Political Docos
Due to the great influx of socio-political documentaries over the last couple of years, Alice thought it was time they had a section of their own. Included here are political bios ('Comandante', 'Mahatma Gandhi: Pilgrim of Peace'); films dealing with the mechanics of politics ('Rats in the Ranks', 'The War Room'); and those dedicated to political issues as diverse as homelessness ('It Was A Wonderful Life'), the death penalty ('Mr Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A Leuchter Jr'), corporate depletion of natural resources ('End of Suburbia'); civil rights ('4 Little Girls') and corruption ('Fahrenheit 911). Undoubtedly two stars of the genre are two very different men, extroverted funnyman, Michael Moore ('Roger and Me') and soft-spoken professor, Noam Chomsky ('Manufacturing Consent'), pictured.
The Robert Epstein Collection: The Celluloid Closet / Common Threads / Paragraph 175 / The Times of Harvey Milk (1984)
Director: Jeffrey Friedman, Rob Epstein
A collection of four documentaries from queer filmmaker Robert Epstein. "The Celluloid Closet" (1995) - This entertaining and often hilarious look at... Read more
The Secret History of 9/11 (2006)
7.6/10
To mark the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, the CBC presents an extraordinary look at what was happening beh... Read more
The Shock Doctrine (2009)
7.7/10
Director: Michael Winterbottom, Mat Whitecross
Starring: Naomi Campbell, Ronald Regan, Barack Obama
Taking shock therapy as a metaphor, this investigative documentary explores "disaster capitalism," in which unstable nations are first jolted by catas... Read more
The Spanish Earth (1937)
6.7/10
Director: Joris Ivens
In 1937 Joris Ivens directed THE SPANISH EARTH, a film designed to inform Americans about the Spanish Civil War and to raise funds for allies (the Loy... Read more
The Take (2004)
7.8/10
Director: Avi Lewis
Starring: Naomi Klein
This award-winning documentary from producers Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis tracks the spectacular economic collapse that took place in Argentina followin... Read more
The Times of Harvey Milk (1984)
8.3/10
Director: Rob Epstein
Starring: Harvey Fierstein
More than a story of one man's life, this Academy Award-winning documentary traces the coming of age of the Gay Rights Movement in the late '70s. Harv... Read more
The Trials of Darryl Hunt (2006)
7.7/10
Director: Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg
In 1984, copy editor Deborah Sykes was raped and murdered. Three suspects leapt out, but one was settled on very quickly, 19-year-old, black youth, D... Read more
The U.S. vs John Lennon (2006)
7.4/10
Director: David Leaf, John Scheinfeld
Starring: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Gore Vidal, Noam Chomsky, etc ...
A compelling exposition of the political persecution of outspoken, anti-war Beatle, John Lennon. As an unpopular war in Vietnam dragged on into the 1... Read more
The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents (2013)
7.9/10
Few people may be aware that the office of the President of the United States was originally conceived by America's Founding Fathers as a mere adminis... Read more
The Unforeseen (2007)
7.1/10
Director: Laura Dunn
Starring: Robert Redford, Willie Nelson, William Greider, Gary Bradley
Environmental activists clash with a real estate developer in this deeply felt documentary featuring Robert Redford as both onscreen commentator and e... Read more