Tag Archives: DOC NYC

No burgeoning film movement has been more fascinating than that of Wakaliwood, which has created nearly fifty exhilarating action films since the late 2000s. How do the people of Wakaliga, which is a slum district in Uganda’s capital, create so many fascinating action films with virtually no budget? Cathryne Czubek’s Once Upon a Time InContinue reading “DOC NYC 2021- “Once Upon A Time In Uganda” Inspires the Artist in Us All”

The motto “reality is stranger than fiction” has never been more true than it is in The Mole, a riveting documentary following Ulrich Larsen, a retired Danish chef who ends up independently spying on the North Korean regime and their weapons deals for nearly a decade. It’s a crackpot narrative that sounds difficult to takeContinue reading “DOC NYC 2021- “The Mole” is the Peak of International Espionage Filmmaking: Film Capsule Review”

The most powerful documentaries often make the world’s largest crises feel emotionally personal, and Anonymous Sister is no exception. Director Jamie Boyle uses nearly 30 years worth of interviews and home movies to recount the devastating effects the opioid crisis has had on her mother and sister. The voices of journalists reporting on the developmentsContinue reading “DOC NYC 2021- “Anonymous Sister” Reveals the Power of Home Movie Footage: Film Capsule Review”

No industry may be as important to the upper middle class as the gig economy. Uber, Doordash, TaskRabbit, and countless others serve an integral part to the daily rituals of many. However, The Gig Is Up shines a light on the gig workers who make these companies function and the struggles these individuals face everyday.Continue reading “DOC NYC 2021- “The Gig Is Up” is An Enlightening Exposé on the Gig Economy: Film Capsule Review”

Zero Gravity is an uplifting look at the future of coding and space exploration through the frame of a middle school space robotics club. Developing code for SPHERES located in the International Space Station conceptualizes the power of code for the young students and audiences alike. Director Thomas Verrette’s documentary does struggle at times toContinue reading “DOC NYC 2021- “Zero Gravity” Reaches for the Stars: Film Capsule Review”

Krimes‘ exploration of Jesse Krimes, a former drug dealer turned acclaimed conceptual artist while incarcerated, is a high wire act of contrasting messages. The documentary demonstrates how damaging the industrial prison complex was to Krimes’ mental health, but at the same time, points out that the isolation that prison provided fueled him to develop hisContinue reading “DOC NYC 2021- “Krimes” is An Artistic Balancing Act: Film Capsule Review”

For decades, the Derg enactment of a coup against the Selassie royal family in has been seen as beneficial in eyes of many Ethiopians. This largely stems from a lack of context and explanation from the royal family about their side of the regime change, who have remained silent about what took place. That isContinue reading “DOC NYC 2021- “Grandpa Was An Emperor” Challenges Childhood Recollection: Film Capsule Review”

At a nondescript intersection in Chiyoda City, Tokyo sits Bizentei, an unassuming ramen shop. Its owner, Masamoto Ueda serves an incredibly minimalistic menu in a restaurant that only seats six patrons. However, in that space, Masamoto has created a community of camaraderie and fellowship for over four decades. Much like Bizentei, Come Back Anytime isContinue reading “DOC NYC 2021- “Come Back Anytime” is An Intimate, Soulful Feast: Film Capsule Review”

A cross between The Last Picture Show and Eighth Grade, Cusp focuses on the the lives of three Texas high school sophomores as they venture into a world filled with drugs, alcohol, and toxic masculinity. The level of access directors Parker Hill and Isabel Bethencourt have to these young women is astounding and provides aContinue reading “DOC NYC 2021- “Cusp” Is A Window Into Teenage Womanhood: Film Capsule Review”