Film & Documentary
July 13, 2020 ⭐️ Become a Member Letter from the editor: This past Independence Day, Hyperallergic took a look at how the cinema of other countries has depicted the United States over the decades, and what lessons we might take from their approaches. In the context of mass protests against systemic injustice, it’s vital to look outside the usual institutional channels. On a similar note, Eileen G’Sell reviewed Good Trouble, a new documentary on longtime civil rights activist and politician John Lewis. We also reviewed two recent films set in Japan: Werner Herzog’s latest is a doc/fiction hybrid about a service that allows you to “rent” actors to play family members; and fresh from Sheffield Doc/Fest, Serena Scateni reviewed Me and the Cult Leader, in which the director confronts members of a group that committed a terrorist attack which injured him decades before. Meanwhile, a new season of the rebooted Twilight Zone is now available to stream. Read about how it grapples with the legacy of the original classic. And I talked to the Ross Brothers, the directors of Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets, one of the best documentaries of the year. As long as cinema is quarantined online, Hyperallergic will be on top of everything streaming. Until we can see you at the movies again, stay safe. For any American even mildly ignorant of the rich, complex legacy of Civil Rights within our decidedly disunited country, Dawn Porter’s John Lewis: Good Trouble should be mandatory viewing. Eileen G'Sell Since the early 20th century, the US has been a dominant force in visual media, often using it as a tool to impose its own culture on others and paper over its sundry atrocities with a shiny, heartwarming facade. Dan Schindel SPONSORED Family Romance, LLC uses a Japanese rental family service to blur the line between reality and fiction. Dan Schindel Atsushi Sakahara, the survivor of a terrorist incident, films his journey with the spokesman for the group that committed the attack. Serena Scateni Directors Bill and Turner Ross talk about their new documentary Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets and how they created a “theater of people.” Dan Schindel A long-overdue retrospective of the feminist artist and filmmaker demonstrates how she explores communication in her work. Serena Scateni While the series often falters, season two feels less self-conscious about its status in this iconic franchise, and more willing to simply be itself. Dan Schindel Your contribution helps us keep our reporting free and available to all, and makes our journalism possible when independent reporting is needed more than ever. Become a member of Hyperallergic today! Forward this newsletter to a friend! If this email was forwarded to you, click here to subscribe Hyperallergic, 181 N11th St, Ste 302, Brooklyn, NY 11211 This email was sent to [email protected]. Manage your preferences to subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletters. Forward Preferences | Unsubscribe | 