figure in sports broadcasting.
I am Divine: the Story of the Most Beautiful Woman in the World: Director Jeffrey Schwarz traces the life of the legendary Divine. Born in Baltimore, Harris Glenn Milstead transformed from a bullied outsider to a trailblazing singer, actor and drag queen performer.
A Brony Tale: Ashleigh Ball, a Canadian voice actor for the cartoon My Little Pony, finds herself an Internet star with legions of adoring fans. Not unusual – except that her fans are mostly Bronies, the male adult fans of the pretty pastel toy ponies. For more on this, watch Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony.
Into the Abyss – A Tale of Life, A Tale of Death: One never expects films from renowned German filmmaker Werner Herzog to be fluffy. And indeed, this film is no exception. Interviews with convicted murderer Michael Perry eight days before his execution, with the victim's family, and with law enforcement officials, make this a powerful exploration of the death penalty in the U.S.
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6 thoughts on “Get Real: Great Documentaries on DVD”
This is a great list! So much variety in the films. I’ll likely check out many of these. More lists like this in the future would be great. Thanks!
thanks for putting together this eclectic list of great docs. i always enjoy your posts, Viveca, and your recomendations are invariably oustanding. i’ve seen some of these and they were terrific. will definitely put holds on the ones i haven’t seen.
I’ve seen and enjoyed several of the docs on the list. Another one I highly recommend is “Exit through the Gift Shop”, a documentary about the graffiti artist Banksy and the filmmakers obsession with him. Also worth watching: “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”.
Thanks, bookwormJH. Let me know of any recommendations that should appear on future lists!
Thanks for the kind words, w. > Please send me titles you liked – many of these were recommended to me.
Doc’ on……:)
I *loved* Exit Through the Gift Shop! How did I miss that? I will definitely check out “Jiro Dreams.” Thanks!