Top Docs: Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers

”Simple as Water” with Megan Mylan

While the international news media has mostly turned the page on the war in Syria, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Megan Mylan’s (“Smile Pinki”, “Lost Boys of Sudan”) new documentary “Simple as Water” shows how the shattering consequences of the war continue to reverberate through the lives of those who have been displaced, as well as those who have stayed behind. Presented in five unforgettable vignettes, the film spans the globe from Syria to Greece, Turkey, Germany, and the U.S.
How is it possible to capture the sprawling nature of this terrible international tragedy while keeping the focus on the mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, brothers and sisters who are struggling to grab onto a more hopeful future? In an intimate Top Docs conversation, Megan joins Mike to talk about the close ties she formed with these families and how her experience of becoming a mother changed the way she sees the world and informed her approach to the film. Mike relates how watching the film with his own children was an eye-opening experience. It’s a film that parents everywhere will want to share with their children. It’s as simple as that. The film will have a limited theatrical run and then debuts on HBO and HBO Max on November 16th.
Follow Megan on twitter @megamylan
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Hidden Gem:  Sing Faster
To support Syrian refugees:  Karam Foundation

”Faya Dayi” with Jessica Beshir

“Faya dayi” is a hymnal chant recited by the Harari farmers of Ethiopia as they harvest khat, a native plant chewed for its stimulant properties. Roughly translated, faya dayi means “giving birth to wellness or health.” It is also the title of Ethiopian/Mexican filmmaker Jessica Beshir’s one-of-a-kind, profoundly moving new documentary set in the magical and troubled land where she grew up.
Deeply affected by the stunning beauty and originality of the film, Ken and Mike were extremely fortunate to be able to talk to Jessica at length about her tour-de-force documentary feature debut, which she shot, directed and produced over the course of a transformative ten-year personal journey. How did Jessica maintain her faith in the project for so many years and develop the sense of self-confidence that she could pull it off? What was her inspiration for embracing an aesthetic that privileges instinct and emotion over traditional narrative devices? How did she do justice to the stories of the young people who have been struggling for freedom under a series of repressive regimes? We invite you to listen in on our conversation with Jessica for her many insights into the film. We also encourage you to experience “Faya Dayi”, a Janus Films release, on the big screen. For those in NYC, catch it at the Maysles Documentary Center 11/19 – 12/3. Congratulations to Jessica on being nominated for three IDA Documentary Awards!
Follow Jessica Beshir on Twitter @jessybeshir
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Hidden Gem:  The House is Black

”A Cop Movie” with Alonso Ruizpalacios

Immaculately produced by Daniela Alatorre and Elena Fortes and stylishly directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios (“Museo”, “Gueros”, “Narcos: Mexico”), A COP MOVIE is a dazzling hybrid documentary brain teaser and gorgeous piece of cinematic eye candy. It’s also, well, a cop movie, with a blood pumping chase scene and a pair of captivating Mexico City police officers known as “the love patrol.” At its core, the movie illuminates the systemic police corruption that plagues the Mexican police force, eroding the public’s trust and making life untenable for even the “good cops.”
Mike and Ken spent a thoroughly engaging afternoon with Alonso, who, fresh off a screening at DOC NYC, set us straight about what was “real” and what was scripted, how he imbedded his actors in a police academy training program and shared a hilarious anecdote about Alfonso Cuaron’s baby dummy from “Roma”! This is the kind of documentary that even your Thanksgiving in-laws will appreciate. So, grab another slice of pie and cozy up with “A Cop Movie”. Available now on Netflix.
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Hidden Gems:  
Waltz with Bashir
The Five Obstructions
The English Surgeon
F for Fake
Also mentioned: 
The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film
Midnight Family

”The First Wave” with Matthew Heineman

Academy Award-nominated director Matthew Heineman’s (“Cartel Land”, “City of Ghosts”) harrowing new cinema verité documentary, THE FIRST WAVE, takes us into the eye of the storm, a New York City intensive care unit during the worst four months of the COVID-19 crisis. Trailing a relentlessly driven medical team led by the remarkable Dr. Nathalie Dougé and spending countless hours with desperately sick patients and their families, Heineman and his crew are there to document this unfathomable terror inside the hospital, but, also, stories of hope, too, and even moments of pure joy.
What was it like to film during the early days of the pandemic when “safety protocols” were being created on the fly? How did the glint in the eye of an intubated patient provide a clue that an unforgettable relationship would develop between the patient and the medical staff? And in what ways did the events following George Floyd’s murder make the connection between the worlds inside and outside the hospital? Ultimately, as Heineman says, THE FIRST WAVE is a testament to the power of the human spirit.” Prepare to cry.
Now playing in select theaters across the country and https://films.nationalgeographic.com/the-first-wave.
 
Follow Matthew on twitter @MattHeineman
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Hidden Gems:  
Sherman’s March
Murderball

”Procession” with Robert Greene

Miscarriage of justice doesn’t begin to describe the wrongs that have been done to the six men at the heart of Robert Greene’s (“Bisbee ’17”, “Kate Plays Christine”) pathbreaking, searing, and, ultimately, immensely healing, new documentary “Procession”. As boys, Joe, Mike, Ed, Dan, Michael and Tom each suffered sexual abuse, including rape, at the hands of Catholic Church clergy. As men, their cases have been dismissed or ignored. Partnering with Greene, they have now taken matters into their own hands, co-creating staged scenes in order to reclaim the spaces where the abuse took place and to confront the trauma that has plagued them into adulthood.
Speaking to Mike and Ken from his home base in Columbia, Missouri, Robert describes how the practice of drama therapy inspired him to push his filmmaking in a bold new direction. He goes deep into the unique collaborative process that forged a powerful bond between the men and the film crew. And, as one might expect with a film as powerful as this, the conversation turns personal, with Mike sharing his own experiences as an altar boy in Burlington, Vermont. No doubt, the reverberations of “Procession” will be felt far and wide, like the church bell that Ed rings midway through the film. After years of living with trauma, it’s finally his turn to be heard loud and clear. Now streaming on Netflix.
 
Follow Robert on twitter @prewarcinema
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Hidden Gems: The films of Peter Watkins.
The War Game
Edvar Munch

”Flee” with Jonas Poher Rasmussen

Almost daily, the news media report on a new refugee crisis or a tragic border crossing attempted by those fleeing desperate circumstances in their home countries for the promise of a better life elsewhere. Danish filmmaker Jonas Poher Rasmussen takes the measure of one such story in his remarkable new documentary “Flee”, which gives a blow-by-blow, first-hand account of a young Afghan refugee named Amin who faces a perilous journey before finally making it safely to Denmark.
Jonas and Amin became friends in high school, but it was not until years later that Jonas had even the slightest idea of all that had happened to Amin and his family. Why did Amin finally decide to tell his story? How did Jonas respect Amin’s desire to stay anonymous, while at the same time portraying his story not only accurately and completely, but also visually? How did a filmmaker who started out with an idea for a short film, eventually take on an incredibly ambitious, multi-layered animated feature? Recently, Mike and Ken had the opportunity to ask Jonas about his special relationship with Amin and delve into Jonas’ own creative odyssey. “Flee” captured the 2021 Sundance Grand Jury Prize and is now being heralded as a serious contender for this year’s Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
NEON releases the film in theaters starting on December 3rd.
Hidden Gem: Trollkarlen

Anatomy of a Scene from ”Rebel Hearts” with Pedro Kos

Want to know more about how one of our award-winning directors crafts a complex scene? For our inaugural “Anatomy of a Scene'' special segment, we invited “Rebel Hearts” director Pedro Kos to peel back the curtain on his filmmaking process by dissecting a pivotal scene from his new movie. It’s a fascinating “deep dive” that we know you will enjoy!
The Scene: The 1967 Immaculate Heart General Assembly
The nuns of the Immaculate Heart are determined to bring a progressive vision and more flexible practices into the daily life and mission of the monastery. But, when the Archdiocese of Los Angeles views this as a direct threat to his power, the nuns are faced with a life-altering choice: back away from their ideals or continue to fight for what they believe. In this scene, Pedro draws upon all the tools in his creative toolbox to bring this critical event to life and deliver a powerful emotional punch to the audience.
Note: We recommend that, if possible, you follow along with us. The scene takes place from 57:44 – 1:01:47, timed from the beginning of the movie. Rebel Hearts is available on Discovery+ .
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”Try Harder!” with Debbie Lum

For many 17- and 18-year-olds, life exists on the unsettling edge between the daily grind of high school and the promised land of freedom and opportunity: college. The brilliance of Debbie Lum’s enthralling new documentary “Try Harder!” is that it occupies the treacherous space in between these two worlds by focusing on the hyper competitive college application process. With an all-access pass to Lowell High School, San Francisco’s top-ranked public high school, “Try Harder!” profiles five endearing students (and their parents) who are struggling to make it through the process in one piece.
In this up-close-and-personal conversation, Mike and Ken discover that they went to the same college as Debbie (but during a much less competitive time). When Mike shares his recent experiences as a parent of a student who has just gone through all this, Debbie jokingly calls Mike a “wolf dad”, and the podcast is off-and-running… How did Debbie get access to Lowell and what got the students to open up to her and her crew? Why was it so important to Debbie to explore — and explode — the myth of Asian Americans as a model minority? (At Lowell, the majority of the student body is Asian American). And why did Debbie want the silly and fun side of adolescence to shine through just as much as the academics? Join us for this silly/fun/warm conversation about growing up. To be admitted, all you need to do is press “play”.
“Try Harder!” (Greenwich Entertainment)  debuts in theaters December 3rd in New York, LA and the SF Bay Area and will have its broadcast premiere on PBS’ Independent Lens on May 2, 2022.
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Hidden Gem:  AKA Don Bonus

”My Name is Pauli Murray” with Julie Cohen & Betsy West

141 boxes. That’s a lot of stuff. But, if that “stuff” happens to be the Pauli Murray Papers at Harvard’s Schlesinger Library, then you may well have just struck documentary gold. Filmmakers Betsy West and Julie Cohen first learned of Murray when they were in the throes of research for their Oscar-nominated documentary “RBG” about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Later, after immersing themselves in those archives (in addition to speaking to scholars and those who knew Murray), West and Cohen were amazed to learn how often this pathbreaking legal scholar and civil and women’s rights pioneer was years ahead of the times.
Recently, Ken and Mike had the opportunity to talk to Betsy and Julie about their deeply moving documentary portrait, “My Name is Pauli Murray” and the creative choices that guided them along the way. How did RBG provide the first clue that led them on this journey? How did they make the decision to consider Murray’s life as a queer, non-binary person, as well as include Murray’s key romantic partnership in the film, even though, during Murray’s own life, those subjects remained private? How was first lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s life changed by knowing Murray? And how did a cameo by Murray’s dog, Roy, in a grainy bit of black-and-white footage, practically steal the show? As Betsy says, “I’m amazed that Pauli isn’t in our history books.” Now, thanks to “My Name is Pauli Murray”, we can say that Murray has gone one step further: Pauli Murray is a star on Amazon Prime. Check out the film there and enjoy our interview.
 
Hidden Gems:
Theramin: An Electronic Odyssey
First Cousin Once Removed

”The Rescue” with Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin

Sometimes you think you know the full story when it turns out you really don’t know the half of it. Oscar-winning filmmakers E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s (“Free Solo”, “Meru”) riveting new documentary “The Rescue” chronicles the heroic international effort in the summer of 2018 to save twelve boys and their soccer coach trapped deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand.
At the time, the Thai cave rescue story was a world-wide media sensation. But very little was known about what actually went on inside the cave, how the rescue was carried out, and the complex interpersonal dynamics between the various key players. Equal parts suspense thriller and character study, the film also manages to be a thoughtful cultural exploration. In total, “The Rescue” is a tour-de-force of non-fiction filmmaking.
After drying their eyes, Mike and Ken were eager to talk to Chai and Jimmy about the immense challenges they faced in telling this miraculous story. How did they transition from documenting the high-risk pursuits of elite mountain climbers to portraying the equally treacherous and hidden world of cave diving? What did they make of the quirky cave divers themselves? How did one last ditch effort to get their hands on some crucial footage pay off? And, finally, what does ground up broccoli have to do with any of this? You’ll have to tune in to this “Top Docs'' episode to find out. “The Rescue” is available now for streaming on Disney+
Hidden Gem:  Le Joli Mai