An Annotated List of Documentaries Opening in Theaters During April, 2013
Friday, April 5
- No Place on Earth - Directed by Janet Tobias - American spelunker Christopher Nicola explores caves around the world. In a 73-mile long cave in the Ukraine, he discovered buttons, shoes and graffiti that had been left there by 38 Ukrainian Jews who hid in the cave for 511 days during World War II. They were evading the Nazis and transportation to Nazi death camps. Nicola set out to find the survivors, and the search led him to Esther Stermer, whose written memoir provides much of the narrative basis for this documentary. Tobias interviews Stermer and other survivors, who describe their daily life in the cave, their tactics for gathering supplies and for hiding from Nazi soldiers who found the cave and began to explore it. Tobias uses a lot of reenactments to create drama and ambiance. Unfortunately, the reenactments are not convincing, and this hybrid documentary doesn't quite live up to its very compelling subject.
Sunday, April 7
- The Last Flight of Petr Ginz - Directed by Sandra Dickson and Churchill Roberts - This documentary tells of the short life of Petr Ginz, a Czech boy who was put to death by the Nazis at Auschwitz at age 16. He left a legacy of five novels and a diary about the Nazi occupation of Prague, as well as more then 170 drawings, illustrations and paintings. And, before he was forced to walk to Auschwitz, he edited an underground magazine at Terezin, one that delivered hope to others who were imprisoned there. The film is an extremely moving tribute to Petr Ginz, his tremendous creativity, courage and spirit.
Friday, April 12
- The Revolutionary - Directed by Irv Drasnin - The film documents the life of Sidney Rittenberg and the thirty plus years he spent in China, part of the time working as a translator of Chairman Mao Sedong. Rittenberg arrived in China as an American GI at the end of World War II, and stayed in the country at the end of his tour of duty. He became a member of the Chinese Communist Party, but was accused of being a Western spy and was imprisoned. When he got out of jail, he worked as a journalist and translator. He was jailed again for ten years, much of the time spent in solitary confinement. Rittenberg returned to the U.S. in 1980 and now works as a consultant to corporations doing business in China. Rittenberg's life and career reflect developments in Chinese history, from the emergence of the People's Republic of China to the Great Leap Forward. The film is an essential watch for anyone who wants to know more about and understand contemporary China.
- This Ain't California - Directed by Martin Persiel - The film follows three East German boys who defy the repressive GDR government by pursuing the decidedly American-made sport of skateboarding. The film uses Super-8 footage the lads shot of themselves on the streets, competing with each other and constantly improving their skills. The film follows them from the time they're in their early teens until their in their early twenties -- just before the fall of the Berlin Wall. The lads are perceived to be punks, and their obsession with their sport makes them social and political outcasts. It's interesting to see what life in the GDR was like for these rebellious boys and how the sport of skateboarding impacted their world.
Friday, April 19
- Portrait of Jason - Directed by Shirley Clarke - First released in 1967, Portrait of Jason has been fully restored and will be re-released theatrically on April 19. The film is a 101 minute monologue with Jason Holliday, a fascinating and flamboyant gay African-American performance artist and hustler who reveals his life story, expectations and what New York City's 1960s avant garde scene was like for a gay Black man. Read my full review.
- Unmade in China - Directed by Tanner Barklow and Gil Kofman - American filmmaker Gil Kofman accepted a job to direct China's first-ever action thriller. He traveled to Southern China to make the film and encounters daunting bureaucracy and snaffus that eventually put decision making about the film in the hands of people who know little to nothing about making movies -- or making movies that make any sense. They change the script and recast the project without consulting Kofman. As he loses control of the process, Kofman gets more and more frustrated and increasingly funny in his ascerbic observations about the way the movie business and everything else works in contemporary China.
Friday, April 26
- One Night Stand - Directed by Elisabeth Perline and Trish Dalton - Every year, show biz pros who work in Broadway musicals and on popular television shows volunteer to collaborate on creation of four 20-minute Broadway-style musicals, which they then stage, choreograph and present them in a charity performance to raise money to support the completion of full length musicals in development. Known as The 24-Hour Musicals, the event is produced by The 24 Hour Company. In this 2009 edition, the case includes Richard Kind, Rachel Dratch and other well known players. Read my full review.
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