Documentary Movies

On March 1, 2010, Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was arrested on charges of "propaganda against the Islamic Republic" (his crime was speaking out on behalf of activists protesting the dubious re-election of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad), and he was sentenced to six years behind bars and banned from making films for twenty years. While Panahi's prison sentence was suspended after a few months in jail, Iranian officials have still forbidden him from directing movies, writing screenplays, giving interviews or leaving the country. In response, fellow filmmaker Mojtaba Mirtahmasb teamed up with Panahi to create In Film Nist (aka This Is Not a Film), in which Panahi ponders the past and current state of his career as well as the screenplay he was planning to shoot shortly before his sentence was handed down. As Panahi stages a reading of the script in his home (with Mirtahmasb capturing the action on video as other friends and family members occasionally function as "director" via messages and phone calls), Panahi demonstrates the blocking and camera angles he had in mind using taped diagrams on his living-room floor, and the two filmmakers explore the nebulous line between making a film and talking about how one would make a film in front of a camera. Panahi and Mirtahmasb were able to smuggle a copy of This Is Not a Film out of Iran in defiance of the government's ban on Panahi's work, and the picture was screened at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Filmmaker Alison Klayman presents an intimate portrait of outspoken Chinese artist/political activist Ai Weiwei, who was taken into police custody after criticizing the Chinese government over the deaths of 5000 students during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, and who defied his country's censorship laws to help organize and inform his fellow citizens. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

This enlightening documentary takes a look at the Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge, in which 100 horse-savvy contestants attempt to tame a wild mustang over the course of 100 days. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

This documentary serves up unauthorized biographies of the young stars in the box-office smash The Hunger Games - Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, and [$Josh Hutcherson. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Filmmaker Lauren Greenfield offers this documentary profile of nouveau-riche time-share entrepreneurs David and Jackie Siegel, who witness the sudden collapse of their lifelong dream when construction on their opulent, 90,000-square-foot Versailles-inspired manor is suddenly halted after the economy collapses. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

This documentary follows life-saving first-responders as they plunge headfirst into Haiti in order to help when a massive earthquake strikes the island nation. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Six dance students follow the same dream against long odds in this documentary from filmmaker Bess Kargman. The Youth America Grand Prix is a competition for young ballet students between the ages of 9 and 19; it's one of the world's leading proving grounds for new talent, and most major dance companies and schools pay close attention to who fares well in the annual contest. Each year, thousands of dancers enter, but only 300 make it into the finals, held in New York City. First Position follows six youngsters who've entered the Grand Prix, and their lives and backgrounds offer a glimpse into the wide range of competitors. Sixteen-year-old Joan Sebastian Zamora is from Colombia, and his parents have sent him to America to train with a top instructor; he has to deal with his family's high expectations as well as those of the judges. Miko Fogarty is a 12-year-old from Palo Alto, CA, who dreams of becoming a professional; her parents believe in her, but also want her younger brother to follow in her footsteps, whether he's willing to or not. Fourteen-year-old Michaela DePrince was born in Sierra Leone, and is still haunted by memories of the bloody civil war there; she's since been adopted by a couple in Philadelphia, and dreams of becoming a star in a field where African-Americans are still not well-represented. Rebecca Houseknecht is a 17-year-old from Maryland who looks like a star, and she hopes to skip college and go directly into professional dance. Aran Bell, 11, is the son of a military doctor; he's determined to learn, and while his family is in Italy, he travels hours each day for lessons with a former star of the Ballet Marseilles. And Gaya Bommer Yemini, a close friend of Aran, is the daughter of Nadine Bommer, a well-respected Israeli choreographer, who hopes to follow her mother into the world of ballet. First Position received its world premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

From juggling to grape catching, contenders hoping for a spot in the legendary Guinness Book of World Records work tirelessly to hone their talent. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

Gonzo filmmaker Mads Brügger poses as a wealthy European-African consul in order to expose corruption and profiteering in the Central African Republic in this audacious hidden-camera documentary. Ostensibly traveling to the landlocked African country to open a match factory, Brügger delves into the dangerous world of blood diamond smuggling while revealing the treacherous greed of obscenely rich white businessmen who make a killing through the misery and suffering of the impoverished, defenseless masses. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The definitive and true-life story of Nancy Kwan who as a young Eurasian girl from Hong Kong captured the hearts and minds of cinemagoers around the world in her stunning motion picture debut in THE WORLD OF SUZIE WONG (1960). Nancy Kwan's story is both fairytale and poignant as it takes its audience on a personal journey, a woman's journey, which is as equally compelling, as it is inspiring!

This documentary examines the negative media coverage of the Pit Bull and its consequences, including multiple city-wide bans across the United States, mass euthanasia, and the perpetuation of the belief that the breed is inherently violent. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

One of the giants of contemporary art offers a look into his creative process and working methods in this documentary. Born in Germany in 1932, Gerhard Richter was a child of World War II, spending his early years in Dresden before it was destroyed, and he began studying art in 1947. By the late 1950s, Richter was regularly exhibiting his work, and he earned a reputation for both realistic and abstract paintings that sometimes incorporated photography into their images. Richter is considered one of the world's most respected artists, and Gerhard Richter Painting offers a look at the artist at work in his studio. Filmmaker Corinna Belz focuses on Richter's technique (using modified squeegees as well as brushes) and his routine in the studio, allowing the artist and his work to speak for themselves. The film also presents a profile of the Richter's history via rare interviews and newsreel footage, as well as following him as he prepares for an exhibit of his new work, taking care to see that the paintings are presented to their best advantage. Gerhard Richter Painting was an official selection at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi