Documentary Movies

The war in Afghanistan is chronicled, from the events following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to the present day. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

The story of V. Gene Robinson, who became the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church when he was elected bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire in 2003. The documentary accompanies him to President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration, small-town churches, and a 2008 Anglican gathering in London. ~ Jeff Gemmill, Rovi

Major-league baseball pitchers usually throw fastballs, curveballs, and off-speed pitches. A few brave souls, however, have made a career out of throwing the knuckleball. The pitch entails lobbing the baseball in such a way that it doesn't rotate, and therefore moves in a manner that's impossible to predict. The filmmakers follow Tim Wakefield and R.A. Dickey, the only two knuckleball pitchers in the majors during the 2011 season, as they attempt to stay in the big leagues while relying on this unorthodox weapon. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

National Geographic's hard-hitting look at the superstorm Hurrican Sandy explores how the catastrophe originated, and what to prepare for as equally devastating extreme weather threatens to become a more regular phenomenon. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

In the heart of one of Buenos Aires' most exclusive neighborhoods, you will find La Recoleta Cemetery, arguably the most prestigious graveyard in Argentina. La Recoleta is the final home for many of the country's most important historical figures -- founders of the nation, high-ranking politicians, artists, authors and the wealthy and influential. However, a handful of noted rebels and dissidents are also interned there, and one can trace much of the nation's history by noting the names of the headstones. Filmmaker Nicolas Prividera presents an impressionistic look into Argentina's past and present in the film Tierra de los Padres (aka Fatherland), in which actors stroll through La Recoleta Cemetery, observing the graves of some of the nation's heroes and villains, and reading aloud from their writings. Taken together, the speeches form a story of political turmoil and strife, as the film also offers a glimpse into the work of the men who maintain this historic site. Fatherland received its North American premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Kumare is a yogi and holy man from India who has come to the American Southwest to share his knowledge and help others achieve spiritual enlightenment. He's also a phony, the invention of filmmaker Vikram Gandhi, who was born and raised in New York City and is fascinated by the way many Americans are drawn to the perceived exoticism of the East. Knowing little about yoga or traditional Indian spiritual practice, Gandhi traveled to Phoenix, AZ, set himself up as the new prophet in town, making up his "wisdom" as he want along and allowing his camera crew to capture what happens to those who take the bait. A surprisingly large number of intelligent and thoughtful people became Kumare's disciples, and in the documentary Kumare, Gandhi allows us to ponder if his followers are dupes or simply people looking for spiritual solace who take their enlightenment where they can get it. At the same time, Gandhi is forced to look at himself and Kumare's unexpected impact on the community. Kumare received its world premiere at the 2011 South by Southwest Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

This documentary profiles Alberto Villoldo, a shaman healer who gave up a career in modern American medicine in order to focus on his immense knowledge of the traditional spiritualistic approach to medicine and healing from the South American Amazon. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

Chris "Knuckles" Nilan is the focus of Alex Gibney's The Last Gladiators, a documentary that examines the role hockey "enforcers" -- tough guys hired to protect star hockey players on the ice and get into fights with each other -- played for decades in the NHL. Full of entertaining fight footage, and interviews with uber-tough guys like Tony Twist and Marty McSorley, Gibney's film also addresses head-on how the personalities of the men who did this job better than others have often made it very difficult for them to have a problem-free life after they are too old to continue their careers. The Last Gladiators played at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Follow the life of one of the most popular dog trainers in this National Geographic special. Learn how he went from an illegal immigrant to famed pack leader and how he connects with dogs and people alike. From his philosophy on life to his work with dogs and their families, Milan is always working toward a greater good. ~ Rachel Sprovtsoff, Rovi

Filmmakers Matthew Heineman and Susan Froemke put America's broken health-care system under the microscope in this documentary highlighting the ongoing struggle for reform through personal stories of struggle, as well as interviews with noted physicians and politicians. With health-care costs on the rise and prevention measures at an all-time low, Heineman and Froemke question why the powers-that-be continue to maintain a dysfunctional status quo that favors profit over patient care, and explore the reform methods being proposed in Washington, D.C. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Anselm Kiefer is a German artist who began earning an international reputation for his paintings, which combined photographic realism with impressionistic abstraction and used the juxtaposition of images to form an unapologetic commentary on Germany's history and failings. In 1993, Kiefer relocated from Germany to France, and in 2000 he bought an abandoned silk processing plant; there, Kiefer set up new facilities to create massive installations that employed both large-scale paintings, huge sculptures, objects found at refuse sites, and materials such as dirt and ash to create complex artificial environments. Filmmaker Sophie Fiennes allows Kiefer and his work to speak for themselves in the documentary Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow, in which Kiefer talks about his life and work while Fiennes and her crew follow as the artist creates one of his installations, big enough that a team of assistants with heavy equipment must assemble the pieces under his direction. Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow was an official selection at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

A young boy abandoned by his mother is taken in by his kindly neighbor, and finds himself living under the same roof as the handsome boy he's pined for from afar in this tender coming of age drama. Pim and his mother Yvette live a bleak existence on the Belgian coast. Terminally bored, Pim frequently drifts away on vivid flights of fancy, imagining himself living amongst glamorous beauty queens while longing for the affections of Gino, his neighbor Marcella's rugged, motorcycle-riding son. Sadly for Pim, Gino is far less than responsive to his affections. Later, when Pim's mother runs away with a younger man she met from the fair, Marcella adopts the young boy as a surrogate son. Meanwhile, as Gino leaves to be with his girlfriend across the border, his sister Sabrina begins to harbor a crush on Pim. Just when it appears that Pim's first and only love has left for good, however, Gino returns, and the wide-eyed dreamer finds that his fantasies may in fact have a chance at becoming reality. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The football program at Manassas High School in Memphis, TN, has earned a powerful reputation during the school's 110-year history, but unfortunately it doesn't happen to be a positive one. The Manassas team has never been eligible for a single play-off game, and no one expected this to change before Bill Courtney entered the picture. Courtney was a businessman and football fan who took it upon himself to do something about the Manassas football program; he volunteered his services as coach and began shaping a hapless team into one with genuine prospects. Filmmakers Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin followed Courtney and his players through the 2009 season, and their documentary Undefeated examines the coach's efforts to give the school a winning record, as well as the sometimes complex relationship between Courtney, a white, wealthy businessman, and his players, who are all black and mostly come from communities stuck in a cycle of poverty and crime. Undefeated received its world premiere at the 2011 South by Southwest Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi