Great Documentaries

April - May 2009

Which is the bigger task—going from door to door (Salesman) or from the earth to the moon (For All Mankind)? Which takes more effort—unionizing coal miners (Harlan County USA) or moving a 320-ton steamship over a mountain (Burden of Dreams)? As evidenced by the classic documentaries showing for free in this month’s festival, it’s all about perspective. Especially when told from the extraordinary perspectives of such nonfiction filmmakers as Barbet Schroeder, Les Blank, Al Reinert, Barbara Kopple, D. A. Pennebaker, and the Maysles brothers.