Tag Archives: Documentary

Totally Under Control (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): Totally out of control

Posted on January 10, 2021 by kaist455

Documentary film “Totally Under Control” is alternatively sobering and infuriating for several good reasons. While it is disturbing to see the exponential spread of COVID-19 virus in US during last year, it is also exasperating to watch how this serious … Continue reading →

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Kingdom of Silence (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): A journalist who cared about his country

Posted on January 10, 2021 by kaist455

Showtime documentary film “Kingdom of Silence” glimpses into the life and career of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whose brutal murder at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Istanbul, Turkey shocked many of us in October 2018. Mainly revolving around the … Continue reading →

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Dear Santa (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): Operation Santa

Posted on January 4, 2021 by kaist455

Although the holiday season of 2020 is over now, I must confess that I need some extra holiday cheer before officially beginning the first week of 2021, and Dana Nachman’s documentary film “Dear Santa” thankfully provided that to me. While … Continue reading →

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Evaporated (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Since his daughter was vanished

Posted on January 2, 2021 by kaist455

South Korean documentary film “Evaporated” is shrouded in somber desperation and frustration right from the beginning. Closely observing a father’s longtime search for his vanished daughter, the documentary calmly and sensitively observes that overwhelming psychological burden on not only him … Continue reading →

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Giving Voices (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): Young students channeling August Wilson’s legacy

Posted on December 29, 2020 by kaist455

Netflix documentary film “Giving Voices”, which was released in last week, follows a number of different participants of one significant annual cultural event commemorating and enlivening the legacy of one of the greatest American playwrights in our modern time. Simply … Continue reading →

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Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The last day of their frequent bar

Posted on December 28, 2020 by kaist455

Bill Ross IV and Turner Ross’ latest work “Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets” will impress you twice at least if you are going to watch it without much knowledge on how it was produced. Considering how much I was surprised even … Continue reading →

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45365 (2009) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Welcome to Sidney, Ohio

Posted on December 28, 2020 by kaist455

I still fondly remember when I took a train from Chicago to Urbana-Champaign, Illinois in the morning of April 20th, 2010. I was going there for attending the 2010 Ebertfest along with many others including late critic Roger Ebert, and … Continue reading →

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Spaceship Earth (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): Behind Biosphere 2

Posted on December 26, 2020 by kaist455

Matt Wolf’s documentary film “Spaceship Earth” presents a fascinating story behind Biosphere 2, an American Earth system science research facility located in Oracle, Arizona. The documentary is often amusing during its first half as delving into an interesting tale surrounding … Continue reading →

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Rewind (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Rewinding to the abuse in his past

Posted on December 22, 2020 by kaist455

Sasha Joseph Neulinger’s first feature documentary film “Rewind” is often uncomfortable and disturbing to watch for good reasons. Calmly digging into his traumatic childhood past via a series of old home video clips shot around that terrible period, the documentary … Continue reading →

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City Hall (2020) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): Of a city and its government

Posted on December 22, 2020 by kaist455

I must confess that I cannot help but become very, very, very nervous whenever I have to watch and review the latest work from Frederick Wiseman, a great documentary filmmaker who has never stopped in his long, illustrious career although … Continue reading →

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