Movie reel

Morning Documentaries

Friday, 10 to 11:45 a.m., Library 3023

George and Claire Roper

The documentaries presented this semester will be both entertaining and enlightening. Watch for the titles in our Renaissance Recorder newsletter and on the Renaissance website. We will meet in the library on the third floor in Room 3023 (next to the Greek reference area). This is a drop-in seminar with no sign-up or presentation requirements.

Feb. 3: Which Way Home (2007)
In 2006, Rebecca Cammisa received a Fulbright Scholar Grant to travel to Mexico to document the plight of the children left behind when their families travel to the United States to find work. This Oscar-nominated film is the result of her journey. Cammisa and her crew follow a trio of children who set out on their own from their Latin American abodes on a dangerous trek through Mexico en route to the U.S. border and—they hope—their families' embrace.
Feb. 10: Mine (2009)
Explore the devastating effects Hurricane Katrina had on the lives of dogs and dog owners separated during and after the storm. This documentary profiles the complicated struggles of Katrina victims and the new families who've adopted their pets. New Orleans residents like Gloria Richardson, Malvin Cavalier and Jesse Pullins discuss their hurricane experiences, relationships with their dogs and desires to be reunited.
Feb. 17: Chops (2007)
In this Tribeca Film Festival selection, filmmaker Bruce Broder trains his camera on a crop of talented young jazz musicians as they play their way through the Essentially Ellington high school jazz band competition. Sponsored by the Jazz at Lincoln Center program, the prestigious contest gives the kids the chance to rub shoulders with legendary trumpeter Wynton Marsalis—and put their budding improvisational skills to the test.
Feb. 24: Waste Land (2010)
Renowned artist Vik Muniz embarks on one of the most inspired collaborations of his career, joining creative forces with Brazilian catadores—garbage pickers who mine treasure from the trash heaps of Rio de Janeiro's Jardim Gramacho landfill. In this Oscar-nominated documentary, the catadores prove to be unique and surprising individuals in their own right, waxing philosophic as they impart a valuable lesson about what society discards.
March 2: Les Paul: Chasing Sound (2007)
The remarkable true-life story of electric guitar legend and rock 'n' roll icon Les Paul unfolds in this feature-length documentary that originally aired as part of PBS's American Masters series. Chronicling Paul's rise from poverty to eventual rock royalty, the program features interviews with many of his big-name admirers, including B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Tony Bennett, Jeff Beck, Merle Haggard and Steve Miller.
March 9: Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
Amateur filmmaker Thierry Guetta's project to chronicle the underground world of street art takes a fascinating twist when he meets Banksy, an elusive British stencil artist, in this Independent Spirit Award winner for Best Documentary. Unimpressed with Guetta's footage, Banksy takes over filmmaking duties while Guetta reinvents himself as a street artist and—much to Banksy's surprise—instantly becomes a darling of the Los Angeles art scene.
March 16: Buck (2011)
Buck Brannaman, inspiration for The Horse Whisperer, is revealed as a complex figure in this Sundance Audience Award winner for Best Documentary by Cindy Meehl. The master horseman reveals details of his troubled childhood and his dawning awareness of new ways that humans and horses might work with one another. As Buck learns more about horses, he finds that the ways we communicate with our animal companions offer lessons on how we relate to fellow human beings.
March 23:
Spring Break; No Seminars.
March 30:
Chavez Holiday; No Seminars.
April 6: Still Bill (2009)
Explore the remarkable life of singer-songwriter Bill Withers, a working-class man who rose to fame and fortune with hits such as "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lean on Me," then retreated from the spotlight to focus on his family. Packed with live performances, a tribute concert, and interviews with Sting, African-American scholar Cornel West and others, this documentary follows Withers as he reflects on his past and contemplates his future.
April 13: Ingredients (2009)
Narrated by actress Bebe Neuwirth, this engaging documentary weighs the shortcomings of America's industrialized food system against a rising local-growth movement, whose proponents are shrinking the gap between farmland and dinner table. With chefs Alice Waters and Greg Higgins as guiding lights, growers, restaurateurs and consumers around the country, from Oregon to Harlem, New York, discuss their methods for bringing food production back home.
April 20: TWO DOCUMENTARIES:
Between the Folds (2008): Filmmaker Vanessa Gould takes you on a provocative odyssey into the mesmerizing world of modern origami, where artists and scientists use the ancient art form to craft works of delicate beauty and to model cutting-edge mathematical theories. Pushing the envelope of origami to include caricatured portraits and elaborate abstract designs, these experts examine how paper folding can reveal the profound connection between art, science and philosophy.
The Science of Dogs (2007): Dogs are long known as "man's best friend" and there are more varieties of dogs than any other species on Earth. This documentary takes a closer look at the history of dogs, and how humans have taken an active role in shaping their appearance and behavior. An installment of National Geographic's Explorer series, the program explains how mankind manipulates science in the interest of creating the perfect pet.
April 27: Herb and Dorothy (2008)
Chronicling the story of unlikely art collectors Herb Vogel and Dorothy Vogel, filmmaker Megumi Sasaki demonstrates that it's not necessary to be wealthy in order to build a significant collection in this fascinating documentary. A postal clerk and a librarian, the Vogels share a passion for art, which they pursued over decades, becoming two of the most important collectors of minimalist and conceptual art with more than 4,000 pieces.
May 4: These Amazing Shadows (2011)
Using exclusive interviews and dazzling archival footage, filmmakers Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton shine a light on the work of the National Film Registry and the art of preserving aesthetically, culturally and historically significant cinema. Highlights in this Sundance selection include input from the likes of Christopher Nolan, John Waters, Rob Reiner, Debbie Reynolds, Tim Roth and George Takei.