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Documentary of the Week

WNYC

Every week, WNYC tells you about the best documentaries as they become available on screens of any size. Our hosts are Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen, co-founders of the Pure Nonfiction podcast and the DOC NYC festival, the largest non-fiction film festival in the U.S. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, 2 Dope Queens, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.

Every week, WNYC tells you about the best documentaries as they become available on screens of any size. Our hosts are Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen, co-founders of the Pure Nonfiction podcast and the DOC NYC festival, the largest non-fiction film festival in the U.S. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, 2 Dope Queens, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.

Location:

New York, NY

Networks:

WNYC

Description:

Every week, WNYC tells you about the best documentaries as they become available on screens of any size. Our hosts are Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen, co-founders of the Pure Nonfiction podcast and the DOC NYC festival, the largest non-fiction film festival in the U.S. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, 2 Dope Queens, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.

Language:

English

Episodes

Uncovering a Bizarre Murder Plot in 'Assassins'

1/15/2021
The documentary “Assassins” investigates the bizarre 2017 plot to murder Kim Jong-Nam, the half brother to North Korea’s Supreme Leader. His killing was carried out in a Malaysian airport lobby by two young women who thought they were performing for a TV prank show. Official trailer:

Duration:00:01:56

Remembering Jamal Khashoggi In 'The Dissident'

1/8/2021
“The Dissident” investigates the plan by Saudi Arabia's government to murder journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Oscar-winning director Bryan Fogel, who made “Icarus” about the Russian Olympic doping program, brings a strong commitment of speaking truth to power. Official trailer:

Duration:00:01:57

David Attenborough Delivers An Urgent Message

1/1/2021
In “David Attenborough: A Life on our Planet,” the acclaimed nature documentary maker combines stunning visuals of wildlife with a passionate appeal for humans to rescue the planet. Attenborough outlines how humans need to make changes to how we eat, farm and get energy in order to preserve our future. Official trailer:

Duration:00:01:28

August Wilson’s Legacy in 'Giving Voice'

12/25/2020
"Giving Voice” celebrates the legacy of August Wilson by looking at a competition of high school students performing his monologues on a Broadway stage. Filmmakers James D. Stern and Fernando Villena also bring in the perspectives of actors like Viola Davis and Denzel Washington who are well-versed in Wilson’s work. Official trailer:

Duration:00:01:51

Seeking Resolution in '40 Years a Prisoner'

12/18/2020
“40 Years a Prisoner” follows Mike Africa Jr. as he seeks to reunite with his parents after they were imprisoned for the 1978 shootout between Philadelphia’s police and the radical group MOVE. Filmmaker Tommy Oliver interviews eyewitnesses from multiple sides to explore the tragic dynamics that led to the violent confrontation and the flawed system of justice that followed. Official Trailer:

Duration:00:01:50

Essential Workers In 'Through The Night'

12/11/2020
"Through the Night” pays tribute to working mothers by looking at a 24-hour child care facility run by Deloris “Nunu” Hogan and and her husband Patrick in New Rochelle, NY. Filmmaker Loira Limbal won DOC NYC’s Special Jury Prize for the Ethics of Care for her poignant treatment of these essential workers. Official trailer:

Duration:00:01:46

'76 Days' Bears Witness to Wuhan

12/4/2020
The documentary “76 Days” was filmed inside hospitals in Wuhan, China during the city's lockdown at the outbreak of Covid-19. A rare independent documentary given China’s tight media control, the trio of directors Hao Wu, Weixi Chen and Anonymous present an unprecedented period of history with the pacing of a thriller. Official trailer:

Duration:00:01:52

Werner Herzog Explores Meteors In 'Fireball'

11/27/2020
“Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds” takes a global journey to study meteors from the past and present. Directed by Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer, the film interviews people obsessed with fallen bits of stardust from Norwegian jazz musician Jon Larsen to planetary scientist Meenakshi Wadhwa. Official trailer:

Duration:00:01:52

The Origins Of A Climate Activist In 'I Am Greta'

11/20/2020
"I Am Greta” follows teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg over the year she rose from obscurity to becoming the voice of a generation. Swedish filmmaker Nathan Grossman had unique access to Thunberg, including her trip by sailboat across the Atlantic to speak at the United Nations in 2019. The film is streaming on Hulu. Official Trailer:

Duration:00:01:37

'MLK/FBI' Explores A History Of Spying

11/13/2020
“MLK/FBI” returns us to a time when J. Edgar Hoover led a campaign of surveillance and harassment against Martin Luther King, Jr. The film is being previewed online at the DOC NYC festival where filmmaker Sam Pollard is being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. DOC NYC Trailer:

Duration:00:01:50

Remembering Robert Fisk in “This Is Not A Movie"

11/6/2020
Journalist Robert Fisk, who died at 74 this week, is profiled in “This Is Not A Movie” covering his long career in the Middle East. Filmmaker Yung Chang follows Fisk on reporting trips to Syria, Lebanon, Palestine’s West Bank, and more. Official Trailer: The film is currently screening at Anthology Film Archives.

Duration:00:01:43

Frederick Wiseman Looks At Boston In 'City Hall'

10/30/2020
Master documentarian Frederick Wiseman continues his 50-year project of observing institutions with a look at Boston in “City Hall.” At the center of the film is Mayor Marty Walsh as he takes on issues of immigration, racial justice, and job creation. The film is now streaming at Film Forum. Here is the official trailer.

Duration:00:01:41

'Time' Documents a Family With Father In Prison

10/23/2020
The documentary “Time” focuses on Fox Rich, an ex-convict turned successful entrepreneur, as she raises her family and struggles to get her husband Rob freed from prison. Filmmaker Garrett Bradley draws upon 20 years worth of family archives for a poetic and profound look at the impact of incarceration on a family. Official Trailer:

Duration:00:01:40

'Totally Under Control' Analyzes the U.S. Response to Covid-19

10/16/2020
“Totally Under Control” takes a sobering look at why Covid-19 had a more devastating impact in the United States than in other countries. Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney leads a film team that interviews Trump administration insiders and frontline health experts to understand what went wrong. The official trailer:

Duration:00:01:48

In Search of 'The Latino Vote'

10/9/2020
Filmmaker Bernardo Ruiz travels the United States to explore a broad spectrum of political perspectives for "The Latino Vote." He covers different nuances between the young vs old, light-skinned vs dark-skinned, and how religious convictions can skew either liberal or conservative.

Duration:00:01:49

A Journalist's 'Kingdom Of Silence'

10/2/2020
“Kingdom of Silence” explores the life of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was murdered by Saudi operatives on Oct. 2, 2018. Filmmaker Richard Rowley investigates the politics behind Khashoggi’s life and death with contributions from journalist Lawrence Wright, human rights activist Mohamed Soltan, former U.S. Deputy of National Security Ben Rhodes and others.

Duration:00:02:17

Rewriting Film History With “Women Make Film”

9/25/2020
“Women Make Film” is a 14-part documentary series narrated by Tilda Swinton and others that showcases the immense contribution of women filmmakers from around the globe. Turner Classic Movies is rolling out the series every Tuesday from now until December, alongside a collection of 100 related films directed by women.

Duration:00:02:16

To Catch A Thief In “Love Fraud”

9/18/2020
In the Showtime series “Love Fraud,” filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady conduct an investigation into a con man who has romanced women and stolen their money for twenty years. We watch his former victims band together to seek justice, turning their pain into a purpose.

Duration:00:02:03

An Octogenarian Goes Undercover

9/4/2020
The whimsical documentary “The Mole Agent” looks at an amateur spy in Chile who’s recruited to investigate a nursing home. Acclaimed filmmaker Maite Alberdi (“Tea Time”) combines humor and poignancy to study an older generation searching for connections. — Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers For more information, click here to visit the film web site.

Duration:00:01:54

Bringing Soul to Television

8/28/2020
The documentary “Mr. Soul!” profiles Ellis Haizlip who hosted a ground-breaking television series about Black culture starting in 1968. He was the uncle of filmmaker Melissa Haizlip who covers his life with nuance and complexity while serving up an astonishing archive featuring a Who’s Who of Black musicians, writers, activists, dancers and others from that era. — Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers For more information, click here to visit the official film web site.

Duration:00:02:03

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