“David Bowie – The Last Five Years,” at DOC NYC, by Wendy Moscow

 

November 8, 2017.  One of the most haunting images I’ve ever seen in a music video is David Bowie lying in a hospital bed, his eyes, swathed in surgical gauze, replaced by buttons. His arms rise upward, as if, Peter Pan-like, he could fly toward some Neverland in defiance of impending mortality. The song is called “Lazarus.” Bowie died on January 10th, 2016, two days after the video’s release.

Director Francis Whatley has crafted a remarkable documentary that celebrates the last five years of this electrifying singer-songwriter-actor’s career, during which some of his most brilliant work was produced.

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“What Haunts Us” – at DOC NYC – by Seth Shire

November 8. 2017.  Director Paige Goldberg Tolmach’s  fascinating and unsettling documentary, “What Haunts Us,” could not have come at a more appropriate time, which can be fortunate or unfortunate, depending on how one looks at it.  The film is part of DOC NYC, which runs from November 9 – 16.

In the college sociology classes that I teach, we discuss the concept of deviance.  I make the point that what, at one time, might not have been thought of as deviant behavior, now, as society progresses, is  seen as deviant.  The recent revelations about sexual harassment that dominate the news, including testimonies from those  who knew what was going on but chose to say nothing, until now, are great examples of this.

“What Haunts Us” concerns Charleston, South Carolina’s Porter Gaud School, the high school attended by Goldberg  Tolmach.  Alarmed by the number of suicides of male students in her graduating class, from 30 years ago (six suicides out of a class of 49), the filmmaker delves into what was going on, beneath  the surface,  particularly with a popular teacher named Eddie Fischer.  Fischer sexually abused male students for years and was protected by a wall of silence, from both administrators and students.  As one former, now middle aged, student puts it, “You’re dying to tell someone about it, but you’re scared  as hell someone will  find out.”  In addition, the film makes the point that the very culture of South Carolina society – respectable, upper crust families not wanting to taint their reputations with something so ugly – also contributed to this silence.

“What Haunts Us” employs very effective montages of year book pictures, home video, modern day interviews with former faculty and students, archival photographs and tastefully done animation providing nice juxtapositions to experiences recalled by the film’s interviewees.  Intercut with all of this are Goldberg Tolmach’s  attempts to interview former teachers and school administrators – some willing, some not.

Fischer himself is seen in a modern day interview at various points throughout the film.  I assume that this footage is from a police video made after his arrest.  Fischer answers questions about the sexual abuse he committed  as casually as if he was having a conversation  about weekend plans with a neighbor across a suburban hedge.  There is no regret, or even real understanding of the damage he has caused.  What is so sobering about this footage is that Fischer comes across not as evil, but simply amoral.

“What Haunts Us” will be screened on Monday, November 9 at 7:30 at IFC Center, 323 6^th Avenue at West Third Street.  For more information, on this and other films,  visit http://www.docnyc.net.

 

DOC NYC November 9 – 16, 2017 Wendy Moscow

From November 9th to the 16th, America’s largest documentary festival, DOC NYC, will be screening some of the most interesting and exciting documentary films of the year. In-depth celebrity portraits, explorations of family life, cutting-edge science and art, urban heroes and global struggles are just a few of the topics to be covered. Two of the films in the festival, “The Final Year” and “Soufra,” both feature capable, dynamic women, but here, the resemblance ends.

Big Sonia

Sonia Warshawski, the subject of “Big Sonia.”

November 21, 2016.  DOC NYC concluded its run of incredible documentaries this past Thursday, November 17. Even though the festival has ended, I am still making my way through the screener links sent to me from the festival’s publicist. These screener links enable me to watch DOC NYC documentaries online, as opposed to having to attend screenings in person. While I am a big advocate of seeing films in theaters with, hopefully, respectful audience members who do not talk, or need to check their smart phones every five minutes, screener links fit nicely into my all too busy schedule.

Of the DOC NYC documentaries that I have seen so far, and about which I have written during the past two weeks, “Big Sonia” more than rises to the standards of this festival. It is not only a fascinating documentary with a terrific main character in Sonia Warshawski (yes, even documentaries must have great characters) but a documentary that should be seen in light of our current political climate. In other words, those who forget history will repeat it.

DOC NYC November 10 – 17

In my experience the best parts of any film festival are the documentaries. Stick with the documentaries, as opposed to the narrative films, and you will almost always see something great. This is not to take anything away from fiction filmmakers, but at film festivals the documentaries dominate. So, how fortunate we are that DOC NYC is right in our area.

DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary film festival will run from November 10 – 17 at IFC Center (323 6^th Avenue), Chelsea’s SVA Theatre (333 West 23^rd Street) and Cinepolis Chelsea (260 West 23^rd Street). The 2016 edition of DOC NYC will include 111 feature length documentaries, 102 shorts and will showcase over 250 films and events. More than 300 documentary filmmakers and special guests are expected to be in attendance.

“The Dying of the Light” at DOC NYC

November 16, 2015.  I really had a great time seeing director Peter Flynn’s documentary “The Dying of the Light,” as part of DOC NYC. This is a very important documentary that everyone who cares about going to the movies needs to experience. Flynn has created an important sociological and cultural document about a subject which many moviegoers have never considered, specifically film projection from reels of 35mm film in movie theatres. It was something which was a vital part of so many people’s lives, and yet many have probably never even thought about it. Well, that is what great documentaries can do – educate.

DOC NYC Presents “The Anthropologist”

Daniel Miller, Jeremy Newberger and Seth Kramer of Ironbound Films pose with Troma Entertainment president Lloyd Kaufman (left, wearing bow tie).

November 8, 2015. DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary film festival, runs from November 12 – 19 at IFC Center (323 6^th Avenue), Chelsea’s SVA Theatre (333 West 23^rd Street) and Bow Tie Chelsea Cinemas (260 West 23^rd Street). The 2015 edition of DOC NYC will include 104 feature length documentaries. More than 200 documentary filmmakers are expected, in person, to present their films. Special guests will include Hillary Rodham Clinton and Martin Scorsese.

On Friday, November 13 the documentary “The Anthropologist” will have its premiere screening at DOC NYC. The screening will take place at the SVA Theatre at 9:30 pm.

“The Anthropologist” is the latest documentary made by Ironbound Films, a unique company which has produced some fascinating documentaries. Ironbound Films boasts no less than three directors – Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller and Jeremy Newberger – all of whom work on the company’s movies. Previous Ironbound documentaries include the 2012 documentary “Evocateur: the Morton Downey, Jr. Movie” (available on Netflix) and “The Linguists” (2008).