Published: April 29, 2008 05:11 pm            

Mr. Movie: Documentaries popular

Documentaries have enjoyed a bit of a renaissance recently, thanks largely to Michael Moore and Errol Morris. 2005 was an extraordinary year for them.

March of the Penguins (2005) chronicles the true story of the emperor penguins’ unique existence in frozen Antarctica.

These magnificent birds walk over 70 miles to return to their birthing place, then band together to survive the unbelievable harsh conditions.

I had not realized the ethereal beauty of this barren land, but this incredible film is worth seeing for that alone. And, of course, baby penguins are just too cute to be believed!

The new, politically correct name for the sport is Quad Rugby, but it was originally named Murderball (2005) and is still called that by the players.

Quadriplegia means a person has limited or no use of all four limbs. All of these guys are “quads,” but they play a form of wheelchair rugby just short of organized mayhem.

There is a fascinating underlying story about the former U.S. team captain who had left to coach the Canadian team. What these men can do is far more important than their conditions – and you’ll probably never see someone in a wheelchair quite the same way again.

What can focus inner city youth, turn their lives around and provide us with a sterling documentary? Why, ballroom dancing, of course!

In Mad Hot Ballroom (2005) kids who seemed doomed to wind up on the streets are changed forever by the intricacies of ballroom dancing. They are really good and fun to watch!

And here are three more from 2004: In the mean streets of Calcutta, many children are Born Into Brothels. While their mothers ply their trade, the world’s oldest, these children shift for themselves. But they are resilient, and charming and heartbreaking.

During the 2004 presidential election campaign, a scurrilous film was put out by the so-called Fast Boat people smearing Sen. John Kerry. Going Upriver is the true story of Sen. Kerry’s heroic tour of duty in Vietnam, and his conversion to spokesman for Veterans Against the War.

There is CNN, the ludicrous Fox News, the big U.S. networks, Reuters and the BBC and then there is Al-Jazeera, the Arab-owned and run news agency which garners more Middle East viewers than all the others combined.

Admittedly biased, the agency tells more about the war in Iraq than anyone else. The Control Room is a film about this unique news outlet.

All of the films in this column are available on video and DVD. Only Penguins is suitable for children (and they will love it along with grown-ups).



Rusty Hammond has been writing the Mr. Movie column since 1996. It appears in several newspapers in North Carolina.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.