CONTRARY WARRIORS chronicles the Crow Indians’ century-long battle for survival. In spite of every effort by the U.S. government to assimilate the people and acquire tribal land, the Crows’ have persisted — their language, family and culture intact. They continue to live on their ancestors’ land in what is now southeastern Montana, but like tribes everywhere, the Crows’ future is a high-risk gamble.
Category: Documentary
Japan, 1986. At the tail end of the world tour promoting their latest album Revenge, Eurythmics tops the charts. Between concerts, pop duo Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart survey Japan’s cultural soundscape with the help of Conny Plank: A world of sounds both brutally technological and highly refined by tradition.
At Montauk, on the eastern tip of Long Island, a territory of romantic landscapes, Eric Dahan visits Paul Morrissey in his retreat. The numerous views of the ocean seem to metaphorize the form of the documentary, which is constructed as a layering of the continuous flow of the filmmaker’s words, images from his films—’Trash’ (1970), ‘Forty Deuce’ (1982), or ‘Mixed Blood’ (1985)—and a tour of his home.
When his mother is attacked and killed by a lion, infant boy Boru is adopted by a passing tribe and raised by the tribe’s chief. The young boy and the chief’s son Nikitu grow up to become close friends and skilled hunters. When a drought threatens the tribe’s existence, Boru and Nikitu traverse the countryside looking for a water source, only to get caught in the open when a lightning storm sets the tribe’s homeland on fire.
Opening with the first day of rehearsals of the London production of “Sweeney Todd”, this ninety-minute documentary focuses on the rehearsal process with the musical’s director, composer and actors.
An excellent documentary made shortly after the release of Cronenberg’s The Fly which allows the director and his supporters and detractors full rein to discuss the many complex issues surrounding his films. Contains interviews with Stephen King, Martin Scorsese, Robin Wood and Cronenberg himself.
Renowned folk singing group The Weavers plans and performs a reunion concert at Carnegie Hall in 1980, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their first public concert in 1955 at Carnegie Hall, after being blacklisted. The film covers the group’s political and musical background, their overnight success and blacklisting, and their influence on the 1960’s American folk music movement, including interviews with performers Peter, Paul and Mary, Arlo Guthrie, Don McLean, Holly Near and journalist Studs Terkel.