Documentaries

Documentaries are a wonderful way to learn something new while enjoying quality film making. PWPL recently added several new non-fiction DVDs to the collection featuring many topics. 

Life Itself

921 EB DVD

“Life Itself” documents the life of world renowned film critic Roger Ebert. Ebert was a Pulitzer Prize winning critic who has had a huge impact on the world of film and popular culture. After a long battle with cancer, which left him physically disfigured, the film explores how Ebert was able to put a new spin on his personal life and continue to be a force in the film world despite his disability. At times funny, painful, and uncomfortable, “Life Itself” has the ability to take the viewer deep into the life of someone who is a professional viewer and what it means to appreciate film.

Jodorowsky’s Dune

791.43 JO DVD

In 1973, Chilean-French director Alejandro Jodorowsky started an epic journey to bring the world of Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel “Dune” to the big screen. With dreams of ginormous sets, colorful costumes, and big name stars, Jodorowsky started to assemble the team that could bring his vision to life. Composed of H.R. Giger, Chris Foss, Jean Giraud, Pink Floyd, Moebus, and Salvador Dali, among others, the plans were at their peak. The script, costumes and storyboards were prepared and totaled over 1,000 pages. A predominantly art house film maker, Jodorowsky had big dreams for Dune, but due to his lack of experience with big budget films, studios were unwilling to fund the project. The team disassembled, but the legacy of “Jodorowsky’s Dune” lives on through the work of many other science-fiction franchises. 

Finding Vivian Maier

770.92 FI DVD

Art, for many, is a personal endeavor, something which is never meant to be shared with anyone. This was the case for Vivian Maier, a Chicago nanny who pursued photography in her spare time. Amassing over 150,000 negatives, Maier hardly had any printed. It wasn’t until boxes of negatives were purchased at an auction that the true artistic value of Maier’s creativity was discovered. Shrouded in mystery, “Finding Vivian Maier” discovers who this phenomenal photographer was, the impact her street photography has had on the world of photography, and what it truly means to be an artist.

Bag It

363.7288 BA DVD

Did you know that all the movies we screen for DocuMonday are added to the circulating collection? Recently screened "Bag It" documents what happens when the average Joe gives up using plastic bags at the grocery store and how dramatic of a change something so small can have on his life. Jeb Berrier slowly learns just how many items are made of plastic and how embedded plastic is in the American culture. From politics to recycling, to marine biology and human health, "Bag It" is not only informative about the issues surround plastic usage, but also what changes you can make to reduce single use disposable plastic in your life.

Planet Earth

508 PL DVD

“Planet Earth” is hands down one of the best filmed nature documentaries ever. Originally filmed and released as a BBC series in 2006, this eleven episode series will take you on adventures around the world. Each episode explores a different region of the world, from the highest mountains to the deepest depths of the oceans; and shows there are new world to be discovered. Narrated by the legendary naturalist David Attenborough, “Planet Earth’s” behind-the-scenes documentaries illustrates just how extensive their filming went, including camping in the rainforests for months to film one bird and how polar bears attacked their camp in the arctic circle of Norway.

Grey Gardens

920.02 GR DVD

We recently added, “Grey Gardens” which follows the lives of the eccentric and aging Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edie, aunt and cousin to the famous Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Originally released in 1975, “Grey Gardens” takes an in-depth look at the lives of failing socialites at their decrepit East Hampton home. Infested with cats and raccoons, this films gives an inside look at the darker sides of high society and what it means to be related to famous relatives.

--Tracy Boehm, Technical Services Librarian