Waila! Making the People Happy

MID-LENGTH DOC

Waila!  Making the People Happy

Director: Daniel Golding
Filmmaker in person Waila is the best-kept musical secret of the desert southwest. Also called Chicken Scratch, Waila is the dance music of the Tohono O'odham/ Pima tribe in Southern Arizona and a form of "traditional music" one would not expect, derived as it is from the mazurkas, polkas and schottisches of Central Europe as well as cumbias from Columbia. The evolution of this fun and lively music since the 1870s, as it adopted different styles and instruments, is told through the Joaquin family, four generations of Waila musicians. Through their musical lives we see Waila as a testament to the resilience and adaptive abilities of native communities as they take what is given them and make it their own. Above all, Waila music is about making the people happy. Get happy, people. See this film. (2005, 57 min.)
Showing: May 18, 2pm, MTC

Today's Man

MID-LENGTH DOC

Today's Man

Director: Lizzie Gottlieb
The director's attempt to understand her brother's strange and extraordinary life, TODAY'S MAN gives us Nicky Gottlieb, a young man with Asperger's syndrome, a high- functioning form of Autism, as he struggles to leave his family's home and find his own place in the world. The film is both a personal exploration of a family drama and a broader effort to create an awareness and understanding of a fascinating, mysterious and heartrending disorder. TODAY'S MAN is also enormously entertaining. As Nicky says, "Can't I just be somebody who's just a little eccentric and watches television in a systematic way?" (2006, 55 min.)
Showing: May 18, 12pm, Crown Hall

To You Sweetheart, Aloha

MID-LENGTH DOC

To You Sweetheart, Aloha

Director: S. Leo Chiang and
Mercedes Coats
Filmmaker in person
"Aloha" means hello, goodbye, love, and here's how (as a toast). These multiple meanings, interfused, create the spirit of TO YOU SWEETHEART, ALOHA, which follows the 94th year in the life of the colorful and charismatic Honolulu-born ukulele master, Bill Tapia. While mourning the death of his wife and only daughter, he finds a muse in 26-year- old Alyssa Archambault, his manager and friend, who helps him connect to his past and rebuild a future in music. Through the journey of this unconventional friendship, Bill arrives unexpectedly at the pinnacle of his musical career and learns to forge an independent life for himself after having outlived everyone he loves. (2004, 57 min.) Preceded by live music from local Hawaiian slack key guitar master Michael Arago.
Showing: May 18, 5pm,  MTC

Soul Searching

MID-LENGTH DOC

Soul Searching: 

The Journey of Thomas Merton

Director: Morgan Atkinson
SOUL SEARCHING is a meditation walk along the interior landscape of a great American mind, which captures simultaneously the physical beauty of the geography that nurtured it and gave it shape. It follows Thomas Merton's path - as Trappist monk, poet, essayist, spiritual writer, peace activist, environmentalist and hermit - from his youth as a Columbia undergraduate to his death in Bangkok at the age of 53. In bringing to life his 27 years as a monk, this deeply considered film reveals the struggles of Merton's spiritual search and how he emerged from this crucible with an international reputation in 20th century letters - part Augustine, part Emerson, part Gandhi - whose thoughts remain current some 40 years after his death. (2006, 68 min.)
Showing: May 19, 10am, St. Anthony's

Soul of Justice

MID-LENGTH DOC

Soul of  Justice:

Thelton Henderson's American Journey

Director: Abby Ginzberg
SOUL OF JUSTICE is a testament to one person's commitment to integrity and human rights and his profound effect on the lives of millions. From the inhumane conditions of Pelican Bay State Prison to the slaughter of dolphins by tuna-fishing fleets to the elimination of affirmative action, Thelton Henderson, as one of the first African American federal judges, has been on the front lines of some of the most important legal contests of the past 25 years. SOUL OF JUSTICE is also a testament to the director-producer's sense of commitment. Abby Ginzberg, a former attorney, has said of Henderson's inspirational and unforgettable story:  "If I did not tell it, it would not get told."  Narrated by Carl Lumbly. (2005, 62 min.)
Showing: May 18, 3:30pm,  Abalone Room

Rural Rock & Roll

MID-LENGTH DOC

Rural Rock & Roll

Director: Jensen Rufe
Filmmaker in person
The opening shot:  Late afternoon in summer.  A two lane, north country road.  The sound of wind in the trees and in the tall, dry grass. Crickets.  From beyond its leftside edge, a burly, bewhiskered, baseball cap-wearing citizen bounds into the frame to the thrash of power chords and smashing drums.  From his appearance, he seems more suited to wield a real axe than play the electric one slung across his back. The guitarist acknowledges our presence with a nod, then walks away from us down the road, introducing us to the world of RURAL ROCK AND ROLL, a vivid and engaging account of the bands, their fans, and the exhilaration as well as the challenges of sustaining a vibrant music scene in isolated Humboldt County.  The special appeal of this film is best described by its director:  "There's something unique about the untarnished perspective that comes from living out in the sticks and having no expectation of what your music's supposed to sound like." (2006, 60 min.) Three bands from the film: The Blue Dot, The Ian Fays, and the Buffy Swayze, will appear live after the screening.
Showing: May 19, 7:30pm, Crown Hall

Ripe for Change

MID-LENGTH DOC

Ripe for Change

Director: Emiko Omori
Filmmaker in person
RIPE FOR CHANGE is an essential documentary for our time. It surveys the intersection of food and politics in California over the last thirty years from the 1960s, when food and the way it was grown entered political dialogue, to present concerns about health and diminishing resources. Today, while organic food is the fastest growing agricultural sector, large-scale farming is still addicted to fossil fuels. What are the trade-offs between the production of large quantities of food and the health of workers, consumers and the planet? How do we create sustainable agricultural practices? RIPE FOR CHANGE provides solutions to these questions with examples like community supported agriculture (CSA) and Mendocino County's Measure H, which bans the use of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). Provocative commentary by well-known farmers, chefs, authors and scientists-- including Alice Waters, David Mas Masumoto, Richard Heinberg and Miguel Altieri--illuminates the struggle to define the future of California's agriculture. (2005, 57 min.)
Showing: May 19, 12:30pm, Matheson

A Revolving Door

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

A Revolving Door

Director: Chuck and Marilyn Braverman
Filmmakers in person
Here is an antidote to popular culture's prescription for insanity. This is not the cozy madness of KING OF HEARTS nor madhouse as metaphor as in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST. Filmed over a period of three years, A REVOLVING DOOR is about a real person, Tommy Lennon, youthful, attractive and likeable but living in a world fogged by delusion and mania. Once, before the California summer day when his surfboard flew up into the air and came down crashing into his skull, his life held great promise. Since his accident, he has been stuck in a revolving door of homelessness, drug abuse, mental institutions and jails. A REVOLVING DOOR is also about Tommy's family:  their frustration, helplessness, courage and resilience. Tommy's mother, Debby, said of their experience, "It's a road to hell. It's not easy for the person afflicted with it, and it's not easy for the people who love him." (2006, 40 min.)
Showing: May 18, 3pm, Matheson

Off Key, In Harmony

MID-LENGTH DOC

Off Key, In Harmony

Director: Martin Wilson
The Pennine Community is an educational institution and a farm community in West Yorkshire, England. Its purpose is to offer education, training and support for young adults with developmental disabilities. OFF KEY, IN HARMONY tells the story of the filmmaker's yearlong experience as a co-worker there. This "darling, hysterical, authentic and wise" (thank you, Meredith S.) film features some sweet glimpses into the eternal, especially when two beautiful people engage in spirited crossfire disquisitions on the relative rocker qualifications of Elvis Presley and Gareth Gates--differences which they resolve in a duet of "Unchained Melody." (2006, 35 min.)
Showing: May 18, 12pm, Crown Hall

Journey From Spirit Mountain

MID-LENGTH DOC

Journey from Spirit Mountain

Director: Daniel Golding
Filmmaker in person
JOURNEY FROM SPIRIT MOUNTAIN tells the story of the Quechan Indian Lightning Songs, first trapped by their original dreamers in the late 1800's, which recount the Creation Story and the exploits of Wonderboy. We are introduced to Preston Arroweed, a contemporary singer, who revitalizes these songs. In today's world he must compete with other storytellers - corporations producing television, radio, video games and movies - trying to capture the imaginations of Quechan youth. This film, which is a must for anyone interested in the history of consciousness, tells of the migration of the Quechan from the creation to their present home, showing the archeological evidence and geographic regions described in the songs. (2007, 35 min.)
Showing: May 18, 2pm,  MTC

AnotherSideofPeace

Mid-Length Doc

Another Side of Peace

Directors: Ellen Frick and Gretchen Burger
Filmmakers in person Roni Hirshenzon, a 60-year old Israeli man, has suffered as much as any parent can imagine:  Both of his sons died at age nineteen as a result of violence in the region. Putting hatred and despair aside, Roni co-founded the Parents Circle, a support group for bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost children to the conflict. ANOTHER SIDE OF PEACE follows Roni's journey to come to terms with the death of his sons and to promote peace. With Ghazi Briegieth, his Palestinian counterpart, he connects with other bereaved parents in Israel and Palestine. Their message to the world:  No More Death. This heartfelt documentary "will inspire everyone interested in the challenges of conflict resolution and peacemaking" - Harvard School of Government. (2004, 60 min.) Showing: May 18, 1pm, Abalone Room

The Forest For the Trees

MID-LENGTH DOC

The Forest for the Trees:

Judi Bari v. the FBI

Director: Bernadine Mellis
Filmmaker in person
On May 29, 1990, Earth First! organizer Judi Bari's car was bombed in Oakland, California. Within three hours of the bombing, Bari was accused of transporting the explosives that had nearly killed her. Still in the hospital, she was arrested and soon labeled a terrorist in the national media. The charges were later dropped. For the next 12 years, Bari, civil rights lawyer Dennis Cunningham, and others would pursue a federal civil rights suit against the FBI and the Oakland Police Department. THE FOREST FOR THE TREES, directed by Cunningham's daughter, is an intimate behind-the- scenes look at Bari's fight, an important instance of the false and damaging association of dissent with crime and terrorism. At the heart of the film is Bari herself, a folk hero and an electrifying onscreen presence, and the legal battle that few believed she could win. (2006, 68 min.)
Showing: May 19, 5:30pm, St. Anthony's

Homeless in Paradise

MID-LENGTH DOC

Homeless In Paradise

Director: Chuck and Marilyn Braverman
Filmmakers in person
"From the home of the homeless..." intones Harry Shearer as he opens Le Show, his weekly radio program originating on KCRW, Santa Monica. Indeed, Santa Monica is a city well recognized for the variety and quality of services it provides its 4,200 homeless residents, who comprise approximately 5% of its total population. This poignant documentary chronicles the journeys of four individuals-Rick, Donna, Simon and Faye-who are HOMELESS IN PARADISE. We experience chronic homelessness through their eyes as they struggle with addiction and illness, while receiving support from a city in crisis. Santa Monica may well be the home of the homeless, but this controversial distinction raises two questions, even in paradise: Can any human being really be at home with his or her homelessness? Is chronic homelessness a condition which is always hopeless? As the stories of these four of 4,200 unfold, we receive four answers. (2004, 50 min.)
FREE Showing: May 19, 3pm, St. Anthony's

California's Lost Tribes

MID-LENGTH DOC

California's 'Lost' Tribes

Director: Jed Riffe
Filmmaker in person
California's indigenous people have been forced to adjust to many shifts since "first contact". For the past generation, they have undergone yet another shift, this time of their own choosing. Plummy-voiced Linda Hunt's narration at the beginning of this documentary characterizes this shift:  "In a few short years, they have gone from being the poorest people in the state to among the richest, from being virtually invisible to being the most powerful political lobby in the sixth largest economy in the world."  CALIFORNIA'S "LOST" TRIBES examines clearly and incisively this dramatic transformation, caused by the rise of Indian Gaming. (2006, 56 min.)
Showing: May 19, 10am, Matheson

Father's Day

MID-LENGTH DOC

Father's Day

Director: Mark Lipman
Filmmaker in person
"FATHER'S DAY is an intensely personal film that will speak to anyone exploring the imprint of their parents on their own lives." - Bo Smith, film curator, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Haunted by his inability at the age of seventeen to prevent his father's death, filmmaker Mark Lipman gathered material over a period of 20 years to construct a memory of his father from relatives' memories, psychiatric records and evocative home movies. What begins as a personal memorial to his father ends by uncovering more than Lipman bargained for, as the film evolves into a moving exploration of grief, depression, the vagaries of memory and the veneer of a functioning family. (2003, 38 min.)
Showing: May 19, 3:30pm, Matheson

Jonas

MID-LENGTH DOC

Jonas

Director: Elias Daughdrill "JONAS is a portrait of my brother and his battle with schizophrenia. The film navigates between past and present, surveying the period of Jonas' initial breakdown as well as observing his life now:  medicated, banal, marginalized and unfulfilled. Because of his medication, he is lucid, articulate and seemingly 'normal.'  But, of course, his illness is still present and affects his thinking and reasoning. He still lives with our parents and, at 34, is somewhat embarrassed and angry about this situation. He works with our father, who is a farmer, but he does not want that to be his identity. Nor can he be identified simply as 'schizophrenic.'  The central question becomes, can he find an identity he can embrace?" - Elias Daughdrill (2006, 46 min.)
Showing: May 18, 3pm, Matheson

Los rabajadores

MID-LENGTH DOC

Los  Trabajadores The Workers

Director: Heather Courtney
Filmmaker in person
"We build the buildings, do the hardest jobs, and still they don't want us." - Juan Ignacio Gutierrez LOS TRABAJADORES tells the story of immigrant day laborers, placing their struggles and contributions in the context of the economic development of Austin, Texas. Through the experiences of Juan (from Nicaragua) and Ramon (from Mexico), and through the controversy surrounding the relocation of a day labor site from downtown to a residential neighborhood, the film examines the misconceptions and contradictions inherent in America's dependence on, and discrimination against, immigrant labor. As Juan says, "they say Austin is growing, but thanks to whom?" (2003, 48 min., in English and Spanish with English subtitles.)
Showing: May 18, 11am, St. Anthony's
FREE Showing: May 20, 4pm, St. Anthony's