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vidlib@videolibrarian.com
 
Updated February 2, 2010 |
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Visions of the Sea  (2008) 55 min. DVD: $24.99, Blu-ray: $29.99 ($44.95 w/PPR). PBS Video (tel: 800-344-3337, web: www.pbs.org). Closed captioned. ISBN: 0-7936-7089-6. 
Life on Earth would be impossible without water, which covers over two-thirds of the planet’s surface. Although life itself began in the sea more than three-and-a-half-billion years ago, the ocean’s depths remain a little-understood environment. In Visions of the Sea, filmmaker Al Giddings takes viewers on an underwater tour, revealing a world not only of great beauty but also of fascinating diversity and contrasts. For example, the blue whale is the world’s largest animal—with a heart the size of an automobile—yet it depends on the tiny krill for its survival. The documentary covers the origins of sea life, examining the chambered nautilus (unchanged for more than 400 million years), jellyfish, snails, rays, sharks, crabs, and lobsters, as well as spectacular plant life. Although the film obviously can’t fully cover the world’s 27,000 species of fish, it does illustrate some exotic varieties sporting fanciful names, such as the clownfish and the trumpetfish. Other topics include how sea creatures use camouflage to maximize chances of species survival, and similarities and differences compared to life on land (viewers will learn, for instance, that fish really do sleep). Featuring attractive photography and intelligent, informed commentary (which is somewhat undercut by intrusive background music), Visions of the Sea also explains the negative effects of global warming on ocean (and, ultimately, human) life. DVD extras include an hour of additional footage. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)
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Arukihenro: Walking Pilgrims (2006) 73 min. In Japanese w/English subtitles. DVD: $59.95: individuals; $225: public libraries, colleges & universities. Documentary Educational Resources (tel: 800-569-6621, web: www.der.org). PPR. Tommi Mendel’s documentary follows a group of Japanese pilgrims who make the 88 Temples’ Pilgrimage—encircling the island of Shikoku—tracing the path created by the monk Kobo Daishi (774–835), founder of Japanese Shingon Buddhism, who reportedly attained enlightenment on Shikoku. This is not a trek for the weak: in its entirety, it covers nearly 870 miles in order to reach those 88 Buddhist temples. Not surprisingly, most voyagers take the bus tour approach, but Arukihenro accompanies a small number who travel the open roads and nature paths on foot, a journey that can require up to 60 days to complete. Pilgrims speak of various motivations: spiritual enlightenment, personal curiosity about Kobo Daishi’s experience, and the desire to complete a physically and emotionally challenging adventure. Sadly, the film does not go into depth on Daishi’s theological teachings, which makes it difficult for Western viewers to grasp the genuine spiritual connection being sought by many of today’s pilgrims. On the plus side, however, Arukihenro is handsomely shot, with some genuinely stunning scenes of the island’s rocky coast and breathlessly beautiful compositions of temples along the path. Likely to appeal to those interested in Buddhism and Japanese culture, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall) |
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The Pyramid Code  (2009) 2 discs. 222 min. DVD: $29.99. Kultur International Films (avail. from most distributors). ISBN: 978-0-7697-8907-1. 
Although most Egyptologists would dismiss this series of five hour-long made-for-TV programs, it will likely appeal to viewers who love extravagant speculative history—especially with a New Age spiritual twist. The brainchild of Dr. Carmen Boulter of Calgary University (whose field is education, not Egyptology), The Pyramid Code features interviews with geologists, archaeologists, engineers, physicists, and others, who argue that the generally accepted chronology of ancient Egypt is wrong, that Egyptian society was far more technologically advanced than is recognized, and that the pyramids were constructed not as tombs for the pharaohs but as devices for harnessing energy from the cosmos. All of that is mere prelude, however, to a much broader assertion: namely, that the age in which the pyramids were built was marked by matriarchy, peacefulness, expanded consciousness, magic, and sensitivity to the universe as a whole, in contrast to the current epoch, which is characterized by nationalism, patriarchy, conflict, and scientific immaturity. Happily, the final episode informs us, our benighted era is coming to a close—in 2012, as the Mayan calendar prophesies—not with the destruction unleashed in Roland Emmerich’s popcorn flick 2012, but rather the beginning of a golden age. Nice location footage can’t make up for Boulter’s doubtful expertise or the fact that two other supposedly authoritative interviewees are identified as “independent” (read: “unemployed”) Egyptologist and “indigenous wisdom keeper.” Not a necessary purchase. Aud: P. (F. Swietek)
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Refugees (2008) 52 min. In Hebrew, Arabic & English w/English subtitles. DVD: $29.90: individuals; $115: public libraries; $300: colleges & universities. Ruth Diskin Films (tel: 972-2-6724256 [Israel], web: www.ruthfilms.com). PPR. Shai Carmeli-Polak’s documentary calls attention to one of the ironies of modern Israeli history: although it’s a country of immigrants, government policy toward Africans crossing the border from Egypt has been harsh, often resulting in quick deportation to their countries of origin and sometimes in prison sentences. Refugees illustrates the debate, in the Knesset and elsewhere, between government officials who generally support restrictive legislation and activists seeking a less rigid approach, distinguishing between those who argue from mostly practical concerns and those who see the situation as a human rights issue. Carmeli-Polak complements this material with footage following a group of refugees from their arrival through the eventual disposition of their cases, celebrating along the way those volunteers who help the refugees find accommodations (while they await the government’s decision), as well as resident refugees who have formed a support group for both themselves and newcomers. The documentary’s point of view is obvious from its focus on two people trying to escape the hellish situation in Darfur, which naturally evokes sympathy for their plight and outrage over the seemingly hardhearted attitude of the government. But in the end, the criticism, although directed at Israel, has a broader sweep, as the film notes the ever-growing number of displaced persons in today’s conflict-plagued world and the similar reluctance of other nations to take them in. A thought-provoking documentary, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek) |
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Who Gives Kisses Freely from Her Lips (2009) 41 min. DVD: $59.95: public libraries & high schools; $175: colleges & universities. Third World Newsreel (tel: 212-947-9277, web: www.twn.org). PPR. Within Iran’s Islamic theocracy, a couple’s decision to live together without being married is a criminal action; however, a loophole of sorts, the sigheh (temporary marriage) can be used to allow young people to test the waters of matrimony, or older people who have lost their mates through divorce or death to enjoy limited companionship without a full commitment. Simin Farkhondeh’s documentary looks at this quirk of Iranian society, interviewing men and women who are either in the midst of this uncommon arrangement or have previously tried it. For women, the temporary marriage allows them to enjoy more civil rights than traditional marriage—one man glumly admits his sigheh wife became annoyed with him and arranged for a passport to leave the country, which she could not have done in a regular marriage. Who Gives Kisses Freely from Her Lips, however, is never entirely clear on how mainstream Iranian society views sigheh or why the ruling ayatollahs would allow it as a means of skirting their interpretation of Islamic law. The film also suffers from an awkward framing device that uses a docudrama approach with a female Iranian-American filmmaker named Salomé, who is supposedly making the documentary with the help of a handsome bachelor named Reza. Nonetheless, this fascinating look into a little-understood aspect of contemporary Iranian society is recommended, overall. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall) |
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Blood Equity (2009) 63 min. DVD: $19.95 ($99 w/PPR). Walking Shadows (tel: 310-855-3366, web: www.walking-shadows.com). 
Produced by Roman Phifer, a three-time Super Bowl champion and an assistant coach for the Denver Broncos, and directed by Michael Felix, this documentary looks at issues faced by many professional football players after their careers end, focusing in particular on how the athletes’ union—the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA)—seems to be working with team owners against disabled ex-players in regard to securing post-career healthcare coverage and financial assistance. For every Howie Long or Troy Aikman who leave the sport for highly successful careers elsewhere, too many other players fall on hard times when their bodies begin deteriorating after years of gridiron abuse. Perhaps the saddest and cruelest story here involves former Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster, who was repeatedly denied benefits by the NFLPA to help cover his mounting healthcare bills from his football-related injuries; he died near-destitute in 2002 at age 50. Blood Equity brings in a number of football legends to offer commentary—including Mike Ditka, Tony Dorsett, Daryl “Moose” Johnston, Willie Wood, Cyril Smith, and Donnie Green—but NFLPA executives and team owners are conspicuously absent, making this documentary rather one-sided. Nonetheless, the film offers a chilling look at the less savory aspects of superstar sports. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
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Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox (2007) 88 min. DVD: $19.99. 
Filmmaker Sara Lamm never met Emanuel H. Bronner—he died in 1997—but she’s a fan of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap, the product he concocted after emigrating to the U.S. from Germany in 1929. It’s a “peppermint-infused, all-natural, multipurpose liquid” that can be used to “wash your hands, brush your teeth, clean your hair, and more.” Bronner’s heirs still make the soap at the family’s plant in Los Angeles and sell more than 4.5 million bottles of it each year. Every container is wrapped with a label detailing in tiny print the unusual and evolving philosophy that Bronner, a third-generation master soapmaker, first espoused in 1912 and that he called “the Moral ABC,” designed “to unite all mankind free.” Lamm uses archival footage to introduce Bronner, who was briefly committed to a mental hospital in Illinois in 1947 before escaping and moving to California; but the real star of the film is Bronner’s mild-mannered son, Ralph, who, when Lamm wrote to the company for information, flew to New York from his home in Menomonee Falls, WI, to meet her—while also, of course, acquainting even more people with the “magic soap.” DVD extras include audio commentary by the director; an updated 13-minute interview about the family business with Bronner’s grandson, David; a featurette on fair trade olive oil; and a radio piece by Lamm. Recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (F. Zoretich)
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Expedition Africa  (2009) 376 min. DVD: $34.95 (3 discs), Blu-ray: $39.95 (2 discs). The History Channel (avail. from most distributors). PPR. Closed captioned. ISBN: 1-4229-3785-2 (dvd), 1-4229-4427-1 (blu-ray). 
Imagine National Geographic producing a version of the reality show Survivor and you’ll have an idea of what to expect in this eight-episode 2009 History Channel series (Survivor’s Mark Burnett is executive producer), which puts four Western explorers in the heart of Africa to recreate Henry Morton Stanley’s 1871 search for the lost Dr. David Livingstone, guided by only a compass, maps, and Stanley’s original journals. Expedition Africa may disappoint reality show fanatics—the adventurers are well-trained professionals rather than self-promoting dilettantes—while those with a penchant for natural history documentaries are likely to be annoyed by the bickering among the foursome, as well as the truncated recreation of the Stanley odyssey (30 days, as opposed to the original nine-month trek), and the obvious fact that the participants are probably experiencing nowhere near the level of physical danger that the show’s narration suggests (after all, they are being followed by a camera crew). In a weird way, the series also helps to perpetuate the age-old stereotype of “darkest Africa,” with “Great White Hunters” hiring natives to help them navigate the supposedly uncivilized wild. Nonetheless, Expedition Africa is a handsomely produced program that nicely captures the African ecosystem while also carefully explaining the challenges that Stanley overcame, making this of some interest to both history buffs and armchair travelers. DVD/Blu-ray extras include a behind-the-scenes documentary, as well as bonus footage. A strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (P. Hall)
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My Iranian Paradise (2009) 58 min. DVD or VHS: $99: public libraries; $295: colleges & universities. Filmakers Library (tel: 212-808-4980, web: www.filmakers.com). PPR. A middle-aged woman born in Denmark (and living there now), returns to Tehran, Iran’s capital, where she spent the first 22 years of her life. Arriving at the airport, she encounters a woman whose black chador covers the lower half of her face. “Things are quite different now,” the mystery woman warns the visitor, before vanishing into the night. As you might guess from this opening scene, Katia Forbert Petersen and Annette Mari Olsen’s My Iranian Paradise is not “pure” documentary. In fact, while this is actually Petersen’s story, she’s behind the camera: the person we see moving through the city is Olsen (and we do see and hear from the chador-clad figure again—or at least someone historically knowledgeable who looks the same from the bridge of her nose to her forehead).Viewers will learn that Petersen’s parents met in Iran—her father was a Danish engineer who’d helped build a railroad in Iran and then found a job with the Iranian Ministry of Transport, while her mother was a Polish survivor of a World War II prison camp in Siberia. Through archival footage—including newsreel shots of Iranian political upheavals over the past half-century and home movies from the family’s once-happy days in Iran—coupled with beautifully photographed present-day scenes, My Iranian Paradise underscores the fact that life has indeed become “quite different”—especially for women. Like |
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Who’s Afraid of Kathy Acker? (2008) 84 min. DVD: $89: public libraries; $295: colleges & universities. Women Make Movies (tel: 212-925-0606, web: www.wmm.com). PPR. Barbara Caspar’s documentary about experimental author Kathy Acker (1947–1997) traces the writer’s development from her early, impoverished punk days to her success in the 1980s and ‘90s as a post-punk feminist icon best known for reworking literary classics to feature female protagonists and brutal sexuality. Interviews with Acker (archival), her sister, and several colleagues and friends are intercut with footage of the author reading from her work. Excepts from Acker’s prose and poetry are also presented with a barrage of impressionistic imagery—some archival, some created for this film (including a stylized, animated version of her literary alter ego Janey, early punk rock bands, paragons of 1950s womanhood, street scenes, and still photos from Acker’s childhood). Topics discussed include Acker’s sexual masochism in her fiction, her importance as an American literary figure, and the politics of her work. Acker’s prose and poetry are sexually explicit, and the film contains graphic nudity as well as scenes from a sex tape Acker made with a friend. In person, Acker was sharp, charming, and funny—a marked contrast to the sexually violent content of her writing and outsider status. Although this offers a comprehensive overview of Acker’s life and work, the documentary’s explicit material makes this suitable only for related academic studies and more adventurous public library collections. Recommended, with reservations. Aud: C, P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg) New Video Movie Reviews • New DVD Reviews To search the full video review database, click here. (You must be a Video Librarian Plus! subscriber. More info....) |
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