Category: documentary

There is a book for everyone. “Hello, Bookstore” (2022)

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directed by A.B. Zax
© 2022 Greenwich Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

Today’s World Book Day and since I’m also a big bookworm, I just have to celebrate this day on my film blog as well. So, to those who love books and those who haven’t read anything since their school times – this documentary is for you all. We’re going to Lenox in Massachusetts, a town where Matthew Tannenbaum is running his own bookstore. He’s been selling books since the 70s, so as you may quickly do the maths – quite long. In this documentary, we get to know Matthew and we accompany him at work. The more we learn about the man, the more we realise he cannot imagine life without his workplace. Literature and making it accessible to people are his true passions that he wishes to continue sharing. Unfortunately, his business is affected by the same thing that has destroyed lots of wonderful places and left numerous people unemployed – the pandemic. Matthew doesn’t close his bookstore, but he has to keep it safe, so customers aren’t allowed to walk inside and just enjoy looking around. Instead, they can ask for concrete books and the man would bring them. As a bookworm I know how important being in the library/bookstore is. Of course, if you’re looking for some specific book you have to read for school – then yes, you give the title, they give you the book and bye bye. But if you’re looking for some inspiration, want to find something new, or simply surround yourself by people who share your passion for reading, then obviously, you have to enter the library/bookstore and become a part of it. Such places were already losing customers since we have more and more things available online or in a digital form. Want to read something? Just purchase it online and don’t even move from your sofa. And now imagine those few individuals who actually used to be visiting bookstores – they also had to stop because of the pandemic. In the end, safety over any hobby, right? And losing those few readers was a true knife in the chest of many booksellers. Besides, they lost contact with people who used to not only share their passion for reading, but also their everyday life. Getting to know your customers helps you build a community, which truly brings a lot of comfort to both sides. Suddenly, such community gets separated and you’re not enjoying your common hobby equally much. Personally, I love spending time in libraries and bookstores, just looking at books and having chats with random people about our reading preferences. No matter how old you are or what your background is – in a bookstore we’re all friends. Sometimes even exchanging looks with another reader is like “hey, buddy, good to see you here, hope you’ll find your next book today”. And that’s what this documentary is about. We are all responsible for taking care of such places where we may feel like a part of some community, so if you haven’t read anything in a while or you’re thinking of buying a new book sometime soon, perhaps choose your local bookstore and support the owner, who’s surely trying to make a living with difficulties. Or visit a library – I visited mine today and I was the only person there except the librarians, but at least I made them smile and left with something to read for myself. Cinephiles can be bookworms as well, so feel free to explore both worlds.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I’d rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not. “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck” (2015)

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directed by Brett Morgen
© 2015 Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

30 years ago, on April 5th 1994, we failed as humanity. Well, to be precise, we fail quite often, but that day we lost one of us and I do believe it was our mistake that should have been a big lesson. Yet we keep making the same mistake, so perhaps you’ll share my conclusions after seeing this documentary. I’ll explain my truly Schopenhauer’s mood in a moment, but first, let’s focus on the film itself. For the younger generations or people who prefer slightly lighter kinds of music, Kurt Cobain was the vocalist and guitarist of Nirvana, a very popular grunge rock band. They were especially appreciated for being total rebels and artists refusing to go with the flow. Their songs were not only on top because of the music, but mostly because of the lyrics that were somehow allowing millions of people to associate with them. It’s not surprising because Kurt was writing those songs basing on his own experiences, feelings and personal troubles. From the early years, he’d been a lost soul, seeing the world differently than his peers and constantly in need of more affection in life, especially after his parents’ divorce. He was looking for a way to escape this mind battle of his in many ways, finally ending up with addiction to drugs. So his life was mostly focusing on expressing himself through music and running away from the reality that was too difficult to handle. Despite his arduous mental battle, he managed to get married and have a child, Frances. Those big life steps and their fame as Nirvana were pulling Kurt down and, unfortunately, he finally hit the bottom. No matter if you’re a fan of Nirvana or what I’m writing is new to you, still you should see this documentary. I believe it’s not about a music icon, but about a lost soul that was too emotional for this ruthless world. Indeed, Kurt chose the worst way possible, meaning drugs, and very few manage to return from this hell, but we have to remember he didn’t choose it just for the sake of wasting his life. He was so helpless and desperate that drugs were the only thing making him function, even on the lowest level. What I wrote at the beginning of this post was perhaps to general, but I do think Kurt needed more understanding and support, just like anyone struggling with anything in life. One may struggle to find a job, another to find a will to wake up in the morning. Why do we help one and leave the other to shoot himself out of the blue? Addiction to anything is never a pleasant picture, but, in the end, we’re all together on this planet and maybe, just maybe, we could try harder to stay united. People give up too easily on literally everything and never learn, because we keep losing our idols, family members, friends, neighbours. And you know to what? To loneliness. Because that’s the biggest killer of them all. This documentary is horribly difficult to me, even though I became a fan of Nirvana and learned about Kurt years after his death, but he’s still an icon to me. In the world full of people pretending to be someone they’re not, he wasn’t afraid to show his even ugliest sides, which made so many fans sympathise with him. To me, such authenticity is what I appreciate most in another person, so thank you Kurt for being you. I’m sorry the world wasn’t welcoming.

My rating: 8/10
S.

To awaken humanity. “Aurora’s Sunrise” (2022)

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directed by Inna Sahakyan
© 2022 Bars Media. All Rights Reserved.

In 1919, “Auction of Souls” film was released. It’s a silent production focusing on the Armenian genocide of 1915 from the perspective of an Armenian woman. Then, the film disappears and nobody has a chance to see it until 1994, when only fragments are found. The content of this story is nothing pleasant to see, yet it’s important to learn and that is why I’m recommending you “Aurora’s Sunrise” today. It’s an animation, but definitely not for children, so if you’re a parent – better watch it alone. Aurora Mardiganian, or Arshaluys Mardiganian (her Armenian name which she changed for non-Armenians speakers to make it easier for them), was a survivor of the already mentioned genocide and she played herself in “Auction of Souls”. The animation is based on her life story, where most elements are animated, but there are also fragments of interviews with Aurora and several scenes from “Auction of Souls”. I wouldn’t like to write too much about the woman’s life because it’s what you’ll learn best from this production and herself speaking. However, I’d like to focus on the technicalities and the messages coming out of this film. First, I’m positively surprised about the animation style because it was a paper cutout technique (a form of stop motion animation using flat objects often cut from paper or photographs and such), which normally gets me tired, and here I was enchanted. The filmmakers decided to make it an animation because it gave them more freedom of expression, which I definitely support. Since they were already using the recordings of Aurora and fragments of “Auction of Souls”, putting all of that into a live-action film would be a huge mess and mistake. The animation let us see all those pictures in a somehow limited way, which forces us to use our imagination, and I believe it’s a big plus. Second, this production reminds us about something that took place, something incredibly real, which was swept under the rug. Was it because they wanted to forget about it? Or hide it from us? Or they didn’t believe in the fault of the offenders? No matter what the motivation for hiding “Auction of Souls” was, we should spread this story and encourage people to see it. I personally support the opinion shared at the end saying that if only we’d put enough spotlight on one genocide, perhaps there wouldn’t have been others. You see, I don’t believe in a perfect world, because I’m too much of a realist, but it is true that we kind of treat wars and crimes as a part of our reality. Yes, there’s a war somewhere. Life goes on. And I’m not judging that because even though I’m following the news about some conflicts happening in the world, I can’t do much about that as an individual. So I sort of understand this “blindness” to tragedies – it comes from helplessness. However, I do believe we have country and world authorities to make difficult decisions and that’s the way to make sure offenders get punished and the consequences are significant. Because if one crime is swept under the rug, I’m pretty sure next one will be as well. That is why this film is worth seeing – to remind you that perhaps all those world crimes are happening right now because we, as humanity, ignored one a long time ago. So it’s surely time to awaken.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I choose to be joyful! “Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó” (2023)

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directed by Sean Wang
© 2023 Even Odd. All Rights Reserved.

Ladies! Today is your day and you deserve all the best that’s on this planet (and beyond). So in order to sweeten your holiday, I’d like to recommend you a short documentary that’s nominated to Oscars, which, in my humble opinion, is a beautiful 22-minute-long wish to you all. It’s a story about two lovely elderly women, who share their everyday life with us. They live together as best friends and their house couldn’t be happier. Despite their age, they know how to have fun and they don’t slow down, oh no. They play, they dance, they fart loud and nobody is allowed to change that. They are a human form of “you only live once” and to me, this short documentary is filled with inspiration, love and warmth. Since the film isn’t long, I won’t keep this post long either. I believe this nominee is a winner (at least my personal), because it’s unique, funny and tells an incredible story, which seems so common, yet eye-opening. I wish you all such friendship and so much joy in life. You already have this joy – all you need is to spot it. Sometimes it’s hidden in your morning coffee or favourite armchair you like to sit in. So it’s time to notice such joy and your life will be sweeter. Stay lovely, stay strong and watch wonderful films!

My rating: 8/10
S.

Things were not always as they appeared. “Mommy Dead and Dearest” (2017)

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directed by Erin Lee Carr
© 2017 HBO. All Rights Reserved.

Sometimes I need to double check whether the film I’m watching is really a documentary. What you’re about to see in this production is absolutely terrifying and may deepen your trust issues. At the very beginning we get to meet Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who at the age of 23 murdered her own mother, Clauddine Blanchard, also known as Dee Dee. The woman was found dead in her house and soon the police caught Gypsy Rose and her boyfriend, who had run away to Wisconsin. Sounds like a horrible family story where a child commits such awful crime, right? However, what would you say if I told you that Gypsy Rose has leukaemia, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy and other numerous health issues? Oh, and she’s in a wheelchair. So how is that possible that such sick person could murder a perfectly healthy mother of hers? And that’s the point where the story becomes more complex and less obvious. After being caught by the police, Gypsy Rose was examined by doctors and it turned out that she has no medical conditions that her mother claimed the girl had. She can walk, she doesn’t need to be fed by a special tube, she doesn’t need to take hundreds of medications. Soon we find out that Dee Dee was abusing her child by making her believe she suffers from all those medical conditions. Gypsy Rose was stuck at home, treated like a seriously ill child. She even underwent several surgeries that her mother forced on doctors. She was giving her daughter pills that were causing suspicious symptoms, so doctors were trying to treat those symptoms, which wouldn’t even exist in the first place. She even manipulated Gypsy Rose to believe she has a mental disability and is “slow”. Imagine living in such hell for over 20 years. Even though the girl knew she’s capable of walking and doing other things, she was trusting her mother that she cannot. Because why would her own loving parent want to hurt her? Perhaps to us it seems impossible to understand, but to Gypsy Rose that was the only reality she knew and she was sure that’s normal. There are probably many questions coming up in your head, so I recommend you to see the documentary and find the answers. As you can imagine, Gypsy Rose was sentenced, because in the end she did murder her mother. But on the other hand, she was a victim who was trying to save herself after all those years of abuse. It is said in the film that she fell into every crack of the system, because no matter what she had done, she would have had to face serious consequences. I guess prison is better than hell, isn’t it? And that’s exactly what her family house was. Terrifying story about how evil people can be. But I can say something positive – at the end of the previous year Gypsy Rose was released from prison and can finally start her life. And I wish her all the best.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Tell me baby, do you recognise me? “Wham!” (2023)

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directed by Chris Smith
© 2023 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

X-mas 2023 officially checked, but since I still have lots of food left in the fridge, my belly won’t know it’s over, so maybe I should also trick my mind about that. And if you’re in a similar position, then my recommendation will be a great encore. Today, I’d like to recommend you a documentary about one of the most popular (if not the most popular) bands in December every year. The reason why these two guys get so much attention only once in a year is because of their huge hit song called “Last Christmas”. I feel strange writing about the song because I guess there’s no person on this planet that doesn’t know it, yet I do know that for many it’s a song that warms their hearts while feeding consumerism in a shopping centre. Perhaps for native English speakers this will be a surprise, but as a representative of people speaking other languages I can tell you that we don’t know what “Last Christmas” is actually about. I bet any random person would sing it to you, but somehow they don’t understand the meaning of the words. So how surprised people get when they realise this song is actually about a cheated man, not a cute Christmas love story. Still, the melody and the way George is singing in this one make us feel nostalgic about X-mas, so why should be complain, right? “Last Christmas” have become a true icon of December and, in fact, this year (to save me from tears…) it has finally reached Christmas number one, after 39 years! Perhaps you didn’t know that, but despite their huge success the song has never been number one. Until now. So George, if you see us now, I hope you’re dancing happily like you do in “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”. Anyway, this is a film blog so let’s get back to talking about the film. I’m recommending you an adorable documentary about Wham!, which truly surprised me with its content. What I mean is that I knew a bit about the band before watching and I was worried that they would show lots of conflicts between George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, but it’s nothing like that. Obviously, we never know how true films are, even if they are labelled as a “documentary”, but according to this one, the men shared a wonderful friendship. At first they were having fun and enjoying music like most young people do, and then, when popularity hit, they stayed great friends, which is something difficult to keep in such circumstances. As a band, they went through some troubles, like all bands do, yet they are still associated with uplifting songs and positive energy. This documentary is literally hugging you, that’s how sweet it is. So if you want to stay in the X-massy mood, listen to some good songs and watch a story about a beautiful friendship, then grab a blanket and press play. And just a reminder – you can listen to “Last Christmas” all year round. Don’t let people make you feel bad for that. And if they complain, especially in December, just shush them with turning the volume up.

My rating: 6/10
S.

When he’s got this look, he is suffering. “On The Edge” (“État limite”, 2023)

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directed by Nicolas Peduzzi
© 2023 ARTE. All Rights Reserved.

Today I’d like to recommend you a documentary about an incredibly inspiring person, who has to fight against the system, and even though this battle is a perfect example of Sisyphean labour, he doesn’t give up on his values. Jamal Abdel Kader is a psychiatrist working at one French hospital. The film basically presents his everyday life and the camera follows him from one room to another, from one floor to another, from one patient to another, and another, and another… I guess it’s not that surprising to learn how busy he is, because I believe most people working in healthcare are busy as bees, especially after the outbreak of the pandemic. However, in this documentary we get a chance to join Jamal during his meetings with patients and listen to their conversations. As a psychiatrist, he gets to work with those that need a lot of mental support and understanding, but according to Jamal, they are not given enough of such. In our times, with the shortage of medical staff, we have to treat people like numbers and make sure not to dedicate too much time to one person, because other hundreds are sitting outside waiting for their appointment. Perhaps when it comes to different kinds of illnesses and injuries, patients don’t need that much attention, but the story is absolutely different when it comes to psychiatry. People with mental illnesses cannot be treated with a magic pill. Indeed, the medication that is being prescribed may be of huge help, yet the role of psychiatrist is to understand why their patient even needs their help. There has to be time to listen to them, learn their stories, analyse their background and simply support them during the process of healing. But if you’re just one doctor who has to be in several places at the same time, it’s quite impossible to do your job efficiently. Still, Jamal is a real exception, because despite the number of responsibilities, he believes in quality treatment and treats each patient with enormous respect. The man is purely good and you can tell he doesn’t want to help people just because he’s a doctor, but because he’s a decent human. Some may say this film presents the problems of modern healthcare, which are visible not only in France, but definitely all around the world. However, to me this is a terrifying picture of dehumanised humanity, if I may put it this way. If there’s a person with a mental illness, the society pushes them away, which, let’s face it, is the easiest and most convenient way. Or such people are given addictive drugs and voilà, “problem solved”. Then, we get to meet a person like Jamal and we realise that there are genuine human beings, just perhaps we’re searching in wrong places. On the other hand, I cannot even imagine how much verve and enthusiasm one can have, even if everyone around them thinks differently. I have to say that this documentary is a huge portion of motivation, so despite several emotional moments, you may feel great satisfaction after watching. So please, do watch it. My rating is a bit lower because of technical issues that bothered me (especially editing), but Doctor Jamal and his story should be given at least 11/10.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I was able to find the light in the darkest of places. “David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived” (2023)

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directed by Dan Hartley
© 2023 HBO Documentary Films. All Rights Reserved.

I’m afraid that we often forget how many people and how much effort it takes to make a film. We go to the cinema or sit in front of a screen, press play, spend approximately two hours, decide whether we like it or not, perhaps have a little discussion after and that’s it. Perhaps we forget that it takes months or even years to produce those two hours for us. The reason why I’m starting my post this way is because the documentary I’m recommending today is about a kind of person that gets forgotten in the film industry. We recognise and appreciate main actors, sometimes the director, but the rest of the crew is rather praised by real cinephiles or people from that particular industry. David Holmes, who’s the star of today’s documentary, is a stunt double. Unfortunately, he doesn’t work as one, yet he’s remembered mostly because of his amazing job done in “Harry Potter” series of films where he played… Harry Potter. The boy who lived. From the very first part, little David was acting in all the physically difficult scenes, which Daniel Radcliffe couldn’t do or wasn’t recommended to do. In the end, Daniel was the main character and if anything had happened to him, the filmmakers would have been doomed. But losing a stunt double isn’t stopping the crew from shooting the film, as sad as it sounds. They just find another flexible and physically strong person, do a little make-up magic and voilà – they can be performing somersaults as Harry Potter. Stunt doubles work incredibly hard and risk a lot, yet in the film industry they are easily replaceable, unlike the main stars. Back to David – the reason why he stopped doing the job was because he had a horrible accident on set, about which you may learn more watching the documentary. Now, David is paralysed and after all these years, he’s telling us the story of his life, his acting career and also his incredible friendship with Daniel Radcliffe. They are both grown-up men, yet they met as children and they were sharing the experience of playing in one of the most popular series of films that has even been produced. David, as Daniel says, was like a big brother to him and the boys were spending a lot of time together, except just practicing for the scenes. Even though the last part of “Harry Potter” was released about 12 years ago, David And Daniel have stayed friends and they still support each other. I guess I won’t surprise you if I admit that I didn’t know about David before, but I’m a huge fan after watching the documentary. What he was doing on set is one thing, but I’m absolutely amazed by his personality and charisma. And I see that I’m not the only one. Daniel was lucky to have met such “big brother” in 2001 and it’s great to see this tandem together after all those years. Hope you find a moment to see the documentary about another boy who lived.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Give me your definition of the term ‘in real life’. “Knit’s Island” (2023)

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directed by Ekiem Barbier, Guilhem Causse & Quentin L’Helgouac’h
© 2023 Les Films Invisibles. All Rights Reserved.

I really wanted to finally write about this documentary today, but to be fair – I asked you on Instagram whether you prefer something more difficult or more relaxing. I love the fact that most of you want to be disturbed by my recommendation, so here you go. I saw this film some time ago, but each time I wanted to write a post about it, something was pulling me away from doing that. Today, I’m taking you into a game. The directors decided to join one online multiplayer game and spent 963 hours (no, I didn’t add an extra digit there) exploring it. The idea of the game is that you kind of live in a post-apocalyptic reality, where together with other players you can build communities and do everything people could do in such circumstances. Obviously, you create your own avatar and can become whoever you wish, and it’s up to you whether you decide to join the good ones, or the bad ones. Like everywhere, there are groups that try to build healthy and supportive communities, but there are also those that feel the need to express the evil inside them. The whole film is actually happening in the game, so you may feel like one of the players discovering that mystical world. I saw this documentary during one film festival and I have to say it was one of the best choices I’d made. We may think that playing online games is just a random way of spending your free time – in the end, we all need to relax from time to time. However, thanks to the directors, we get the picture of the modern society and how social interactions have evolved. Each of those people there is a totally different story, some of which you may hear directly from them. And despite their spectacular avatars and great atmosphere they try to keep in the game, I felt like each of the players is somehow lost and finds it difficult to manage in their real life. Whether it’s an anxious introvert, a person struggling with some mental or physical limitations, or a mother that’s simply tired of her reality – they all need someone to accept them and give them a pinch of affection. This documentary, despite its original form, is quite personally significant to me because, luckily for a short period of time, I used to be an online reality addict. There were days when I was just doing the necessary in real life and then spent hours, days or sleepless nights on playing in a virtual world. It was a long time ago and I was very young back then, but I can still remember what my life looked like. You see, I’m not judging these players because we all need acceptance and if we don’t get that from one place, we try another. Since each person playing there might have some complicated background, it’s actually easier for them to bond, because they either don’t share their personal stories and enjoy having fun, or they do share and meet people who also don’t live such a Disney-like life. On the one hand, it may seem incredibly disturbing that grown-ups need to escape the reality, but on the other hand – if it helps them, who are we to judge? Some people choose therapy, some people build an avatar and kill zombies in an abandoned city. Would I get back to such life? No, surely not. But I believe this documentary shows that, despite the technological development, humans still have those old basic needs. We need friends. We need to feel valuable. The thing is that if we don’t take care of ourselves in reality, we may not be strong enough to enjoy this virtual world, and, unfortunately, some players have been neglecting themselves or people in their surroundings for the sake of the game. This is a very wide topic and I’m sure we could discuss a lot about it, but first – make sure to watch the documentary. And then, if you feel, you can always reach me to have a chat and use the Internet in a slightly safer way.

My rating: 8/10
S.

To say what you feel is to dig your own grave. “Nothing Compares” (2022)

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directed by Kathryn Ferguson
© 2022 Showtime. All Rights Reserved.

The girl who was born too early… We’ve just lost Sinéad O’Connor, a very talented and extraordinary musician. If you didn’t know her when she was a young artist, perhaps you might not be her biggest fan for what she was doing in her last years. To be honest, I wasn’t following her that much because I wished to remember her for her music career and not her personal struggles. However, when I found out that she passed away, I decided to see this documentary, to perhaps understand the transition she went through. From the very beginning Sinéad was a rebel and definitely not afraid to do whatever she wanted. But her behaviour could have been justified since she wasn’t much supported by her parents. She even wrote a public letter saying “If only I can fight off the voices of my parents and gather a sense of self-esteem(…)”. Your background matters a lot, even if you succeed in the future, there’s always something deep inside that makes you suffer, and we could see that in Sinéad. Still, despite the difficulties and her unusual style, she became a true music icon and was appreciated by many musical specialists. She had this amazing vibe and people could experience the music together with her on a totally new level. At the beginning of this post I wrote that she was born too early – and I’m sure of it. If only she was in her 20s now, she would have been a leader of various minorities. Through her art she was trying to fight against patriarchy, racism and social inequalities, which nowadays would have been heard much better. Back then she was still a strange woman not following the rules that most people followed, so obviously it’s difficult for her to make a significant change. Still, she was making a lot of progress in her musical career until one day… And if you know her story, you know exactly what happened. But I’m not going to comment on that because that might be an interesting plot twist for those who are just learning about Sinéad. Did she do the right thing? I can’t say. I supported her views and the willingness to make a change in this world, but sometimes it’s important to think of the consequences. She wasn’t doing that. She was a very concrete, stubborn and brave woman who was screaming loud while experiencing maltreatment. I believe she could have become an activism icon once again if only someone had helped her, especially after her son’s death in 2022. I kind of feel like she’s a human reminder of how much we fail as humanity… There are so many negative posts about her, especially in the last years, but why didn’t we think of giving her a hand? Perhaps she just needed more attention, but not as a music star – just as Sinéad. She was diagnosed with so many disorders, yet even celebrities decided to publicly mock her. We definitely need to reflect on her case and take mental health much more seriously than we already do. Anyway, this documentary was obviously made when Sinéad was still alive and it focuses on her young self who was a true sunshine willing to connect with people through music and not wanting to support the evil in this world. And that’s the picture of her I want to remember. Rest in peace, Sinéad.

My rating: 8/10
S.