18 “documentaries” That Blur the Line

Yesterday, a group of writers from the AV Club wrote an interesting little article on the faux-documentary genre that gets little mention in the public reviews limelight.  Faux-documentaries are those films that either pretend to be real, or use staged events to recreate an event or illicit a response from real people.  Confused? Well you should be, these films travel across so many gray areas it's hard to pin point which are which.

But don't concern yourself with such details, instead focus on this quite interesting list the AV Club has posted.  Though it's not exactly clear if these are the best in the genre, or if there is any ranking order at all, the discussion their article presents is well worth the read.

Head on over the AV Club's website to check out the list and detailed summary.  Feel free to come back here and post your personal favorites list too... who knows, we might be coming up with our own as we speak.

Ken Burns, Ranger Johnson and Woodland Love

Whether it's the history of the Civil War, the biography of a once forgotten boxing legend or a discussion of baseball, one thing is for sure, Ken Burns proves his love for the material by in the length of screen time he gives it. Though his PBS documentaries tend to be a little dry he still manages to remind people that even an 8-hour run time can be surprisingly engaging.

It's no surprise then that Burns' newest series National Parks will undoubtedly shift the nation's focus back to those rural treasures that are all but forgotten in this digital age. The legendary filmmaker began his publicity tour this past weekend and already seems well aware of the effects his documentary may have on the population. Though, in the midst of all the discussion of his personal stories and the lack of funding national parks receive is an interesting look at the popularity of Burns' filmed subjects.

The USA Today recently highlighted the phenomena of documentary filmmakers turning ordinary citizens into national demi-celebrities. In the article, Burns admits that his series (though focusing on the parks, not the people) already has a soon-to-be famous figure in Ranger Shelton Johnson. He claims that Johnson has a boisterous personality that makes 'park talk' engaging. Will it be enough to hold your attention during the entire six part series? Watch the premiere of National Parks on PBS September 27 to find out.

David Lynch Meets Regular People

David Lynch is the director of such absurd/confusing/masterful films as Mulholland Drive, Lost Highway and Blue Velvet. In many's eyes, he is Hollywood's version of T.S. Eliot. But the man known more for confounding audiences now suddenly finds himself producing a project that is as simple and straightforward as interviewing an ordinary citizen.

Well, actually, that is exactly what Interview Project is about, as Lynch sent a small team of filmmakers on the road to interview anyone they come across during their road trip across America. There is no topic, just brief snapshots of individuals. The series is already 21 episodes in and provides audiences with an honest reminder that everyone has a story to tell.

Interview Project is updated regularly with a new interview that lasts less than 5 minutes, but be careful, once you watch one, you'll want to watch them all.

Gibney Captures a Hated Cub

Steve Bartman. For normal human beings, his name means nothing. But for baseball fans, and specifically Chicago Cubs followers, the man is the most recent example of the team's Championship curse. Bartman is notorious for catching a foul ball that might have prevented the Cubs from making the final out and advancing to the World Series back in 2003. This single act turned an entire city of loyal fans against this one man.

Six years later, ESPN is asking Oscar-Award winning filmmaker Alex Gibney to cover the event in an hour long documentary. It sounds very cut and dry until you hear the question Gibney poses for his film to answer: "Can Bartman ever forgive Chicago?" Gibney is a generally well loved filmmaker with an eye for the visual and with his name attached, this is instantly on the must see list.

The film, titled Steve Bartman, airs in early October and kicks off ESPN's 30 for 30 series covering(you guessed it) 30 sports documentaries. Besides Gibney, the series will feature some big name directors- Ron Shelton (White Men Can't Jump), Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) Barry Levinson (the Natural) Barbara Kopple (Harlan County USA), Steve James (Hoop Dreams)- and even a few celebrity first-timers.

The the entire list of films hasn't been announced yet, but head on over to ESPN to read all the details and even catch a preview or two. With the powerhouse of names supporting this endeavour, expect some great things on ESPN through the fall and winter months.

Boxing's Black Eye Revealed

26 years ago, before Mike Tyson could throw one of his devastating punches, Luis Resto knocked out then-undefeated Billy Collins Jr. during a non-title fight at Madison Square Garden. This was no Cinderella story.

It was later revealed that Resto took the padding out of his gloves, allowing him to inflict greater damage on his opponent. The result: a tear in Collins' eye that ended his career (and may have contributed to his death a year later) and the punishment and banishment of Resto and his trainer.

Now, after decades of the boxing world trying to forget this tragedy, HBO is releasing the feature length documentary, Assault in the Ring. The film follows Resto (a now depressed man fighting drug addiction) as he is confronted by his trainer, his family, his ex-wife and the widow of the man whose career he ended.

USAToday has a brief description of the documentary, which airs Saturday at 10pm, but it's the comments from boxing fans who still refuse to grant Resto any grace for the damage he inflicted back in 1983 that make it worth the read.

China Can't Stop Aussie Doc lovers

The Melbourne International Film Festival has been battling ongoing complaints from the Chinese government over it's decision to premier Ten Conditions of Love. The controversy centers on the film's main character, Rebiya Kadeer, who is the head of the World Uighur Congress and considered a terrorist by the Chinese.

Despite protests from Chinese nationals, strongly worded phone calls from diplomats and a pro-Chinese computer hacker, the controversial documentary aired to a packed audience this past weekend. An additional bonus for the Melbourne International Film Festival was the surprisingly peaceful atmosphere surrounding the screening as there were no protests or violent outbursts on the day of the event. It seems the outcries to boycott Ten Conditions of Love only provided free advertising for its screening and guaranteed a packed house.

Director Jeff Daniels told Sky News, "I know emotions are running high at the moment. It's a very dark time for the Uighurs in China and there are a lot of angry people from China on both sides... So I'm very happy that it went peacefully, as a documentary should, and people were able to see different sides of the story."


For more on the story, head over to the article posted by AFP. We will keep you posted of any further outcry this film may cause.

Documentary Controversy at Jewish Film Fest

The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (SFJFF)is the most recent festival to come under fire for its selection of controversial documentary material. This time though, the fight seems just as much internal as it is external. The film at the center of the controversy, titled Rachel, covers the story of Rachel Corrie, a Washington state girl killed in 2003 while attempting to prevent an Israeli military bulldozer from demolishing a Palestinian's home.

Though it has already aired at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, it seems major donars to the SFJFF don't think the film is appropriate material and have even gone so far as to call it a part of the new wave of anti-Semitism. Rachel was sponsored by another group of festival donors who believe the discourse is necessary and important to the community.

Beyond the fierce war of words, audiences boycotted opening-night ceremonies and even the festival board's president resigned. The SFJFF runs until August 10th, so expect this issue to persist for the next couple weeks and beyond.

Head over to the San Francisco Chronicle for a complete and detailed summary of the controversy.

Spurlock talks Simpson's

It seems The Simpson's crew wants to turn their 20th anniversary into a big spectacle and what better way to do that then a feature length documentary! That's right, the Simpson's are getting the documentary treatment courtesy of the ever impressive Morgan Spurlock.

According to the press release, Spurlock says, “When they first called me about this, I thought it was a prank and I hung up...And then my agent called back and said, ‘No, no, this is for real,’ at which point I fainted. Then when I woke up, I called everyone I knew because it was the coolest thing I could ever get to do in my career.”

I have to praise Fox for understanding that only the insane mind of Morgan Spurlock could handle a Simpson's documentary with any level of success. The director of Super Size Me and Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden says the documentary will focus more on the cultural impact and on superfans more than the show itself. The film is currently titled The Simpson's 20th Anniversary Special in 3-D on Ice (though I'm sure 3-D and ice will be in short supply) and will air January 14th, 2010 on Fox.

Spurlock doesn't appear to shy away from questions about the project and has done several interviews during this week's Comic Con festival. One of the more interesting interviews is over at iFMagazine.com. So head on over there for more info.

Tribeca and Gucci Give out Money

Yesterday, the Tribeca Film Institute and Gucci announced the recipients of the 2009 Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund. In this second year of the fund, seven projects have been selected to receive $100,000 each. The prize is awarded to documentary filmmakers whose projects “promote social change and illuminate issues in need of deeper coverage currently missing from mainstream media.”

According to Indiewire, the topics of the films include the phenomenon of outsourcing surrogate mothers to India, a Cambodian journalist’s time spent with Khmer Rouge killers, one high school’s unique approach to education, the controversial rise to fame of the world’s youngest marathon runner, the combined impact of privatization and foreign investment in Tanzania, chaotic childhood experiences in Colombia, and one American’s attempts to save thousands of Iraqis.

The projects that will receive funding are:
- “Anatomy of Poverty,” by Elinyisia Mosha
- “Born Under Fire,” by Jairo Eduardo Carrill
- “Enemies of the People,” by Rob Lemkin & S. Thet
- “Growing Small,” by Jyllian Gunther
- “Made In India,” by Rebecca Haimowitz & Vaishali Sinha
- “Marathon Boy,” by Gemma Atwal
- “The Promise of Freedom,” by Beth Murphy.”


For more details, head on over to Indiewire.com

China tries to bar documentary in Australia

The Chinese Government doesn't necessarily have the best "free speech" record in the world, and earlier today it's understandable as to why.  Reports have popped up that the Chinese consulate in Australia demanded the Melbourne Film Festival withdraw the documentary The 10 Conditions of Love or justify its inclusion.  Festival director Richard Moore flatly refused to either demand and has not been shy to talk to the press about the incident.

The 10 Conditions of Love follows exiled Uighur businesswoman Rebiya Kadeer- highlighting her relationship with activist husband Sidik Rouzi and her desire to gain greater independence for China's 10-million Muslim Uighur population.   Kadeer doesn't exactly have the best history with the Chinese government.  She was arrested back in 1999 for "providing secret information to foreigners" and three of her eleven children have since been imprisoned.  The government most recently accuses her group, the World Uighur Congress, as being a front for extremist militants and for instigating this month's ethnic riots in China that have claimed close to 200 lives.

Obviously, the Chinese Government doesn't want Kadeer to garner supporters around the world, but with the Melbourne Film Festival refusing to pull the documentary, it's clear all they are doing now is providing free marketing for a once relatively obscure movie.  This battle is certainly not over so we will definitely monitor the situation leading up the Festival in early August.

For more information, check out the full article at Reuters.com.