Subgenre Sampler

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Blur: To The End (2024): Dir. Toby L.; A new feature–length documentary depicting the extraordinary and emotional return of Blur, captured during the year in which they made a…
In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon (2024): Dir. Alex Gibney
Feat. Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Carrie Fisher; The definitive musical biography about one of the most gifted singer–songwriters of his generation. Now in his early eighties, Paul Simon is…
Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line (2024): Across their 45–year career, ‘The Oils’ helped shape modern Australia with anthems like US Forces, Beds Are Burning, Blue Sky Mine and…
Never Look Away (2024): Dir. Lucy Lawless; Lucy Lawless directs this intimate portrait of a trailblazing female photojournalist and CNN camerawoman Margaret Moth, who fearlessly captures…
Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023): Dir. Lisa Cortes; A fabulous documentary that gives long–overdue credit to the man who blazed the trail for rock 'n' roll sound and showmanship when he burst…
Shackleton: The Greatest Story of Survival (2023): The true story of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance, told by the only man ever to have repeated their incredible…
Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis (2023): Dir. Anton Corbijn; The story of Aubrey “Po” Powell and Storm Thorgerson, a couple of unlikely London lads who stumbled into forming the coolest art design group of…
Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts (2022): Dir. Roger Michell; A nostalgic, uplifting, and modern documentary about Queen Elizabeth II – the greatest British monarch of all time and longest–serving female…
Gloriavale (2022): Dir. Fergus Grady, Noel Smyth; A moving exposé of human exploitation in our own backyard, which continues within the infamous Gloriavale Christian Community on the West Coast of…
Lancaster (2022): From the team behind SPITFIRE comes the story of the iconic WW2 bomber told through the words of the last surviving crew members, re–mastered…
Merkel (2022): Dir. Eva Weber; A fittingly admirable portrait of the one of the great diplomats of modern times, Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany for sixteen years, and most…
Mister Organ (2022): Dir. David Farrier; A real–life game of cat–and–mouse ensues when Kiwi journalist and film–maker David Farrier ("Tickled") tries to hold an…
Moonage Daydream (2022): Dir. Brett Morgen; An authorized, immersive audio–visual odyssey that illuminates the enigmatic legacy of David Bowie. The film is a full–throttle…
My Old School (2022): Dir. Jono McLeod
Feat. Alan Cumming; Filmmaker Jono McLeod returns to his old school in 1993 Glasgow for a nostalgic look at the unbelievable yet true story of his former classmate,…
Notre Dame on Fire (2022): Dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud; A documentary retracing how on April 15, 2019, heroic men and women put their lives on the line to accomplish the awe–inspiring rescue of…
Shane (2022): Dir. David Alrich, Jon Carey, Jackie Munro; An authorised documentary about Australia's leading spin bowler Shane Warne, the world famous cricketing legend who tragically passed away in March…
Whetu Marama – Bright Star (2022): Dir. Toby Mills, Aideen O’Sullivan; The inspiring story of Sir Hekenukumai Ngaiwi Puhipi, aka Hek Busby, the Maori navigator and waka builder who was a key figure in reviving…
Beatles, The: Get Back (Get Back) (2021): Dir. Peter Jackson; A monumental and technically remarkable docu–series from director Peter Jackson that exhaustively covers the making of the Beatles' 1970 album,…
Big Deal (2021): Dir. Craig Reucassel; Documentary presented by Craig Reucassel, who investigates Australia's billion–dollar political lobbying industry and how it corrupts…
Blind Ambition (2021): Dir. Warwick Ross, Rob Coe; A documentary charmer about four Zimbabwean refugees who conquer the odds to become South Africa's top sommeliers. Driven by relentless optimism,…
Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road (2021): Dir. Brent Wilson; Immersive documentary that looks at the career of musician and co–founder of The Beach Boys Brian Wilson, who offers perhaps this final missive…
Ennio: The Maestro (2021): Dir. Giuseppe Tornatore; A celebration of the life and legacy of the legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone, anchored around an interview with film–maker Giuseppe…
Flee (2021): Dir. Jonas Poher Rasmussen; Stunning animated documentary based on the story of Amin Nawabi, an Afghan refugee who grapples with a painful secret he has kept hidden for 20…
Hemingway (2021): Dir. Ken Burns, Lynn Novick; Expansive 3–part documentary on the life of American writer Ernest Hemingway, exploring both his life and his extraordinary writing, which had…
I Am Alfred Hitchcock (2021): A seminal figure in the world of cinema, Alfred Hitchcock produced some of the most famous films ever made. I Am Alfred Hitchcock delves deep into…
James & Isey (James and Isey) (2021): Dir. Florian Habicht; Kiwi director Florian Habicht's deeply moving tribute to Northland life and aroha in the form of a documentary portrait of Isey and her son James,…
My Name is Gulpilil (2021): Dir. Molly Reynolds
Feat. David Gulpilil; A documentary memoir of the late great actor and dancer David Gulpilil, an Aboriginal Australian of the Yolngu people who starred in movies such as…
Perfect Planet, A (TV Mini-Series) (2021): Feat. David Attenborough; More of the same globespanning wildlife wonder from the nonagenarian Attenborough featuring the most state–of–the–art digital…
Raphael: The Young Prodigy (2021): Dir. Massimo Ferrari; A documentary about the Italian painter Raphael, and his extraordinary contribution to the short–lived High Renaissance movement of the late…
River (2021): Dir. Jennifer Peedom; Jennifer Peedom, director of “Mountain”, returns with another cinematic and musical odyssey that this time explores the remarkable relationship…
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021): Dir. Morgan Neville; A passionate and energetic documentary about beloved cultural icon Anthony Bourdain, who went from being an anonymous chef to a world renowned…
Sparks Brothers, The (2021): Dir. Edgar Wright; Edgar Wright’s inspired documentary about Russell and Ron Mael, the sibling art–rockers who have spanned seven decades in the music biz doing…
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (2021): Dir. Marilyn Agrelo; A fittingly wonderful doco tracing the history of the ground–breaking and beloved children’s TV show “Sesame Street”, from its inception…
Velvet Queen, The (2021): Dir. Marie Amiguet; An incredible nature documentary from France as much about the human animal as the animal kingdom. It follows renowned wildlife photographer Vincent…
Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? (2020): Dir. Frank Marshall; A poignant, in–depth exploration of the history of the legendary pop group, the Bee Gees, featuring revealing interviews with the oldest…
Botticelli, Florence and the Medici (2020): Dir. Marco Pianigiani; A documentary exploring Renaissance Florence and its astonishing art and culture, centering around the life of revolutionary artist Sandro Botticelli…
Breaking Bread (2020): Dir. Beth Elise Hawk; Inspiring documentary set around the A–Sham Arabic Food Festival in Haifa, Israel, where Arab and Jewish chefs combine their cultures and food…
Cosmos: Possible Worlds (TV Series) (2020): Dir. Ann Druyan, Brannon Braga; Sequel to the landmark documentary series COSMOS, which in turn updated the original series presented by Carl Sagan in 1980. Astrophysicist Neil…
David Byrne's American Utopia (American Utopia) (2020): Dir. Spike Lee; A Spike Lee directed document of former Talking Heads front man David Byrne's exuberant 2019 Broadway show, based loosely on his album American…
Dissident, The (2020): Dir. Bryan Fogel; A documentary about Jamal Khashoggi, Washington Post journalist and dissident who was murdered by agents of the Saudi government while working in…
Final Account (2020): Dir. Luke Holland; German documentary providing portraits of the last living generation of people to have participated in Hitler's Third Reich. A valuable project…
Girl on the Bridge, The (2020): Dir. Leanne Pooley; A brave and heart–wrenching documentary breaking the silence around New Zealand's mental health crisis, from the perspective of suicide…
Girls Can't Surf (2020): Dir. Christopher Nelius; An Australian documentary about the female surfers who challenged the male–dominated surfing industry of the 1980's, and who rejected their…
Gunda (2020): Dir. Viktor Kossakovsky; A sublime, meditative documentary following the lives of a small group of farm animals, from acclaimed Russian documentarian Victor Kossakovsky.…
Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful (2020): Dir. Gero von Boehm; Wildly successful photographer Helmut Newton made a name for himself exploring the female form over many decades, and his cult status continues long…
I Am Greta (2020): Dir. Nathan Grossman; A portrait of teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg, which starts with her one–person school strike outside Swedish parliament, and…
Ken Burns' Country Music (2020): Dir. Ken Burns; Formidable 8–part, 16 hour PBS series by the legendary documentarian Ken Burns, exploring the history of country music and it's cultural impact…
Laurel Canyon (2020): Two part documentary series exploring the music and culture of Laurel Canyon and the wider LA rock scene of the 60's and 70's. Features incredible…
Love it Was Not (2020): Dir. Maya Sarfaty; Superb documentary about the incredible story of an SS officer and a Jewish prisoner who fall in love and have an affair at Auschwitz. A talented…
Mole Agent, The (2020): Dir. Maite Alberdi; An Academy Award–nominated documentary set in a nursing home in Chile, where a private investigator has hired a charismatic…
Painter and the Thief, The (2020): Dir. Benjamin Ree; A astonishing art documentary about the Czech painter Barbora Kysilkova, who tracked down and met the criminal who stole her paintings. What…
Pompeii: Sin City (2020): A documentary exploring the city of Pompeii and its profound influence on culture and art over the course of human history. Provides an evocative…
Six60: Till The Lights Go Out (2020): Dir. Julia Parnell; Documentary tracking the extraordinary local success of Kiwi band Six60, who started off as students living in 660 Castle Street in Dunedin, and went…
Stray (2020): Dir. Elizabeth Lo; A companion piece of sorts to KEDI (2016), the popular film about the stray cats of Istanbul, that this time presents the dog’s eye–view of…
White Riot (2020): Dir. Rubika Shah; A frighteningly still–relevant documentary about "Rock Against Racism", a movement that was formed in 1976, as a result of a far–right…
Zappa (2020): Dir. Alex Winter
Feat. Frank Zappa; An intimate portrait of Frank Zappa, one of modern music’s most important and iconoclastic figures. The film explores his far–reaching and…
#Anne Frank: Parallel Stories (2019): Dir. Sabina Fedeli, Anna Migotto
Feat. Helen Mirren; Documentary marking the 75th anniversary of the Auschwitz liberation, featuring Helen Mirren reading from Anne Frank's diaries and providing a moving…
2040 (2019): Dir. Damon Gameau; Structured as a visual letter to his 4–year–old daughter, the director of THAT SUGAR FILM embarks on a journey to explore what the future…
63 Up (2019): Dir. Michael Apted; Continuation of the ground–breaking documentary series following the lives of 14 British people since 1964, providing yet another plethora of…
Amazing Grace (Amazing Grace: Aretha Franklin) (2019): Dir. Sydney Pollack, Alan Elliott; Soul–shaking concert film featuring the mighty Aretha Franklin with choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January…
Apollo 11 (2019): Dir. Todd Douglas Miller; A handsomely mounted, meticulously conceived documentary presenting the events of the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon, led by commander Neil…
Australian Dream, The (2019): Dir. Daniel Gordon; Documentary about the legendary Australian Football League player Adam Goodes, which also provides an essential examination of Australia's deeply…
Aznavour By Charles (Le regard de Charles) (2019): Dir. Charles Aznavour, Marc di Domenico; Documentary exploring the extensive film diaries of French–Armenian singer, songwriter and actor Charles Aznavour, which he shot from the late…
Biggest Little Farm, The (2019): Dir. John Chester; Inspirational and utterly picturesque documentary made by a farmer who ditched city life and moved onto 200 acres of barren farmland with his wife,…
Booksellers, The (2019): Dir. D.W. Young; A wistful and fascinating behind–the–scenes glimpse into the world of antiquarian and rare book collecting. Focusses on shops, dealers…
Brabham (2019): Dir. Akos Armont; Revealing portrait of Australian icon and motor racing trailblazer Jack Brabham, the forgotten godfather of modern Formula 1 and winner of 14 grand…
Camino Skies (2019): Dir. Fergus Grady, Noel Smyth; A Kiwi take on the inspirational experience of six pilgrims who embark on the historic 800 kilometre Spanish pilgrimage known as the Camino de…
Capital in the Twenty-First Century (2019): Dir. Justin Pemberton; NZ filmmaker Justin Pemberton astutely adapts the bestselling book of the same name by French economist Thomas Piketty, which tells the story of 400…
Collective (2019): Dir. Alexander Nanau; A blistering Romanian documentary following a heroic team of journalists from the newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor who attempt to uncover the country's…
Dan Carter - A Perfect 10 (2019): Dir. Luke Mellows; An intimate portrait of iconic All Black Dan Carter that traces his journey from rural New Zealand to international rugby superstar.
David Crosby: Remember My Name (2019): Dir. A.J. Eaton; Soulful and deeply personal documentary on musician David Crosby, a founding member of both The Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash. A fearless and at…
Diego Maradona (2019): Dir. Asif Kapadia; Documentary celebrating the career of football genius Diego Maradona, the charismatic Argentine who lead Naples to their first ever title.…
Earth From Space (TV Mini-Series) (2019): Feat. Chiwetel Ejiofor; Captivating documentary miniseries presenting earth from never–seen–before perspectives, and exploring how fast our planet is changing.…
For My Father's Kingdom (2019): Dir. Vea Mafileo, Jeremiah Tauamiti; Director Vea Mafile'o crafts this deeply personal documentary portrait of her father, a Tongan patriarch whose dedication to pouring large amounts of…
For Sama (2019): Dir. Waad Al-Khateab, Edward Watts; Groundbreaking document of Syrian War, produced, directed and narrated by a journalist and political rebel under the pseudonym Waad Al–Kateab.…
Frida: Viva La Vida (2019): Dir. Giovanni Troilo
Feat. Asia Argento; Asia Argento narrates this documentary about the enigmatic, iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, exploring her letters and diaries to present both the…
Hail Satan? (2019): Dir. Penny Lane; Chronicling the extraordinary rise of one of the most colorful and controversial religious movements in American history, HAIL SATAN? is an inspiring…
Herbs - Songs of Freedom (2019): Dir. Tearepa Kahi; Passionate celebration of the iconic NZ band Herbs, from the director of POI E. More a social movement than a band, and at one time boasting up to 23…
Hermitage: The Power of Art (Ermitage. Il potere dell'arte) (2019): Dir. Michele Mally; A documentary about the Hermitage in St Petersburg, a vast museum boasting the largest collection of paintings in the world. Explores the daily life…
Hillary: Ocean to Sky (2019): Dir. Michael Dillon; Director Mike Dillon revisits his original footage of Sir Edmund Hillary's extraordinary 1977 adventure boating up the entire Ganges river, which…
Hitsville: The Making of Motown (2019): Dir. Benjamin Turner, Gabe Turner
Feat. Diana Ross; The story of Motown Records told through interviews with the label's visionary founder, Berry Gordy, and many of its superstar artists and creative…
Honeyland (2019): Dir. Tamara Kotevska, Ljubomir Stefanov
Feat. Hatidže Muratova; Sublime environmental documentary set in the remote mountainous village of Bekirlija, North Macedonia, where a wild bee keeper is quietly observed…
House of Cardin (2019): Dir. P. David Ebersole, Todd Haynes; Legendary fashion designer Pierre Cardin is the subject of this affectionate documentary exploring his life and extraordinary impact on the fashion…
Iyengar: The Man, Yoga, the Student's Journey (2019): Dir. Jake Clennell; Documentary about world–renowned yogi B. K. S. Iyengar, who founded Iyengar Yoga, a form of Hatha known for its rigorous mental and spiritual…
Jean Paul Gaultier: Freak and Chic (2019): Dir. Yann L’Henoret; An all access look behind the scenes into the glamorous world of visionary French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, as he prepares an outrageous…
Leunig Fragments, The (2019): Dir. Kasimir Burgess; A documentary portrait of Michael Leunig, the cartoonist, writer, painter, philosopher and poet who counts as one of Australia's National Living…
Liam Gallagher: As it Was (2019): Dir. Gavin Fitzgerald, Charlie Lightening; Rockumentary following the Oasis singer as he attempts a dramatic solo comeback, since scaling the dizzying heights of rock n roll fame in the 90's…
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (2019): Dir. Robert Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman; Superb rock–doc celebrating the humble yet prodigiously talented singer and trail–blazing female rock star, Linda Ronstadt, who –…
Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love (2019): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Evocative exploration of the relationship, which developed in the 1960s, between the late Leonard Cohen and his Norwegian muse Marianne Ihlen –…
Martha: A Picture Story (2019): Dir. Selina Miles; Suburb documentary about photographer Martha Cooper, who saw the value and beauty in New York graffiti in the 1970's, and became an icon of the…
Memory: The Origins of Alien (2019): Dir. Alexandre O. Philippe; Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the theatrical release of ALIEN, this documentary reveals the untold origins of the cinematic masterpiece –…
Mystify: Michael Hutchence (2019): Dir. Richard Lowenstein; Intimate rise–and–fall portrait of the charismatic frontman of the mega–selling Australian rock band INXS, who died in…
Oliver Sacks: His Own Life (2019): Dir. Ric Burns; A documentary exploring the life and work of the legendary neurologist and storyteller who was famously portrayed by Robin Williams in AWAKENINGS…
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band (2019): Dir. Daniel Roher; Long overdue documentary telling the moving story of Robbie Robertson and the creation of history–making roots rock group The Band. Features…
Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles (2019): Dir. Laura Gabbert; Documenting the collaboration between world renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, this documentary follows…
Pavarotti (2019): Dir. Ron Howard
Feat. Luciano Pavarotti; Director Ron Howard continues his foray into musical documentary, following THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK with this in–depth look at the life…
PJ Harvey: A Dog Called Money (2019): Dir. Seamus Murphy; Beautifully impressionistic documentary set around the making of PJ Harvey's 2016 album, The Hope Six Demolition Project, shining light on an…
Prado Museum, The: A Collection of Wonders (2019): Dir. Valeria Parisi; Documentary telling the story of Spain's magnificent Prado Museum, celebrating its 200th birthday. Explores an incredible collection of over 8000 art…
Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project (2019): Dir. Matt Wolf; Extraordinary documentary about the TV producer and historian Marion Stokes and her vast collection of home recorded American news clips, which form…
Scream, Queen! My Nightmare On Elm Street (Scream Queen! My Nightmare On Elm Street) (2019): Dir. Tyler Jensen, Roman Chimienti
Feat. Mark Patton; Insightful documentary exploring the homo–erotic subtext in the controversial second installment of the NIGHT ON ELM STREET horror franchise,…
Serengeti (TV Series) (2019): BBC wildlife documentary on the iconic animals that inhabit the Tanzanian National Park's magnificent Pride Lands over the course of a year.…
Soldiers Without Guns (2019): Dir. Will Watson; A quite remarkable tale of a team of coalition soldiers who, in 1997, landed into the heat of a 10–year civil war on the Pacific Island of…
Stuffed (2019): Dir. Erin Derham; A documentary about the fascinating and mysterious world of taxidermy, featuring passionate artists and experts and providing a fully rounded…
Suzi Q (2019): Dir. Liam Firmager; The story of trailblazing American rock singer–songwriter Suzi Quatro, who helped redefine the role of women in rock 'n' roll when she broke…
The Chills: The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps (2019): Dir. Julia Parnell; An absolutely unflinching portrait of the genius New Zealand songwriter Martin Phillipps whose band The Chills exemplified the "Dunedin Sound" with…
Tintoretto: A Rebel in Venice (2019): Dir. Giuseppe Domingo Romano; With the enchanting narrative voice of Helena Bonham Carter, a new exciting cinema production celebrates the 500th anniversary of the birth of the…
Valley of the Boom (TV Mini-series) (2019): Feat. Bradley Whitford, Steve Zahn, Lamorne Morris; Mixing scripted drama with documentary interviews, this entertaining mini–series looks at the explosive, game–changing birth of Silicon…
Varda By Agnes (2019): Dir. Agnes Varda
Feat. Agnes Varda; Belgian–born film–maker/photographer/artist Agnès Varda takes a seat on a theatre stage to present photos and film excerpts that provide…
Western Stars (2019): Dir. Thom Zimny, Bruce Springsteen; A live concert of Bruce Springsteen performing songs from his 2019 album Western Stars, which was critically acclaimed as a late era masterpiece for…
You Don't Nomi (2019): Dir. Jeffrey McHale; Initially derided by critics and audience alike, Paul Verhoeven’s notoriously trashy sexploitation SHOWGIRLS has developed a devoted fan following…
Ailo's Journey (A Reindeer's Journey) (2018): Dir. Guillaume Maidatchevsky; Remarkable nature documentary set in picturesque Lapland, following a reindeer from birth to adulthood. Narrated by Golden Globe winner Donald…
Andre the Giant (2018): Dir. Jason Hehir; HBO documentary examining the life and career of pro wrestler André René Roussimoff, better known as Andre the Giant. As well as being one of the…
Angie (2018): Dir. Costa Botes; Documentary exploring the legacy of sexual abuse in New Zealand's Centerpoint commune, through the eyes of articulate survivor Angie Meiklejohn and…
Celia (2018): Dir. Amanda Millar; Inspiring documentary written, directed and produced by former TV current affairs journalist Amanda Millar, which follows the career of Celia…
Civilisations (TV Series) (2018): Inspired by Kenneth Clark's classic documentary series CIVILISATION (1969), this nine–part series tells the story of art from the dawn of human…
Clinton Affair, The (TV Mini-series) (2018): The Bill Clinton impeachment scandal of 1998 is methodically detailed in this Alex Gibney–produced six–part documentary series, with full…
Echo in the Canyon (2018): Dir. Andrew Slater; Jakob Dylan (son of Bob) is the front–man of this documentary ostensibly about the revolutionary Laurel Canyon music scene in the…
Elvis Presley: The Searcher (2018): Dir. Thom Zimny; The definitive film about Elvis Presley, from his childhood in Tupelo right through to the final 1976 Jungle Room recording sessions. Includes…
Eulogy, The (2018): Dir. Janine Hosking; Australia's greatest, and perhaps most overlooked, classical pianist Geoffrey Tozer is the subject of this documentary presented by music educator…
Eyes of Orson Welles, The (2018): Dir. Mark Cousins; Mark Cousins (THE STORY OF FILM – AN ODYSSEY) examines the visual world of Orson Welles through his non–cinematic work, uncovering new…
Fahrenheit 11/9 (2018): Dir. Michael Moore; Filmmaker Michael Moore examines the current state of American politics, particularly the Donald J. Trump presidency and gun violence, while…
Finke: There and Back (2018): Dir. Dylan River; Documentary about the Finke Desert Race, an off road, two–day race for bikes, cars, buggies and quads that weaves across unforgiving desert…
Free Solo (2018): Dir. Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi; An astonishing human achievement story that follows 'free solo' climber Alex Honnold as he prepares for the unthinkable: to scale the face of the…
Generation Wealth (2018): Dir. Lauren Greenfield; Director Lauren Greenfield (THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES, THIN) uses 25 years of experience documenting cultural movements to address the uniting theme…
Heart Dances, The (2018): Dir. Rebecca Tansley; The director of CROSSING RACHMANINOFF returns backstage for what is this time a behind–the–scenes account of the unique artistic…
Ice King, The (2018): Dir. James Erskine; Documentary about the magnificent figure skater John Curry, who was a 1976 Olympic and World Champion after being outed as gay on the night of the…
In Search of Greatness (2018): Dir. Gabe Polsky; A perceptive documentary exploring greatness in sport, and what it takes to excel – nature versus nurture being an enduring theme. Includes…
In the Zone (2018): Dir. Robyn Paterson; Documentary about American Terrance Wallace who pioneered a scheme to strategically re–zone the families of disadvantaged Maori and Pasifika…
John Mcenroe: In the Realm of Perfection (2018): Dir. Julien Faraut; Beautifully impressionistic documentary celebrating the career of tennis legend John McEnroe, set at the final of the 1984 French Open.
Klimt and Schiele: Eros and Psyche (2018): Dir. Michele Mally; A documentary exploring the art world of turn–of–the–century Vienna, where Gustav Klimt and his rebellious protégé Egon Schiele…
Kusama - Infinity (2018): Dir. Heather Lenz; The incredible story of top–selling artist Yayoi Kusama, who overcame countless odds (wartime trauma, mental illness, sexism, racism) to bring…
Maiden (2018): Dir. Alex Holmes; Documentary about the all–female crew of the Maiden, who won the 1989–1990 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race against all odds,…
Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. (2018): Dir. Stephen Loveridge; A uniquely textured portrait of innovative Sri Lankan–English pop star and activist Maya Arulpragasm, drawn from a cache of personal tapes shot…
McQueen (2018): Dir. Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui; Documentary about the extraordinary life and work of British designer Alexander McQueen, whose fashion shows, described as "savagely beautiful",…
Meeting Gorbachev (2018): Dir. Werner Herzog, André Singer; Werner Herzog directs this candid documentary based on three interviews with Mikhail Gorbachev, the eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union. With…
Midnight Oil 1984 (2018): A passionate portrait of Australia's iconic rock band Midnight Oil during the year 1984, in which they embarked on a tour promoting their politically…
Old Dog (2018): Dir. Sally Rowe; Retired New Zealand farmer and dog whisperer Paul Sorenson is the focus of this documentary exploring his unconventional and intuitive dog training…
Pick of the Litter (2018): Dir. Don Hardy, Dana Nachman; A compelling (even suspenseful) documentary about the surprisingly intensive process of training guide dogs for the blind. The film follows…
Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History (TV Series) (2018): Liam Neeson narrates this six–part series produced for CNN that reveals the history of one of the world's most revered and honoured figureheads…
Price of Everything, The (2018): Dir. Nathaniel Kahn; Exploring the labyrinth of the contemporary art world, this documentary examines the role of art and artistic passion in todays money–driven,…
RBG (2018): Dir. Julie Cohen, Betsy West; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the worthy subject of this documentary exploring her life and career, successfully fighting gender…
Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind (2018): Dir. Marina Zenovich; Documentary exploring the life and work of beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams, who died in 2014. An illuminating celebration of a brilliant…
Rockabul (2018): Dir. Travis Beard; Intrepid Australian journalist and director Travis Beard explores the Afghan heavy metal music scene, and how the long conflict in Afghanistan has…
Science Fair (2018): Dir. Cristina Costantini, Darren Foster; A Sundance–winning documentary produced by National Geographic that follows nine high school students from around the globe as they navigate…
She Shears (2018): Dir. Jack Nicol; A documentary about the minority of women who belong to NZ's shearing industry, following 4 female shearers who are preparing for Golden Shears, the…
Song Keepers, The (2018): Dir. Naina Sen; A passionate documentary about the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir, centered around their wildly successful tour of Germany in 2015.…
Spitfire (2018): Dir. David Fairhead, Ant Palmer; The story of the iconic fighter plane and pilots that helped win the Battle of Britain in World War II, told personally in the words of the…
Stieg Larsson: The Man Who Played with Fire (2018): Dir. Henrik Georgsson; Comprehensive documentary about Swedish author Stieg Larsson, who died at the age of 50, and posthumously became one of the world's most famous…
Studio 54: The Documentary (2018): Dir. Matt Tyrnauer; In–depth account of how the world's most famous (and infamous) nightclub, Studio 54, was created by co–owners Ian Schrager and Steve…
Tea With the Dames (Nothing Like a Dame) (2018): Dir. Roger Michell
Feat. Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, Joan Plowright…; British acting legends Dames Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright and Maggie Smith discuss their remarkable lives at Plowright's country home in…
The Pacific: In the Wake of Captain Cook with Sam Neill (2018): Feat. Sam Neill; 250 years after Captain James Cook began his epic exploration of the Pacific, Sam Neill journeys in the wake, uncovering stories that resonate from…
They Shall Not Grow Old (2018): Dir. Peter Jackson; Ground–breaking documentary that employs state–of–the–art technology to transform audio and moving image archive footage to…
Three Identical Strangers (2018): Dir. Tim Wardle; Fascinating and moving documentary telling the incredible story of triplets who never knew they existed until they were 19, but after a joyous…
Water Lilies of Monet: The Magic of Water and Light (2018): A journey through the masterpieces and obsessions of the "Genius of Impressionism", with Ross King, author of Mad Enchantment: Claude Monet and the…
Watergate (TV Mini-series) (2018): Dir. Charles Ferguson; Definitive and thoroughly detailed documentary TV miniseries about one of the biggest criminal conspiracies in modern politics, The Watergate Scandal.
Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist (2018): Dir. Lorna Tucker; Unvarnished account of the grande dame of punk and "enfant terrible" of British fashion, Vivienne Westwood, told in her own words, and through…
Whitney (2018): Dir. Kevin MacDonald; The latest documentary to explore the troubled world of pop singer Whitney Houston, with her breathtaking musical talents playing second fiddle to…
Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema (2018): Dir. Mark Cousins; Mark Cousin's follows up his ground–breaking THE STORY OF FILM series with this equally–lauded celebration of women in film, with…
Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018): Dir. Morgan Neville; The director of 20 FEET FROM STARDOM explores the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children's television host, Fred Rogers, whose show "Mister…
Working Class Boy (Jimmy Barnes Working Class Boy) (2018): Dir. Mark Joffe; Documentary about the iconic rock n roll icon Jimmy Barnes, focusing on his early life in Glasgow before moving to Australia and joining Cold Chisel.…
78/52 (78 Shots & 52 Cuts) (2017): Dir. Alexandre O. Philippe; An unprecedented look at the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960), the "man behind the curtain", and the screen murder that…
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (An Inconvenient Truth 2) (2017): Dir. Jon Shenk, Bonni Cohen; The heroic and haggard Al Gore continues his crusade to make the world stop destroying itself in this timely update of his seminal 2006 climate…
Arcadia (2017): Dir. Paul Wright; An evocative, captivating documentary about the British countryside which employs a hallucinatory montage of rare and sometimes unseen archival…
Becoming Bond (2017): Dir. Josh Greenbaum; A unique documentary/narrative hybrid chronicling the stranger–than–fiction true story of George Lazenby, a poor Australian car mechanic…
Blue (2017): Dir. Karina Holden; Australian documentary exploring our impact on the world's oceans and what might be required to protect them now and in the future. The issues raised…
Blue Planet II (TV Series) (2017): Technically advanced sequel to the 2001 BBC nature documentary series narrated and presented by Sir David Attenborough. Filming took place over a…
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (2017): Dir. Alexandra Dean; A revelatory and entertaining portrait of enigmatic Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr, whose ravishing beauty consistently belied her brilliant mind,…
Born Racer: The Scott Dixon Story (2017): Dir. Bryn Evans; Portrait of 5–time Indy Car world champion, New Zealander Scott "Iceman" Dixon. Provides a unique glimpse into the world of motor sport with…
Buena Vista Social Club: Adios (2017): Dir. Lucy Walker; Taking up sixteen years after the original documentary, this sequel follows the five original band members from the Buena Vista Social Club on their…
City of Ghosts (2017): Dir. Matthew Heineman; The director of CARTEL LAND lands on Syrian soil for another risk–taking venture that documents the efforts of "Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered…
David Bowie: The Last Five Years (2017): Dir. Francis Whately
Feat. David Bowie; A documentary exploring David Bowie's final two albums, The Next Day and Blackstar, and his stage play play Lazarus. After retiring from live…
David Stratton: A Cinematic Life & Stories of Australian Cinema (2017): Dir. Sally Aitken; Beloved Australian film critic, director and presenter David Stratton is the subject of the documentary A CINEMATIC LIFE, and the presenter of the…
Diana: In Her Own Words (2017): Credible documentary on Princess Diana, based on unreleased audio interviews from 1991 which reveal her thoughts at a very specific point in her life.
Dries (2017): Dir. Reiner Holzemer; Prolific but lesser–known Belgian designer Dries Van Noten is the worthy subject of this fashion documentary, which intimately follows the…
Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars (2017): Dir. Lili Fini Zanuck; An unflinching and deeply personal look into the life of blues–rock and guitar legend Eric Clapton, told through his own words and songs and…
Faces Places (2017): Dir. Agnes Varda, JR
Feat. Agnes Varda, JR; Charming French documentary created by and starring beloved new wave director Agnes Varda, who recruits a charismatic young photographer/muralist…
Farthest, The (2017): Dir. Emer Reynolds; The incredible journey of the Voyager spaceship is retraced by the people who worked on the ground–breaking NASA mission in this exhilarating…
Filmworker (2017): Dir. Tony Zierra; An intimate portrait about a British actor named Leon Vitali who, after playing the role of “Lord Bullingdon” in Stanley Kubrick's BARRY LYNDON,…
Final Year, The (2017): Dir. Greg Barker; A detailed insiders' account of President Barack Obama's foreign policy team throughout 2016, their last year in office. Director Greg Barker has…
Go-Betweens, The: Right Here (2017): Dir. Kriv Stenders; The story of Brisbane rock music legends The Go–Betweens is told in this unflinching and insightful documentary, spanning three decades of…
Gospel According to Andre, The (2017): Dir. Kate Novack; Intimate portrait of legendary fashion editor André Leon Talley, who began his life in the segregated American South and rose to become one of the…
Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (2017): Dir. Sophie Fiennes; A journey through the private and public worlds of pop icon Grace Jones. Experienced documentarian Sophie Fiennes cares little for polish, or for the…
Gurrumul (2017): Dir. Paul Damien Williams; Documentary about internationally acclaimed indigenous Australian artist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, who wrote music inspired by his community on…
Have You Seen the Listers? (2017): Dir. Eddie Martin; Masterful documentary on the life of world–renowned Brisbane artist Anthony Lister, exploring his origins as a street artist and his…
Human Flow (2017): Dir. Ai Weiwei; Cherished iconoclastic artist Ai Weiwei directs this unflinching documentary exploring the global refugee crisis. With brilliant cinematography by…
I Am Heath Ledger (2017): Dir. Adrian Buitenhuis, Derik Murray; A loving documentary about the life of renowned actor Heath Ledger. Deliberately eschewing his death at age 28 from a prescription drug overdose, the…
I Used to Be Normal - A Boyband Fangirl Story (2017): Dir. Jessica Leski; A passionate and proud interrogation of music fan culture following the lives of four diverse women aged 16–64 who are self–confessed…
Jane (2017): Dir. Brett Morgen; Documentary about primatologist and ethnologist Dr. Jane Goodall, who redefined our understanding about what it is to be human through her…
Joanna Lumley's India (2017): Feat. Joanna Lumley; Actress and presenter Joanna Lumley, who was born in India in the last days of The Raj, travels back this country to explore it's wildlife, culture,…
King, The (2017): Dir. Eugene Jarecki; Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki travels in a 1963 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud once owned by Elvis Presley and along his state–wide journey amasses a…
Kobi (2017): Dir. Andrea Bosshard, Shane Loader; A loving portrait of Swiss goldsmith Kobi Bosshard, widely regarded as the grandfather of contemporary NZ jewellery, made by his daughter, filmmaker…
LA 92 (L.A. '92) (2017): Dir. T.J. Martin, Dan Lindsay; Immersive documentary about the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Weaving together stunning and rarely seen archival footage, the riots following the beating…
Leaning into the Wind (2017): Dir. Thomas Riedelsheimer; Equally worthy follow–up to the director's previous film about Andy Goldsworthy, RIVERS AND TIDES, again providing a meditative and vibrant…
Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards (2017): Dir. Michael Roberts; Warm–hearted portrait of celebrity cobbler MANOLO BLAHNIK, who is considered by many fashionistas to be the best shoe–maker of the last…
Maria by Callas (2017): Dir. Tom Volf; Definitive portrait of the Greek–American opera singer Maria Callas, using her own writings, letters and reminiscences to tell the story of her…
McKellen: Playing the Part (Ian McKellen: Playing the Part) (2017): Dir. Joe A. Stephenson; Celebration of the extraordinary life and work of Sir Ian McKellen, based around excerpts from a 14 hour interview, but also including…
McLaren (2017): Dir. Roger Donaldson; After THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN, director Roger Donaldson tributes another Kiwi hero of motorsport, Bruce McLaren, for this elegant documentary…
Mountain (2017): Dir. Jennifer Peedom
Feat. Willem Dafoe; A reflective but adrenaline–fueled documentary exploring our timeless enchantment with mountains, in the unique form of a collaboration between…
My Year With Helen (2017): Dir. Gaylene Preston; With unique access to high–ranking candidate Helen Clark, filmmaker Gaylene Preston casts a wry eye on proceedings as the United Nations turns…
No Ordinary Sheila (2017): Dir. Hugh MacDonald; The immensely inspiring life–story of one Sheila Natusch, nonagenarian natural historian, mountain climber, intrepid cyclist and publisher of…
Pecking Order (2017): Dir. Slavko Martinov; Members of the Christchurch Poultry, Bantam and Pigeon Club prepare for the NZ National Championships in this hilarious, heartwarming slice of Kiwi…
Planet Earth II (TV Series) (2017): Feat. David Attenborough; Follow–up to the landmark 2006 BBC series, once again presented and narrated by the unbeatable Sir David Attenborough, and produced in…
Quest (2017): A piercing insight into working class black America during the Obama years, this is an inspiring, tragic and universally relatable documentary that…
Romantic Road (2017): Dir. Oliver McGarvey; Leading London lawyer and his wife re–define later life by motoring across rural India in their battered 1936 Rolls Royce, to get to a human…
Rumble: The American Indians Who Rocked The World (2017): Dir. Catherine Bainbridge, Alfonso Maiorana; A fascinating and rousing documentary profiling the impact of American Indian musicians on the development of rock music. Musicians featured include…
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda (2017): Dir. Stephen Schible; Beautiful portrait of revered Japanese composer and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, that captures the unique compositional process of a new work he…
Soundtracks: Songs That Defined History (TV Series) (2017): An eight–part CNN series that incisively explores the music tied to iconic moments in history. Includes interviews with Pat Benatar, Melissa…
Spookers (2017): Dir. Florian Habicht; A delightfully surprising documentary feature about an Auckland "scream park" called Spookers that provides brave hordes of paying customers with the…
Story of Us with Morgan Freeman, The (TV Series) (2017): Feat. Morgan Freeman; 6–episode National Geographic TV Series presented by Morgan Freeman, which explores themes central to humanity such as love, belief and power,…
Summer in the Forest (2017): Dir. Randall Wright; Moving documentary about the L'Arche community outside Paris, created as a refuge for people with learning disabilities who had been confined to…
Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton (2017): Dir. Rory Kennedy; The remarkable story of an American icon who changed the sport of big wave surfing forever. Transcending the surf genre, this in–depth portrait…
This is Greece (2017): Survey of Modern Greece with presenter Michael Scott covering nationhood, religion, food, philosophy, sailing and more.
Unrest (2017): Dir. Jennifer Brea; A groundbreaking documentary about the mysterious condition known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Made a by Jennifer Brea, a woman who suffers from the…
Whitney: Can I Be Me (2017): Dir. Nick Broomfield, Rudi Dolezal; Bearing less of his signature subjectivity, veteran documentarian Nick Broomfield explores Whitney Houston's meteoric rise to stardom, turbulent…
Yellow is Forbidden (2017): Dir. Pietra Brettkelly; Simply stunning fashion documentary from New Zealand director Pietra Brettkelly that swirls around the beguiling personality of Guo Pei, a dynamic…
1916: The Irish Rebellion (2016): Feat. Liam Neeson; Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Irish Rebellion, this superb three–part documentary covers the impact of this seminal event.…
All Governments Lie (All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception and the Spirit of I. F. Stone) (2016): Dir. Fred Peabody; Documentary about independent journalism inspired by iconoclastic rebel journalist I. F. Stone, offering a timely critique of American mainstream…
Ants on a Shrimp: Noma in Tokyo (2016): Dir. Maurice Dekkers; After achieving the rarefied status of the "World's Best Restaurant" owner–chef René Redzepi moves his entire 'Noma' team from Denmark to a…
Author: The JT LeRoy Story (2016): Dir. Jeff Feuerzeig; The seductively fascinating account of a major literary con, Jeremiah ‘Terminator’ LeRoy, who became a cult celebrity through his raw and…
Banksy Job, The (2016): Dir. Ian Roderick Gray, Dylan Harvey; Like an inferior fan–made follow up to EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP, this art–heist documentary follows the self–described art…
Beatles, The: Eight Days a Week (2016): Dir. Ron Howard; Ron Howard's thrilling compilation of found footage featuring music, interviews, and stories of The Beatles' 250 concerts from 1963 to 1966.
Before the Flood (2016): Dir. Fisher Stevens; Nearly ten years after THE 11TH HOUR, Leonardo DiCaprio presents an update on his clarion call to address global climate change, travelling to five…
Between Land and Sea (2016): Dir. Ross Whitaker
Feat. Fergal Smith, John McCarthey, Pat Conway; Unique surfing documentary following a community of surfers over the course of 12 months as they convene in the Irish town of Lahinch, known for it's…
Beware the Slenderman (2016): Dir. Irene Taylor Brodsky; Chilling documentary exploring the Slenderman stabbing, in which two 12–year–old girls attempted to kill their friend in order to impress…
Bright Lights (2016): Feat. Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds; A touchingly intimate portrait of an eccentric Hollywood royal family – actress Debbie Reynolds and her beloved children, Carrie Fisher and…
Cameraperson (2016): Dir. Kirsten Johnson; Extraordinary autobiographical documentary by acclaimed cinematographer Kirsten Johnson, who has collected film clips spanning the past 10 years of…
Casablancas: The Man Who Loved Women (2016): John Casablancas tells his own story about his glamorous and star–studded career as founder of the Elite modeling agency in the 1970s, and…
Chasing Asylum (2016): Dir. Eva Orner; A hotly topical documentary exposing the real impact of Australia's offshore detention policies and explores how 'The Lucky Country' became one where…
Chicken People (2016): Dir. Nicole Lucas Haimes; An American alternative to our home–grown quirky chicken doco PECKING ORDER, this equally delightful real–life "Best in Show" follows…
Citizen Jane: Battle for the City (2016): Dir. Matt Tyrnauer; Documentary about urban theorist and activist Jane Jacobs, who campaigned in the 1960's against the building of mass high–rise accommodation…
Coming War on China, The (2016): Dir. John Pilger; The chilling history and nature of the US military's presence in the Pacific is explored by John Pilger in a way the mainstream media won't –…
Crazy About Tiffany's (2016): Dir. Matthew Miele; A fully authorized documentary about the iconic Tiffany & Co., told by those behind and in–front of the gold–plated counters, exploring…
Dancer (2016): Dir. Steven Cantor; Documentary portrait of ex–pat Ukrainian Sergei Polunin, an extraordinary talent at the Royal Ballet who, at the age of 21, has an existential…
David Lynch: The Art Life (2016): Dir. Jon Nguyen; An essential portrait of film–making iconoclast David Lynch, who takes us on an intimate journey from his childhood in idyllic small town…
Dawson City: Frozen Time (2016): Dir. Bill Morrison; Staggering documentary about the miraculous excavation in 1978 of 533 silent film reels, buried in 1929 under a swimming pool or hockey rink in…
Destination Flavour: Scandinavia (2016): Australian celebrity chef and author Adam Liaw travels through Denmark, Sweden and Norway to explore the new Nordic food revolution. This 7 part…
Eagle Huntress, The (2016): A 13–year–old nomadic Mongolian girl breaks a 2,000 year–old gender barrier to follow her father and train hunting eagles in this…
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words (2016): Dir. Thorsten Schütte; Wildly entertaining portrait of the enigmatic performer, featuring oodles of archival footage, interviews and performances. Like his music, this is…
Embrace (2016): Dir. Taryn Brumfritt; Empowering documentary follows Body Image Activist Taryn Brumfit on an extensive crusade to illuminate the global issue of women's body image and its…
Family, The (2016): Dir. Rosie Jones; The heartbreaking story of an Australian religious sect led by Anne Hamilton–Byrne, a former yoga instructor who harnessed the power of charm,…
Fire at Sea (Fuocoammare) (2016): Dir. Gianfranco Rosi; A poetic, quietly profound documentary that captures traditional life on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa alongside the compassionate response to the…
First Monday in May, The (2016): Dir. Andrew Rossi; Star–studded glimpse into the hectic preparation involved in the creation of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's most attended fashion exhibition…
Forces of Nature (TV mini-series) (2016): Feat. Professor Brian Cox; In yet another educational science series, Professor Brian Cox explains how just a few fundamental forces shape the complex natural beauty of our…
Free Man, The (2016): Dir. Toa Fraser; Kiwi filmmaker Toa Fraser examines the life of world–champion freestyle skier Jossi Wells, who travels and trains with a troupe of…
Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric (2016): Journalist Katie Couric sets out across America to explore what it means to be a boy or a girl in the modern day, examining the role of science,…
Gimme Danger (2016): Dir. Jim Jarmusch
Feat. Iggy Pop; Director Jim Jarmuschs' self–described love letter to The Stooges, one of the most influential American bands of all time. Focusing on the…
Gleason (2016): Dir. Clay Tweel; Sundance hit documentary exploring the world of football hero Steve Gleason, whose career as defensive back in The New Orleans Saints was tragically…
Greeks, The (2016): Feat. Neil deGrasse Tyson; National Geographic landmark "event series" featuring historians, archaeologists, actors, athletes, scientists and artists all weighing in on the…
Guv'nor, The (2016): Dir. Paul Van Carter; Fascinating documentary about notorious East End boxer, bouncer and latter–day actor Lenny McLean, told from the perspective of his only son,…
Harry & Snowman (Harry and Snowman) (2016): Dir. Ron Davis; This heartfelt story spans the career of Snowman, the "Cinderella Horse" that astonished a nation. After Harry rescued him from the slaughterhouse…
heART of the matter, The (2016): Dir. Luit Bieringa; A valuable historical documentary tracing the remarkable shifts in educational philosophy in New Zealand during the post WWII years, in which…
I Am Not Your Negro (2016): Dir. Raoul Peck; A hit at the 2017 NZ Film Festival, this astonishing documentary examines the life and work of literary iconoclast James Baldwin. Based on his…
Jim: The James Foley Story (2016): Dir. Brian Oakes; A moving look at the life and work of American journalist James Foley, who was kidnapped and publicly executed by ISIS, directed by his childhood…
Joanna Lumley's Japan (2016): Feat. Joanna Lumley; British actress and presenter Joanna Lumley continues her series of travel documentaries with a 2,000 mile journey across the four main islands of…
Kate Plays Christine (2016): Dir. Robert Greene
Feat. Kate Lyn Sheil; A fascinating documentary following an actress who is preparing to play the role of newscaster Christine Chubbuck, who famously committed suicide on…
Kedi (2016): Dir. Ceyda Torun; An enchanting profile of an ancient city of Istanbul and its people, as told through the separate stories of seven roaming cats whose mysterious,…
Killing Season, The (TV Series) (2016): Journalistic investigation of a notorious unsolved serial killer case involving ten dead sex workers discovered on Gilgo Beach, Long Island. Believed…
Land of the Enlightened, The (2016): Dir. Pieter-Jan de Pue; A creative documentary hybrid, which stages facts and fantasy side by side to reveal an intimate and poetic portrait of Afghanistan. Reminiscent of…
Le Ride (2016): Dir. Phil Keoghan
Feat. Phil Keoghan; Bike enthusiast and television personality Phil Keoghan attempts to recreate and ride the famously tough–as–hell route of the original…
Letters From Baghdad (2016): Feat. Tilda Swinton; The complex history of the Middle East and British colonial power is explored in this documentary centered around the remarkable life of British…
Life, Animated (2016): Dir. Roger Ross Williams; The inspirational, unique story of Owen Suskind, a young man living with autism whose life is enriched by Disney animated films, and the…
Lo And Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (2016): Dir. Werner Herzog; Acclaimed Documentarian Werner Herzog approaches the internet as a curious outsider on an exotic vacation. Meeting the digital natives, getting…
Marina Abramovic in Brazil: The Space in Between (2016): Dir. Marco Del Fiol; Intriguing documentary following the provocative and adventurous Serbian performance artist Marina Abramovic (THE ARTIST IS PRESENT) as she travels…
Matilda and Me (2016): Dir. Rhian Skirving; Behind–the–scenes doco that follows comedian Tim Minchin during the Australian rehearsals for the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's…
My Journey Through French Cinema (Voyage a Travers le Cinema Francais) (2016): Dir. Bertrand Tavernier; Bertrand Tavernier's personal journey through French cinema, from films he enjoyed as a boy to his own early career, told through portraits of key…
National Bird: Drone Wars (2016): Dir. Sonia Kennebeck; A chilling expose of America's modern warfare program in which the ethics and possibilities of a deadly new technology are being determined, with…
Notes on Blindness (2016): Dir. Pete Middleton, James Spinney; An extraordinary audio cassette diary of the deterioration of academic John Hull's eyesight provides the source material for this detailed and…
Oasis: Supersonic (2016): Dir. Mat Whitecross; Highly entertaining portrait of mouthy Brit–pop icons Oasis and their meteoric rise from the council estates of Manchester to some of the…
OJ: Made in America (TV Series) (2016): Dir. Ezra Edelman; A hugely acclaimed, definitive exploration of the O.J. Simpson “Trial of the Century” from the producers of ESPN Films prodigious doco series "30…
One More Time With Feeling (2016): Dir. Andrew Dominik
Feat. Nick Cave; Nick Cave opens up like never before for close friend and film–making collaborator Andrew Dominik, who crafts an astonishing yet sensitive…
Poi E: The Story of Our Song (2016): Dir. Tearepa Kahi; An aptly feel–good documentary account of the unlikely pop hit that boldly mashed up "Kapa Haka" song tradition and Te Reo Maori lyrics with…
Project Greenlight (TV Series) - Season 4 (2016): Dir. Jason Mann
Feat. Ben Affleck, Matt Damon; The fourth season of the excellent HBO series in which the winners of a film–making competition are followed through the production process of…
Real Marigold Hotel, The (TV Series) (2016): Dir. Aparna Sanyal; A BBC travel documentary series which follows famous elderly celebrities as they travel around India and experience the culture. Most participants…
Richie McCaw: Chasing Great (2016): Dir. Justin Pemberton, Michelle Walshe; Intimate documentary follows Richie’s final 365 days leading the All Blacks as the most capped rugby player of all time attempting to…
Risk (2016): Dir. Laura Poitras; The director of CITIZENFOUR focuses on another political dissident, Julian Assange, whom she followed for six years through controversies and…
Score: A Film Music Documentary (2016): Dir. Matt Schrader; An interesting insight into the art of composing film scores that gleans commentary from a diverse range of more than 60 composers (including Hans…
Sidemen (Sidemen: Long Road to Glory) (2016): Dir. Scott D. Rosenbaum; Celebratory tribute to the lives and music of three blues greats: piano player Pinetop Perkins, drummer Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith and guitarist Hubert…
Soundbreaking (TV Series) (Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music) (2016): Soundbreaking explores the history of recorded music. Featuring more than 150 original interviews, the series charts a century's worth of innovation…
Story of God, The (TV Series) (2016): Feat. Morgan Freeman; Ambitious cross–cultural survey of what God means to people and how religion has shaped world history , narrated and produced by Morgan…
Tickled (2016): Dir. David Farrier, Dylan Reeve; Utterly engrossing documentary from Kiwi journo David Farrier, who stumbles into the bizarre world of "competitive tickling" that leads him on an…
Tracking Edith (2016): Dir. Peter Stephan Jungk; Documentary about the brilliant photographer Edith Tudor–Hart, who led a double life as a KGB agent and was instrumental in the recruitment of…
Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach (2016): Dir. Louise Osmond; A revealing tribute to the life and career of one of Britain's most eminent film–makers and socially–conscious artists, whose prolific…
Weiner (2016): Dir. Josh Kriegman, Elyyse Steinberg; Shockingly funny all–access doco that exposes the machinations of a political campaign following former congressman Anthony Weiner's earnest…
Whiteley (2016): Dir. James Bogle; A vivid and stimulating chronicle of the life and art of troubled Australian painter Brett Whiteley, who died in 1992 at the age of 53, and helped to…
Who's Gonna Love Me Now? (2016): Dir. Barak Heymann, Tomer Heymann; Poignant documentary following Saar Maoz, a young Israeli who fled to the UK to be embraced by the London Gay Men's Chorus after being expelled from…
Why Am I?: The Science of Us (2016): An internationally lauded four part series that details the findings of a 40–year study by the Otago School of Medicine that follows every baby…
Wizard Mode (2016): Dir. Nathan Drillot, Jeff Lee Petry; Robert Gagno aspires to be a world pinball champion in this poignant documentary which explores pinball culture through the life of a dedicated…
Zach's Ceremony (2016): Dir. Aaron Petersen; A complex, emotive story of an Aboriginal boy's journey to manhood captured over 10 years under pressures from his loving but staunch father, the…
Zero Days (2016): Dir. Alex Gibney; Cyber–warfare documentary from the Academy Award–winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, who provides the most comprehensive account yet of…
25 April (2015): Dir. Leanne Pooley; An animated take on the tragic 1915 Gallipoli Campaign of WW1 told through the perspective of six New Zealanders who were involved. The voice cast…
3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets (2015): Dir. Marc Silver; Devastating dissection of the aftermath of a racially charged encounter between a young black male and a middle aged white man that turns fatal.
A Ballerina's Tale (2015): Dir. Nelson George; Nuanced portrait of African American ballerina Misty Copeland that examines her prodigious rise, her potentially career ending injury alongside…
A Family Affair (2015): Dir. Angeliki Aristomenopoulou; An intimate and intoxicating portrait of the renowned Xylouris family, who have been maintaining the musical traditions of their native Crete for…
A Flickering Truth (2015): Dir. Pietra Brettkelly; In documenting one man’s precarious quest to restore thousands of hours of film heritage in the post–Taliban Kabul, New Zealand filmmaker…
Act of Kindness (2015): Dir. Costa Botes, Sven Pannell; Charting the ripple effects of real compassion, this inspiring true story follows a spirited young New Zealander’s search for the Rwandan samaritan…
All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records (2015): Dir. Colin Hanks; The story of US–based Tower Records and its unconventional founder, Russ Solomon, whose legacy rose out a humble drugstore in 1960 to become a…
Althea (2015): PBS documentary account of the story of Althea Gibson, a truant from the tough streets of Harlem, who overcame extraordinary odds to becomes the…
Amy (2015): Dir. Asif Kapadia; The compelling but undeniably downbeat story of Amy Winehouse in her own words, featuring unseen archival footage and unheard tracks. From the…
Batkid Begins (2015): Dir. Dana Nachman; Misty–eyed documentary records the occasion when a city came together to grant one 5 year old cancer patient his wish, to fight crime as…
Being Evel (2015): Dir. Daniel Junge; A candid look at the great American daredevil Evel Knievel that examines both the myth and his legacy.
Best of Enemies (2015): Dir. Robert Gordon, Morgan Neville; Riveting account of the frequently explosive televised debates between the liberal Gore Vidal and conservative William F. Buckley that transfixed…
Black Panthers, The: Vanguard of the Revolution (2015): Dir. Stanley Nelson Jr; Well–crafted doco that examines the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party, one of the 20th century's most alluring and controversial…
Breaking a Monster (2015): Dir. Luke Meyer; Chronicle of the break–out year of the black heavy metal band "Unlocking the Truth" that follows 13–year–old members Alec Atkins,…
Cancer - The Emperor of All Maladies (2015): Dir. Barak Goodman; Ken Burns produced this illuminating study of Cancer from its first mention in Egyptian scrolls to the present day medical laboratories where the…
Cartel Land (2015): Dir. Matthew Heineman; Unnerving documentary follows a group of citizens as they attempt to counter drug related crime on the Mexican–American border.
City of Gold (2015): Dir. Laura Gabbert; Intoxicating portrait of Los Angeles food critic Jonathan Gold who's adventurous and egalitarian approach to food saw him become the first culinary…
Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015): Dir. Brett Morgen; The definitive documentary on Kurt Cobain, from his early days in Aberdeen, Washington to his success and downfall with Nirvana.
Crossing Rachmaninoff (2015): Dir. Rebecca Tansley; Absorbing documentary follows aspiring piano soloist Flavio Villani as he prepares Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 for his first orchestral…
Culture High, The (2015): Dir. Brett Harvey; Documentary that explores the deep–seated roots of the morally induced Marijuana campaign and reveals the fascinating path it has taken to get…
Daft Punk: Unchained (2015): Dir. Hervé Martin-Delpierre; A reverent exploration of the seminal French electronic musicians who are famed for performing in robot attire that hides their faces. Featuring…
Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance (2015): Dir. Louise Osmond; An inspirational and life–affirming rags–to–riches true story of a barmaid who bred a champion racehorse. Set in a former mining…
David Attenborough's Conquest of the Skies (2015): Landmark series from Sir David Attenborough tells the story of the intricate engineering behind nature's greatest aeronauts, featuring gliding…
David Attenborough's Rise of Animals: Triumph of the Vertebrates (2015): David Attenborough embarks on a remarkable 500 million–year journey revealing the extraordinary group of animals that dominate our world, and…
Dawn of Humanity (2015): National Geographic documentary focusing on a 2013 fossil discovery and the 2–year excavation process that followed, with insights into how…
Day That Changed My Life, The (2015): Dir. Christopher Dudman; Documentary on the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch which weaves together extensive interviews to provide a sensitive and personal account of…
De Palma (2015): Dir. Noah Baumbach, Jake Paltrow
Feat. Brian De Palma; A comprehensive overview of the career of prolific and sometimes controversial film–maker Brian De Palma, an avid disciple of Alfred Hitchcock…
Death in Leon (TV Mini-series) (Muerte en Leon) (2015): Dir. Justin Webster; A non–fiction series about the murder of Isabel Carrasco, a controversial politician and president of the Provincial Council of Leon, Spain.…
Deep Web (2015): Dir. Alex Winter; Keanu Reeves narrates this engrossing documentary that explores the rise of a new Internet; decentralized, encrypted, and largely beyond the law. In…
Dreams Rewired (2015): Dir. Manu Luksch, Martin Reinhart
Feat. Tilda Swinton; Enchanting and baffling, this experiment in retro–futurist re–appropriation matches a vast amount of fascinating silent–era film…
Elstree 1976 (2015): Dir. Jon Spira; STAR WARS fans will enjoy this good–natured doco that looks at the lives of the film's bit–part actors and extras as they reminisce about…
Emperor's New Clothes, The (2015): Dir. Michael Winterbottom
Feat. Russell Brand; Russell Brand and Michael Winterbottom team up to present this angry, but also blackly funny, examination of the growing disparity between different…
Ever the Land (2015): Dir. Sarah Grohnert; Documentary exploring the sublime bond between people and their land through a landmark architectural undertaking by one of New Zealand’s most…
Finders Keepers (2015): Dir. Bryan Carberry, Clay Tweel; Certifiably wacky, but not unbelievable, tale of the legal battle over ownership of an amputated human leg. It's a highly amusing subject matter…
Francofonia (2015): Dir. Alexandr Sokurov
Feat. Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, Benjamin Utzerath; A richly evocative and insightful historical cine–essay from celebrated dir. Alexander Sokurov (RUSSIAN ARK) that charts the relationship…
Free to Run (2015): Dir. Pierre Morath; The social history of running is chronicled with extraordinary passion and depth in this examination of the trajectory of running from an elitist,…
Gayby Baby (2015): Dir. Maya Newell; Revealing study of modern day Australia observes the lives of four children whose parents are either gay or lesbian, and explores the ways in which…
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015): Dir. Alex Gibney; A lacerating expose of the inner–workings of the Church of Scientology from prolific truth–seeker Alex Gibney. Drawing heavily on…
Grand Designs New Zealand (TV Series) (2015-2017): New Zealand iteration of the immensely popular British design show has Wellington architect Chris Moller taking us behind the scenes of some…
Great Barrier Reef with David Attenborough (TV Mini-Series) (2015): David Attenborough revisits the Great Barrier Reef after nearly 60 years. His visit takes him from the most exposed part of the reef as well as down…
Ground We Won, The (2015): Dir. Christopher Pryor; A revealing portrait of contemporary manhood as observed through the rites and rituals of a rural New Zealand rugby club made up of…
He Named Me Malala (2015): Dir. Davis Guggenheim; Inspiring documentary tells the tale of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and how her staunch advocacy for girls…
Heart of a Dog (2015): Dir. Laurie Anderson
Feat. Laurie Anderson; Prolific performance artist Laurie Anderson directs this brave but gentle autobiographical cinematic essay, centered around themes of death and love,…
Hitchcock/Truffaut (2015): Dir. Kent Jones
Feat. Francois Truffaut, Alfred Hitchcock; A lovingly crafted portrait of Hitchcock and his profound impact on cinema history, this adaptation from the 1966 book by Francois Truffaut is based…
How to Change the World (2015): Dir. Jerry Rothwell; Another absorbing maritime documentary from the director of DEEP WATER that tells the tale of a group of friends who in 1971, in defiance of the U.S.…
Hunt, The (TV Series) (2015): From the producers of PLANET EARTH come this spectacular nature documentary narrated by David Attenborough that looks at the contest between predator…
Hunting Ground, The (2015): Dir. Kirby Dick; A scorching exposé of the startling prevalence of sexual assaults and institutional cover–ups at college campuses across America. Through raw…
I Am Cait (TV Series) (2015): TV series that follows the transformation of Bruce Jenner from a man to Caitlyn Jenner, a woman, by showing the struggles and publicity of changing…
I Am Thor (2015): Dir. Ryan Wise; A spiritual cousin to THE STORY OF ANVIL, this is another endearing tale from the fringes of the "heavy metal" music scene, this time charting the…
Janis: Little Girl Blue (2015): Dir. Amy Berg; Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) narrates this documentary portrait of the ground–breaking American singer of the 1960s, who pioneered a raw and…
Jeremy Scott: The People's Designer (2015): Dir. Vlad Yudin; Glossy tale of fashion designer Jeremy Scott's ascent from a small Missouri town to his current position as the Creative Director of Moschino.
Jinx, The (TV Series) (The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst) (2015): Dir. Andrew Jarecki; Riveting series examines the complicated life of reclusive real estate icon, Robert Durst, the key suspect in a series of unsolved crimes.
Joanna Lumley's Trans-Siberian Adventure (2015): Actress Joanna Lumley embarks on the world's greatest train journey for this three–part series. Travelling from East to West, she departs from…
Keeping Up With the Kaimanawas (TV Series) (2015): Horsey reality TV show following Northland's Wilson sisters as they tame and train New Zealand's indigenous horses, the endangered Kaimanuwas of the…
Kevin McCloud's Escape to the Wild (TV Series) (2015): GRAND DESIGNS present Kevin McCloud travels the globe to visit people living 'off the grid' in some very remote spots.
Landfill Harmonic (2015): Dir. Brad Allgood, Graham Townsley; Documentary portrait of Paraguayan music teacher Fabio Chavez and his Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a children's orchestra which performs with…
Life in a Walk (2015): Dir. Yogi Roth; Filmmaker, author and scholar Yogi Roth invites his cancer–embattled father on a life–changing walk along the Camino de Santiago, the…
Listen to Me Marlon (2015): Dir. Stevan Riley; A deeply revealing – and at times discomforting – look at the life of Hollywood icon and enigma Marlon Brando, utilizing hundreds of…
Look of Silence, The (2015): Dir. Joshua Oppenheimer; Devastating sequel to the acclaimed THE ACT OF KILLING examines the genocide from the victim's perspective, following a family of survivors as they…
Louis Theroux: My Scientology Movie (2015): Dir. John Dower; Louis Theroux brings his wry charms feature–length look at what goes on behind the scenes of the infamous Church of Scientology.
Mask You Live In, The (2015): Dir. Jennifer Siebel Newsom; Seeking to inspire a society to raise a healthier generation of boys and young men, this cogent documentary identifies the pervasive cultural and…
Mavis! (2015): Dir. Jessica Edwards; Rousing chronicle of the life and music of singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples.
Meru (2015): Dir. Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi; Eye–popping documentary captures the struggles of three elite climbers as they attempt to climb Mount Meru, one of the most coveted prizes in…
Miss Sharon Jones! (2015): Dir. Barbara Kopple; Energetic as well as intimate, this portrait of the mighty soul singer by acclaimed documentarian Barbara Kopple bravely chronicles the effect that…
Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, The (2015): Dir. Morgan Neville; From the director of the Oscar winning 20 FEET FROM STARDOM comes this beautiful portrait of the international music collective founded by legendary…
National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage (2015): A celebration of the 50th Anniversary of London's National Theatre. The theatrical gala features a veritable who's–who of British stage talent…
Nightmare, The (2015): Dir. Rodney Ascher; Unique and chilling documentary that takes a look at a frightening condition that plagues thousands; sleep paralysis.
Noma: My Perfect Storm (2015): Dir. Pierre Deschamps; All–access look into the remarkable life of Chef Rene Redzepi and his multiple award–winning restaurant Noma.
Older Than Ireland (2015): Dir. Alex Fegan; 100 years of Irish history is explored in this fascinating documentary about 30 Irish men and women who are all over 100 years old. A uniquely…
Only the Dead (2015): Dir. Bill Guttentag, Michael Ware; Graphic, but never exploitative account of the invasion of Iraq as captured by the lens of Australian war correspondent Michael Ware.
Palio (2015): Dir. Cosima Spender
Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict (2015): Dir. Lisa Immordino Vreeland; Luminous portrait of the arts patron extraordinaire who transformed a modest fortune and adventurous taste into one of the premier collections of…
Putuparri and the Rainmakers (2015): Dir. Nicole Ma; Enlightening documentary about an Aboriginal man living in Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia that maps out his ancestors' spiritual connection to…
Queen of Ireland, The (2015): Dir. Conor Horgan; Triumphant Irish doco about the referendum on marriage equality for same–sex couples, focused on drag queen and gay rights activist Pandora…
Requiem for the American Dream (2015): Dir. Peter D. Hutchison, Kelly Nyks; A bracing encapsulation of Professor Noam Chomsky's political and philosophical views, focusing particularly on the damaging effects of inequality in…
Reset (Relève: Histoire d'une création) (2015): Dir. Thierry Demaizière, Alban Teurlai; Delightful depiction of renowned choreographer and dancer Benjamin Millepied (best known for choreographing the dance sequences in Black Swan) in his…
Return of the Free China Junk (2015): Dir. Robin Greenberg; Moving follow–up to THE FREE CHINA JUNK, this time covering the international effort to rescue the original junk (used to sail between Taiwan…
Ronaldo (2015): Dir. Anthony Wonke; An often surprising examination of the life and career of famed soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo.
Seymour: An Introduction (2015): Dir. Ethan Hawke; Award–winning documentary on the life and career of classical pianist Seymour Bernstein, who abandoned fame as a performer in favour of a…
Sherpa (2015): Dir. Jennifer Peedom; Superb doco captures the 2014 climbing season on Everest from the point of view of Sherpa Phurba Tashi, including the tragic avalanche and its…
Sinatra: All or Nothing at All (2015): Dir. Alex Gibney
Feat. Frank Sinatra; Alex Gibney's intimate examination of the legendary musician Frank Sinatra, spanning his lengthy career over an epic four–hour running time.…
Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine (2015): Dir. Alex Gibney; Alex Gibney directs this piercing and decidedly unflattering documentary examining the personal and private life of the late Apple CEO, Steve Jobs.
Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans (2015): Dir. Gabriel Clarke, John McKenna; Retrospective account of the making of Steve McQueen's cinematic passion project LE MANS, a flop at the time, but one whose verisimilitude has earned…
Story of China with Michael Wood, The (TV Series) (2015): Feat. Michael Wood; Veteran historian and broadcaster Michael Wood follows his celebrated Story of India with this in–depth portrait of the most populous country…
Tomorrow (2015): Dir. Cyril Dion, Mélanie Laurent; French actress Melanie Laurent explores hopeful solutions in response to the publication of a study forecasting the possible extinction of mankind by…
Unbranded (2015): Dir. Philip Baribeau; Gorgeously photographed odyssey follows four friends as they travel across public land from Mexico to Canada with 16 horses.
Walt Disney: His Life and Legacy (2015): Dir. Sarah Colt; This comprehensive account of Walt Disney's career from his early films to Disneyland provides a keen insight into his motivations and values.
Welcome to Leith (2015): Dir. Michael Beach Nichols, Christopher K. Walker; A living nightmare unfolds for the townsfolk of the North Dakota town of Leith (pop. 24) when a notorious white supremacist moves in with a nefarious…
What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015): Dir. Liz Garbus; Essential biographical documentary about the extraordinary Nina Simone, filled with previously unseen archival footage of the singer, and produced by…
Where to Invade Next (2015): Dir. Michael Moore; A good–natured comic polemic from film–maker Michael Moore, who this time "invades" a host of European nations in pursuit of progressive,…
Why ANZAC with Sam Neill (Tides of Blood) (2015): Feat. Sam Neill; Sam Neill examines the enduring myths of the Anzac legend, sharing his family's war stories and uncovering forgotten truths. From the Gallipoli…
Winter at Westbeth (2015): Dir. Rohan Spong; A vibrant showcase of three elderly artists who reside in the historic and unique Westbeth Artists Housing in New York City's west village. Filmed…
Wolfpack, The (2015): Dir. Crystal Moselle; A poignant, stranger–than–fiction documentary about the six Angulo brothers, raised entirely within the confines of their Lower East Side…
Women He's Undressed (2015): Dir. Gillian Armstrong; Indeed "fabulous" documentary about the life of the Australian costume designer and three–time Oscar winner Orry–Kelly, who despite his…
Yorkshire Vet, The (TV Series) (2015): Animal lovers will adore this documentary series following the work of the staff of Skeldale Veterinary Centre in Thirsk, North Yorkshire –…
20,000 Days on Earth (2014): Dir. Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard
Feat. Nick Cave, Ray Winstone, Kylie Minogue; A 24–hour portrait of writer and musician Nick Cave, blending fiction and reality, as it examines the artistic process and the power of the…
A Lego Brickumentary (2014): Dir. Daniel Junge, Kief Davidson; Jason Bateman narrates this cheerful doco that takes a look at the global culture and appeal of the LEGO building–block toys.
Adjust Your Tracking (2014): An informal companion piece to REWIND THIS!, this documentary even shares a few of its commentators but narrows the focus down to a range of…
Advanced Style (2014): Dir. Lina Plioplyte; An irresistible and inspirational portrait of the lives of seven unique New York women whose dynamic, eclectic personal style and vital spirit have…
All This Mayhem (2014): Dir. Eddie Martin; The dark side of competitive sport is laid bare in this chilling account of Australian brothers Tas and Ben Pappas, talented skateboarders who moved…
Art + Soul (2014): An in depth journey through the heritage, politics and imagination in contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Presented by Hetti…
Aunty & the Star People (Aunty and the Star People) (2014): Dir. Gerard Smyth; The extraordinary story of an unassuming elderly women from Berhampore, Wellington who leads a double life as the famous "Jean Aunty", founder of a…
Awake: The Life of Yogananda (2014): Dir. Paola di Florio, Lisa Leeman; An enlightening documentary about Hindu mystic Paramahansa Yogananda who brought yoga and meditation to the West in 1920. Yogananda was the author of…
Banksy Does New York (2014): Dir. Chris Moukarbel; Documentary chronicling the famed street artist's "31 works of art in 31 days" in New York city.
Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me (2014): Dir. Drew DeNicola , Olivia Mori; The definitive story of the "greatest band that never made it", this long overdue documentary tells the story of legendary Memphis band "Big Star",…
Billy Connolly's Big Send Off (2014): Dir. Mike Reilly
Feat. Billy Connolly; A frank but humorous look into the business and philosophy of death by the ageing Scottish comedian, whose own public battle with cancer and…
Black Panther Woman (2014): Dir. Rachel Perkins; Revealing look at the Australian Black protest movement of the 1970's and its affiliation with the American Black Panthers, told from the perspective…
Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart (2014): Dir. Jeremiah Zagar; One of the highest profile murder trials of the 20th Century is revisited in this fascinating documentary about the murder of Gregg Smart in New…
Case Against 8, The (2014): This HBO documentary goes behind the scenes inside the groundbreaking case to overturn the ban on same–sex marriage in the state of California.…
Cathedrals of Culture (TV Series) (2014): Dir. Wim Wenders, Robert Redford, Michael Glawogger; If buildings could talk, what would they say about us? `Cathedrals of Culture' offers six startling responses to this question. Filmed entirely in…
Citizenfour (2014): Dir. Laura Poitras; Oscar–winning documentary that chronicles the first meetings between whistleblower Edward Snowden and journalist Glenn Greenwald, the explosive…
Cosmos (TV Series) (Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey) (2014): Feat. Neil deGrasse Tyson; National Geographic presents this superb 21st century update of Carl Sagan's influential book and TV series of the 1970's. Using breathtaking…
Cowspiracy (2014): Dir. Kip Andersen, Keegan Kuhn; A thought–provoking and engaging investigation of the contentious hypothesis that animal agriculture is the leading cause of greenhouse…
Death: A Series About Life (TV Mini-Series) (2014): Norwegian documentary filmed around the world on 100 locations in 25 countries tackling death from the physical, spiritual, creative, commercial and…
Dinosaur 13 (2014): Dir. Todd Douglas Miller; Riveting documentary chronicling the discovery of the largest complete T–Rex ever found, and the ongoing Goliath struggles faced by the…
Dior and I (2014): Dir. Frederic Tcheng; Ravishing documentary takes a peek inside the storied world of the Christian Dior fashion house with a privileged, behind–the–scenes look…
Do I Sound Gay? (2014): Dir. David Thorpe; Amusing documentary about the stereotype of the gay voice as director David Thorpe, recently heartbroken and anxious over the sound of his own voice,…
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014): Dir. Mark Hartley; A wildly entertaining trip through the heady rise and fall of The Cannon Group – a prolific film production company responsible for countless…
Erebus: Operation Overdue (2014): Dir. Peter Burger; The tragic yet compelling story of Air New Zealand's doomed DC–10 which crashed into Antarctica's Mount Erebus in 1979.
Fed Up (2014): Dir. Stephanie Soechtig; An urgent documentary on the obesity epidemic whose major message is that sugar is the biggest culprit. Made in the style of compelling forerunners…
Filmed in Supermarionation (2014): Dir. Stephen La Rivière; Carefully–crafted love letter to the groundbreaking and iconic puppetry technique developed by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, creators of…
Finding Fela (2014): Dir. Alex Gibney; Alex Gibney trains his inquisitorial eye on the celebrated musician Fela Kuti, a revolutionary political figure and a leading proponet of Afrobeat.
First Contact (TV Series) (2014): Provocative reality television documents the journey of six Australians who are challenged about their perceptions of indigenous Australians.
From Scotland With Love (2014): Scottish history as told through a vast collection of real home movie and archival footage, this is a charming filmic tapestry of everyday family…
Future Shock! The Story of 2000AD (2014): The story of mighty British sci–fi comic 2000AD is passionately told by the creators and artists Pat Mills, Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, John…
Generation Like (2014): Top quality and highly topical PBS documentary which posits the question "Are kids using social media or is social media using kids?" to explore the…
Genesis: Sum of the Parts (Genesis: Together and Apart) (2014): Dir. John Edginton; Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks reunite to do this official documentary spanning the prog–rock and…
Genius of the Ancient World (2014): Historian Bettany Hughes takes a tour through the ancient world and examines the works of three key philosophers, Socrates, Confucious and Buddha.
Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me (2014): Dir. James Keach; Centering around Campbell's tragic diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, this tour doco follows the country music legend across America for 15 month's…
Great Museum, The (2014): Dir. Johannes Holzhausen; Fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of one of the most famous cultural institutions in the world, The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Great Welsh Adventure, A (TV Series) (2014): Feat. Griff Rhys-Jones; "Exiled" Welshman and popular Brit comedian Griff Rhys Jones reveals the unusual delights hidden amongst the icy peaks, roaming valleys and stunning…
Green Prince, The (2014): Dir. Nadav Schirman; Absorbing account of how a son of a founding leader in the Palestinian organization, Hamas, became a spy for the Israelis.
Heaven Adores You (2014): Dir. Nickolas Rossi; Documentary about the life and music of Elliot Smith, the singer–songwriter whose eerily beautiful music remained mostly underappreciated until…
Hidden Kingdoms (TV Series) (2014): Feat. Stephen Fry; This six part BBC nature series uses camera wizardry to contrive high–stakes animal adventures. While seasoned Attenborough viewers may be put…
Hip Hop-eration (2014): An utterly delightful character–driven documentary that tells the humorous, heartfelt and life–affirming story of an elderly Waiheke…
Human Universe (TV Mini-Series) (2014): Feat. Professor Brian Cox; Professor and "Rock star Physicist" Brian Cox travels the globe to investigate the origin of the human species. Through interviews with historians,…
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (2014): Dir. Dave LaMattina, Chad N. Walker; Good–natured portrait of the revered performer Caroll Spinney, the man inside Big Bird's suit since Sesame Street began.
I Dream Of Wires (2014): Dir. Robert Fantinatto; A must for electronic music fans, this is a well–researched and cohesive delve into the history and recent resurgence of the electronic modular…
In Search of Chopin (2014): Dir. Phil Grabsky; The life and music of Polish–born pianist and composer Fryderyk Chopin is explored in the detailed format of dir. Grabsky's previous "In Search…
Intrepid New Zealand (2014): Ambitious follow–up to Kevin Biggar and Jamie Fitzgerald's FIRST CROSSINGS (2012) finds the pair tackling a new set of legendary journeys…
Iris (2014): Dir. Albert Maysles; Legendary documentarian Albert Maysles' final film is an insightful portrait of fashion icon Iris Apfel who has had an outsized presence on the New…
Irish Pub, The (2014): Dir. Alex Fegan; A warm celebration of Irish pub culture, featuring delightful character vignettes and insightful explorations of the family tradition of pub…
Italian Americans, The (Mini-Series) (2014): Documentary series that deftly explores the real history and impact of Italian Americans on America through archival clips and interviews from 1890…
Jodorowsky's Dune (2014): Dir. Frank Pavich
Feat. Orson Welles, Salvador Dali, Mick Jagger…; Billed as the greatest sci–fi movie never made, Alejandro Jodorowsky's attempt to adapt Frank Herbert's groundbreaking novel DUNE makes for a…
Keep on Keepin' On (2014): Dir. Alan Hicks; Infectious documentary that follows jazz legend Clark Terry over four years to document the mentorship between Terry and 23–year–old…
Korengal (2014): Dir. Sebastian Junger; Follow–up to RESTREPO picks up where it left off; the same men, the same valley, the same commanders, but a very different look at the…
Lambert and Stamp (2014): Dir. James D. Cooper
Feat. Christopher Stamp, Kit Lambert; Passionate documentary chronicling the curious origin–story of THE WHO, where two aspiring filmmakers looking for a subject came across the…
Land of the Bears (2014): Dir. Guillaume Vincent; Set in the wilderness of the Kamchatka Peninsula this riveting nature film follows the daily adventures of five wild brown bears.
Last Days in Vietnam (2014): Dir. Rory Kennedy; An exhaustive, Oscar–nominated documentary directed by the daughter of Robert Kennedy about the final panicked days of the Vietnam War as the…
Life Itself (2014): Dir. Steve James
Feat. Roger Ebert; Profoundly significant film–critic Roger Ebert is the subject of this unique cinematic portrait. Originally an adaptation of his memoir, the…
Life on Us (TV Series) (2014): A detailed look at the human body as a walking ecosystem, teeming with a wide variety of life forms and microbes in their trillions.
Man from Coxs River, The (2014): Dir. Russell Kilbey
Feat. Luke Carlon, Chris Banffy; Surprise hit doco from Australia follows a daring collaboration between a skillful horseman and a National Parks ranger who attempt a daring brumby…
Merchants of Doubt, The (2014): Dir. Robert Kenner; The director of FOOD INC. takes on corporate titans once again, here exposing their duplicitous agenda to mislead consumers on climate change using…
Motorway: Life in the Fast Lane, The (TV Series) (2014): Dir. Toby Paton; A series for road enthusiasts which explores the secret life of the M6 – one of Britain's busiest roads.
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown (2014): Dir. Alex Gibney; Alex Gibney's extensive portrait of the "Godfather of Soul" was made with cooperation of the Brown Estate and expertly contextualises a wealth of…
Nancy Wake: Gestapo's Most Wanted (2014): The heroics of Wellington–born Nancy Wake, aka 'The White Mouse', are given a pulpy treatment in this doco–drama celebrating the famed…
Nas: Time is Illmatic (2014): Dir. One9; Spirited doco that delves deep into the making of Nas' benchmark album, Illmatic, and the social conditions that influenced its creation.
National Gallery (2014): Dir. Frederick Wiseman; Director Frederick Wiseman applies his rigorously patient and observational style to explore one of the great museums of the world: The National…
Next Goal Wins (2014): Dir. Steve Jamison, Mike Brett; The rousing underdog story of American Samoa's national football team – officially the worst international team in the world – whose…
Nigel Latta (TV Series) (2014): Clinical psychologist Nigel Latta goes in–depth on some of the most urgent problems facing New Zealand society today in this confronting…
NOW: In the Wings on a World Stage (2014): Dir. Jeremy Whelehan
Feat. Kevin Spacey; Kevin Spacey, Sam Mendes and the Bridge Project Company reveal some of the most intimate moments behind the scenes of their staging of Richard III.
On Any Sunday: The Next Chapter (2014): Dir. Dana Brown; Following up his father's classic ON ANY SUNDAY, Dana Brown chronicles the passionate international following of motorcycle racing.
Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl (TV Series) (2014): Following on from the SBS series on Sydney suburb Cabramatta and its dense Vietnamese population, this landmark history of Lebanese Australians looks…
Our Big Blue Backyard (TV Series) (Wild South: Our Big Blue Backyard) (2014): From Northland to Stewart Island, this 6 part series explores the colourful and varied fauna within New Zealand's unique marine environments.
Overnighters, The (2014): Dir. Jesse Moss; The burden of compassion is at the heart of this story of Jay Reinke, a church Pastor who runs the "overnighters" program in the oil pipeline…
Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist (2014): Dir. James Erskine; A powerful case study on the rise and fall of a Tour de France champion and the corruption at the heart of the sport, this documentary examines the…
Pirates of the Airwaves (2014): A docudrama on the story of Radio Hauraki, which rocked the state–monopolised airwaves in the sixties as a pirate radio station aboard a ship…
Pulp: a Film about Life, Death & Supermarkets (2014): Dir. Florian Habicht; Imaginative Kiwi filmmaker Florian Habicht collaborates with Jarvis Cocker to mark UK pop rock band Pulp's last ever concert.
Pump (Pump, the Movie) (2014): Dir. Rebecca Harrell Tickell, Joshua Tickell; Eye–opening examination of America's oil addiction and investigation into alternative energy sources that are considerably cheaper and…
Queen Victoria's Letters: A Monarch Unveiled (2014): A.N. Wilson guides the viewer through revealing look at the life of Queen Victoria, told through a selection of the Monarch's correspondences..
Real History of Science Fiction, The (TV Series) (2014): Feat. Mark Gatiss, William Shatner, Nichelle Nichols…; The story of one of the liveliest and most stimulating genres in popular culture told through its impact on cinema, television and literature. Each…
Road (2014): Dir. Michael Hewitt, Diarmuid Lavery; Petrol head doco with a big heart, narrated by Liam Neeson and following the lives of a family who have dominated road racing for over 30 years.
Salt of the Earth, The (2014): Dir. Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado; A visually stunning and deeply affecting portrait of Sebastião Salgado, an acclaimed humanitarian photographer, who for over forty years has…
Scandimania (2014): River Cottage's Hugh Fearnley–Whittingstall tours the key regions of Scandinavia, exploring our increasing fascination with its crime drama and…
She's Beautiful When She's Angry (2014): Dir. Mary Dore; A retrospective but indeed still relevant account of the history of the tenacious and resilient women who founded the modern women's movement from…
Songs from the Inside (2014): Filmed on location inside two prisons in Auckland. This ten part "reality" series offers inmates an opportunity to write, arrange and record original…
Spandau Ballet: Soul Boys of the Western World (2014): Feat. Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp; Top notch documentary about the band Spandau Ballet, who were key proponents of the "New Romantic" pop movement of the early 1980's and went on to…
Sunshine Superman (2014): Dir. Marah Strauch; Hair–raising portrait of the late Carl Boenish, pioneer of the BASE jumping movement, whose early passion for skydiving led him to ever more…
Takedown: The DNA of GSP (2014): Dir. Kristian Manchester; A look at the life and career of Ultimate Fighting Champion's welterweight world champ Georges St–Pierre.
That Sugar Film (2014): Dir. Damon Gameau; Damon Gameau embarks on a unique experiment to document the effects of a high sugar diet on a healthy body, consuming only foods that are commonly…
This is Brazil (2014): A crash course in the food, football and culture of Brazil – a country centre of attention in 2014 with the FIFA World Cup in full swing.
Today's Russia: A Literary Landscape (2014): Feat. Stephen Fry; Stephen Fry presents this overdue reappraisal of Russian literature for a Western audience. Imbued with Fry's characteristic personal touches and…
Topp Country (TV Series) (2014): Lynda and Jools Topp hit the road for this food flavoured tiki tour of New Zealand.
Trust Me I'm a Doctor (2014): Michael Mosley heads a team of four Doctors in this BBC TV show investigating the reliability of common health claims such as "can pollution give you…
Utopia (2014): Dir. John Pilger; John Pilger looks at the Aboriginal plight and suppressed colonial past of his native Australia in this hard–hitting documentary which renews…
War That Changed Us, The (2014): Commissioned by the ABC to mark the centenary of the First World War, this series draws on the personal testimonies of six Australians – revealed…
What Now? Remind Me (2014): Dir. Joaquim Pinto; Extraordinary documentary portrait written, directed by and staring the acclaimed Portuguese director, producer and sound designer Joaquim Pinto. At…
When the Queen Came to Town (2014): Dir. Maurice Murphy; A commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Queen’s first Royal Tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger (2014): Dir. Joe Berlinger; The director of PARADISE LOST helms this multi–faceted documentary that uses the trial of infamous gangster James "Whitey" Bulger to examine…
William Yang: Friends of Dorothy (2014): Dir. Martin Fox; Documentary celebrating gay culture and history in Australia, written and presented by renowned Australian–Chinese photographer William…
1 (One) (2013): Dir. Paul Crowder; Definitive, thrilling documentary recounting the history of Grand Prix Racing featuring the many casualties and living legends of the sport,…
12 O'Clock Boys (2013): Dir. Lotfy Nathan; A delinquent dirt–bike gang is idolized by a young Baltimore youth in this artful urban documentary.
20 Feet From Stardom (Twenty Feet From Stardom) (2013): Dir. Morgan Neville; [This] is the most satisfying music documentary of the last five years, maybe even longer, and that is really saying something. It is the story of…
A Story of Children and Film (2013): Dir. Mark Cousins; Film essayist Mark Cousins offers this edifying "mosaic" of films about childhood and their representation of children across various states of being…
Aim High in Creation (2013): Dir. Anna Broinowski; With ambitions to stop a new gas mine from being established near her Sydney home, director Anna Broinowski (FORBIDDEN LIES) goes to North Korea to…
Anger Within: Jonah Lomu - A Rugby Legend (2013): Dir. Frederick Khan, Stephane Le Goff; A thoughtful, respectfully made documentary on the life of legendary All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu, charting his difficult upbringing in South…
Antarctica - A Year on Ice (2013): Dir. Anthony Powell; A superb, multi–faceted insider's chronicle of life on the Earth's formidable southern pole that masterfully captures both the environmental…
Armstrong Lie, The (2013): Dir. Alex Gibney; Master documentarian Alex Gibney wrestles with the tainted legacy of disgraced Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong.
Battle of the Sexes, The (2013): Dir. James Erskine, Zara Hayes; An entertaining, fast–serving account of the famous 'Battle of the Sexes' match between tennis champion Billie Jean King and her chauvinist…
Beyond the Edge (2013): Dir. Leanne Pooley
Feat. Chad Moffitt, Sonam Sherpa; Thrilling, definitive docu–drama on Sir Edmund Hillary's historic 1953 scaling of Everest with sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
Blackfish (2013): Dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite; A series of deaths caused by a Seaworld killer whale is used to shed light on harmful living conditions in this persuasive activist documentary.
Broadway Idiot (2013): Dir. Doug Hamilton; Flashy, upbeat doco charts the journey of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong from pop–punk rocker to Broadway lead in the stage version of…
Budding Stars Of The Paris Opera Ballet (2013): Intimate six–part series spanning a whole school year at the Ecole de Danse de l'Opéra de Paris, detailing it's busy inner workings and the…
Charley Boorman's South African Adventure (TV Series) (2013): Feat. Charley Boorman; Charley Boorman (LONG WAY ROUND) tackles 6,000 miles of South African terrain in this latest solo adventure from the intrepid motorcyclist.
Crash Reel, The (2013): Dir. Lucy Walker; Direct from its premiere at the 2013 NZ Film Festival – champion snowboarder Kevin Pearce's life–changing injury and foolhardy…
Cutie and the Boxer (2013): Dir. Zachary Heinzerling; An insightful and perceptive doco on the relationship between an elderly Japanese couple who also happen to be alternative artists: Ushio Shinohara,…
Dirty Wars (2013): Dir. Rick Rowley; Chilling docu–drama follows journalist Jeremy Scahill and the trail of secrets and lies he uncovers while investigation America's covert wars.
Doctor Who (TV Documentaries) (An Adventure in Space and Time; The Ultimate Guide) (2013): Feat. William Hartnell; 'An Adventure in Space and Time' – This 50th anniversary commission dramatises how Doctor Who was first brought to the screen in 1963. William…
Finding Vivian Maier (2013): Dir. John Maloof, Charlie Siskel; Doing for art world what SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN did for music, this arresting documentary discovers a nanny whose previously unknown cache of…
Galapagos Affair, The - Satan Came To Eden (2013): Dir. Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine; Constructed from several memoirs and unearthing actual archival footage, this extraordinary documentary investigates the bizarre, unsolved mystery of…
Galapagos With David Attenborough (2013): Feat. David Attenborough; David Attenborough explores the extreme and unique environment of the Galápagos islands in this latest documentary from the iconic naturalist.
Gardening With Soul (2013): Dir. Jess Feast; Heart–swelling documentary on Sister Loyola Galvin, a 90–year–old stalwart of Island Bay's Home of Compassion who offers pearls of…
Generation Iron (2013): Dir. Vlad Yudin; A modern day sequel to PUMPING IRON, this new documentary on competitive body building takes a ROCKY–esque approach to its entertaining look at…
Giselle (2013): Dir. Toa Fraser; While the Met Opera and National Theatre have established international brands and reputations to lead them, Toa Fraser’s GISELLE has something…
GMO OMG (2013): Dir. Jeremy Seifert; Filmmaker Jeremy Seifert chronicles his family's growing awareness of Genetically Modified Organisms in the everyday food they're consuming in this…
Golden Hour, The (2013): Superb 'Sunday Theatre' docu–drama relives the inspirational story behind New Zealand's greatest–ever day at the Olympics, in which…
Good Ol' Freda (2013): Dir. Ryan White; This light documentary on The Beatles heydays as recalled by their secretary and head of the band's fan club, Freda Kelly, makes for an enjoyable,…
Gore Vidal: United States of Amnesia (2013): Dir. Nicolas D. Wrathall; Stimulating portrait of the one of the 20th century's most iconoclastic commentators drawing on a wealth of archival material and candid interviews…
Grayson Perry: All in the Best Possible Taste (TV Series) (2013): Turner–Prize winning artist and renowned transvestite Grayson Perry visits the taste tribes of Britain, dissecting the class system into three…
Heston's Fantastical Food (TV Series) (2013): Taking a leaf from James May's gleefully ambitious 'Toy Stories', Heston Blumenthal sets out create giant, fully edible versions of some of Britain's…
History Of The Eagles (2013): Dir. Alison Ellwood; Meticulous patchwork of archival and concert footage, and never–before–seen home movies that explore the evolution and enduring…
History of WWE, The (50 Years of Sports Entertainment) (2013): Feat. Hulk Hogan, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, John Cena; The history of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation) that started in 1963 as a regional promotion to…
Hot Air (2013): Dir. Abi King-Jones, Alister Barry; Is it possible for a small democratic nation to address the greatest political challenge of the age? That is the question posed by this timely…
In Bob We Trust (2013): Dir. Lynn-Maree Milburn; Father Bob Maguire, an irreverent Catholic priest with a broad following, fights to stay part of his South Melbourne parish against the wishes of a…
InRealLife (In Real Life) (2013): Dir. Beeban Kidron; A revealing journey from the bedrooms of British teenagers to the world of Silicon Valley, examining the impact of the internet on the youth of today.
Inside Out: The People's Art Project (2013): Dir. Alastair Siddons; Documentary portrait of French artist and TED prize–winner JR (Jean–Pierre Romel), who creates a global participatory art project that…
Inside the Human Body (2013): The BBC update Dr. Robert Winston's landmark documentary series on the human body by taking us on a fantastic voyage through our inner universe with…
Journey to Planet Sanity, A (2013): Dir. Blake Freeman; Filmmaker and skeptic Blake Freeman takes an elderly deliveryman who is easily swayed by superstition on a tour of America's bogus psychics and…
Kill Team, The (2013): Dir. Dan Krauss; Difficult but important expose of 21–year–old soldier Adam Winfield's attempts to alert his military superiors to heinous war crimes…
Killing Lincoln (2013): Dir. Adrian Moat
Feat. Billy Campbell; Bill O'Reilly's novel about the assassination of President Lincoln from the point of view of John Wilkes Booth is the basis for this uneven but…
Kingdom of Dreams and Madness, The (2013): Dir. Mami Sunada
Feat. Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata; Priceless documentary on the inner workings of Studio Ghibli and its great 'sensei', Hayao Miyazaki, as he approaches retirement while completing his…
Last Impresario, The (2013): Dir. Gracie Otto; The colourful, endlessly creative life and legacy of British theatre impresario and film producer Michael White is explored in this expansive…
Leviathan (2013): Dir. Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Véréna Paravel; Darkly philosophical documentary by the maker of SWEETGRASS provides a poetic and highly immersive portrait of life aboard a commercial fishing…
Lily Cole's Art Matters (2013): Feat. Lily Cole; Supermodel and Cambridge Arts graduate, Lily Cole, hosts a series of intimate, observational portraits with some of today's most renowned…
Linsanity (2013): Dir. Evan Leong; A light–footed account of Asian–American basketballer Jeremy Lin's sudden and explosive rise to prominence, where as a struggling bench…
Mademoiselle C (2013): Dir. Fabien Constant; This backstage pass to former Vogue Paris editor–in–chief Carine Roitfeld's entry into the New York publishing world lacks the bracing…
Mary Meets Mohammad (2013): Dir. Heather Kirkpatrick; Thought–provoking doco follows the unlikely relationship that develops between Tasmanian pensioner Mary, and Mohammad, an Afghan man imprisoned…
Medieval Lives: Birth, Marriage, Death (2013): Historian Dr Helen Castor examines everyday life for medieval society, from Queens to peasants, and in particular the trials of childbirth in the…
Michael Mosley's Science of You (2013): The mysterious worlds of biology and medicine are explored by physician Michael Mosley in this insightful dissection of the human body.
Mistaken for Strangers (2013): Dir. Tom Berninger; Distinctive among rock–docs, this was made by the underachieving, metal–head brother of indie–rockers 'The National''s…
Moaning of Life, The (TV Series) (2013): Self–described philistine Karl Pilkington branches out from his AN IDIOT ABROAD hijinks to visit faraway countries, explore endangered cultures…
Moo Man, The (2013): Dir. Andy Heathcote; Beautiful story of the struggles of a maverick British dairy farmer who, in an age of giant agriculture, decides to cultivate a close relationship…
Muscle Shoals (2013): Dir. Greg Camalier; A marvellous and comprehensive celebration of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the unlikely birthplace and subsequent epicentre of some of America's most…
New Zealand From Above (2013): A stunning, high–definition aerial history of New Zealand taking in the country's many and varied landscapes and iconic locations.
One Direction - This is Us (2013): Dir. Morgan Spurlock; SUPER SIZE ME's Morgan Spurlock directs this official documentary of the English boy–band juggernaut, who emerged from being solo contestants…
Pandora's Promise (2013): Dir. Robert Stone; Dir. Robert Stone documents the shifting viewpoints of scientists and environmentalists in this fascinating, counter–intuitive argument for…
Paris Revealed (2013): Three part documentary goes in–depth into the history and architecture of a Paris' most iconic landmarks: The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame,…
Particle Fever (2013): Dir. Mark Levinson; Exhilarating doco that tracks the first round of experiments at the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland. The film follows the experimental…
Pervert's Guide to Ideology, The (2013): Dir. Sophie Fiennes; Director Sophie Fiennes' wacky and endlessly insightful follow–up to THE PERVERT'S GUIDE TO CINEMA, once again written and presented by the…
Punk Singer, The (2013): Dir. Sini Anderson
Feat. Carrie Brownstein, Kim Gordon; A living celebration of influential punk frontwoman Kathleen Hanna, who became a feminist icon of the 1990's as a founding figure of the "Riot Grrrl"…
Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer (2013): Dir. Mike Lerner, Maxim Pozdorovkin; A galvanizing portrait of the all–female punk rockers whose headline–grabbing music and performance art continues to bring Putin's…
Red Obsession (2013): Dir. David Roach, Warwick Ross; Winemakers and wine lovers discuss the coveted vintage of France’s Bordeaux region and the impact of China's voracious appetite for this finite…
Rewind This! (2013): Dir. Josh Johnson; An Aro Favourite carried by our shameless bias, this essential documentary pays timely and passionate tribute to the humble video cassette and its…
Richard III: The King in the Car Park & The Unseen Story (2013): Dir. Louise Osmond
Feat. Simon Farnaby; In the British town of Leicester, archaeologists unearth the skeleton of a man. The man's spine is deformed. His skull shows signs of violent trauma.…
Rise of the Continents (2013): Geologist Iain Stewart hones in on the earth's iconic landmasses to hypothesize the rise of a new supercontinent in 250 million years. Four episodes.
Salinger (2013): Dir. Shane Salerno; A revealing, if contentious look into the life and times of American writer J. D. Salinger, best known for authoring 'The Catcher in the Rye'.
Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's (2013): Dir. Matthew Miele; Affectionate rememberances abound in this warm–hearted documentary on the iconic Manhattan department store with interviews from an array of…
Search for Weng Weng (2013): Dir. Andrew Leavold; A bizarre history of Filipino B–films, as told through director Andrew Leavold's personal quest to find the truth behind its midget James Bond…
Secrets of Britain (TV Series) (2013): A PBS–produced series that goes behind the scenes to reveal detailed history and contemporary insights about various British landmarks and…
Seduced and Abandoned (2013): Dir. James Toback
Feat. Alec Baldwin; Off–the–cuff film documentary following writer–director James Toback his actor buddy Alec Baldwin trying to secure financing for…
Six by Sondheim (2013): Dir. James Lapine, Todd Haynes
Feat. Jeremy Jordan, America Ferrera; Very highly regarded HBO television documentary which explores the back–stories of six timeless Sondheim songs. Featuring a rare musical…
Skeptics - Sheen of Gold (2013): Dir. Simon Ogston; Essential documentary on the legacy of the Skeptics, an innovative and controversial Kiwi post–punk band best known for their notorious…
Sound City (2013): Dir. Dave Grohl; Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl directs this passionate and engaging tribute to the obsolete world of analogue music production and LA's legendary…
Spirit of '45, The (2013): Dir. Ken Loach; In this illuminating documentary, Ken Loach movingly celebrates the radical changes during postwar Britain under the new Labour government, which…
Stone Roses, The - Made of Stone (2013): Dir. Shane Meadows; Dir. Shane Meadows enthusiastically documents the reunion of iconic band the Stone Roses, who were instrumental in paving the way for the Britpop…
Story of the Jews, The (2013): Simon Schama leads this exhaustive five–part documentary series on the Jewish story and experience, from past to present.
Stuart Hall Project, The (2013): Dir. John Akomfrah; Personalised portrait of cultural theorist Stuart Hall, who is regarded as one of the founding figures of the New Left and a key architect of…
Summit, The (2013): Dir. Nick Ryan; A documentary marking out events surrounding on one of the deadliest days in mountaineering history, when 11 climbers mysteriously perished on the…
Sunnyboy, The (2013): Dir. Kaye Harrison; Follows the journey of enigmatic Australian musician Jeremy Oxley, lead singer of Sunnyboys as he emerges from a 30–year battle with…
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon (2013): Dir. Mike Myers; Mike Myers steps behind the camera to direct this doco about the life and career of legendary talent agent and producer, Shep Gordon, whose wide and…
Supersized Earth (TV Series) (2013): The ingenuity of engineers and constructors is explored in this spectacular BBC series focused on the planet's biggest and tallest man–made…
This Ain't No Mouse Music! (2013): Dir. Chris Simon, Maureen Gosling; Essential documentary on German–born American producer Chris Strachwitz, founder of the multifarious record label Arhoolie Records which is…
This is Roller Derby (2013): Dir. Daniel Hayward; An entertaining ride that visits the pioneering Australian leagues of Roller Derby and meets the women who have kick–started the roller derby…
Tim's Vermeer (2013): Dir. Teller
Feat. Penn Jillette; Science and art coalesce in this extraordinary story of Texan tech pioneer and obsessive polymath Tim Jenison's attempt to perfectly reproduce a…
Trials of Muhammad Ali, The (2013): Dir. Bill Siegel; Excellent, illuminating profile of Muhammad Ali's trials outside of the boxing ring, in particular his fight against being conscripted into the US…
Unknown Known, The (2013): Dir. Errol Morris; Controversial former United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, discusses his career in Washington D.C. from his days as a congressman in…
Vikings, The (TV Series) (2013): Going beyond their bloodthirsty reputation, Neil Oliver charts the rise of the Vikings, from their prehistoric Scandinavian homelands to a vast…
Walking the Camino (Six Ways to Santiago) (2013): Dir. Lydia Smith; Award–winning profile of six travelers undertaking the famed Camino De Santiago pilgrimage.
We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks (2013): Dir. Alex Gibney; Prolific documentarian Alex Gibney rigorously investigates the creation of the controversial WikiLeaks website and its conspicuous founder, Julian…
Which Way is the Front Line From Here? (2013): Dir. Sebastian Junger; Sebastian Junger offers a moving tribute to his late co–director on RESTREPO, Tim Hetherington, with added reflection on the state of…
Wild About New Zealand (TV Series) (2013): This stunning Wild South venture, clearly inspired by the BBC's Natural History unit, follows adventurer Gus Roxburgh into the heart of New Zealand's…
Wonders of Life (TV Series) (2013): Feat. Professor Brian Cox; This third installment in physicist Brian Cox's exposition of the origins of the universe focuses on the fundamental principles that enabled life to…
A Band Called Death (2012): Dir. Jeff Howlett, Mark Covino; Forgotten proto–punk band "Death" are rescued from obscurity in this remarkable and spirited story of three African–American brothers who…
About Face: Supermodels, Then and Now (2012): Dir. Timothy Greenfield-Sanders; A who's who of famous models reflect on their time in the spotlight in this fascinating symposium on aging, sexism, race, and the evolution of…
Act of Killing, The (2012): Dir. Joshua Oppenheimer; A staggering human rights documentary that elicits (and re–stages) boastful confessions of Indonesia's surviving death squad members, whose…
Africa (TV Series) (2012): Feat. David Attenborough; A stunning natural history series – even by the BBC's high standards – which employs state of the art technology to offer a whole new…
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (2012): Dir. Alison Klayman; As he prepares for a new series of exhibitions, China's most famous contemporary artist and dissident is profiled in this superb documentary.
America Revealed (TV Series) (2012): Based on the BBC's "Britain From Above", this all–encompassing series examines the United States through its vast infrastructures, looking at…
Andrew Marr's History of the World (2012): A 'definitive' account of human history, according to acclaimed British journalist Andrew Marr, filtered through the 'big stories' of the last 70,000…
Art of America (2012): Art critic Andrew Graham–Dixon guides us from the Puritan settlers in Massachusetts to the contemporary art scene in New York and LA in this…
Attenborough: 60 Years in the Wild (2012): Feat. David Attenborough; A superb tribute to the life and times of the BBC's talismanic natural history host, who revisits the stories behind his award–winning shows…
B.B. King: The Life of Riley (2012): Dir. Jon Brewer; Exhaustive documentary on blues legend B.B. King, melding recollections, milestones, and insights from the likes Bill Cosby, Carlos Santana, Bonnie…
Beware of Mr. Baker (2012): Dir. Jay Bulger; Prodigious drummer Ginger Baker reflects on his explosive but chequered musical career that peaked with Cream and Blind Faith, but that was marred by…
Bones Brigade: An Autobiography (2012): Dir. Stacy Peralta; Skateboarding legend turned director Stacy Peralta turns his camera on himself and as well on the sensational titular skateboarding team, and traces…
British, The (2012): Britain’s tumultuous history is dramatised in this seven–part BBC series looking at the monarchs, leaders, reformers, inventors, pioneers and…
Central Park Five, The (2012): Dir. Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, David McMahon; The latest in a long line of films documenting extraordinary injustice, Ken Burns directs this devastating and exhaustive account of the 1989 case of…
Charles Bradley: Soul of America (2012): Dir. Poull Brien; Late–blooming soul sensation Charles Bradley is the focus of this powerful documentary charting the singer's road to redemption through music.
Chasing Ice (2012): Dir. Jeff Orlowski; National Geographic photographer James Balog’s Extreme Ice Survey project, which sees him capture time–lapse photographs of numerous glaciers…
Classic Albums - Peter Gabriel (So) (2012): Peter Gabriel's quintessential 80's album "So" is deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key…
Creative Minds (2012): Geoffrey Rush headlines this insightful series of interviews with Australia artists who speak openly about their influences, personal development,…
Crusades, The (2012): Medieval historian Thomas Asbridge re–examines the religious fanaticism and unspeakable brutality of the 'Holy War', first explored for the BBC…
Detropia (2012): Dir. Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady; A sobering cinematic tapestry focusing on the monumental decline of Detroit, which has become in effect a "post–industrial hellscape" and the…
Diamond Queen, The (2012): The Queen's forthcoming Diamond Jubilee celebrations are prefaced by this definitive overview of the her lengthy reign.
Dirty Business - How Mining Made Australia (2012): An insight into the riches and turmoil behind Australia's nickname of "the lucky country", and how the mining of its vast natural resources has…
Dust Bowl, The (2012): Dir. Ken Burns; The Great Depression and the subsequent decade–long drought experienced by farmers during the 30s forms the basis of this latest historical…
ESPN: 30 for 30 (30 Films 30 years of sporting History) (2012-2015): Dir. Alex Gibney, Morgan Spurlock; In 2009, ESPN commissioned an unprecedented series of documentary films that reveal the little–known stories behind some of the most dramatic,…
First Crossings (TV Series) (2012): This rugged adventure series literally retraces the steps of New Zealand's pioneer explorers in the intrepid, no–holds–barred style of…
For No Good Reason (2012): Johnny Depp visits upon renowned graphic artist Ralph Steadman for this rightly mischevious portrait of the last of the original "Gonzo" visionaries…
Francesco's Shakespeare in Italy (TV Series) (2012): Further travels with charismatic Italian architect Francesco da Mosto, here exploring the Bard's great love affair with Italy, with the likes of…
Freddie Mercury - The Great Pretender (2012): Dir. Rhys Thomas; 'Queen' fans are in for a treat with this loving documentary that paints a portrait of a man very different to his flamboyant persona. Focused on his…
Gallipoli From Above (2012): An Australian–centred 'corrective' history of the Gallipoli landing, which focuses on the scale and achievement of the ANZAC's deployment of…
Gatekeepers, The (2012): Dir. Dror Moreh; Six former heads of Israel’s Shin Bet secret service agency open up about their work and the state of the Israel–Palestine divide in this…
Great Barrier Reef (2012): Three–part series narrated by Monty Halls offering a definitive guide to the secrets of what is the largest living structure on the planet…
Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters (2012): Dir. Ben Shapiro; Engaging, illuminating documentary shot over a decade, that follows Crewdson as he roams a disintegrating suburban America and stages his…
Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction (2012): Dir. Sophie Huber
Feat. Harry Dean Stanton; An appropriately enigmatic portrait of cult character actor Harry Dean Stanton through his own words and the recollections of David Lynch, Wim…
Hooligan (2012): Dir. Donal MacIntyre; British investigative journalist Donal Macintyre – once attacked by football hooligans for exposing their organised violence in an earlier…
House I Live In, The (2012): Dir. Eugene Jarecki; The definitive documentary on the 'war on drugs' to date, this canvases the people and the stories on both sides of the law to reveal the profound…
How Far is Heaven (2012): Dir. Christopher Pryor, Miriam Smith; A genuine triumph. Directors Christopher Pryor and Miriam Smith deftly compare the lives of the Sisters of Compassion (only three resident at the…
How to Cook like Heston (TV Series) (2012): Culinary wizard Heston Blumenthal gets practical with this hands–on series on how to perfect home cooking with everyday ingredients.
How to Grow a Planet (2012): A three–part 'unpacking' of the world's eco–system and evolutionary history by geologist Iain Stewart, whose agenda for a healthy planet…
How to Make Money Selling Drugs (2012): Dir. Matthew Cooke; This brash expose of drug world mores frames itself knowingly as a 'how to' guide comprised of interviews with dealers, suppliers, law enforcers, and…
How to Survive a Plague (2012): Dir. David France; Oscar–nominated documentary about the collaboration between two activist groups – ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) and TAG…
Human Scale, The (2012): Dir. Andreas Dalsgaard; A keen insight into the problems of high density modern living and the ways more socially–minded urban planning can mitigate these…
Ian Thorpe: The Swimmer (2012): Dir. Gregor Jordan; A fascinating plunge into the mindset of Australia’s greatest and most polarizing Olympian, whose record five gold medal haul is challenged as he…
Imposter, The (2012): Dir. Bart Layton; An extraordinary account of a French–Algerian con artist named Frédéric Bourdin and his impersonation of an American teenager who returns to…
In Search of Haydn (2012): Dir. Phil Grabsky; Lucid, unpretentious biography of 'the father of the symphony' Joseph Haydn drawing on interviews with both musicians and historians. The third…
Intersexion (2012): Dir. Grant Lahood; New Zealand's first 'out' intersex person, Mani Bruce Mitchell, reaches out to other intersexuals around the world in this a frank exploration of the…
James Nesbitt's Ireland (2012): Feat. James Nesbitt; Actor James Nesbitt celebrates the sights, sounds and tastes of Ireland, a country famed for the charm of its people, it's rugged landscapes and rich…
Jerusalem - The Making of a Holy City (2012): Simon Sebag Montefiore presents this balanced and edifying history of Jerusalem, from its 3,000 year old foundations, to its contentious present day…
Journal de France (2012): Dir. Raymond Depardon, Claudine Nougaret; A revealing travel journal as survey of legendary French photographer and filmmaker Raymond Depardon's lens work as he captures fading pockets of his…
Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012): Dir. Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz
Feat. Katy Perry; A suitably bubbly and inspirational fly–on–the–wall doco that intimately follows the candy–coloured pop chantreuse, Katy…
Kea: Mountain Parrot (2012): Wild South documentary takes a closer look at New Zealand's notorious native mountain bird, famous for its mischievous behaviour, but less known as a…
Kevin McCloud's Man Made Home (2012): The erudite Grand Designs host takes on his own self–build project in this short series following his attempt to construct a sustainable…
Kingdom of Plants (TV Series) (2012): Feat. David Attenborough; David Attenborough updates his previous botany series, THE PRIVATE LIFE OF PLANTS, with the help of new technology to gain further insight into the…
Last Ocean, The (2012): Dir. Peter Young; Sobering environmental documentary on the depletion of marine life in the Antarctic's Ross Sea, which factors as part of an international movement to…
Last Shop Standing (2012): With 2000 record shops having disappeared in the UK alone since the turn of the milennium, this engaging documentary charts the rise, fall and…
London: The Modern Babylon (2012): Dir. Julien Temple; Julien Temple directs this vast, illuminating portrait of London, charting the story of its immigrants and bohemians from the beginning of the 20th…
Love, Marilyn (2012): Dir. Liz Garbus; Hollywood's elite read earnestly from from a box of Marilyn Monroe's personal letters, diaries and private musings that were discovered in the home…
Make Hummus Not War (2012): Dir. Trevor Graham; Asutralian documentarian Trevor Graham extols his love for hummus in this humorous homage to the chickpea's most distinguished dish.
Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present (2012): Dir. Matthew Akers, Jeff Dupre; Mesmerising arts documentary that follows the Serbian–born veteran performance artist as she prepares for a retrospective of her work at The…
Marley (2012): Dir. Kevin MacDonald; An exemplary music documentary on Rasta icon Bob Marley, produced and endorsed by the reggae legend’s family.
Metal Evolution (TV Series) (2012): Dir. Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn; The makers of METAL: A HEADBANGER'S JOURNEY delve into a the history of heavy metal and hard rock, using the “Heavy Metal Family Tree” as a…
Mission to Lars (2012): Dir. James Moore, William Spicer; Uplifting to a fault, this moving documentary follows the goal of two siblings to realise their autistic brother's lifelong dream of meeting his…
More Than Honey (2012): Dir. Markus Imhoof; Another stern documentary portent of the consequences that the stedily diminishing bee population will have on the world's eco–system and…
Murdoch (2012): Dir. Janice Sutherland; Two–part documentary that tells the inside story powerful and controversial media mogul, Ruper Murdoch. Friends, rivals, colleagues past and…
Nina Conti: Her Master's Voice (2012): Dir. Nina Conti
Feat. Nina Conti; A poignant documentary from master ventriloquist and comedienne Nina Conti, who takes the bereaved puppets of her mentor and former–lover Ken…
Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta (TV Series) (2012): A powerful, engrossing docu–drama on Sydney suburb Cabramatta, an area know for its dense Vietnamese population, and more notoriously, racial…
Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey (2012): The planet's wild and varied weather is studied in relation to the earth's orbit in this spectacular BBC nature series.
Ottolenghi's Mediterranean Feast (TV Mini-series) (2012): Yotam Ottolenghi is a passionate TV chef raised in the world of ancient Middle Eastern cuisine. Here he documents the diverse culinary traditions…
Paul Kelly: Stories of Me (2012): Dir. Ian Darling; Prolific Aussie singer–songwriter Paul Kelly is afforded a generous, if honest personal portrait in this fine documentary mapping the artist's…
Persistence of Vision (2012): Dir. Kevin Schreck; The fascinating journey of master animator Richard Williams (Who Framed Roger Rabbit) and his 30–year quest to create his ultimately…
Ping Pong (2012): Dir. Hugh Hartford; Like any good documentary [PING PONG] assembles a great cast of characters and like all good sports movies it makes full use of the built–in…
Pink Floyd - The Story of Wish You Were Here (2012): Dir. John Edginton; Pink Floyd reminisce about the making of their hugely successful album 'Wish You Were Here' and reflect upon it's enduring legacy.
Planet Ocean (2012): Dir. Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Michael Pitiot; Photographer Yann Arthus–Bertrand takes us underwater to observe the ocean's greatest natural mysteries while advocating the need for…
Politically Incorrect Guide to Grown Ups, The (2012): Psychologist Nigel Latta's third installment in his popular 'politically incorrect' series turns the spotlight on the adults and the complexities of…
Produced By George Martin (2012): Dir. Francis Hanly; Long overdue and intimate profile of Britain’s most celebrated record producer and 'fifth Beatle’, Sir George Martin. Features interviews with…
Queen of Versailles, The (2012): Dir. Lauren Greenfield; A billionaire couple who've made their fortune in time–share real estate experience the harsh reality of the economic crisis in the midst of…
Queen's Palaces, The (2012): Fiona Bruce tours three exceptional royal buildings in search of the history and treasures hidden within them, in this Diamond Jubilee–timed…
Raising the Curtain (2012): Australia's thespian greats contribute to the rich history of Australian theatre in this three part retrospective. Includes interviews with Cate…
Rising from Ashes (2012): Dir. T.C. Johnstone; The inspirational story behind Rwanda's bid to send a cycling team to the 2012 Olympics under the leadership of a Tour de France veteran.
Room 237 (2012): Dir. Rodney Ascher; Though straining credulity from the outset, this wildly entertaining round table of film obsessives and conspiracy theorists tackles the apparent…
Searching for Sugar Man (Searching for Sugarman) (2012): Dir. Malik Bendjelloul; A unique, engaging music mystery that follows the late–60's Detroit based musician Sixto Rodriguez, who faded into obscurity in America amidst…
Shadows Of Liberty (2012): Dir. Jean-Philippe Tremblay; Fascinating documentary about media ethics, exploring the impact that corporate media ownership has on quality of journalism. Focusses on the USA,…
She-Wolves: England's Early Queens (2012): Dr Helen Castor explores the lives of seven queens who challenged male power during medieval and Tudor England in this proto–feminist history…
Shihad: Beautiful Machine (2012): Dir. Sam Peacocke; A dignified and highly satisfying chronicle of the iconic Kiwi rockers, brimming with revealing anecdotes about the band's fight with fame, the…
Side By Side (2012): Dir. Christopher Kenneally; An earnest Keanu Reeves fronts this broad but insightful overview of the rapidly changing landscape of movie production and exhibition from both an…
Silence in the House of God (Mea Maxima Culpa) (2012): Dir. Alex Gibney; Prolific documentary maker Alex Gibney investigates the Catholic Church’s outrageous protection of its sexually offending priests.
Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap (2012): Feat. Ice-T; Ice–T rounds up a who's who of the hip–hop world for this expansive documentary on the trends, influences, and philosophies to emerge in…
Source Family, The (2012): Dir. Jodi Wille, Maria Demopoulos; Utterly fascinating story of The Source Family, a 150–strong spiritual commune in the Hollywood Hills during the hippy era, presided over with…
Step Up to the Plate (Entre les Bras) (2012): Dir. Paul Lacoste; French chef Michel Bras, an eccentric three–star Michelin restaurant owner, looks to hand over the reins to his willing but individualistic son…
Stories We Tell (2012): Dir. Sarah Polley; Indie actress turned director Sarah Polley investigates a long–held family secret in this absorbing personal documentary.
Storm Surfers: The Movie (2012): Dir. Justin McMillan, Christopher Nelius; In the vein of storm chasers, two Aussie thrill–seekers hunt down and ride improbably large waves in this death–defying surf documentary.
Story Of The Doobie Brothers, The (Let The Music Play) (2012): Dir. Barry Ehrmann; Generous official biography of the American music legends whose series of hit records dominated FM radio in the 1970s. Surviving and thriving…
Story Of Wales, The (TV Series) (2012): An ambitious, all–encompassing 30,000 year history of Wales, as told by the BBC's Huw Edwards. Covers everything from the Tudor Court, to the…
Survivors: Nature's Indestructible Creatures (2012): Professor Richard Fortey conducts this fascinating search across the globe for life forms which have survived the three biggest mass extinctions in…
Then the Wind Changed (2012): Dir. Celeste Geer; When a firestorm of 'cyclonic fury' swept through Victoria in 2009, Australia was rocked by its worst natural disaster in recorded history.…
Uncharted Waters (2012): Dir. Craig Griffin; Wayne Lynch, an unheralded Australian surfing legend who was among the sport's pioneers in the 1960s and 70s, is the subject of this salty…
Under African Skies (Paul Simon's Graceland Journey) (2012): Dir. Joe Berlinger
Feat. Paul Simon, Maya Angelou, Harry Belafonte…; Twenty–five years after the phenomenal success of 'Graceland', Paul Simon on his return to South Africa to reconnect with the musicians who…
Underground, The (2012): Comprehensive, all–access documentary on the inner workings of the London Underground, filmed during the train network's biggest overhaul in…
Untold History of the United States, The (TV Series) (2012): Dir. Oliver Stone; Oliver Stone is the voice and reasoning behind this fascinating, if contentious revisionist Cold War history through American foreign…
Venus and Serena (2012): Dir. Maiken Baird, Michelle Major; Dominant tennis sister act Venus and Serena Williams get their due in this broad documentary covering the siblings' gifts for tennis, relationship…
West of Memphis (2012): Dir. Amy Berg; Documentarian Amy Berg, with crucial the backing of Peter Jackson, investigates the crime, arrest, and long legal campaign to free the ‘West…
Wildest Africa (TV Series) (2012): In–depth natural series celebrates both the continent's vibrant culture and incredible wildlife on a majestic scale. Nine episodes across…
Wildest Arctic (TV Series) (2012): A continuing, in–depth natural series celebrating the continent's incredible wildlife on a majestic scale.
Wildest Latin America (TV Series) (2012): A continuing, in–depth natural series celebrating both the continent's vibrant culture and incredible wildlife on a majestic scale.
Woody Allen - A Documentary (2012): Dir. Robert. B. Weide
Feat. Woody Allen; Candid look at the life and times of Woody Allen covers his career from fledgling comic writer to iconic director with a series of revealing…
A History of Ancient Britain (TV Series) (2011): A nine–part documentary series presented by Neil Oliver, about Britain's ancient history from the earliest neanderthal inhabitants through to…
A Life for Ballet (2011): Dir. Marlène Ionesco; Elite French dancer Pierre Lacotte's passion for ballet and his fellow ballerina Ghislaine Thesmar is lovingly explored in this documentary tribute…
America in Primetime (TV Series) (2011): A fascinating discussion of character archetypes throughout the history of American television, which doubles as a glimpse into the social and…
Arctic with Bruce Parry (2011): BBC documentarian Bruce Parry ventures to the Arctic to experience how people live in its spectacular wilderness, and how they're coping with the…
Autoluminescent: Rowland S. Howard (2011): Dir. Richard Lowenstein, Lynn-Maree Milburn; The singular punk guitarist Rowland S. Howard, best known for his work in "The Birthday Party", is paid fitting tribute in this poignant doco of…
Bears of the Last Frontier (2011): Biologist and adventurer Chris Morgan uses his motorcycle to explore the resiliency and adaptability of bears through five dramatic Alaskan…
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest (2011): Dir. Michael Rapaport; Actor Michael Rapaport directs this compelling documentary on maverick the American hip hop group revered for their innovative fusion of hip hop and…
Being Elmo (A Puppeteer's Journey) (2011): Dir. Constance Marks; The inspiring story of Kevin Clash, the man and voice behind Sesame Street's most popular character is uniquely documented in this delightful…
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra 2011 Season, The (2011): Three masterful concert works from the 2011 season of the world's pre–eminent orchestra. EUROPA CONCERT – Featuring acclaimed Flamenco…
Best Of Palettes Collection, The (2011): Intriguing series using the latest in art investigation and video animation to explore the history, techniques and controversies behind some of the…
Bible, The - A History (2011): Enlightening, SBS–broadcast examination of the origins and ideas behind "the most influential book ever written."
Billy Connolly's Route 66 (2011): Feat. Billy Connolly; Billy Connolly goes all 'Easy Rider' in this breezy American travelogue by motorcycle, stretching some 2488 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica.
Billy T - Te Movie (2011): Dir. Ian Mune
Feat. Billy T. James; Infectious, long overdue documentary celebration of comedy legend Billy T James' career in TV, sketch, and film, and his enduring influence on Kiwi…
Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975, The (2011): Dir. Göran Hugo Olsson; A cache of 16mm footage shot by Swedish reporters investigating the Black Power movement is restored the re–edited with supporting context is…
Blakey (2011): The legacy of sailing legend and environmental crusader Peter Blake is celebrated in this quality commemorative TVNZ production.
Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011): Dir. Liz Garbus; Examining the fine line between genius and madness, this fascinating documentary magnifies the life and times of prodigious chess talent Bobby…
Bombay Beach (2011): Dir. Alma Har’el; Hypnotic and highly innovative documentary about a ghost town on the Salton Sea in Southern California, which is home to a failed 1950's development…
Brain Games (2011): National Geographic series offers a vigorous mental workout with various 'brain teasers' as it explores the revelations of neuroscience and the…
Brian Eno 1971-1977: The Man Who Fell to Earth (2011): Though "unauthorized", this is a thorough and serious appraisal of the 1970's–period career of artist/producer and "non–musician", Brian…
Brother Number One (2011): Dir. Annie Goldson; New Zealand documentary exploring the Khmer Rouge's regime in Cambodia in the 1970s, during which almost two million Cambodians were killed. Told…
Buck (2011): Dir. Cindy Meehl; A soothing and ultimately inspiring portrait of legendary trainer Buck Brannama, whose compassionate approach to horse rearing inspired the film,…
Bully (2011): Dir. Lee Hirsch; A shattering documentary on the difficult social problem of bullying, which gives a voice to the victims who suffer repeated physical and verbal…
Chelsea Flower Show, The (2011): Feat. Carol Klein; Superb highlights from the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show from 2006 to 2010. Spread across 5 discs, divided by year, this covers…
Cinema Asia (2011): Excellent five–part overview of the key creative and industrial movements within the exciting, often groundbreaking Asian filmmaking…
Civilization: Is the West History? (2011): A compelling overview of the world as we know it, in which historian Niall Ferguson takes us through the ascendancy of Western civilisation via its…
Classical Destinations (TV Series) (2011): Welsh singer Aled Jones fronts this latest addition to the 'Classical Destinations' canon. Dubbed the "ultimate travel guide to classical music", the…
Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope (2011): Dir. Morgan Spurlock; Morgan Spurlock enthusiastically pays homage to the largest and most talked–about convention of its kind, Comic–Con, a mecca for 'geek'…
Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel (2011): Dir. Alex Stapleton; A passionate portrait of prolific B–movie director and producer Roger Corman, exploring his extraordinary career in which he successfully…
Curse of the Gothic Symphony, The (2011): Dir. Randall Wood; A group of brave and committed musicians take on an 80 year curse in an attempt to stage one of the longest, largest and most technically difficult…
Daytime Tiger (2011): Dir. Costa Botes; In 1999, NZ writer Michael Morrissey was diagnosed with manic depression, or bi–polar disorder (Morrissey prefers the older term). He has…
Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (2011): Dir. Lisa Immordino Vreeland; Whirlwind portrait of fashion trailblazer Diana Vreeland, a force of nature as former editor of Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. Known for her…
Disappear in Light (2011): A distilled portrait of Wellington playwright and performer Jo Randerson, whose work towards the staging of her play "Good Night, The End" provides…
Dragonslayer (2011): Dir. Tristan Patterson; Languidly shot documentary aims to capture the aimlessness and indolence of youth in its portrait of one Josh Sandoval, a 19–year–old pro…
Dreams of a Life (2011): Dir. Carol Morley; The unknown life of Joyce Vincent is sensitively reconstructed and explored in this troubling documentary about the death of a woman whose body lay…
Eames: The Architect and the Painter (2011): Dir. Jason Cohn, Bill Jersey; A vital documentary on design power couple Charles and Ray Eames, whose enduring bond as both married partners and collaborators gave us numerous…
Earth Flight (TV Series) (2011): A continuation of the BBC's recent theme of documenting wildlife from their point–of–view, this takes in some of the world's greatest…
East to West (2011): An epic six part series which traces the birth of civilisation back to the Middle East, arguing that the influence of ancient Greece on world history…
El Bulli - Cooking in Progress (2011): Dir. Gereon Wetzel; A treat for culinary aficionados, this rigorous but appetizing fly–on–the–wall doco takes diners behind the scenes of (the now…
Expedition Tiger (2011): Inspiring documentary affords rare insight into the South Asian state of Bhutan – a mythical sanctuary for tigers which holds the promise of a…
Fabric of the Cosmos, The (2011): Author of 'The Elegant Universe', physicist Brian Greene, seeks to charge our perceptions and conventional wisdom around the nature of the universe…
Fastest (2011): Dir. Mark Neale; Definitive account of biking madness follows Valentino Rossi's pursuit for a tenth world title, busted leg and all. Numerous spills are captured on…
Fightville (2011): Dir. Petra Epperlein, Michael Tucker; A serviceable fight documentary on minor league mixed martial arts, a bloody and competitive world populated by working class rough necks and…
Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Movie (2011): Dir. Ric Meyers; Overview of the history of the martial arts film by genre enthusiast Ric Meyers, who peppers an impressive assemblage of film excerpts with trivia,…
Finding Life Beyond Earth (2011): Science and speculation converge in this eye–opening look at the work of astrobiologists who have dedicated to lives to exploring the potential…
First Position (2011): Dir. Bess Kargman; A winning ballet documentary in the competitive spirit of SPELLBOUND, this focuses on six young gifted ballerinas as they prepare for the prestigious…
Flying Monsters (2011): David Attenborough presents this short, but captivating documentary on who ruled prehistoric skies. Explores the evolution and extinction of airborne…
Foo Fighters: Back and Forth (2011): Dir. James Moll; Chronicles the 16 year history of the Foo Fighters, from the band's first cassette demos – recorded when Dave Grohl was still Nirvana's…
Food Truck, The (TV Series) (2011): Outgoing Auckland chef Michael Van de Elzen takes on New Zealand's fast–food favourites in this enterprising local series aimed at…
Forks Over Knives (2011): Dir. Lee Fulkerson; Examines the profound (yet obvious) claim that many so–called "diseases of affluence" can be prevented, controlled or even reversed by…
Freedom Riders (2011): Dir. Stanley Nelson Jr; A lesser noted, but equally important strain of the American Civil Rights Movement vis–a–vis Rosa Parks's famous bus boycott, this…
From the Ashes (2011): Dir. James Erskine; A gripping flashback to the summer of '81 where England's struggling cricket team – spearheaded by a swashbuckling Ian Botham – rallied…
From The Sky Down (2011): Dir. Davis Guggenheim, David Guggenheim
Feat. Bono , The Edge; Twenty years after it's making, U2 return to Hansa Studio in Berlin to discuss the making of the groundbreaking "Achtung Baby' with Academy Award…
Frozen Planet (TV Series) (2011): Another spectacular, seen–to–be–believed documentary from the BBC's natural history unit, this time focusing on life in the Arctic…
Fry's Planet Word (2011): Dir. John Paul Davidson
Feat. Stephen Fry; This five–part BBC series joins Stephen Fry as he travel's the continents exploring the nuanced diverse world of human language.
George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011): Dir. Martin Scorsese
Feat. George Harrison; Martin Scorsese argues for the greatness of The Beatles' unassuming lead guitarist in this full–bodied hagiography. As with his Bob Dylan…
Get Fresh with Al Brown (2011): Down–to–earth chef Al Brown continues to plod around the country, this time sourcing the best fresh produce and ingredients to whip up…
Girl Model (2011): Dir. David Redmon, Ashley Sabin; This disturbing insight into the 'supply chain' of the modeling business follows the entry of a 13–year–old Russian girl into the fashion…
Global Radar (TV Series) (2011): Te Radar seeks out environmental do–gooders both here and abroad in these further 'sustainable adventures' from the intrepid Kiwi comedian.
Go Back To Where You Came From (TV Series) (2011): Sure to touch a nerve, this provocative SBS series tackles the divisive asylum seeker issue by asking six ordinary Australians to board a leaky…
Godfathers Of Ganja (Square Grouper) (2011): Dir. Billy Corben
Feat. Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mickey Rooney; Colourful portrait of the pot–smuggler's paradise that was 1970's Miami, populated with redneck pirates, a ganja–smoking church, and the…
Happy (2011): Dir. Roko Belic; Roko Belic (GENGHIS BLUES) tackles the lofty subject of happiness in this feel–good global documentary on self–improvement and…
Harry Belafonte: Sing Your Song (2011): Dir. Susanne Rostock
Feat. Harry Belafonte; Harry Belafonte's triumphant life and times as an entertainer and civil rights campaigner is movingly retold in the context of America's social…
Hell and Back Again (2011): Dir. Danfung Dennis; Photojournalist Danfung Dennis captures both the intensity of combat and the despair of life back home in this incredible insight into the realities…
Hiding Behind the Green Screen (2011): Dir. Paora Joseph; An empowering documentary on the negative impact of marijuana on New Zealand youth, as openly discussed by four young men who are mentored by two…
How Earth Made Us (2011): Epic series that reveals how the tumultuous forces of the planet have powerfully influenced mankind, and shaped in someway every aspect of our…
How to Die in Oregon (2011): Dir. Peter Richardson; Unflinching documentary about assisted suicide, centering around the Death with Dignity Act in the state of Oregon, which allows physicians to…
How to Start a Revolution (2011): Dir. Ruaridh Arrow; The remarkable story of Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr Gene Sharp, the elderly, softly spoken man whose writings concerning the way to wage a…
Human Planet (TV Series) (2011): A massive new undertaking by the BBC, this natural history series focuses on the human species in the relation to the natural world, and how humans…
I Am Eleven (2011): Dir. Genevieve Bailey; An independent documentary project from Australian Journalist Genevieve Bailey who spent years of her savings travelling the world to capture…
If a Tree Falls (2011): Dir. Marshall Curry; Part coming–of–age tale, part cops–and–robbers thriller, this extraordinary documentary tells the story of Daniel McGowan,…
iGenius (How Steve Jobs Changed the World) (2011): Hurried Discovery Channel documentary produced in the aftermath of the Apple founder's untimely death pays homage to the 'Church of Jobs' through…
Impressionists, The: Painting and Revolution (2011): A deep–focus investigation into the revolutionary achievements of the Impressionist movement by British art critic Waldemar Januszczak. Across…
Inside Child Poverty (2011): Dir. Bryan Bruce; Wellington documentary maker Bryan Bruce investigates the appalling level of child poverty in New Zealand, and travels to Sweden to found out why…
Interrupters, The (2011): Dir. Steve James; Another grim, yet by turns inspiring social documentary from dir. Steve James (HOOP DREAMS), who expands his chronicle of urban…
Into the Abyss (Death Row Portraits) (2011): Dir. Werner Herzog; Werner Herzog sits down with the perpetrators of a triple homicide in this darkly lucid investigation into the paradoxes of human nature. Probing…
Italy: Love It or Leave It (2011): Dir. Gustav Hofer, Luca Ragazzi; This thoroughly engaging road trip throughout picturesque Italy doubles as a serious critique of a nation beset by various social, economic, and…
James May's Man Lab (TV Series) (2011): Feat. James May; TOP GEAR's James May attempts to restore the 'traditional skills' lost to the modern man – say, disarming a WWII–era bomb, the art of…
Jig (2011): Dir. Sue Bourne; Big–hearted backstage doco on the little known world of competitive Irish Dancing, centred on the sweat and tears behind the 2010 World…
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011): Dir. David Gelb; Mouth–watering profile of 85–year–old sushi grand–master Jiro Ono and his relentless pursuit of perfection, it features…
Julian Assange - A Modern Day Hero? (Inside the World of WikiLeaks) (2011): Fascinating, if patchy insight into the media whirlwind created when whistle–blowing website WikiLeaks published the Afghan War documents in…
Kate Bush - Under Review (2011): A critical review of Kate Bush's landmark recording Hounds Of Love, featuring archived footage of the enigmatic Bush herself, as well as a…
Klitschko (2011): Dir. Sebastian Dehnhardt; Unmovable boxing brothers Vatali and Wladimir Klitschko are the subject of this hard–swinging documentary on the championship pedigree of the…
Knuckle (2011): Dir. Ian Palmer; The brutal sport of bare–knuckle fighting is framed against a larger backdrop of feuding Irish families in this harrowing 12–year…
Last Days Here (2011): Dir. Demian Fenton, Don Argott; Bobby Liebling, the one–time frontman of seminal 70s hard–rock group 'Pentagram' is tracked down 30 years later by a young metalhead…
Last Dogs of Winter, The (2011): Dir. Costa Botes; For the past 40 years, in a remote and harshly beautiful corner of northern Manitoba, Brian Ladoon has devoted his life to preserving and breeding an…
Life In A Day (2011): Dir. Kevin MacDonald; A unique user–generated documentary that shows beautifully, humourously and honestly what it's like to be alive on earth today. Compiled from…
Life in Movement (2011): Dir. Bryan Mason, Sophie Hyde; Heartfelt portrait of young choreographer Tanja Liedtke who's undoubted talent was cut tragically short. Culled from hours of self–shot…
Like Water (2011): Dir. Pablo Croce; An inside–out look at the life and career of legendary middleweight Ultimate Fighter Anderson Silva.
Long March to Freedom, The (2011): A brutal chapter towards of end of WWII is given its due in this harrowing documentary on the 'long march' of British, American and Commonwealth POWs…
Look, The (2011): Dir. Angelina Maccarone
Feat. Charlotte Rampling; In this fascinating series of conversations, Charlotte Rampling interviews a number of key collaborators during her career as a means of…
Louis Theroux - The Odd, the Bad, and the Godly (2011): A second anthology of intrepid reporter Louis Theroux's eye–opening BBC Two specials. Disc One: America's Medicated Kids, Law and Disorder…
Love We Make, The (2011): Dir. Albert Maysles, Bradley Kaplan
Feat. Paul McCartney; Shot on 16mm B/W film by documentary legend Albert Maysles, this is a suberb, all–access document of Paul McCartney's efforts to organize a…
Madagascar (TV Series) (2011): Sir David Attenborough's long–time love affair with Madagascar informs this exhaustive BBC series devoted to the landscape and wildlife of the…
Magic Trip (2011): Dir. Alex Gibney, Alison Ellwood; Recovering 16mm footage shot during the maiden voyage of the psychedelic 'Magic Bus', this documentary reassembles a visual snapshot of the legendary…
Manet: The Man Who Invented Modern Art (2011): British art critic Waldemar Januszczak hosts this illuminating portrait of 'the father of Impressionism', claiming to offer the first…
March of the Dinosaurs (2011): Stephen Fry narrates this striking CGI docu–drama depicting the 1000–mile autumn migration of Edmontosaurus and Pachyrhinosaurus from…
Michael Jackson - The Life of an Icon (2011): Dir. Andrew Eastel; Produced and narrated by friend (and former Mr. Liza Minnelli) David Gest, this retrospective focuses on Jackson through the eyes of his mother and…
Miss Representation (2011): Dir. Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Feat. Rosario Dawson; A critical analysis of the media representation of women which presents the facts and statistics accompanied by celebrity interviews – Dr.…
Mrs. Carey's Concert (2011): Dir. Bob Connolly, Sophie Raymond; Invigorating doco on the power of music. At a Sydney girl's school, Mrs Carey butts head with her obstinate students as they prepare for a…
Museum of Life (TV Series) (2011): This six–part BBC mini–series gives a behind the scenes look at the Natural History Museum in London. An Engineer, a Doctor, an…
My America (2011): Dir. Peter Hegedus; Documentarian Peter Hegedus draws on his unusual upbringing – as a child of socialist Hungary who used movies to form his image of the United…
My Kind of Place (TV Series) (2011): Kiwi celebrities swan around various Australian holiday hotspots for our entertainment in this thinly veiled tourism advertisement for the lucky…
National Geographic: Megafactories (2011-2013): A National Geographic series exploring the manufacturing and distribution processes of some of the world's most popular brands. Everyday Icons:…
Nature's Miracle Babies (2011): The 'cute quotient' is at an all time high in this heartwarming BBC series centred on the efforts of zoologists to ensure the survival of endangered…
Neil Young - Journeys (2011): Dir. Jonathan Demme; A superb new concert film combining Young's homecoming concert at Toronto’s Massey Hall with intimate glimpses into his travels throughout Canada.
North (TV Series) (2011): Feat. Marcus Lush; The ever–endearing Marcus Lush follows up his award–winning SOUTH with this typically offbeat traverse of New Zealand's far…
Ocean Giants (2011): Spectacular three–part ocean series focused on the secret lives of whales and dolphins, as captured by some award–winning underwater…
Operation 8: Deep in the Forest (2011): Dir. Errol Wright, Abi King-Jones; Cohesive and compelling documentary that gives credible voice to the Maori sovereignty and peace activists who were targeted in police raids and…
Origins of Us (2011): A fascinating anatomical insight into human evolution, particularly through our ancestors, and the edge they gained to survive over a 6 million year…
Page One: Inside the New York Times (2011): Dir. Andrew Rossi; Resonating well beyond the parameters of the news industry, this doco sends out a warning shot on behalf of its beleaguered iconic subject –…
Paradise Lost 3 - Purgatory (2011): Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky; This concluding chapter in the Paradise Lost saga came on the back of the West Memphis Three's sudden release from prison, and covers the defense…
Persecution Blues: The Battle for the Tote (2011): Dir. Natalie van den Dungen; Punk, passion, politics and public protest collide in this exploration of the rich musical history of Melbourne and the overwhelming public outcry…
Pina (2011): Dir. Wim Wenders; A dazzling celebration of the late German dance pioneer Pina Bausch, whose challenging and subversive choreography is performed by those who danced…
Planet Dinosaur (TV Series) (2011): The BBC return to the prehistoric ground first trodden with WALKING WITH DINOSAURS, here employing new state–of–the–art CGI to…
Planet Egypt (2011): Egypt's history as an empire and Pharaoh dynasty is explored from beginning to end in this comprehensive survey of the world's first great…
Planet of Snail (2011): Dir. Seung-jun Yi; A deaf and blind poet finds unique ways to communicate with his lover in this transfixing portrait of an extraordinary love story, one which finds…
POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011): Dir. Morgan Spurlock; SUPER SIZE ME's Morgan Spurlock takes us behind the scenes of product placement and strategic branding while pitching his film's naming rights to a…
Primeval New Zealand (TV Series) (2011): Excellent Kiwi–spun series adopts the WALKING WITH DINOSAURS model of prehistoric life reanimated with CGI effects to illuminate us on New…
Prohibition (2011): Dir. Ken Burns, Lynn Novick; Ken Burns focuses on a notorious chapter in American 20th century history – the Prohibition era – in this typically illuminating PBS…
Project Nim (2011): Dir. James Marsh; Moving, heartbreaking documentary on the life and times of 'Nim Chimpsky', a newborn chimpanzee who was deposited into a Manhattan family home in the…
Prophets of Science Fiction (TV Series) (2011): Somewhat exaggerated series produced and hosted by Ridley Scott that depicts numerous occasions when science fiction authors have predicted and…
Queen: Days Of Our Lives (2011): Dir. Matt O’Casey; Documentary about the legendary rock band, in two parts covering the 1970s and 1980s, and including their previously unseen television debut.
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (2011): Dir. Gilles Penso
Feat. Ray Harryhausen; The definitive documentary on late special effects wizard Ray Harryhausen. Includes interviews and tributes from Peter Jackson, Nick Park, Terry…
Restoration Man (TV Series) (2011): A 'Grand Designs' spin–off with a distinct focus on historical 'doer uppers', this traces the progress of ambitious home restoration projects…
Richard Hammond's Journey to the Centre of the Planet (2011): Feat. Richard Hammond; Top Gear's Richard Hammond goes to the centre of the planet to find out how the Earth works, peeling back the layers to show where volcanoes come…
Rick Stein's Spain (2011): Utterly delightful cooking show 'laced with history, literature and stunning photography' from the highly personable Rick Stein, as he travels the…
Rise and Fall of Versailles, The (TV Series) (2011): Filmed spectacularly in the gardens and ballrooms of Versailles itself, this lavish documentary accounts of the 150–year reign of France’s…
Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir (2011): Dir. Laurent Bouzereau; Intimate, fascinating and completely one–sided documentary made by Roman Polanski's friend of four decades that details his extraordinary life,…
Royal Wedding, The: William and Catherine (2011): Official recording of the wedding of HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton includes the full ceremony, carriage procession and the traditional…
Rugby World Cup 2011 (2011): For the diehard All Blacks fan, an official review of the team's 2011 Rugby World Cup triumph. Includes highlight's from the side's epic…
Samsara (2011): Dir. Ron Fricke; The director of BARAKA expands our minds with another impressive, visually astonishing meditation on global spirituality and the human experience,…
Sarah Palin: You Betcha! (2011): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Renowned documentarian Nick Broomfield journeys to the devoutly evangelical, crystal meth capital of Alaska, in pursuit of Sarah Palin. Interviewing…
Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure (2011): Dir. Matthew Bate; The viral phenomenon of two aging, foul–mouthed room–mates at each others throats is explored in this wildly entertaining doco, centred…
Sound It Out (2011): Dir. Jeanie Finlay; Irresistible portrait of the very last surviving vinyl shop in North East England and the community of devoted music lovers who keep it alive. A…
Story of Film - An Odyssey, The (2011): Dir. Mark Cousins; An invigorating alternate film history from critic Mark Cousins, here adapting his own book into a 15–chapter exploration of cinema from its…
Story of Ireland, The (TV Mini-Series) (2011): An RTE and BBC co–production in which presenter Fergal Keane showcases Irish history, charting the origin and impact of the myths that have…
Swell Season, The (2011): Feat. Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova; Matching gorgeous black and white visuals with a bittersweet honesty about the consequences of fame, this fine documentary follows ONCE…
Tall Man, The (2011): Dir. Tony Krawitz; Compelling true crime documentary on a controversial chapter in Queensland’s history, where in 2004 a drunken Cameron Doomadgee was arrested for…
Taylor Swift - Just For You (2011): The teen queen of country pop shares with us details of her upbringing, songwriting insights, and formative musical influences in this swift…
Tents, The (2011): Dir. James Belzer; A delicious behind–the–scenes look at the prestigious New York Fashion Week, specifically around the iconic tents erected to house…
Test Your Brain (TV Series) (2011): From National Geographic, this interactive series reveals how our brains create the illusion of a seamless reality, and offers a challenge to viewers…
This is Not a Film (2011): Dir. Jafar Panahi, Mojtaba Mirtahmasb; Persecuted Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi turns the camera on himself in this galvanizing protest film about the physical and creative imprisonment of…
Tom Waits: The Complete Review (2011): Feat. Tom Waits; With the aid of plentiful archive, rare footage, interviews with the man himself plus contributions from his colleagues, this documentary set…
Town (TV Series) (2011): Geographer Nicholas Crane explores four iconic British towns (Ludlow, Scarborough, Perth, Totnes) in this compelling plea to reconsider and return to…
Triangle Wars (2011): Dir. Rosie Jones; Absorbing study of local politics as a community rallies together as developers threaten to convert a prime slice of land into 180 shops.
Truth About Lions, The (2011): Naturalist Jonathan Scott tackles our preconceptions and false assumptions about big cats in this fascinating nature documentary.
TT Closer to the Edge (TT3D Closer to the Edge) (2011): Dir. Richard De Aragues; Breakneck motor–racing documentary takes viewers inside the annual 'Tourist Trophy' Isle of Man event, the most prestigious – and…
Two Years at Sea (2011): Dir. Ben Rivers
Feat. Jake Williams; A man who lives in a remote Scottish house in the pine forests of Aberdeenshire is the subject of this beautifully reflective,…
Undefeated (2011): Dir. Daniel Lindsay, T.J. Martin; The perennial losing record of one Manassas High School is turned around by an inspirational football coach in this Academy Award–winning…
Urbanized (2011): Dir. Gary Hustwit; The final in Hustwit's documentary trilogy this time the focus is on the design of cities, looking at issues and strategies behind urban design and…
We Were Here (2011): Dir. David Weissman; Heartbreaking documentary that takes a deep and reflective look at the arrival and calamitous impact of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco.
Whale, The (2011): Dir. Suzanne Chisholm, Michael Parfit; Perfectly pitched at families of all ages, this tells the story of a baby orca named Luna that gets lost in picturesque Nootka Sound off Vancouver…
When a City Falls (2011): Dir. Gerard Smyth; Heavy–hearted chronicle of the impact of Christchurch’s devastating earthquakes, and on the lives of its resilient citizens.
Where Do We Go Now? (2011): Dir. Nadine Labaki
Feat. Nadine Labaki; Nadine Labaki (CARAMEL) directs and stars in this heartfelt Lebanese tale of tensions between Christians and Muslims villagers, and the women who…
Where Were You? (Events That Changed The World) (2011): 26–episode series that takes some of the most shocking events of the 20th and early 21st century and analyzes how news of their occurrence…
Wild Coasts (TV Series) (Wild Coasts with Craig Potton) (2011): Photographer Craig Potton continues his exploration of New Zealand's celebrated landscape with this new series dedicated to the nation's rich and…
Wild Horse, Wild Ride (2011): Dir. Alex Dawson, Greg Gricus; This modern day western documents the big country spectacle of the 'Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge', an annual Texan contest challenging 100…
Wonders of the Universe (TV Series) (2011): Feat. Professor Brian Cox; Dense, but invigorating spin around the universe, with physicist Brian Cox explaining the fundamental principles governing the laws of nature and…
Yogawoman (2011): Dir. Saraswati Clere, Kate McIntyre Clere
Feat. Annette Bening; Feel–good no–brainer documentary which posits that yoga is very, very good for you – with particular attention given to it's…
You've Been Trumped (2011): Dir. Anthony Baxter; Donald Trump is an easy target in this blunt–edged documentary on the David vs. Goliath battle between Aberdeen homeowners along a Scottish…
Young Ones, The (2011): The latest in a series of age and era–based social experiments, this BBC documentary asks six elderly celebrities – among them, cricket…
1 A Minute (2010): Dir. Namrata Singh Gujral
Feat. Kelly McGillis, Olivia Newton-John, Jaclyn Smith; Global docudrama follows a woman's journey through breast cancer, interwoven with celebrity survivor's recounting their own moving experiences of…
180º South - Conquerors of the Useless (2010): Dir. Chris Malloy; Inspiring, caution–to–the–wind travelogue has adventurer Jeff Johnson attempting to follow in the footsteps of Yvon Chouinard and…
2010 Fifa World Cup (New Zealand; Highlights; World Cup Final) (2010): The All Whites are All Right in this historic three–match replay (vs. Slovakia, Italy, Paraguay) of New Zealand’s courageous showing at the…
2010 Global Atheist Convention (2010): Filmed in Melbourne's Convention Center where over 2500 people gathered to hear discussions on global atheism. Speaking are some of the world’s…
A Film Unfinished (2010): Dir. Yael Hersonski; Filmmaker Yael Hersonski interrogates the veracity of the Nazis' unfinished ghetto film project, with the surviving footage of the Warsaw…
Afterlife Experiments, The (2010): Sketchy 4–part series that investigates the possibility of an afterlife, and boldy claims to have the most "spectacular scientific evidence for…
Ain't in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm (2010): Dir. Jacob Hatley; An unsentimental, and better for it, portrait of the great rock drummer as he sets about recording his first album in 25 years. This documentary…
Amazing World Of Automobiles, The (2010): An extensive look at the history of the motorcar, and what's in store for it next – if you've ever had a question concerning cars, this is the…
An Idiot Abroad (TV Series) (2010): Feat. Karl Pilkington, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant; The whinging round–headed Manc and unwitting star of 'The Ricky Gervais Show', Karl Pilkington, is sent on a journey around the world, partly…
Arbor, The (2010): Dir. Clio Barnard; A grimly compelling portrait of hard–living British playwright Andrea Dunbar, most celebrated for writing seminal kitchen sink comedy RITA,…
Armadillo (2010): Dir. Janus Metz; Dir. Janus Metz chronicles the changing personalities and life–altering experiences of a platoon of Danish soldiers fighting out of the…
Asylum Pieces (2010): Dir. Kathy Dudding; Local filmmaker Kathy Dudding charts New Zealand's cultural and medical attitudes towards mental health and institutionalization, with a movingly…
Babies (2010): Dir. Thomas Balmes; The first year ahead of four newly born infants from different parts of the world (Namibia, Mongolia, Japan and California) forms the irresistible…
Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story (2010): Dir. Sarah Townsend
Feat. Eddie Izzard; Potrait of the comedian Eddie Izzard's rise to fame from early influences, losing his mother to cancer at a young age before being sent with his…
Bhutto (2010): Dir. Duane Baughman; A riveting documentary about the recently assassinated Benazir Bhutto, who followed in her father's footsteps as a pillar for democracy, and became a…
Bill Cunningham New York (2010): Dir. Richard Press; A surprise sleeper hit on the arthouse box–office circuit, this is a poignant and gently humorous portrait of street fashion photographer Bill…
Birding (TV Series) (2010): Ornitholigists rejoice! The eccentric bird expert Dave Gosney takes the viewer along for the ride as he traverse the globe looking for rare and…
Blank City (2010): Dir. Celine Danhier; New York's transgressive art scene in the 70s is documented in this celebration of the avant–garde filmmaking that emerged in the midst of the…
Blood in the Mobile (2010): Dir. Frank Piasecki Poulsen; Danish director Frank Piasecki Poulsen presents this long–overdue investigation into the war occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo over…
Blood Into Wine (2010): Dir. Ryan Page, Christopher Pomerenke; Documentary about the unexpected hobby of hard–rockin' "Tool" frontman Maynard James Keenan, who "with his unusual hands–on approach" has…
Bruce Springsteen - The Promise (The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town) (2010): Dir. Thom Zimny; Featuring a wealth of footage of Springsteen and the E Street Band in rehearsals and studio sessions, this exceptional music doco provides a vivid…
Buddha - The Story of Siddhartha (2010): Dir. David Grubin; Beautifully produced PBS documentary on the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Narrated by Richard Gere.
Candyman - The David Klein Story (2010): Dir. Costa Botes; The sweet–and–sour story of David Klein, the eccentric candy inventor behind "Jelly Belly" jelly beans, who through complex circumstance,…
Cane Toads: The Conquest (2010): Dir. Mark Lewis; Irreverent filmmaker Mark Lewis' second comically horrific take on the environmental devastation left in the wake of the giant toads' unstoppable…
Casino Jack and the United States of Money (2010): Dir. Alex Gibney; Another compelling take on high–level corruption from dir. Alex Gibney (ENRON, TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE), this time delivering a weighty account…
Catfish (2010): Dir. Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman; Astonishing documentary follows the interactions between a New York–based photographer and a young woman from rural Michigan who make contact…
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010): Dir. Werner Herzog; Although intended to be viewed in 3–D, this extraordinary trip inside the Chauvet caves of Southern France – home to the oldest known…
Chasing Madoff (2010): Dir. Jeff Prosserman; Infamous for the 'Ponzi scheme' that defrauded thousands of investors of billions of dollars, Bernie Madoff is put to the sword in this fascinating…
Churches: How To Read Them (TV Series) (2010): Dir. Jonathan Mayo; Six–part series presented by historian and author Richard Taylor, exploring ideas about God, salvation, life and death through visits to some…
Circo (2010): Dir. Aaron Schock; Rewarding documentary filmed in rural Mexico, within a century–old traveling circus, where the Ponce family are struggling with mounting debts,…
Citizen Architect (Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of the Rural Studio) (2010): Dir. Sam Wainwright Douglas; Inspiring documentary about late architect Samuel Mockbee and his radical design/build program, the Rural Studio, where students create striking…
Classic Albums - Black Sabbath (Paranoid) (2010): Dir. Matthew Longfellow; Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators. Generously…
Classic Albums - Rush (2112 / Moving Pictures) (2010): Rush's albums 2112 and Moving Pictures are deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artists…
Classic Albums - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers (Damn The Torpedoes) (2010): Dir. Matthew Longfellow
Feat. Tom Petty; Tom Petty And The Heartbreaker's "Damn The Torpedoes" deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by…
Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer (2010): Dir. Alex Gibney; Scandal–laden follow–up to dir. Gibney's excellent doco on Jack 'Casino Jack' Abramoff takes an in–depth look at former New York…
Coasters (TV Series) (2010): HUNGER FOR THE WILD's Al Brown circumnavigates New Zealand's rugged coastline in search of Kiwi characters and spectacular scenery while cooking up a…
Cool It (2010): Dir. Ondi Timoner; A head–scratching portrait of Danish academic Bjørn Lomborg, whose outspoken views against the conventional wisdom around global warming are…
Countdown to Zero (2010): Dir. Lucy Walker; Deeply disturbing history of the atomic bomb that shows the nuclear arms race is far from over. Pic sets out to be the INCONVENIENT TRUTH of nuclear…
Dave Dobbyn - Beside You (30 Years of Hits) (2010): Still going strong after 30 years, New Zealand’s Dave Dobbyn reflects on a career spanning collaborations from Th' Dudes to Bic Runga, songwriting…
David Byrne: Ride, Rise, Roar (2010): Dir. Hillman Curtis
Feat. David Byrne; Offbeat concert film that blends onstage performances with illuminating interviews with both Byrne and Brian Eno.
David Suchet on the Orient Express (2010): Feat. David Suchet; David Suchet, in person, boards the Orient Express to experience the romance and history of the legendary train for himself – immortalised, of…
Digital Nation (digital_nation) (2010): Dir. Rachel Dretzin; From the maker of GROWING UP ONLINE, this is another quality PBS documentary about the complexities of modern culture. The focus is how the web and…
Disappearing London - Suggs and the City (2010): Madness front–man Graham McPherson presents this roving history of London’s unique character and charm via the city’s idiosyncratic…
Draquila - Italy Trembles (2010): Dir. Sabina Guzzanti; Sabina Guzzanti returns once more to do battle with Silvio Berlusconi in this incendiary doc that examines his administration's handling of the…
Earth - The Power of the Planet (2010): Prof. Iain Stewart presents this five–part BBC series that traverses the globe in search of the incredible or catastrophic natural forces that…
Ecopolis (2010): Nobel Prize winner Professor Dan Kammen gives us a troubling glimpse of the city of 2050 – a place afflicted by famine, pollution, extreme…
Empire Of The Seas (How The Navy Forged The Modern World) (2010): 4–part BBC series hosted by Dan Snow, historian and avid sailor, who recounts the Royal Navy's intriguing metamorphosis from a "rabble of West…
Engineering An Empire (TV Series) (2010): Dir. Ted Poole
Feat. Peter Weller; The complete series hosted by Peter Weller (Robocop) examines history's greatest societies by reanimating the architectural and engineering feats…
Erasing David (2010): Dir. David Bond; Eerie investigation into the erosion of privacy. Documentarian Bond finds out how much private companies and government know about him by attempting…
Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010): Dir. Banksy
Feat. Banksy , Thierry Guetta; A would–be filmmaker's documentary on renegade street artist Banksy is turned on its head, becoming an expose of the contemporary art world and…
Expedition Antarctica (2010): A team of international marine scientists on board the research vessel PV Tangaroa head for the Ross Sea off the Antarctic Ice Shelf in this battle…
Faces of America (2010): Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the cultural and ethnic roots behind America today in this salient social documentary. Participants keen to share their…
Fire in Babylon (2010): Dir. Stevan Riley; The West Indies’ late rise from happy–go–lucky ‘calypso cricketers’ to world beaters in the late 70s is the subject of this…
First Life (TV Series) (2010): David Attenborough's latest natural wonder turns back the clock to the dawn of life, investigating the very first animals to roam the planet earth.
First Rasta, The (2010): Dir. Hélène Lee; Documentary charting the origins of the Rasta Movement via Leonard Percival Lowell, a young adventurer whose return to Jamaica in the 1930s saw the…
Force Of Nature (2010): Dir. Sturla Gunnarsson; Passionate documentary portrait of iconic Canadian scientist and environmentalist David Suzuki, filmed as he delivers his 'legacy speech' stressing…
Freakonomics (2010): Dir. Alex Gibney, Eugene Jarecki, Heidi Ewing; The authors of 'Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist' pass on the baton to six documentarians in this diverse exploration of social phenomena through (and…
Free China Junk, The (2010): Dir. Robin Greenberg; Dir. Robin Greenberg follows her 2008 documentary HULOO with this toothy, humour–filled yarn, circa 1955, of five Taiwanese fishermen who set…
Gasland (2010): Dir. Josh Fox; Hydraulic fracturing – or ‘fracking’ – is the incendiary subject of this alarming expose of unsafe drilling practices in the U.S., whereby…
Genius of Britain (TV Series) (2010): Fantastic science series that has, among others, Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking and David Attenborough, celebrating Britain's great inventors and…
Genius of Design, The (2010): A highly accessible overview of 20th century industrial design movements and revolutions, this surveys everything from the emergence of modernism in…
God in America (2010): Ambitious PBS series tackles more than 500 years of the American religious experience, from the voyage of Christopher Columbus to the 2008…
Gordon Crook: A Life in Art (2010): Dir. Clare O'Leary; Thoughtful, and enlightening portrait of ex–pat British artist Gordon Crook, who since 1972 has called Wellington – and Aro Valley…
Grandma, A Thousand Times (Teta, Alf Marra) (2010): Dir. Mahmoud Kaabour; Poetic portrait of 83–year–old Beiruti Teta Fatima, a feisty, sharp–witted matriarch to the Kaabour family, and Grandma to the…
Great Epochs of European Art, The (2010): A detailed, German–produced art history series illustrated by selected masterpieces of architecture, sculpture and painting. In addition to…
Great Rift, The (2010): Typically stunning BBC Earth series investigates the geological forces which shaped East Africa's Great Rift Valley, and which make it one of the…
Guilty Pleasures (2010): Dir. Julie Moggan; Ostensibly about the ubiquitous Harlequin Mills & Boon novel, this colourful and insightful documentary examines the role of fantasy in three avid…
Hayley Westenra: Live on Tour in Northen Island (2010): A look at Hayley Westenra’s recent tour of Northern Ireland. Interviewed by the young singer Kate Garbutt, Hayley shows what it’s like to be on…
History of Christianity, A (TV Mini-Series) (2010): In this fascinating six–part series Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, one of the world's leading historians and Professor of History of the Church…
Home By Christmas (2010): Dir. Gaylene Preston
Feat. Tony Barry, Martin Henderson, Chelsie Preston-Crayford; The director of WAR STORIES returns to the subject for this deeply personal yet affecting docu–drama focusing this time on a single story…
How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr Foster? (2010): Dir. Norberto López Amado, Carlos Carcas; Another towering tribute to an architect, this time chronicling the achievements of Britain's most famous building designer, Norman Foster, whose…
How to Build a Human (2010): Remarkable series that explores how humans are made and the ways we are shaped by our genes and hormones from cradle to grave. From human cloning to…
Human Instinct (2010): Another gem from the makers of THE HUMAN BODY, this time explaining those overwhelming drives within us, like love at first sight – and why we…
I Am (2010): Dir. Tom Shadyac; Disillusioned by Hollywood, the director of the ACE VENTURA movies takes stock, combining discussion with the likes of Noam Chomsky and Desmond Tutu…
I Need That Record! (The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store) (2010): Dir. Brendan Toller; A bittersweet symphony for vinyl–loving Gen–Xers and their rockin' forefathers, this would have further sated nostalgic pangs to hark…
I'm Still Here (2010): Dir. Casey Affleck
Feat. Joaquin Phoenix; Excruciating, morbidly humourous account of Joaquin Phoenix’s shock ‘retirement’ from acting to pursue a music career in rap, and the attention…
In From The Cold? The World Of Richard Burton (2010): Dir. Tony Palmer
Feat. Richard Burton; Tony Palmer’s portrait of actor Richard Burton, featuring interviews with his family members and fellow acting legends Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren…
In the Footsteps of Famous Composers (2010): FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF: • Chopin • Tchaikovsky • Verdi • Beethoven • Vivaldi • Bizet • Puccini • Berlioz • Mahler • Offenbach
In Their Own Words - British Novelists (2010): A series of candid interviews and commentaries, many sourced from the BBC's archives, make up this illuminating documentary on the great British…
Inside Job (2010): Dir. Charles Ferguson; Enraging and comprehensive analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008, which at a cost over $20 trillion, caused millions of people to lose…
Invocation, The (2010): Dir. Emmanuel Itier; Deepak Chopra, Stewart Copeland, and a host of woolly celebrities talk world peace through religion, spirituality, history, science, politics and…
James Rhodes: The Piano Man (2010): With childhood abuse, drug addiction and suicide attempts behind him, James Rhodes is not your typical concert pianist. But with his passion and…
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (2010): Dir. Tamra Davis; A worthy and elegiac tribute to the neo–expressionist wunderkind, with dir. Davis deftly avoiding much of the usual bluster, instead focusing…
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010): Dir. Anne Sundberg, Ricki Stern
Feat. Joan Rivers; A ripely entertaining piece of work portraying the famously foul–mouthed, nip–tucked, seventy–something stand–up…
Joanna Lumley's Nile (2010): Feat. Joanna Lumley; A North African travelogue under the stewardship of AB FAB's Joanna Lumley, this likeable cultural and geographical series takes in the deserts,…
Just a Beginning (2010): Dir. Pierre Barougier, Jean-Pierre Pozzi; An interesting, if unsurprising outcome follows this classroom experiment where a group of French pre–schoolers are educated in the basics of…
Kim Newman's Guide to the Flipside of British Cinema (2010): Dir. Jake West; Cult film critic Kim Newman hosts this entertaining doco that looks at some British cinema's more esoteric films. Includes three short films:…
L'Amour Fou (2010): Dir. Pierre Thoretton; A moving document of the relationship between fashion designer Yves Saint–Laurent and his lover, Pierre Berge, remembered through their famed…
Lady Gaga - One Sequin At A Time (2010): Dir. Sonia Anderson; Behind the scenes style documentary about the rise of theatrical pop diva Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta – better known as Lady Gaga.
Landscape Man (TV Series) (2010): An offshoot of GRAND DESIGNS, taking the concept of visionary and unconventional house builds to the garden, where couples are followed through the…
Last Paradise (2010): Dir. Clive Neeson; Cinematographer Clive Neeson's poignant, free–spirited documentary on his pioneering adventures in extreme sports.
Le Quattro Volte (2010): Dir. Michelangelo Frammartino
Feat. Giuseppe Fuda; This mesmerizing blend of wordless narrative fiction and spontaneous nature documentary – about the 'cycle of life' in a rugged valley in Italy’s…
Lemmy (2010): Dir. Greg Olliver, Wes Orshoski; Lemmy Kilmister, lead singer of classic UK metal band 'Motorhead', is here deified as the "Godfather of Metal" and quintessential rock 'n' roll icon…
Lennon NYC (LennoNYC) (2010): Dir. Michael Epstein; Another documentary on John Lennon, but a good one, focusing on the singer–songwriter's period spent in New York (up until his assassination),…
Literary Landscapes (2010): Dir. Aaron Jones; Interesting insight into the places, events and people who inspired classic British authors, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, The Bronte sisters, Thomas…
Love Story (2010): Dir. Florian Habicht
Feat. Florian Habicht; Ebullient Kiwi filmmaker Florian Habicht creates his own 'New York Story' by turning his camera to a beautiful Russian model and his own creative…
Machete Maidens Unleashed (2010): Dir. Mark Hartley; Eye–opening look at the exploitation film–making industry that thrived in the Philippines during the seventies as American producers took…
Martin Clunes - Horse Power (2010): Feat. Martin Clunes; THE ANIMAL – Explores why the horse evolved to be the way it is today, and it's connection with humans. THE SERVANT AND THE SYMBOL –…
Marwencol (2010): Dir. Jeff Malmberg; Impossible to summarize succinctly, this mesmerizingly strange documentary finds the mysteries of art and the art of survival meeting in the…
Matter of Taste, A (2010): Dir. Sally Rowe; Dubbed a "gastronomic thriller”, this involving culinary doco by expat Kiwi dir. Sally Rowe chronicles the challenges faced by English wunderkind…
Michael Smither - The Next Ten Years (2010): Dir. Tony Hiles; Intimate two–part documentary following New Zealand artist and musician Michael Smither, as he prepares for his final dealer exhibition and…
Michael Wood's Story of England (2010): Feat. Michael Wood; Michael Wood (STORY OF INDIA) embarks on an archeological profile of the village of Kibworth in Leicestershire in this fascinating,…
Money Wars (2010): Dir. Richard Houston, Dragana Kalezic; Scathing examination of the post–war U.S. financial system that chronicles the bail–outs, the corruption, the takeovers and the gradual…
Mother of Rock - Lillian Roxon (2010): Dir. Paul Clarke; Feisty Australian journalist Lillian Roxon is the subject of this rock time capsule, which frames the music revolution of the 60s and 70s against…
Murundak - Songs of Freedom (2010): The music of the the Black Arm Band rallies this on–the–road concert film, as they gather some of Australia’s finest Indigenous…
My Perestroika (2010): Dir. Robin Hessman; A playful and positive sense of nostalgia permeates through this enthralling documentary on the lives of five Moscow youngsters who grew through the…
National Geographic - Great Migrations (2010): This National Geographic series collates years of scientific field work and high–definition photography into an awe–inspiring study of…
Nature Of Existence, The (2010): Dir. Roger Nygard; After exploring the phenomenon of TREKKIES, Dir. Roger Nygard takes on that age old question, why do we exist, by interviewing spiritual leaders,…
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010): Dir. Daniel Farrands, Andrew Kasch; Leaving no stone unturned, this four hour documentary on Freddie Krueger's reign of cinematic terror is a must–see retrospective for fans of…
Normans, The (TV Series) (2010): Three–part British documentary series about the Normans in the 11th century, from their conquest of England through to their expansion into…
Nostalgia for the Light (2010): Dir. Patricio Guzmán; Famed documentarian Patricio Guzmán directs this mesmerizing journey into Chile’s recent and faraway past through the annals of astronomy,…
Oil City Confidential (2010): Dir. Julien Temple; Completing a trilogy of sorts, renowned rock–documentor Julien Temple turns his retrospective eye and mash–up style to Canvey Island…
One Night in Turin (2010): Dir. James Erskine; English football's so–called watershed moment – their national team's run through the 1990 Football World Cup – is relived in this…
Paris: The Luminous Years (2010): Illuminating documentary takes an overarching look at the literature and art that flourished in Paris during the first three decades of the 20th…
People vs. George Lucas, The (2010): Dir. Alexandre O. Philippe; Rabid Star Wars devotees take umbrage to George Lucas's tainting of the classic sci–fi trilogy's legacy – namely, his much–maligned…
Picture Perfect Homes (TV Series) (2010): Noted architect Ptolemy Dean takes the viewer on a tour of some of Britain's finest period homes in this informative series that looks to the past to…
Pioneers Turned Millionaires (2010): Five documentaries using dramatic reconstruction, archive material and eye witness accounts to look into the lives of Levi Strauss, Henry J. Heinz,…
Pipe, The (2010): Dir. Risteard O'Domhnaill; This familiar tale of big business vs the little guy lacks the perspective of its corporate antagonist to make it a genuinely potent investigative…
Politically Incorrect Guide to Teenagers, The (2010): The irreverent and provocative Nigel Latta returns with advice on how parents can navigate the pitfalls of raising teenagers.
Position Among The Stars (Stand van de Sterren) (2010): Dir. Leonard Retel Helmrich; Although the third part in a longing running trilogy, this engrossing documentary stands on its own as an eye–opening chapter in the life of…
Precious Life (2010): Dir. Shlomi Eldar; A Palestinian baby born in Gaza with a severe immune deficiency is treated by Israeli doctors in this loaded documentary that stirs the eternal…
Queen Of The Sun (What Are The Bees Telling Us?) (2010): Dir. Taggart Siegel; From the director of THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN, this documentary takes us on a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the…
Radar's Patch (TV Series) (2010): Resourceful comedian Te Radar attempts to create a green backyard both lush in life and sustainable in this amusing and enlightening series.
Real King's Speech, The (2010): Straight speaking documentary on the stammering King George VI and his Australian speech therapist – portrayed by Colin Firth and Geoffry Rush…
Restrepo (2010): Dir. Tim Hetherington, Sebastian Junger; A visceral and ground–breaking war documentary that gives us a frontline POV of the stand against the Taliban from a strategically placed…
Richard Hammond's Invisible Worlds (2010): Feat. Richard Hammond; State–of–the–art technology is put to good use to examine three distinct invisible realms that lie beyond the limits of human…
Rivers (TV Series) (Rivers with Craig Potton) (2010): Striking documentary series follows renowned photographer and conservationist Craig Potton as he traverses along some of our most significant…
Rolling Stones - Stones in Exile (2010): Dir. Stephen Kijak
Feat. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts…; A vivid retrospective rock–doc that looks at the creation and impact of the Rolling Stones' 1972 epochal album "Exile on Main St", made largely…
Royal Upstairs Downstairs (TV Series) (2010): The secret lives of British servants and aristocrats are speculated on this prim history series which takes viewers on a tour of the houses and…
Sam Hunt: Purple Balloon and Other Stories (2010): Dir. Tim Rose, Jim Scott; A bluntly honest portrait of New Zealand's most recognisable poet, with conversation by Hunt – along with friends, relatives, and other talking…
Seduction in the City (2010): Intriguing doco charts the rise and rise of the department store, from its inception in 1852 Paris, to its mass popularization around the world, and…
Senna (2010): Dir. Asif Kapadia; A thrilling motor–racing documentary on the fast life and times of Formula One legend and Brazilian hero, Ayrton Senna. An exemplar of the…
Six Venice (Sei Venezia) (2010): Dir. Carlo Mazzacurati; Documentary portrait of the city of Venice as told through the stories of six Venetian locals: a hotel cleaner, an archaeologist, a pensioner from…
Smash His Camera (2010): Dir. Leon Gast; An appropriately full–tilt portrait of 'original paparazzo' Ron Galella, whose belligerent pursuit of the celebrity photograph, targeting such…
Story of Science, The (2010): Passionate overview of the forces that came together to create scientific knowledge. Revealing how scientific ideas have shaped the modern world this…
Story of the Melbourne Cup, The (2010): The race that stops (two) nations is celebrated in this 150–year history of The Melbourne Cup. Features gushing interviews with legendary…
Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields (2010): Dir. Kerthy Fix, Gail O’Hara
Feat. Carrie Brownstein, Sarah Silverman, Peter Gabriel…; Fly–on–the–wall portrait of tragi–comic genius Stephen Merritt, whose distinctive baritone voice, omnivorous musical…
Sweetgrass (2010): Dir. Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Ilisa Barbash; An unsentimental elegy to the American West, this follows the last modern–day cowboys to lead their flocks of sheep up into Montana's…
Tabloid (2010): Dir. Errol Morris; Master documentarian Errol Morris tackles the extraordinarily bizarre story of Joyce McKinney, a former Miss Wyoming who was alleged to have abducted…
Teenage Paparazzo (2010): Dir. Adrian Grenier; Adrian Grenier, famous for playing a movie star in the spotlight on TV series ENTOURAGE, turns the camera on a precocious 13–year–old…
This Emotional Life (TV Mini-Series) (2010-2011): Self–improvement documentary series focussed on emotional intelligence, which each of three episodes weaving together personal stories with…
Tillman Story, The (2010): Dir. Amir Bar-Lev; Complex portrait of NFL defensive lineman Pat Tillman, who attracted both admiration and controversy by abandoning a professional football career to…
Turn Back Time (TV Series) (2010): Illuminating series that takes a group of modern shopkeepers and has them experience their occupations through differing periods of history beginning…
Two Escobars, The (2010): Dir. Jeff Zimbalist; This astonishing documentary conflating crime, politics and sport looks at the famous run of the Colombian football team through to the 1994 World…
Under the Spell of Horses (2010): Wonderful, vivid documentary series on the ancient relationship between horse and man. Especially memorable: a spectacular, a five hundred strong…
Unexplained (2010): A fairly skeptical, though still open–minded exploration of paranormal activity throughout the ages. Tackling the historical spook stories are…
Upside Down: The Creation Records Story (2010): Dir. Danny O'Connor; The halcyon days of Brit pop are reminisced in this classy documentary on Alan McGee's cult independent record label, responsible for signing such…
Velvet Underground - Vanishing Point (2010): Dir. Tom Barber
Feat. Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, John Cale; Doco on the legendary art–rockers featuring a wealth of material, including evocative period footage of New York, obscure interviews and…
Venice Revealed (2010): Author Peter Ackroyd adapts his definitive book on the history of Venice in this fascinating exploration of the art, architecture, music and theatre…
Victorian Pharmacy (2010): The various ills and ailments of Victorian medicine are explored in this four–part BBC documentary series which puts the common concoctions of…
Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010): Dir. Jake West; Fascinating documentary about the moral hysteria in 80's UK that led to the mass ban of 72 video tapes deemed too obscene by political and religious…
Wagner and Me (Stephen Fry Wagner & Me) (2010): Dir. Patrick McGrady
Feat. Stephen Fry; A passionate documentary in which Stephen Fry explores his love for the world's most controversial composer, Richard Wagner – a passion that…
Waiting for Superman (2010): Dir. Davis Guggenheim; Disheartening look at the state of U.S. education follows several children as they navigate their way through the increasingly poor public school…
War You Don't See, The (2010): Dir. John Pilger; Famed journo–activist John Pilger traces the history of ‘embedded’ and independent reporting, from WWI through to Afghanistan and current…
Waste Land (2010): Dir. Lucy Walker; Brazilian photographer Vik Muniz visits the world's largest rubbish dump, located outside Rio de Janeiro, to develop a unique artistic collaboration…
Who is Harry Nilsson? (And Why is Everybody Talkin' About Him?) (2010): Dir. John Scheinfeld; A heartfelt, long–overdue reappraisal of singer–songwriter Harry Nilsson's greatness, which also doubles as an exploration of his…
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within (2010): Dir. Yony Leyser; Celebrities and acolytes gather for this heady hagiography of the legendary beat author and American icon, most famous for his controversial novel,…
Wonders of the Solar System (TV Series) (2010): Feat. Professor Brian Cox; Extraordinary 5–part BBC series that takes the latest images beamed back from the fleet of probes, rovers and telescopes currently circulating…
100 Years - 20th Century Almanac (2009): Witness the most significant events of the 20th Century, from the Wright Brothers’ first flight to the moon landing, from WWI to the end of the…
9/11: Blueprint for Truth (The Te Papa Lecture) (2009): Dir. Colin Hodson; Speaking at Te Papa Museum in Wellington, late 2009, American architect Richard Gage presents further evidence (or complete bullshit, depending on…
A Good Man (2009): Dir. Safina Uberoi; A strange and surprisingly beautiful documentary about an Australian sheep farmer who decides to cover his quadriplegic wife's medical expenses by…
Afghan Star (2009): Dir. Havana Marking; Islamic fundamentalism and pop music commericalism make uneasy bedfellows in this vital, eye–opening documentary that follows the fortunes of…
Age Of Stupid (2009): Dir. Franny Armstrong
Feat. Pete Postlethwaite; Confronting and dynamic docodrama from the director of McLibel, has Pete Postlethwaite as an archivist in the devastated world of the future, looking…
All Tomorrow's Parties (2009): Dir. Jonathan Caouette; The cult music festival as viewed through a kaleidoscope of Super 8, camcorder and mobile phone footage taken by various filmmakers, fans and…
America Before Columbus (2009): Intriguing revisionist documentary considers America before Columbus stepped ashore in 1492 as an 'Old World', whose inhabitants had built a vast…
America's Hardest Prisons (TV Series) (2009): Four–part National Geographic series that takes the viewer into the middle of the hellish place that is prison life in America, where the…
American: The Bill Hicks Story (2009): Dir. Matt Harlock, Paul Thomas
Feat. Bill Hicks; The belligerent standup comedian is posthumously honored in this thorough, well–rounded portrait that, if a little too gushing in its…
Andrew Marr's The Making of Modern Britain (TV Series) (2009): Following on from his "History of Modern Britain", Andrew Marr this time overviews the first half of the 20th Century, re–visiting the dramas…
Angels in New York (2009): Two perfectly successful Asian boys abandon careers in architecture and aeronautical engineering to pursue their dream of staging an original…
Antiques Roadshow (TV Series) (2009): Current Roadshow host Fiona Bruce presents 30 years of gems, appraisals, and priceless discoveries from the iconic antiques junket, in which everyday…
Apocalypse: The Second World War (2009): Brilliantly remastered footage (all in colour, often augmented with sound effects) and an exhaustive chronological of events make this…
Around the World in 90 Minutes (2009): Feat. David Mitchell; Narrated by David Mitchell, this documentary goes on a unique journey 200 miles above the earth, to show what happens below, in the time it takes to…
Art and Copy (2009): Dir. Doug Pray; A clear–headed, inspiring tribute to the 'creatives' behind some of the world’s most iconic advertising campaigns, slogans, and brands.…
Art Deco Icons (TV Series) (2009): Architectural historian David Heathcote explores four locations which broke the mould and captured the new egalitarian spirit in design that was Art…
Art Of The Steal, The (2009): Dir. Don Argott; Gripping art documentary gets behind the plight of art collector Dr. Albert Barnes, whose posthumous wish to have his fortune of…
Ascent of Money, The (2009): Dir. Adrian Pennick; An ambitious introduction to the history of money is presented by historian Niall Ferguson, an expert in the field and author of a book on the same…
At the Edge of the World (2009): Dir. Dan Stone; Highly topical film bears witness to the actions of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as they do their best to scupper the efforts of Japanese…
Barry Barclay - The Camera on the Shore (2009): Dir. Graeme Tuckett
Feat. Barry Barclay; Film critic Graeme Tuckett directs this sensitive tribute to the late Kiwi filmmaker Barry Barclay, who passed away during the production of the…
Battlefield Mysteries (2009): Dir. Paul Kilback; Seemlessly mixing CGI animation with historical footage, this four part documentary series sheds light on some of history's most significant battles.…
Becoming Human (2009): In–depth three–part doco investigates the origins of human beings from an evolutionary perspective while speculating on our primitive…
Best Worst Movie (2009): Dir. Michael Paul Stephenson; The child star of TROLL 2 steps behind the camera nearly two decades later to explore the cult phenomenon and real–life characters behind the…
Bicycle Dreams (2009): Dir. Stephen Auerbach; Intense look behind the scenes of one of the most punishing cycle races in the world, the 3000 mile Race Across America.
Big River Man (2009): Dir. John Maringouin; Another in the popular docu–genre of fearless frontierism, Slovenian celebrity figure and swim–a–holic Martin Strel attempts his…
Billy Connolly - Journey To The Edge Of The World (TV Series) (2009): Feat. Billy Connolly; Amiable travelogue follows comedian Billy Connolly as he takes his luscious locks on a 10–week voyage from the Atlantic through to the Pacific…
Birdland with Jeremy Wells (2009): Dir. Paul Casserly
Feat. Jeremy Wells; Offbeat ornithology with the typically droll Jeremy Wells taking the viewer on a tour of some of New Zealand's finest scenery in pursuit of our most…
Blue Gold: World Water Wars (2009): Dir. Sam Bozzo; This grave and compelling documentary deals with one of the vital issues of our times: the corporatisation and privatisation of water. No longer…
Budrus (2009): Dir. Julia Bacha; Inspiring account of a father and daughter who work to unite Fatah, Hamas and Israelis in an attempt to save their village from destruction.
Burma VJ (2009): Dir. Anders Ostergaard; Enterprising guerrilla documentary shows how members of the Democratic Voice of Burma are using miniature handycams to record and disseminate raw…
Capitalism - A Love Story (2009): Dir. Michael Moore; Doco legend Michael Moore comes full circle after detouring with US gun culture (BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE), foreign policy (FAHRENHEIT 9/11), and health…
Chasing The Ghost: New Zealand's P Epidemic (2009): Feat. Paul Holmes; Relevant documentary sees Kiwi broadcaster Paul Holmes investigating New Zealand's 'P' – pure methamphetamine – epidemic, through the…
China Power - Art now after Mao (2009): Dir. Pia Getty; A fascinating glimpse into China's modern art market, reflecting the ironies and contradictions of making art in the country's oppressive political…
Christianity - A History (2009): Reasonably thorough and alternative overview of the origins and divergent paths of Christianity. Eight episodes.
Code, The (2009): Professor Marcus du Sautoy attempts to codify the numbers, shapes, and patterns that govern the world around us in this engrossing mathematical…
Collapse (2009): Dir. Chris Smith; At once infuriating and absorbing portrait of ex–cop turned conspiracy theorist Michael Ruppert, whose one–man rant spanning crises in…
Cove, The (2009): Dir. Louie Psihoyos; An unusually stylish and suspenseful eco–doc that exposes the gratuitous slaughter of thousands of dolphins in a National Park at Taiji,…
Crude - The Real Price of Oil (2009): Dir. Joe Berlinger; Dir. Joe Berlinger (PARADISE LOST) uncovers South American exploitation in this searing legal documentary on the damaging effects of oil drilling in…
David Hockney - A Bigger Picture (2009): Dir. Bruno Wollheim; Sound BBC–produced portrait of David Hockney, following the modernist art icon back to England after 25 years in Hollywood.
Eating Art (TV Series) (2009): Delicious fusion of art history and gastronomic mysteries as celebrated restaurateur and art boffin Oliver Peyton takes the viewer on a tour of some…
Empire of the Word (2009): Ambitious, page–turning companion piece to THE ADVENTURE OF ENGLISH chronicles the act of reading across five thousand years of history. Host…
End of America, The (2009): Dir. Anne Sundberg, Ricki Stern; A one–woman rally–cry based on the New York Times bestseller, this film embellishes author Naomi Wolf's live lectures around her book's…
End of the Line, The (2009): Dir. Rupert Murray; The ever–increasing threat to marine life and their ecological system is examined in this urgent documentary on our over–fishing of the…
Facing Ali (2009): Dir. Pete McCormack; Above the belt documentary takes a fresh shot at the Muhammad Ali legend examining his career through the eyes of his contemporaries.
Fashion in Film (2009): The history of costumes, couture and glamour icons are explored in this rags–to–riches story of fashion in film, and the influence that…
Fat Belly: Chopper Unchopped (2009): Feat. Mark 'Chopper' Read; Inspired by the popularity of gangland series UNDERBELLY, notorious Aussie criminal Mark 'Chopper' Read takes the opportunity to tell his own version…
Fly My Pretties - A Story (2009): Dir. Mikee Tucker; Represents the best takes from the 2009 New Zealand tour, performed, filmed and recorded across ten shows, and is a conceptual extension of the…
Fractals - Hunting the Hidden Dimension (2009): Fascinating documentary in which a group of pioneering mathematicians seek to decipher the rules governing fractals – those irregular,…
Gangs Of Oz (TV Series) (2009): Revealing documentary series looking at various types of organized crime in Australia, with each episode focusing on a particular 'type', from biker…
Gay Traveller (2009): Fabulous pilot guide that traces the evolution of gay pride celebrations from the late sixties to the modern day, and also provides insight into the…
Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (2009): Dir. Peter Raymont, Michele Hozer; The definitive filmic account of the enigmatic Canadian–born pianist and cult figure that reveals a wealth of never–before–seen…
Good Hair (2009): Dir. Jeff Stilson
Feat. Chris Rock; Comedian Chris Rock explores cultural identity by way of black America's obsession with hair in this warm and witty social documentary. More…
Google Me (2009): Modest doco following struggling Los Angeles actor Jim Killeen as he travels the world to find the other Jim Killeens that turned up when he…
Grow Your Own Drugs (TV Series) (2009): Sorry Cheech, not those kind of drugs. Ethnobotanist James Wong demonstrates a number of natural remedies that can be derived from your garden and…
He Wawata Whaea: The Dream of an Elder (2009): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; An insightful portrait of 87–year–old Maori teacher and artist Merimeri Penfold, whose lifelong struggle for Te Reo Maori provides…
Henri-Georges Clouzot's Inferno (2009): Dir. Serge Bromberg, Ruxandra Medrea; More than just a film about the making of a film, this glorious reconstruction of Clouzot's unfinished 'masterpiece' rescues incredible footage from…
Heston's Feast (TV Series) (2009): A gastronomes delight, this top–shelf British cooking show features master chef Heston Blumental creating a variety of dishes, while drawing…
His & Hers (His and Hers) (2009): Dir. Ken Wardrop; A collection of straight–talking vignettes informs this sweet, affecting, often witty documentary in which Irish women of all ages talk about…
Hitler's Bodyguard (TV Series) (2009): 13–part documentary series offering a thorough, at times incredible, examination of the men who protected Adolf Hitler against numerous…
Hoarders (TV Series) (2009): Exploitative series tackles the obsessive compulsive disorders of various sad cases unable to part with their belongings. Taking its cues from…
Home (2009): Dir. Yann Arthus-Bertrand; World renowned photographer Yann Arthus–Bertrand directs this environmental call to action, presenting extraordinary unseen images of the Earth…
Horse Boy, The (2009): Dir. Michel O. Scott; Remarkable documentary focused on the parents of a young autistic boy who travel through Magnolia in search of a shaman they believe can heal him.…
Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel (2009): Dir. Brigitte Berman; Entertaining documentary that purports to show the other side of flamboyant founder of the Playboy editor. Focusing on his philanthropic endeavours…
Hunting the Lost Symbol (2009): Dir. John Tindall; Dan Brown–inspired documentary uses the author's blockbusting 'Da Vinci Code' novel as a launching pad to shed light on, among other…
In Search of Beethoven (2009): Dir. Phil Grabsky; Dir. Grabsky's scrupulous follow–up to his IN SEARCH OF MOZART examines classical music's other pre–eminent composer, Beethoven, in…
Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking (2009): Fascinating look at the wonders of space with one of the sharpest minds on the planet. Definitive, provocative and exquisitely beautiful.
James May on the Moon (2009): Feat. James May; Presenter James May commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Apollo moon landings by meeting three of the men who walked on the moon, and flying to…
James May's Toy Stories (TV Series) (2009): Feat. James May; A trip down memory lane with a modern twist: James May, disarming as ever, rediscovers the seminal toys of his childhood, then proceeds to…
Kevin McCloud's Grand Tour of Europe (2009): The personable Kevin McCloud takes the viewer on a grand tour of some of Europe's finest architecture and examines its continued legacy.
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet (2009): Dir. Frederick Wiseman; A captivating meditation on the arts from prolific documentarian Frederick Wiseman, whose decades observing the inner workings of American…
Lancaster at War (2009): WWII documentary extolling the 'Avro Lancaster' and its part in the controversial bombing campaign of Germany.
Land of the Long White Cloud (2009): Dir. Florian Habicht; Loveable loose sequel to Florian Habicht’s Kiwi classic KAIKOHE DEMOLITION finds the engaging filmmaker returning to Northland, where hundreds of…
Last Chance to See (TV Series) (2009): Feat. Stephen Fry; Scholar of wit, Stephen Fry, embarks on a round–the–world search for the rarest and most endangered animals on earth in honour of his…
Last Train Home (2009): Dir. Lixin Fan; A startling and vivid humanist documentary on China's ceaseless industrial growth, centred on one couple who make the annual migration from city to…
Life (TV Series) (2009): Feat. David Attenborough; Extraordinary and stunningly filmed even by usual BBC nature–doc standards, this truly epic journey to the frontiers of the natural world is…
Line of Fire (TV Series) (2009): In–depth documentary series delves deep inside the New Zealand police force's highly regarded Armed Offenders Squad, with interviews and…
Living With Coffee (2009): Dir. Diane Abad; Premiering at the 2009 NZ Human Rights Film Festival, this short yet concise doco highlights the importance of fair trade in an $80 billion industry…
Lost in Wonderland (2009): Dir. Zoe McIntosh; Wellington filmmaker Zoe McIntosh offers an insightful take on the Rob Moodie character: an eccentric, headline–grabbing lawyer (and former…
Louis Theroux - The Strange and the Dangerous (2009): More madness from Television's favourite faux–naif Louis Theroux, this time with our unfailing polite host coming face to face with some truly…
Love At The Twilight Motel (2009): Dir. Alison Rose; Curious peek behind the doors of Miami's seedy Twilight Motel, a rent–by–the–hour establishment frequented by all manner of…
Love The Beast (2009): Dir. Eric Bana
Feat. Eric Bana, Jeremy Clarkson, Jay Leno…; Eric Bana directs and stars in this passion project tracing his ongoing love affair with his very first car – a Ford GT Falcon Coupe –…
Love, Lust & Lies (2009): Dir. Gillian Armstrong; The fifth film in the documentary series about the lives, hopes and dreams of three lively, working class Adelaide girls (now aged 47) since they…
Magic of Audrey Hepburn, The (2009): Feat. Audrey Hepburn; An unauthorised sprinkling of the iconic movie star’s feminine charms, this all–too–brief documentary looks at Hepburn’s career…
Magnificent Tati, The (2009): Dir. Michael House
Feat. Jacques Tati; A fine, fun–filled tribute to the irrepressible French comic and filmmaker that is at once serious in its appraisal of Tati's artistry and…
Man In The Hat, The (2009): Dir. Luit Bieringa; Sam Neill narrates this intimate portrait of veteran art dealer Peter McLeavey, commemorating his 40 years in the business of running an independent…
Mexican Border Wars (TV Series) (2009): National Geographic series about American customs agents, whose job it is to curb illegal immigration and narcotics trafficking for a country…
Monty Python - Almost the Truth (2009): Feat. John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin…; An all–encompassing retrospective on those Monty Python scalawags, this six–part documentary chronicles the lives and careers of the…
Most Dangerous Man In America, The (Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers) (2009): Dir. Rick Goldsmith, Judith Ehrlich; Galvanizing portrait of whistle blower Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst and aide to Robert McNamara who leaked classified Pentagon papers…
Move On: Storming the Gate (The MoveOn.org Story) (2009): Dir. Scott Stevenson; Partisan documentary examines the revolutionary history and importance of one of the biggest progressive grass–roots movements in U.S.…
Music of the Brain (2009): Dir. Fiona Cochrane; A brief, but insightful investigation into the role music plays in human development, from the womb to the grave.
Ne Change Rien (2009): Dir. Pedro Costa
Feat. Jeanne Balibar; A smokey, high contrast insight into the artistic process from avant–garde filmmaker Pedro Costa, intensely focused on the methods of French…
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue (2009): Dir. Andrew Monument; An exploration of the appeal of horror films from an American angle, with interviews of many legendary directors in the genre (John Carpenter, George…
Objectified (2009): Dir. Gary Hustwit; Gary Hustwit’s follow–up to the superb typography documentary HELVETICA delves into the unseen world of industrial design, investigating and…
Oceans (2009): Dir. Jacques Perrin; A stunning exploration of the planet's seven seas and their wonders beneath. Aided by new digital technology, dir. Perrin (TRAVELLING BIRDS)…
Oh My God (2009): Dir. Peter Rodger; Globe–trotting exploration of religion as dir. Rodger sets out interviewing people about their varying faiths – ranging from druids to…
Once Upon a Time - French Cinema (2009): Dedicated SBS documentary series offering a retrospective look back on some of cinema's greatest films and directors. French Cinema episodes:…
Only When I Dance (2009): Dir. Beadie Finzi; Documentary set in the favelas of Rio, where two passionate and determined teenage ballet dancers attempt to join a revolutionary dance company in…
Ours (2009): Dir. Emma Heke; Kiwi 'children's doco' informs kids of the creatures, environments and eco issues that are unique to New Zealand, based around an…
Paper Heart (2009): Dir. Nicholas Jasenovec
Feat. Michael Cera, Charlyne Yi, Martin Starr…; Cutesy indie combination of documentary and narrative as Charlyne Yi travels America interviewing couples about their relationships. Meanwhile,…
Peddler, The (2009): Dir. Lucas Marcheggiano; Charming artisan doco focuses on the itinerant, 70–something Daniel Burmeister as he travels between sleepy Argentinean villages with the aim…
Pete Seeger - Live In Australia 1963 (2009): Live, full–concert footage of legendary – and controversial –folk–singer Seeger's 1963 tour of Australia, where he traveled…
Pianomania (2009): Dir. Robert Cibis, Lilian Franck; Something of an unofficial sequel to the Steinway documentary NOTE BY NOTE, this fascinating insight gives us a close–up look at the difficult…
Picture Me: A Model's Diary (2009): Dir. Ole Schell, Sarah Ziff; Catwalk and billboard model Sara Ziff presents herself "with and without makeup" in this first–hand insight into the pleasures and pitfalls of…
Politically Incorrect Parenting Show, The (2009): Feat. Nigel Latta; Straight–shooting Clinical Psychologist Nigel Latta presents this series that teaches parents parenting tips in a hilariously frank manner…
Quantum Activist, The (2009): Dir. Ri Stewart, Renee Slade; Seeking to bridge the insurmountable gap between science and religion, Dr. Amit Goswami uses principles of quantum mechanics to support his theory of…
Rudolf Nureyev - A Brilliant Life (2009): The life of trailblazing Soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev is chronicled in this short, illuminating doco.
September Issue, The (2009): Dir. R.J. Cutler; An unprecedented peek into the world of Anna Wintour, legendary editor–in–chief of fashion magazine "Vogue", as she and her team put…
Shadow Play: The Making of Anton Corbijn (2009): Dir. Josh Whiteman; Behind the defining look of Joy Division, U2, Depeche Mode and Simple Minds (curiously absent here), Dutch rock photographer turned filmmaker Anton…
Shintaro! (2009): Feat. Koichi Ose; Glowing, nostalgia–heavy documentary casting an eye back to THE SAMURAI phenomenon, and the fondness Australians had for the…
Shock Doctrine, The (2009): Dir. Michael Winterbottom, Mat Whitecross; A fast and loose overview of Naomi Klein's contentious "alternate history" of Western economics, which argues how "disaster capitalism", in feeding…
Simon Schama's Rough Crossings (2009): Docu–drama presented by revered historian Simon Schama (A HISTORY OF BRITAIN) which charts the astonishing story of thousands of…
Sisters from Siberia (2009): Dir. Russell Campbell; Wellington City Councillor Stephanie Cook is the subject of this insightful documentary on her successful adoption of sisters Katya and Nadia, who…
Snow White (2009): Angelin Preljocaj choreographs this racy, contemporary ballet rendition of the classic Grimm Brothers. With costumes by Jean–Paul Gaultier.
Snowman, The (2009): Dir. Juliet Lamont; Disquieting portrait of the director's father, a man whose work training astronauts in Antarctica resulted in a deep–seated paranoia that…
Something Unknown (Something Unknown Is Doing We Don't Know What) (2009): Dir. Renee Scheltema; Dutch documentarian Renee Scheltema investigates the 'science' behind various psychic phenomena (telepathy, clairvoyancy, healing) after experiencing…
Soundtrack for a Revolution (2009): Dir. Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman; Joss Stone, John Legend, Wyclef Jean, and The Roots, among others, perform tribute covers of freedom songs from the American Civil Rights movement in…
South (TV Series) (2009): Feat. Marcus Lush; Another "love story" from intrepid broadcaster Marcus Lush, who this time explores the South Island of New Zealand, an area he fell in love with…
Special When Lit (2009): Dir. Brett Sullivan; A colourful, captivating and all–angles documentary tracing the history of the illustrious pinball machine, which was once a ubiquitous fixture…
Stephen Fry and the Gutenberg Press (2009): Feat. Stephen Fry; Stephen Fry, spectacles donned, investigates the intriguing backstory of Johann Gutenberg, inventor of the world changing printing press.
Sunshine Boy, The (A Mother's Courage: Talking Back to Autism) (2009): Dir. Fridrik Thor Fridriksson; An open–book study on autism and its affect on families caring for children afflicted with the misunderstood neurological disorder. Though…
Tell Them Anything You Want - A Portrait of Maurice Sendak (2009): Dir. Spike Jonze, Lance Bangs; These frank and insightful conversations with Maurice Sendak (and dir. Spike Jonze) paint a surprising portrait of the WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE…
This Is It (Michael Jackson's This Is It) (2009): Dir. Kenny Ortega
Feat. Michael Jackson; Striking rehearsal footage of Michael Jackson's highly anticipated world tour is gathered for this fitting concert film, a grand eulogy to the late,…
This is War (Severe Clear) (2009): Dir. Kristian Fraga; Grungy self–portrait of life shot on mini–dv by a marine in Iraq that captures with visceral immediacy life in the front line.
This Way of Life (2009): Dir. Tom and Barbara Burstyn; Evocative, moving Kiwi doco which treats the viewer to an intimate glimpse of a family who reject modernity and live wild with six kids and fifty…
Through Rainbow Coloured Glasses (2009): Grassroots documentary that explores how the Queer community have survived and thrived in Christchurch over the past five decades. Part documentary,…
Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls (2009): Dir. Leanne Pooley
Feat. Jools Topp, Lynda Topp; An adorable, "Kiwi–as" portrait of NZ's beloved folk–singing comedy duo, Jools and Lynda Topp, which also resonates as a ripely…
Trouble is My Business (2009): Dir. Juliette Veber; Keenly observational documentary about an empathetic assistant principal (Gary Peach) who battles to keep his students in school and out of trouble…
Turn It Loose (2009): Dir. Alastair Siddons; Documentary follows sixteen of the world's premier B–boys as they battle to become world champion in a disused Soweto factory.
Two in the Wave (2009): Dir. Emmanuel Laurent
Feat. Jean-Luc Godard, Francois Truffaut, Jean-Pierre Leaud; Taking us back to the inception of the French New Wave and the emergence of its two heavyweights, Jean–Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut, this…
Universe, The (TV Series) (2009): Ambitious, beautifully presented doco series that takes us into the outer regions of space through a combination of scientific theory and computer…
Vanishing of the Bees (2009): Dir. George Langworthy, Maryam Henein; Preachy but fascinating eco–documentary on the potential hazards for the earth if the world population of bees continues to mysteriously…
Video Killed the Radio Star (2009): A 3–part seminal music documentary series looking at the inspirational work of trail–blazing 80's music video directors Russell Mulcahy,…
Visual Acoustics (2009): Dir. Eric Bricker; Fans of modernist architecture will savour this docu–tribute to the life and career of Southern California architectural photographer, Julius…
We Live in Public (2009): Dir. Ondi Timoner; Armed to the teeth with dot–com millions, mad prophet–cum–performance artist Josh Harris goes off the deep end in this startling…
What Darwin Never Knew - The Science Behind Evolution (2009): Dir. John Rubin; Documentary exploring breakthroughs in "evo devo" – a new science claiming to explain exactly how Darwin's theory works by linking the enigmas…
Whatever! The Science Of Teens (2009): Dir. Anne Delaney; Enlightening doco series examining teenagers and their odd behaviour through observation and scientific testing. Often hilarious, this requires you…
When You're Strange: A Film About the Doors (2009): Dir. Tom DiCillo; This burning tribute to The Doors and their late frontman Jim Morrison delves deep into the vaults to furnish the all–too–compelling…
Who Killed Nancy? (2009): Dir. Alan G. Parker; Under Sid Vicious' mother's posthumous request, rock author Alan Parker directs this intensive documentary in order to re–examine the supposed…
Wild Caribbean (TV Mini-series) (2009): Picturesque doco that looks beyond the Carribean's friendly, sun–soaked surface to the more hostile features rarely portrayed on postcards,…
Wild Russia (2009): Russia's expansive, unseen wilderness is spectacularly documented in this nature series with a particular focus on the natural wonders and flora and…
William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe (2009): Filmmakers Emily and Sarah Kunstler explore the life of their father, the late radical civil rights lawyer. In the 1960s and 70s, William Kunstler…
Winnebago Man (2009): Dir. Ben Steinbauer; Ostensibly about a gag reel gone viral, this hugely likeable documentary uses Jack Rebney's hilarious (and some might say, cathartic)…
Wolf's Mouth, The (Mouth of the Wolf; La bocca del lupo) (2009): Dir. Pietro Marcello; Impressive hybrid of documentary and actuality chronicles the unlikely romance between a macho ex–con and a transsexual former…
Woman With the Five Elephants, The (2009): Dir. Vadim Jendreyko; Intimate portrait of the enchanting Svetlana Geier – the hunched, wizened translator of Dostoevsky's novels, still bubbling well into her…
World War II in Colour (TV Series) (World War 2 in Colour) (2009): Featuring rare and previously unseen colourized archive footage, this 13–part series is one of the most comprehensive documentaries ever made…
Yellowstone (2009): Filmed over the course of a year in Yellowstone, this documentary tracks the area's wildlife as they grapple with life and death within one of…
Yes Men Fix the World, The (2009): Dir. Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno; The activist pranksters of documentary THE YES MEN direct and star in their own follow–up, which chronicles their continuing adventures as…
10 Conditions Of Love, The (2008): Dir. Jeff Daniels; Controversial documentary slammed by the Chinese government focused on Rebiya Kadeer, a tireless campaigner for human rights who has been punished at…
102 Minutes That Changed America (2008): Dir. Nicole Rittenmeyer, Seth Skundrick; Documentary about the September 11 attacks produced for the History Channel for the seventh anniversary of the events, telling the story using newly…
A History of Scotland (TV Series) (2008): A fresh and exhaustive chronology of Scotland's fascinating narrative, full of battles and allegiances, political intrigue and religious conflict.…
A Wall in Berlin (2008): Illuminating documentary on the history of the Berlin Wall with biggest attraction being the sheer wealth of interviews and footage never seen…
A Year in Tibet (TV Series) (2008): A momentous and timely series filmed inside the mountainous region of Tibet focusing on the Tibetan people and how they manage to live under imposed…
Allan Wilson - Evolutionary (2008): Dir. George Andrews; Pithy and practical documentary on Kiwi ‘evolutionary’ Allan Wilson, whose humble, can–do–anything beginnings thrust him from…
American Future - A History by Simon Schama (2008): Resonant look at the superpower filmed during the run up to the 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama with popular historian Simon Schama turning his…
American Swing (2008): Dir. Jon Hart; Documentary charting the rise and fall of the iconic 'Plato's Retreat', New York's first–ever swingers club in the sexually revolutionised…
American Teen (2008): Dir. Nanette Burstein
Feat. Hannah Bailey, Colin Clemens, Geoff Haase…; An intimate and often hilarious doco that was a surprise Sundance Festival hit that follows four high school seniors – 'the jock', 'the arsty…
Andy Warhol's Factory People (2008): Dir. Catherine Schorr O'Sullivan
Feat. Andy Warhol; Nicely self–contained document of Andy Warhol's Factory and its workers, which does a great job of tracking down many of the hipsters and…
Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2008): Dir. Sacha Gervasi; Not a mock–umentary as you might suspect, but just as amusing and vital as the iconic parody SPINAL TAP, this tells the…
Around The World In 20 Years (2008): Feat. Michael Palin; Retrospective one–hour sequel to AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, where Palin seeks out the crew of a dhow which took him and his crew on an…
Art of Spain (2008): Art critic Andrew Graham–Dixon continues his thorough exploration of national art with this focus on Spanish architecture and culture,…
Art Star and the Sudanese Twins, The (2008): Dir. Pietra Brettkelly; With a genuinely compelling subject to draw confession from, this oddly–topical documentary – on the increasingly common adoption of African…
Back To Normandy (2008): Dir. Nicolas Philibert; Thirty years after working on a film in Normandy, about a 19th century triple murder committed in the area, Nicolas Philibert returns to find the…
Bananaz (2008): Dir. Ceri Levy; Direct–to–the–source music doco offers a behind–the–scenes reveal of popular ‘animated’ band Gorillaz, and its four…
Barack Obama: His Story (2008): Topical documentary tracking the life of the newly elected president of the United States Barack Obama, from meagre beginnings to his steady rise…
Barack Obama: Yes We Can (2008): Significant documentary outlining the incredible story of Barack Hussein Obama, a man with an American mother and Kenyan father who became a national…
Barefoot Cinema (The Art and Life of Cinematographer Alun Bollinger) (2008): Dir. Gerard Smyth; The camera work of veteran Kiwi cinematographer Alun Bollinger is appraised in this documentary which includes tributes from Peter Jackson, Vincent…
Bastardy (2008): Dir. Amiel Courtin-Wilson
Feat. Jack Charles; Documentary about Jack Charles, a.k.a. "Jackie", the legendary Australian aboriginal stage and screen actor who was a victim of Australia's forced…
BBC Natural World, The - Collection (TV Series) (2008): Feat. David Attenborough; 2–disc collection including six episodes from the award–winning nature series 'The Natural World' originally conceived by Attenborough in…
Beaches of Agnes, The (2008): Dir. Agnes Varda; A wonderfully light–footed collection of memories and monologues in documentary essay form from the queen of the French New Wave, Agnes…
Beautiful Losers (2008): Dir. Aaron Rose; A doco for the slacker generation, this early–nineties overview tenuously gathers such hipster artists as Harmony Korine (film), Ed Templeton…
Behind Closed Doors: Stalin, The Nazis and The West (2008): Six–episode BBC/PBS documentary series on the role of Joseph Stalin and German–Soviet relations before, during, and after World War II…
Best Undressed (The Pageant) (2008): Dir. Martin Taylor; A documentary about Australia’s longest running beauty pageant, the Miss Nude Australia Pageant, told from the perspective of contestants and…
Between the Folds (2008): Dir. Vanessa Gould; Charming (and potentially inspiring) doco from America's PBS channel exploring the ancient but perennially fascinating subject of…
Bigger, Stronger, Faster* (2008): Dir. Chris Bell; Wannabe ironman Chris Bell spins his lack of conviction and self–doubt into an eye–opening documentary on America’s pervading culture…
Blair (2008): Dir. Richard Sanders; A revealing post–Labour confessional from Britain's former Prime Minister Tony Blair, focused on world crises during his tenure, and…
Bob Marley - Freedom Road (2008): Intimate and revealing Bob Marley doco narrated by Bob's long time girlfriend and Oscar nominated actress Esther Anderson that delves into the world…
Boogie Man - The Lee Atwater Story (2008): Dir. Stefan Forbes; Gripping political documentary revealing the life of ruthless right–wing political strategist and musician Lee Atwater, who was instrumental in…
Bulletproof Salesman (2008): Dir. Petra Epperlein, Michael Tucker; This documentary provides a different slant on the business of war as it introduces us to Fidelis Cloer – a German armoured vehicle salesman…
Burning Season, The (2008): Dir. Cathy Henkel; Ever–urgent documentary on the climate–change problem tracks “environmental entrepreneur” Dorjee Sun’s efforts to seal a major…
Bush's War (2008): Dir. Michael Kirk; Extensive two–part documentary chronicling the Iraq War from the post 9/11 murmurings and "Weapons of Mass Destruction" allegations through to…
Bustin' Down The Door (2008): Dir. Jeremy Gosch; Engaging surfing documentary telling the story of a group of Australian and South African surfers who in 1975 revolutionised the sport and the…
By Any Means (TV Series) (2008): Feat. Charley Boorman; Globe–trotting adventurer and Ewan McGregor's best mate – Charley Boorman, from LONG WAY DOWN & LONG WAY ROUND fame, is back with a solo…
Cafe De Los Maestros (2008): Dir. Miguel Kohan; Tailor–made for tango aficionados, this stylish documentary follows a group of legendary Argentinean musicians gathering to perform a concert…
Captain Beefheart - Under Review (2008): Independent, critical doco looking at provocative musician Captain Beefheart, featuring rare performances, intensive commentary from his rotating…
Carrier, The (TV Mini-series) (2008): Immersive 10–part miniseries following the deployment of a United States Navy aircraft carrier in 2005, from the USA to the Middle East and…
Chevolution (2008): Dir. Luis Lopez, Trisha Ziff; Cuban revolutionary history is examined through photographer Alberto Korda’s iconic portrait of Che Guevara – now a ubiquitous and exploited…
Classic Albums - Duran Duran (Rio) (2008): Duran Duran's "Rio" is deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators. Generously…
Classic Albums - The Doors (2008): The Door's self–titled debut album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key…
Cocaine Cowboys 2 - Hustlin' with the Godmother (2008): Dir. Billy Corben; Unglamourous documentary sequel to COCAINE COWBOYS' Miami blow expose tackles the Oakland crack epidemic and its big–time dealer, Colombian…
Complete History of My Sexual Failures, A (2008): Dir. Chris Waitt; Taking self–absorbed, cinema–as–confessional to excruciating extremes, film–maker Chris Waitt turns the camera on himself to…
Concrete Canvas (TV Series) (2008): Ten part documentary series focused around renowned 3D pavement artist Julian Beever, who travels through ten different cities creating new…
Cool School - Story Of Ferus Art Gallery, The (2008): Dir. Morgan Neville; Los Angeles’ unheralded contemporary art scene is given the celebrity treatment in this uncharted history of the American pop art movement…
Cracking The Colour Code (TV Series) (2008): Dir. Hugh Piper; Stimulating series journeying across six continents to investigate how humans from different cultures and backgrounds view, make and take meaning…
Crips and Bloods: Made in America (2008): Dir. Stacy Peralta
Feat. Forest Whitaker; Incisive documentary examining the shared histories and violent rivalries of Los Angeles' most notorious street gangs. Tracing the roots of the…
Crossing the Ditch (2008): Surprisingly captivating story of two young Australians, James Castrission and Justin Jones, who were the first people to cross the Tasman by kayak.…
CSNY Deja-Vu (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) (2008): Dir. Bernard Shakey
Feat. Neil Young; Riveting, candid and politically charged documentary from Neil Young (pseudonym Bernard Shakey), filmed as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young crisscross…
Dan Cruickshank's Adventures in Architecture (TV Series) (2008): In this natural progression from AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 TREASURES, BBC historian Dan Cruickshank globe trots in search of astonishing buildings, both…
Dance of the Instant (2008): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; Documentary exploring the history of the New Dance Group, who pioneered contemporary dance in post–WWII New Zealand. The film draws on an…
Dear Zachary (A Letter to a Son about his Father) (2008): Dir. Kurt Kuenne; Nothing will quite prepare you for the devastating impact of this beyond–belief crime story that escalates after the murder of a…
Derek (2008): Dir. Isaac Julien
Feat. Derek Jarman, Tilda Swinton; Heartfelt tribute to British vanguard filmmaker and gay activist Derek Jarman, whose radical ourvre is surveyed in conjuction with one of his final…
Dickens' Secret Lover (2008): Dir. Sarah Aspinall
Feat. Charles Dance, David Haig, Amy Shiels; Intelligent docu–drama that uncovers the torrid love life of Charles Dickens, who embarked on a clandestine affair with an actress young enough…
e2 Transport (TV Series) (2008): Documentary series looking at solutions to environmental problems that face the Earth today. e2: Transport: Focused less around design areas and…
Elders (TV Series) (2008): Australian documentary series exploring the wisdom that older generations can provide us in an age where youth oriented media is disproportionately…
Engineering Connections (TV Series) (Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections) (2008): Feat. Richard Hammond; TOP GEAR pin–up boy Richard Hammond presents this series in which he looks at the engineering connections behind the world's most impressive…
Erotic Star (TV Series) (2008): Dir. Dave Kelly; Risqué reality show that pits ten ambitious Aussie sheilas against each other to become the next Australian Erotic Star. Clearly profiting from the…
Every Little Step (2008): Dir. Adam Del Deo, James D. Stern; Dreams are realised and shattered in this incisive, nail–biting showbiz doco that sits the audience on the casting couch of the 2006 revival of…
Examined Life (2008): Dir. Astra Taylor; Playful philosophy documentary taking an influential cross–section of thinkers outside of the usual academic settings, and conversing with them…
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008): Dir. Nathan Frankowski
Feat. Ben Stein; ...and none shown either in this intellectually bankrupt sleazefest fronted by Ben Stein which examines the supposed 'persecution' of 'scientists'…
Eyewitness (TV Series) (2008): Comprehensive Emmy Award winning nature and science series, based on the book series, that educates and entertains with its investigations of…
Fabulous Flag Sisters, The (Le Sorelle Bandiera) (2008): Candid documentary following the career of The Fabulous Flag Sisters–three drag queens that inspired, offended and entertained the people of…
Fantastic World Of Michael Crawford, The (2008): Dir. Tony Palmer
Feat. Michael Crawford; Tony Palmer's intimate portrait of one of the funniest and most versatile of actors, whose roles famously ranged from "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em" to…
First Australians (TV Series) (2008): Dir. Rachel Perkins, Beck Cole; Landmark Australian series produced by top Aboriginal filmmakers tracking the history of Aboriginal culture and the fraught culture clashes between…
Flow: For Love Of Water (2008): Dir. Irena Salina; Imperative documentary investigating the impending World Water Crisis due to the privatization of water supplies and greed of major corporations.…
Food, Inc. (2008): Dir. Robert Kenner; Crystallising FAST FOOD NATION’s dramatic expose into hard–hitting documentary form, author Eric Scholosser (and other muckrackers) turn the…
Four Eyed Monsters (2008): Dir. Susan Buice, Arin Crumley; A product of the online generation, this low–budget indie videography charts the relationship between Arin Crumley and Susan Buice, two angsty…
Francesco's Mediterranean Voyage (2008): Further travels with charismatic Italian architect Francesco da Mosto, here taking us on a lengthy voyage across the Mediterranean in search of…
Ganges (2008): A magnificent series exploring the life of the Ganges river, which runs through the heart of India and has extraordinary impact on the landscape and…
Garrison Keillor: The Man on the Radio in the Red Shoes (2008): Dir. Peter Rosen; Delightful documentary chronicling a life on the road for American entertainer Garrison Keillor, whose radio show A Prairie Home Companion is a…
Global Metal (2008): Intriguing music doco, presented by metaller and anthropologist Sam Dunn, delving into the sub–culture of metal heads around the world and the…
Gonzo: The Life And Work Of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008): Dir. Alex Gibney
Feat. Hunter S. Thompson; Excellent portrait of the late Hunter S. Thompson, the revolutionary writer who pioneered 'Gonzo', a freewheeling style of subjective journalism.…
Great Australian Albums: Hunters & Collectors - Human Frailty (2008): In–depth story behind Hunters and Collector's hit album 'Human Frailty,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band.…
Great Australian Albums: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads (2008): In–depth story behind Nick Cave & the Bad Seed's hit album 'Murder Ballads,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band.…
Great Australian Albums: Powderfinger - Odyssey #5 (2008): In–depth story behind Powderfinger's hit album 'Odyssey #5,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band. Featured as…
Great Australian Albums: The Go-Betweens - 16 Lover's Lane (2008): In–depth story behind The Go–Between's 1988 album '16 Lover's Lane,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band.…
Greatest Cities of the World (TV Series) (2008): Feat. Griff Rhys-Jones; Griff Rhys Jones gets under the skin of six of the world’s great cities. Dedicating an episode to each, Jones explores a…
Growing Up Online (2008): From the American public affairs series FRONTLINE comes this doco probing into the world of cyber–savvy teens, and the pressures that accompany…
Gruen Transfer, The (TV Series) (2008): Feat. Wil Anderson; Hosted by comedian Wil Anderson, this is a revealing and humorous look at the advertising industry with a selection of well qualified panellists.…
Gunnin' For That #1 Spot (2008): Dir. Adam Yauch; Beat–bopping doco, directed by Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch, following the fortunes of eight top highschool basketball players…
Herb and Dorothy (2008): Dir. Megumi Sasaki; Devotional New York art patrons Herb and Dorothy Vogel are the subject of this delightful portrait, taking us inside the couple’s modest one…
Hobbit Enigma, The (2008): Dir. Annamaria Talas; In 2003 scientists uncovered the tiny, human–like skeleton of a strange creature, on the Indonesian island of Flores. Since the discovery was…
Hollow Men, The (2008): Dir. Alister Barry; Seasoned documentarian Alister Barry distills Nicky Hager's hot potato expose of National Party leader Don Brash into a confronting, election year…
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History (2008): Toe–tapping documentary, presented by actress Shirley Jones, exploring the timeless genre of Hollywood Musical from Busby Berkeley's…
Hope (2008): Dir. Steve Thomas; Tragic account of people–smuggling gone wrong when a boatload of refugees arriving from Indonesia sinks on its way to Australia killing than…
Huloo (2008): Dir. Robin Greenberg; Delightful documentary about the remarkable and diverse life of T’ai Chi master Loo–Chi Hu, nicknamed Huloo, who despite being well into his…
Humpbacks: From Fire to Ice (2008): Feat. David Attenborough; David Attenborough narrates this up close and personal journey following the first year of a humpback whale calf's life as she journeys with her…
I Am Because We Are (2008): Dir. Nathan Rissman; Madonna wields her global celebrity in fronting this concerned documentary about the millions of children orphaned by HIV and AIDS in Malawi. A…
I.O.U.S.A. (2008): Dir. Patrick Creadon; Cogent, accessible doco on the nightmare of US fiscal irresponsibility that lets the expert heads and engaging graphics do the talking. It…
India Reborn (2008): Fascinating and disturbing doco series that looks at India as the next superpower, and the juxtapositions to its mighty wealth that cloud its future…
Indonesia - A Reporter's Journey (2008): Feat. Mike Carlton; The complex relationship between Australia and its oft–misunderstood Northern neighbour is explored by journalist and radio broadcaster Mike…
Infinite Space: The Architecture of John Lautner (2008): Dir. Murray Grigor; A documentary about the life and work of visionary architect John Lautner (1911 – 1994), who worked primarily in California on residential…
Investigator, The (TV Series) (2008): Probing Kiwi crime doco series investigating six unsolved New–Zealand crimes by delving into the pitfalls of the justice system in our country…
It Might Get Loud (2008): Dir. Davis Guggenheim
Feat. The Edge, Jack White, Jimmy Page; Euphonic examination of rock guitaring with three of its most distinctive practitioners, Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White. Sure to enrapture…
James May's Big Ideas (TV Series) (2008): Feat. James May; The most cerebral of TOP GEAR's presenters, James May, wraps his head around sci–fi concepts in today's modern world, including new frontiers…
Jihad for Love, A (2008): Dir. Parvez Sharma; Revealing documentary on homosexuality and the Islamic faith, filmed in secret over 5 and a half years under the Muslim government radar. Although…
John Pilger's Australia (Documentaries that Changed the World Vol. 2) (2008): Feat. John Pilger; Across 3 discs, seasoned political commentator John Pilger turns the focus to Australia, providing a detailed critical analysis of Australian…
Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison (2008): Feat. Johnny Cash; Indispensable documentary film chronicling the fateful day in 1968 that Johnny Cash performed at California's Folsom State Prison, the recordings of…
Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution (2008): Essential, exhaustive (3hr!) exploration into German electronic music centering on the pioneers of the genre, Kraftwerk. The first hour…
Ladies or Gentlemen (2008): This brief exploratory retrospective of Hollywood's fascination with cross–dressing includes comment from the likes of Tony Curtis and Tim…
Life After People (TV Series) (2008): Dir. David de Vries; Thought–provoking doco focused on the hypothetical state of the planet were humans to be wiped out. This treads the line between intelligent…
Lionel (2008): Dir. Eddie Martin; Absorbing documentary investigating the life of Lionel Rose – the first Aboriginal world champion boxer who challenged Australia's racial…
Living With the Enemy (2008): Thorough and absorbing History Channel series examines the five year period after the end of World War II, accounting for the events and decisions…
Louise Bourgeois - The Spider, the Mistress and the Tangerine (2008): Dir. Marion Cajori, Amei Wallach; At the ripe of age of 98, evergreen French artist and sculptor Louise Bourgeois continues to astound in this portrait of her captivating life's…
Mafia, The (The True Story from the Inside) (2008): Dir. Neil Rawles, Charlie Smith; Balanced hard–hitting crime doco from inside the world of the modern Mafia. Designed for those with a good knowledge of Mafia history keen on…
Man Made Marvels (TV Series) (2008): Produced by Natural History New Zealand for the Discovery Channel, this fascinating doco series looking at some of the Earth's biggest man–made…
Man On Wire (2008): Dir. James Marsh
Feat. Phillipe Petit; Oscar–winning doco about a truly remarkable, one–of–a–kind subject; a cavalier French daredevil called Phillipe Petit who in…
Maradona (Maradona by Kusturica) (2008): Dir. Emir Kusturica; Celebrated filmmaker Emir Kusturica (BLACK CAT, WHITE CAT) directs this wayward love letter to the revolutionary – and troubled –…
Margaret Mahy: A Tall Long Faced Tale (2008): Dir. Yvonne MacKay; An invaluable documentary on New Zealand's greatest children's writer, which combines a fascinating conversation between Mahy and Elizabeth Knox with…
Matador, The (2008): Dir. Nina Gilden Seavey, Stephen Higgins; Stirring and dramatic portrait of matador David 'El Fandi' Fandila and his quest to become the top–ranked bullfighter in the world. Focusing…
Metal Mania (2008): Music doco that takes the microphone backstage to some of the greatest metal acts of the last fifty years, including Kiss, Angus Young, Motley Crue,…
Modern Life (La vie moderne) (2008): Dir. Raymond Depardon; A winding, mournful documentary on the stoicism and fading way of life of several generations of farmers and farmer families in contemporary rural…
Mondovino (TV Series) (2008): Dir. Jonathan Nossiter; Eye–opening documentary spin–off series from the well–received film MONDOVINO, investigating the impact of globalization on…
National Parks, The - America's Best Idea (2008): Dir. Ken Burns; Ken Burns offers another weighty tome on American history, this time surveying the country’s 58 majestic, awe–inspiring national parks.…
Nazi Number One: Herman Göring (2008): Dir. Guido Knopp; German director Guido Knopp continues his straightforward, biography–centric investigations into all things Nazi with this documentary on…
Obama: All Access (2008): A two–year compendium of landmark CBS News coverage, chronicling Barack Obama’s historic road to the White House and beyond. Includes…
Of Time and the City (2008): Dir. Terence Davies; Terence Davies (DISTANT VOICES, STILL LIVES) launches a broadside on the transformation of his beloved, bricks–and–mortar Liverpool, in…
Off The Radar (TV Series) (2008): Home–grown TV series featuring Te Radar – comedian, presenter and self–confessed latte drinking city boy attempting to become…
Once Upon a Time - American Cinema (2008): Dedicated SBS documentary series offering a retrospective look back on some of cinema's greatest films and directors. American Cinema episodes:…
Our Beloved Month of August (Aquele Querido Mês de Agosto) (2008): Dir. Miguel Gomes
Feat. Sonia Bandeira, Fabio Oliveira; Beautifully idiosyncratic film blending documentary with drama, from distinctive Portuguese director Miguel Gomes (TABU). A summery and romantic…
Palin on Art (TV Series) (2008): Feat. Michael Palin; Art–aficionado Michael Palin explores the works and history of some of the lesser–known artists that he holds dear to his heart. The…
Paris - An Insider's Guide (2008): A 3–part BBC documentary series presented by Sandrine Voillet, about the city of Paris and its history. In part one, she visits the Louvre,…
Patti Smith: Dream of Life (2008): Dir. Steven Sebring; Narrated by the rock icon herself, this intimate, lyrical observation of Patti Smith's art and philosophy plays rather like a sitting through one of…
Picasso and Braque Go to the Movies (2008): Dir. Arne Glimcher; Stately exploration of the influence of cinema's earliest pioneers, such as Georges Méliès, on Cubist painters Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.…
Powerful Noise, A (2008): AIDS, peacekeeping, and the rights of the disenfranchised are front and centre of this inspirational portrait of three women making a difference in…
Radiohead - The Best Of (2008): Chronological collection of 21 inventive music videos and optical collages of rare singles from the slinking talents of Brit indie–rock kings,…
Religulous (2008): Dir. Larry Charles
Feat. Bill Maher; 'Good' and 'Evil' are turned on their head (and in their graves) in this provocative docu–comedy following comedian and commentator Bill Maher…
Rem Koolhaas: A Kind of Architect (2008): Dir. Markus Heidingsfelder; Detailed portrait of Rem Koolhaas, the visionary Dutch architect and writer whose striking modernist creations include the Dutch Embassy in Berlin,…
Richard Dawkins Presents - The Genius of Charles Darwin (TV Series) (2008): Dir. Russell Barnes; Richard Dawkins finally gets to wax lyrical for a few hours about the love of his life – Charles Darwin in this one–sided documentary…
Rip! A Remix Manifesto (2008): Dir. Brett Gaylor; A exuberant celebration of remix culture which also introduces the debate over intellectual property rights with the help of featured guests,…
Rodney's Robot Revolution (2008): Dir. Andrea Ulbrick; Wondrous journey inside one of the world's greatest minds, that of Australian–born scientist Rodney Brooks. A pioneer in the field of…
Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired (2008): Dir. Marina Zenovich; Comprehensive documentary examining the public scandal that led to the controversial departure of director Roman Polanski from the United States.…
Rubbings From A Live Man (2008): Dir. Florian Habicht; Film–maker Florian Habicht finds the perfect portrait subject in Warwick Broadhead, a fiercely independent, 40–year veteran of performing…
Salute (2008): Dir. Matt Norman; Compelling documentary investigating the untold story of Australian runner – Peter Norman who placed second in the 200m sprint at the 1968…
Scorsese: My Voyage Through Italian Cinema (2008): Dir. Martin Scorsese; 7–disc collection of Italian films that continue to influence and inspire acclaimed director Martin Scorsese over the years. Includes Luchino…
Second Skin (2008): Dir. Juan Carlos Pineiro-Escoriaza; Compulsive insight into video game addiction, focused on a cross–section of young people who obsessively engage in what are known as MMOs (Mass…
Ships That Changed the World (2008): Compelling three–part series looks back at the engineering, building, sailing, and subsequent fate of three history–making ships…
Simone Young - To Hamburg From Downunder (2008): Dir. Ralf Pleger; Perceptive documentary following renowned Australian conductor and Sydney Opera House Director Simone Young on her return journey from Europe to…
Sir Edmund Hillary 1919 - 2008 (2008): Towering tribute to the late, great Sir Ed. Includes the documentary ‘Remembering Sir Ed: A Tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary’, an overview of the…
Sleep Furiously (2008): Dir. Gideon Koppel; Blissfully composed shots of rugged landscape and rural life make for an elusive, yet meaningful documentary on the quotidian existence of a Welsh…
Smashing Pumpkins - If All Goes Wrong (2008): A revealing documentary following the Alt Rock band "The Smashing Pumpkins" as they reunite to estanblished 9 day performing residencies at two…
Solo (2008): Dir. Jennifer Peedom, David Michod; Tragic true story of Sydney adventurer Andrew McAuley who set out to cross the stretch of the Tasman between Australia and New Zealand in a kayak but…
Soul Power (2008): Dir. Jeffrey Levy-Hinte; This "Rumble in the Jungle" prequel joyfully relives the legendary three–day concert that preceded the Ali–Foreman bout in…
Sounds Like Teen Spirit (2008): Dir. Jamie Jay Johnson; Offering a worldly antidote to the show–biz reality TV norm, this "pop–umentary" chronicles four contrasting sets of hopefuls (from…
Standard Operating Procedure (2008): Dir. Errol Morris; To see or not to see: that is the question posed by acclaimed director Errol Morris as he attempts to understand what took place inside the walls of…
Stephen Fry In America (TV Series) (2008): Feat. Stephen Fry; Over ambitious – yet highly amusing – doco series sees beloved Brit comic Fry travel around all 50 states of the USA in a black cab, in…
Story of Maths, The (2008): Ambitious BBC Open University series that presents pivotal episodes in the lives of the great mathematicians, whilst offering clear and accessible…
Story of the Costume Drama, The (2008): Boasting fantastic footage and behind–the–scenes stories, this 5 part series revels in some of the best television costume dramas of the…
Super Comet, The (Super Comet: After the Impact) (2008): Dir. Stefan Schneider; This Discovery Channel special uses plenty of amazing FX and the helter–skelter tropes of docu–drama to explore the likely…
Technicolor Dream, A (2008): Lavish chronicle of the Technicolor Dream movement, through to its 14–hour all–night musical event at Alexandra Palace in 1967. Includes…
Third Richard, The (2008): Dir. Danny Mulheron, Sarah Stretton; A labour of love for actor–director Danny Mulheron, this explores the life and music of his unheralded grandfather, Richard Fuchs, a gifted…
Thriller in Manila (2008): Dir. John Dower; This seemingly straightforward account of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s third and final confrontation surreptitiously reveals the…
Tim Minchin - Rock 'N' Roll Nerd (2008): Dir. Rhian Skirving
Feat. Tim Minchin; Intimate doco about gifted musical comedian Minchin charting his rise from obscurity in Melbourne to breakthrough at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival,…
Tube Tales - TV's Real Stories (TV Series) (2008): Edifying series investigating the people, places and events behind a number of hit TV series including THE WEST WING, SEINFELD, SIX FEET UNDER, SEX…
Tyson (2008): Dir. James Toback; A full–frontal portrait of Mike Tyson, the notorious, often disgraced former heavyweight champion whose brutality and villainy was witnessed…
Universe of Keith Haring, The (2008): Dir. Christina Clausen
Feat. Keith Haring; Celebratory portrait of the darling of the 80s New York art scene Haring revels in the accessibility of the artist as a public figure, more than…
Unmistaken Child (2008): Dir. Nati Baratz; A fascinating glimpse into the culture and belief systems of Tibetan Buddhism, this film follows devoted disciple Tenzin Zopa on a four year quest to…
Unwinking Gaze, The (2008): Dir. Joshua Dugdale; A rare fly–on–the–wall glimpse into the Dalai Lama's tireless struggle for Tibet, with the Buddist God King balancing his role in…
Valentino - The Last Emperor (2008): Dir. Matt Tyrnauer; Surveying the final two years of Italian fashion great Valentino Garavani's career before retirement, this head–turning doco celebrates his…
Wahine Disaster, The (2008): Commemorative documentary to mark forty years since the Wahine passenger ferry struck Barrett Reef in Wellington Harbour, killing 51 people.…
Walk Like A Man (2008): Worthy documentary focused on the preparation of two top rugga teams from Sydney and San Francisco for the World Cup of gay rugby – the Bingham…
Waltz With Bashir (Vals Im Bashir) (2008): Dir. Ari Folman; This striking hybrid animation is an audacious attempt to recall, through anecdote, dream, and documentary, the 1982 Israeli–Lebanon war.…
What About Me? (2008): Dir. Duncan Bridgeman, Jamie Catto; A guide to better 21st Century living from the duo behind 1 GIANT LEAP, this kaleidoscope of philosophical and musical clips features contributions…
Whatever Happened To Brenda Hean (2008): Dir. Scott Millwood; The disappearance of environmentalist Brenda Hean while en route to petition saving Tasmania’s Lake Pedder is the subject of this doco…
When Borat Came to Town (2008): Dir. Mercedes Stalenhoef; Touching Underdog vs. The Man doco which looks at the aftermath of Sascha Baron Cohen's visit (and by proxy 20th Century Fox's) to the Romanian…
Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? (2008): Dir. Morgan Spurlock
Feat. Morgan Spurlock; With his first baby on the way, SUPER SIZE ME’s Morgan Spurlock decides to go off in search of the world’s most wanted criminal, learning more…
Wild China (TV Mini-Series) (2008): Mesmerising travel doco series that takes you on a splendid wander through the often veiled and overlooked countryside of China by way of striking…
Wild Combination - A Portrait of Arthur Russell (2008): Dir. Matt Wolf; The enigma of Arthur Russell – singular avant–garde musician and improbable matchmaker of discotheque and modern composition – is profiled…
Winning World War 1 (The Western Front Diaries) (2008): Crucial documentary telling the story of the Australian battalion's influence and impact on winning World War 1 on the Western Front, based on the…
With Gilbert and George (2008): Dir. Julian Cole; Poetic documentary about controversial art duo Gilbert and George, who work as a single entity and have mounted more exhibitions in museums and…
World According to Miley Cyrus, The (2008): Feat. Miley Cyrus; Unauthorised documentary tracking the super fast rise of button–nosed performer and tween idol Miley Cyrus and her overnight success in the…
World's Greenest Homes (TV Series) (2008): Cracking design series takes you all over the globe for a lengthy look inside some of the very best and very greenest digs. Features insight from…
Wrecking Crew, The (2008-2014): Dir. Denny Tedesco; Joyous celebration of the musical work of a loose collective of session musicians that became later known as "The Wrecking Crew", a band that…
Yes Madam, Sir (2008): Dir. Megan Doneman; An illuminating, warts and all portrait of India's first elite policewoman, Kiran Bedi, who controversially joined the Indian Police Service after a…
Yes That's Me - Dave Murphy Plays the Blues (2008): Dir. Costa Botes; Intimate Wellington–based biopic following Kiwi blues performer Dave Murphy as he is given the opportunity to record at Braeburn Recording…
Youssou N’Dour - I Bring What I Love (2008): Dir. Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi; Gifted Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour performs a series of concerts in this excellent documentary, which also gets to heart of the musician’s…
11th Hour, The (The Eleventh Hour) (2007): Dir. Leila Conners Petersen, Nadia Conners
Feat. Leonardo DiCaprio; Actor Leonardo DiCaprio fronts this environmental call to action, imploring viewers to adopt sustainable ways of living as the planet's '11th hour'…
21 Up South Africa - Mandela's Children (2007): Dir. Angus Gibson; The enduring UP Series moves to South Africa, where six 21–year–olds, first filmed in 1992, reflect on their lives to date. By…
4 (Vivaldi - The Four Seasons) (2007): Dir. Tim Slade; In this remarkably unique and poetic documentary, a performance of each season of Vivaldi’s masterpiece is delegated to four prodigious violinists…
A Civilised Society (2007): Dir. Alister Barry; Documentarian Alister Barry concludes his loose trilogy on New Right economic policies with this impassioned plea for the standards of public…
A Very British Gangster (2007): Dir. Donal MacIntyre; Gay Manchester mob kingpin/community lynchpin Dominic Noonan is the main subject of this fly–on–the–wall look at his criminal…
Alice Neel (2007): Dir. Andrew Neel; Documentary looking at the life and art of great American portrait painter Alice Neel, made by her grandson. Accomplished examination of the great…
Amazing Journey - The Story of The Who (2007): Dir. Murray Lerner, Paul Crowder; An ‘authorized and definitive’ anthology of The Who, this covers all the bases in the band’s legend–making, four–decade music…
American Hardcore (2007): Dir. Paul Rachman; Rugged, warts and all restrospective of America’s British punk spinoff looks back on the warpath of bands such as Minor Threat, Black Flag and Dead…
Amy Winehouse - I Told You I Was Trouble & Live in London (2007): The hip swaggering rehab music rebel presents her 2007 17–song set live from 'Shepherd's Bush Empire' London town, along with a 50 minute doco…
Ancient Megastructures (2007): National Geographic series extolling mankind's greatest architectural landmarks and their extraordinary feats of construction. Vol 1: The…
Andrew Marr's The History of Modern Britain (TV Series) (2007): Political commentator Andrew Marr turns his astute focus on the key events that have shaped British society since the end of WWII, including the…
Anita O'Day - The Life of a Jazz Singer (2007): Dir. Robbie Cavolina, Ian McCrudden; Thorough portrait of jazz extraordinaire Anita O'Day, from her emergence amongst luminaries Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday in the 40s, to…
Antonello and the Architect (2007): Dir. Tony Hiles; A fitting tribute to Wellington architect Bill Toomath (whose associations include the likes of I.M. Pei), dir. Tony Hiles backdrops the…
Arcade Fire: Miroir Noir (2007): Fly–on–the–wall doco follows Canadian indie act "Arcade Fire" during the recording of their sophomore record, "Neon Bible". The…
Arctic Tale (2007): Dir. Adam Ravetch, Sarah Robertson
Feat. Queen Latifah; Something of a cross between AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH for kids and MARCH OF THE PENGUINS, this heartwarming, educational documentary spins a similarly…
Atheist Alliance International: Understanding Atheism (2007): Professor Richard Dawkins and his skeptical writing mates return as speech–makers in this 4–disc set covering the 2007 Atheist Alliance…
Atlantic Records - The House That Amet Built (2007): Feat. Bette Midler; Follows Ahmet Ertegun's remarkable career as head of Atlantic Records, from its formation in 1947 through to his recent passing in 2007. Features…
Audience of One (2007): Dir. Mike Jacobs; Stranger–than–fiction documentary in which a Pentecostal minister in San Francisco receives "word from God" that he attempt to write and…
Autopsy - Life and Death (2007): An advanced course in human schematics sees anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens and pathologist Prof. John Lee make further bodily incisions to…
Axe in the Attic, The (2007): Dir. Ed Pincus, Lucia Small; Two British filmmakers, horrified by the devastation to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, embark on a 60–day pilgrimage from…
Ballerina (2007): Dir. Bertrand Normand; Documentary following the lives of five female dancers of the Kirov Ballet in Saint–Petersburg, providing us with rare insight into the…
Battle of the Little Bighorn, The (2007): Ideal introduction to the famous battle where General Custer made his last stand, featuring expert commentary and skillful re–enactments.
Beckoning Silence (2007): Dir. Louise Osmond; Fearless mountaineer Joe Simpson (of TOUCHING THE VOID fame) journeys to the north face of the Eiger mountain in the Swiss Alps to re–trace the…
Beyond Our Ken (2007): Disquieting documentary exploring the inner workings of Australian spiritual group 'Kenya,' based on the principle of "energy conversion," accused of…
Big Ideas For A Small Planet (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson, Daryl Hannah…; Pro–active eco series taking a look at modern green inventions and alternative lifestyle choices that have potential to lesson human impact on…
Big Picture, The (TV Series) (2007): Commentator Hamish Keith brings New Zealand’s imposing arts history down to earth in this appealing, highly accessible reappraisal of everything…
Billy the Kid (2007): Dir. Jennifer Venditti; Genuinely disarming verite–style doco records the daily doings of awkwardly lovable Billy, a straight–shooting small–town teenager…
Black, White and Gray (2007): Dir. James Crump; Stilted documentary investigating the relationship between controversial photographers Sam Wagstaff and Robert Mapplethorpe and their influence on…
Blindsight (2007): Dir. Lucy Walker; Riveting doco follows the travails of six blind Tibetan teenagers in their attempt to scale the 23,000–foot Lhakpa Ri – neighbour to Mt…
Bossa Nova - The Sound that Seduced the World (2007): Rio–based doco tracing the rise of the sultry 'bossa nova' sound, featuring interviews with influential musos from the time and rare music…
Bra Boys (2007): Dir. Sunny Abberton; Potent documentary that concerns itself with the cultural evolution and social struggle of a group of surfers from the Sydney suburb of Maroubra.…
Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery (2007): Award–winning documentary that examines the controversial legacy of the great explorer Captain James Cook. Hosted by geographer Vanessa…
Cat Dancers (2007): Dir. Harris Fishman; Strangely compelling portrait of a pre–Siegfried and Roy act, who tragically added wild cats to their routine. Somewhat in the tradition of…
Celebration: Yves Saint Laurent (2007): Dir. Olivier Meyrou; Intimate portrait of Yves Saint–Laurent, focussing on the legendary fashion designer's final show, as well as his complex relationship with…
Changing Climates (Changing Climates, Changing Times) (2007): Dir. Marion Milne; Docu–drama predicting how global warming will impact different social groups around the world in the year 2100. Although visually striking,…
Chicago 10 (2007): Dir. Brett Morgen; Unique documentary that splices together archival footage and motion–capture animation to recreate the infamous trial of anti–war…
Choir, The (2007): Dir. Michael Davie; Johannesburg's largest and most notorious prison is the setting for this inspiring documentary, which follows the fortunes of a convict choir who…
Chris and Don - A Love Story (Chris & Don) (2007): Dir. Guido Santi, Tina Mascara; Love–letter–as–documentary recounting the poignant 33–year relationship between novelist Christopher Isherwood (author of…
Chuck Close (2007): Dir. Marion Cajori; The revered New York portraitist, famous for his giant photorealist heads (typically well over two metres in height), is the subject of this…
Classic Albums - Jay-Z (Reasonable Doubt) (2007): Jay–Z's Reasonable Doubt deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artist himself and…
Climate Change (2007): Dir. Nicolas Brown
Feat. David Attenborough; Investigating the damning evidence for global warming over this two part documentary, Sir David Attenborough bears witness to the alarming speed at…
Coping With Babylon - The Proper Rastology (2007): Dir. Oliver Hill; Authentic documentary revealing the contemporary world view of Rastafarianism as interpreted by prominent "Imperial Majesty" Haile Selassie 1.…
Cowboys and Communists (Cowboys & Communists) (2007): Dir. Jess Feast; Engaging culture documentary centred on a risque East Berlin bar and eatery (known as White Trash Fast Food), operated by an ex–pat 'cowboy'…
Crazy Love (2007): Dir. Dan Klores, Fisher Stevens; Stranger–than–fiction story of the obsessive love of Burt and Linda Pugach, whose personal tragedy made international headlines during…
Darling! The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story (2007): Dir. Julian Shaw; Moving doco focused on the litigious cross–dressing South African satirist Pieter–Dirk Uys, whose life's work included stirring…
Dengue Fever - Sleepwalking Through the Mekong (2007): Dir. John Pirozzi; Political rockumentary follows LA–based band Dengue Fever on their recent journey to Cambodia to perform 60s and 70s Cambodian rock n' roll in…
Devil Came on Horseback, The (2007): Dir. Anne Sundberg, Ricki Stern; Urgent, eye–opening documentary on the Darfur genocide, which follows US Marine Captain Brian Steidle's assignment as a neutral observer of the…
Dirty Three, The (2007): Documentary on Australian instrumental rockers The Dirty Three, charting their discography and musical evolution (from emotionally aggressive numbers…
Discussions with Richard Dawkins - The Four Horsemen (2007): Number one in a brand new series of searching discussions from the notorious Professor Richard Dawkins as he gathers together three of his fellow top…
Dylan: Busy Being Born Again (2007): Dir. Joel Gilbert
Feat. Bob Dylan; Bob Dylan's 'Jesus Years' are the subject matter for this in–depth doco, pieced together through interviews, live footage and a recently…
Earth (2007): Dir. Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield; Impressive feature–length spin–off of the PLANET EARTH series largely follows the migration of three different species – the polar…
Eco House Challenge (2007): Dir. Russell Vines; An eco variation on the self–improvement Reality TV craze, this pits two suburban families against each other in a challenge to reform their…
Encounters at the End of the World (2007): Dir. Werner Herzog
Feat. Werner Herzog; Werner Herzog ventures forth to Antarctica, hounding a team of scientists based at McMurdo Station in this stunning, eccentric nature…
Enemies of Reason (2007): Dir. Russell Barnes; The divisive Richard Dawkins staunchly argues that faith and superstition is irrational, versus science and logic as the voice of reason. Everything…
English Surgeon, The (2007): Dir. Geoffrey Smith; Remarkable documentary focused on Dr. Henry Marsh – a UK–based neurosurgeon who makes an annual trip to Ukraine to offer free surgery to…
Equator (Power of the Sun, Challenge of the Cold) (2007): Stunning NHNZ production exploring six areas of the planet that exist along the equator and the effect this location has on the flora and fauna of…
Escape From Suburbia (Beyond the American Dream) (2007): Dir. Gregory Greene; Practical sequel to THE END OF SUBURBIA moves forward from the apocalyptic visions with a series of case studies on individuals making changes in…
First Cry, The (2007): Dir. Gilles de Maistre; A beautifully observed documentary that portrays the miracle of child birth from varying perspectives around the globe. Shot over a 24 hour period,…
First Saturday in May, The (2007): Exhilarating documentary following the fate of six trainers as they attempt to gain a place in the most esteemed horse race in the world 'The…
Flightless: Bill Hammond's Cure for Being Kiwi (2007): Dir. Alan D'Arcy Erson
Feat. Ian Hughes; An intriguing blend of drama and documentary are used to tell the story of an everyman who's life is falling apart at the seams when he is…
Fog City Mavericks - The Filmmakers of San Francisco (2007): Dir. Gary Leva
Feat. George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood…; Unevenly pitched, if nonetheless fascinating account of San Francisco’s filmmaking legacy, from Francis Ford Coppola to Pixar maestro John…
For the Bible Tells Me So (2007): Dir. Daniel G Karslake; Heartfelt doco exploring the intersection between religion and homosexuality in the USA. Director Karslake takes an evenhanded approach to the…
Forbidden Lie$ (Forbidden Lies) (2007): Dir. Anna Broinowski; Thoroughly engrossing docudrama investigates the truth behind disgraced bestselling author Norma Khouri, who claimed to be a Jordanian campaigner…
Forever Vespa (2007): Dir. Pippo Cappellano, Marina Cappabianca; Engaging study of the well loved scooter doubles as a social study of post–war Italy and Europe. There's also some priceless archival footage…
Fox and the Child, The (Le renard et l'enfant) (2007): Dir. Luc Jacquet
Feat. Bertille Noël-Bruneau, Isabelle Carré; A visually impressive, curious hybrid from the director of MARCH OF THE PENGUINS that combines nature documentary and a "fairy tale" look at the…
Francesco's Venice (TV Series) (2007): Italian architect and TV presenter Count Francesco da Mosto goes on a journey back through the history of Venice and discovers how the city came to…
Galapagos - The Islands That Changed The World (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Tilda Swinton; Grand nature series, narrated by actress Tilda Swinton, revealing the unique fauna, flora and history of the fragile eco–system of the…
Gallipoli: Brothers In Arms (2007): Dir. Andrew Denton; Andrew Denton filmed this as part of his ENOUGH ROPE series to find out what draws so many Australians to the shores of Gallipoli each year, painting…
Gangland (TV Series) (2007): Hard hitting expose of today's nastiest gangs provides the viewer with both historical context and unprecedented access. Some of the stories are now…
Garbage Warrior (2007): Dir. Oliver Hodge; Revealing documentary featuring eco architect Michael Reynolds who has spent the past three decades creating sustainable housing in the New Mexico…
Genius of Photography (TV Series) (2007): Stunningly comprehensive six–part series that looks at the world's most influential art form, from the pioneering days of daguerreotypes right…
Girls Rock! (2007): Dir. Arne Johnson; Lightweight doco centered around the Portland–based Rock & Roll Camp for Girls, where girls from 8–18 participate in a therapeutic week…
Glass: A Portrait Of Philip In Twelve Parts (2007): Dir. Scott Hicks
Feat. Philip Glass; Epic doco of seminal composer Glass covers his life, influences, and his working process. Filmed over 3 continents in 18 months, this is hugely…
Glastonbury: The Movie (2007): Just–like–being–there collection focused on that mud–drenched modern day music fest (and Britain's answer to Woodstock)…
Gravy, The (TV Series) (2007): Insightful local arts magazine–style series made by Sticky Pictures for the now defunct TVNZ 7 channel that was a “30 minute tour through…
Great Australian Albums: Silverchair - Diorama (2007): In–depth story behind Silverchair's hit album 'Diorama,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band. Featured as part of…
Great Australian Albums: The Saints - (I'm) Stranded (2007): In–depth story behind The Saint's hit album '(I'm) Stranded,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band. Featured as…
Great Australian Albums: The Triffids - Born Sandy Devotional (2007): In–depth story behind The Triffids' album 'Born Sandy Devotional,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band. Featured…
Great Global Warming Swindle, The (2007): Topical documentary proposing that global warming is a myth simply used for political gain. Provides a necessary counterbalance to the glut of scare…
Heart Of An Empire (2007): Dir. Jay Thompson; Engaging doco taking a look into the lives of an ever–expanding network of Star Wars fanatics, known as 'Fighting 501st Legion,' who get their…
Heckler (2007): Feat. Jamie Kennedy, Andrew Dice Clay, David Cross…; Surprisingly cogent assessment of behaviour known as 'heckling', which extends beyond its normal definition as unsolicited feedback from…
Heima - Sigur Ros (2007): Dir. Dean Deblois; Celebrated Icelanders Sigur Ros get reacquainted with the sights and sounds of their Scandinavian homeland in this introspective documentary…
Hell On Wheels (2007): Dir. Bob Ray; Bruising introduction to the world of Roller Derby combines a short history of the sport with a fly–on–the–wall document of the…
Here is Always Somewhere Else (2007): Dir. Renee Daalder; Director Daalder pays tribute to fellow Dutch emigrant and artist Bas Jan Ader, whose daring conceptual performances culminated in 1975 when he…
Here is What Is (2007): Dir. Daniel Lanois
Feat. Daniel Lanois; Unique producer–performer Daniel Lanois casually documents his creative process in–studio, with glimpses of U2, Brian Eno, Sinead…
Here to Stay (TV Series) (2007): An enlightening, culturally pertinent reference point for the current make up of New Zealand society, this six part series revisits a number of key…
Heritage of Maori Song (2007): Comprehensive collection of 15 Maori song and dance performances, including 3 poi dances, stick games, haka and a number of well–known songs…
History of the Devil (2007): Historical doco charting the changing role and face of the devil throughout history by way of factual information and academic interview.
How the Earth Was Made (2007): Epic History Channel series charting the geological making of our planet through various, often violent natural phenomena. Season One: 13 episodes…
How to Cook Your Life (2007): Dir. Doris Dorrie
Feat. Doris Dorrie; An enlightening documentary weaving cooking techniques and Buddhist teachings together as a guide to self fulfillment.
How To Save The World (2007): Dir. Tom and Barbara Burstyn; Touting globalization as an environmental and human disaster, this inspiring eco–doc looks to India as a provider of possible solutions in the…
How We Built Britain (TV Series) (2007): Long–standing BBC presenter David Dimbleby presents this engaging doco series focusing on Britain's architectural heritage in both a historical…
Humanimal (2007): Thorough, five part science documentary examining the ever–eroding line between animals and human beings, with special consideration given to…
I Have Never Forgotten You (The Life and Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal) (2007): Dir. Richard Trank; Confronting documentary tracing the life of Jewish man Simon Wiesenthal who embarked on a personal crusade to track down Nazi war criminals and…
I Think We're Alone Now (2007): Dir. Sean Donnelly; This portrait of two 'stalkers' of 80s teen pop one–hit–wonder Tiffany is at times uncomfortably voyeuristic, yet it provides raw insight…
Ice (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Marcus Lush; Radio and TV Personality Marcus Lush goes well and truly off the rails, here embarking on a month–long sojourn in the below–zero…
Ice Road Truckers (TV Series) (2007): Gritty reality show focusing on a group of hardened truckers attempting to make mega bucks by transporting loads of supplies across the treacherous…
In the Company of Actors (2007): Dir. Ian Darling
Feat. Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Aden Young…; A peek behind the curtain reveals the magic and struggle of creating theatre in this insightful documentary. From a rehearsal room in Sydney…
In the Hands of the Gods (2007): Dir. Benjamin Turner, Gabe Turner; Uplifting documentary following five soccer fanatics who take up street busking in order to travel to Buenos Aires and meet their hero Diego…
In the Shadow of the Moon (2007): Stellar doco reflects on the true story of American astronauts' expeditions into space and the truly remarkable historic achievement of landing on…
India with Sanjeev Bhaskar (TV Mini-series) (2007): Dir. Deep Sehgal
Feat. Sanjeev Bhaskar; Actor and comedian Bhaskar takes a personal journey through modern India on a quest to re–discover his ancestral homeland. An epic…
Indie Sex (2007): Dir. Lesli Klainberg; Proudly explicit, this racy review of sex in independent cinema compiles a hot and heavy survey of clips, qualified by insightful, sometimes…
Inside China (2007): Dir. Jonathan Lewis; Surprisingly candid portrait of live inside the increasingly influential super–power. Dir. Lewis makes the most of the unprecedented access…
Inside the Smiths (2007): Raw music doco with former band members Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce candidly revealing what it was like to be a part of groundbreaking 80's…
James May's 20th Century (TV Series) (2007): Feat. James May; TV presenter James May presents a candid look at the creations of the 20th century; ranging from weaponry to medical breakthroughs and the…
Jamie at Home (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Jamie Oliver; Tussle–haired celeb cook cruiser Jamie Oliver delights in his latest foodie show beamed straight from his home kitchen. Oliver takes pride in…
Joe Strummer - The Future is Unwritten (2007): Dir. Julien Temple
Feat. Joe Strummer; Renowned musical documentarian Julien Temple (THE FILTH & THE FURY) draws a superbly detailed, multi–dimensional life portrait of late Clash…
Joseph Campbell - Mythos I (2007): Dir. Robert Walter
Feat. Susan Sarandon; This series comprises the lectures of mythologist Joseph Campbell, filmed shortly before his death and presented here by Susan Sarandon. The five…
Joy Division (2007): Dir. Grant Gee; Dynamic, satisfyingly comprehensive music doco chronologically tracks the career of influential British post–punk band Joy Division. All…
King Corn (2007): Dir. Aaron Woolf; Two friends embark on a corn–growing odyssey in this highly digestible expose of America's modern food system. Less muckracking than other…
King of Kong, The (A Fistful of Quarters) (2007): Dir. Seth Gordon; Hilarious insight into the rarefied world of competitive video gaming, and a showdown (of sorts) for the crown of achieving the world's highest score…
La Verdad? (The Truth?) (2007): Dir. Helen Smyth; Whilst in Cuba, Kiwi journalist and mother–of–two Helen Smyth and husband Tim Rose (of Havana Coffee Works) inadvertently delve into its…
Lagerfeld Confidential (2007): Dir. Rodolphe Marconi
Feat. Nicole Kidman; Fleeting documentary revealing the enigmatic life of iconic fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld through his creative livelihood and personal philosophy.…
Last Continent, The (2007): Dir. Jean Lemire; Troubling companion piece to THE WHITE PLANET follows a cadre of scientists as they sail the Antarctic waters evaluating the damage to the…
Last Western Heretic, The (2007): Dir. Monique Oomen; Riveting documentary presenting the life and ideologies of New Zealand's leading theologian – 89–year–old Lloyd Geering. A key…
Les Paul: Chasing Sound! The Les Paul Story (2007): Dir. John Paulson; Authorized biography of electric guitar pioneer Les Paul with narration and interviews from the man himself, still going strong at the age of 90.…
Let's Say (On dirait que... ) (2007): Dir. Françoise Marie; A sweetly humble documentary in the vein of ETRE ET AVOIR, involving a group of French kids aged 8–13 asked to portray their parents’ jobs…
Long Way Down (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman; The movie star (Ewan McGregor) and best mate (Charley Boorman) return for round two of their play–it–by–ear motorcycle detour, this…
Lou Reed's Berlin (2007): Dir. Julian Schnabel
Feat. Lou Reed; Live recording of Lou Reed's 2006 performance of his underrated 1973 album 'Berlin,' brought resplendently back to life by a commanding Reed…
Lovely Rita - A Painter's Life (2007): Dir. Gaylene Preston
Feat. Loren Taylor (Horsley); Evocative, celebratory remembrance of New Zealand’s Rita Angus, told primarily through a collection of over 300 letters the artist wrote to…
Lunch With Madam Murat (2007): Dir. Mary Moody, Richard Turner; Celebratory documentary looks at the 100th anniversary of a long–standing family restaurant in the rural south of France. Kept alive through…
Man Who Souled the World, The (2007): Dir. Mike Hill; Jittery, but engagingly–made profile of World Industries founder Steve Rocco, whose innovation and imagination as a skateboard entrepreneur in…
Manufactured Landscapes (2007): Dir. Jennifer Baichwal; Astounding 'environmental' documentary centering on the landscape photography of Edward Burtynsky, whose large–scale images of…
Manufacturing Dissent (2007): Dir. Debbie Melnyck, Rick Caine; Not just another debunking of Michael Moore, this thoughtful, well–considered essay on the left winger’s political documentaries exposes…
Meat Loaf - In Search of Paradise (2007): Dir. Bruce David Klein
Feat. Meatloaf; A first–rate behind–the–scenes music doco that openly captures rocker Meat Loaf as he rehearses for and takes to the road with his…
Michael Palin's New Europe (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Michael Palin; Seasoned globetrotter Michael Palin embarks on the undiscovered eastern bloc and its adjacent territories, revealing a fascinating cache of people,…
Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work (TV Series) (2007): Dir. Matt Reid; In–depth television series spanning a year in the life of the British Royal Family and the myriad of employees that keep the Royal Machine…
Mr. Untouchable (2007): Dir. Marc Levin; Sensational true story of Nicky Barnes, the most powerful New York kingpin in the 1970's drug world, covering his incredible rise from junkie…
Music in Me, The (2007): Enriching documentary following an inspirational group of intellectually and physically disabled performers called 'The Merry Makers' as they prepare…
My Brilliant Brain (TV Series) (2007): First–rate National Geographic series exploring the inner workings of the human brain, and in particular the origins of genius, questioning…
My Chemical Romance - Things That Make you Go mmm... (2007): Music doco delving into the world of angst ridden EMO idolised goth band My Chemical Romance by charting their rise to international stardom.…
My Kid Could Paint That (2007): Dir. Amir Bar-Lev; The story of a 4–year–old art "prodigy" turns into a controversial debate when it becomes apparent that her abstract brushwork may well…
New Orleans: Music in Exile (2007): Dir. Robert Mugge; On–the–ground documentary that follows New Orleans musicians as they try to piece their lives and careers back together after the…
Nick Drake - Under Review (2007): This critical review of enigmatic singer–songwriter Drake attempts to uncover some of the mysteries surrounding the man, as well as offer an…
Night (2007): Dir. Lawrence Johnston; Thought–provoking cine–visual essay about how humans perceive night–time through striking cinematography of Australian city and…
No End in Sight (2007): Dir. Charles Ferguson; Devastating documentary that comprehensively examines the negligence and political mis–steps that led to the Iraq war. "Traces the…
Not Quite Hollywood (2007): Dir. Mark Hartley; Informative and bloody amusing exploration of the dubious ocker 'Ozploitation' films of the 1970's and 80's, celebrating the joyously cheap and nasty…
Note By Note: The Making of Steinway L1037 (2007): Dir. Ben Niles; A ‘making of’ documentary in the most literal sense, this follows the production process of a hand–crafted grand piano, as it passes down…
NZSAS: First Among Equals (TV Series) (2007): Eye–opening insider’s guide to the SAS offers a unique tour of duty in recruitment and training for the elite special forces, through to…
Obscene (2007): Dir. Daniel O'Connor, Neil Ortenberg; The definitive film biography of Barney Rosset, the influential publisher of Grove Press and the Evergreen Review, this charts his tumultuous career…
Oswald's Ghost (2007): Dir. Robert Stone; This intelligent investigative doco focusing on the chain of events leading up to John F. Kennedy's assassination and the impact it had on America is…
Our Future - His Holiness the Dalai Lama (2007): The Dalai Lama imparts his wisdom on spiritual wellbeing, current affairs and the global condition. Taken from conversations and public forums during…
Passion and Power: Technology of Orgasm, The (2007): Dir. Emiko Omori, Wendy Blair Slick; Ticklish documentary on the history of the vibrator, tracing its humble origins as a thinly–veiled 'invigorating massage tool' in women's…
Pete Seeger - The Power of Song (2007): Dir. Jim Brown; A generous tribute to American singer, songwriter and activist Pete Seeger, this gathers the usual array of performance footage, archival material,…
Peter Green Story, The - Man of the World (2007): There was life before Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" and those expecting the like will be disappointed, however the original Fleetwood Mac was an amazing…
Planet B-Boy (2007): Dir. Benson Lee; Energetic doco follows five B–Boy crews from around the world vying to be top dog at the 2005 Battle of the Year break–dance competition…
Powder and the Glory, The (2007): A welcome insight into two of America's greatest female entrepreneurs – Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein; two immigrants with limited…
Punk's Not Dead (2007): Dir. Susan Dynner; Covering familiar territory, this 30–year overview of punk rounds the usual cultural and musical bases via archival footage and talking head…
Quest For the Real Middle Earth, The (2007): Feat. Ian Holm; In–depth doco narrated by Sir Ian Holm (Bilbo in LORD OF THE RINGS) investigating the British locations and European languages that inspired…
Rain of the Children (2007): Dir. Vincent Ward
Feat. Vincent Ward, Rena Owen; Vincent Ward's masterful docu–drama – in which he investigates the 'cursed life' of an elderly Maori woman – is a deeply personal…
Rebirth of a Nation (2007): Dir. Paul D. Miller; 'Remix' of D.W. Griffith's landmark original by dir. Miller – aka 'DJ Spooky' – turns cinema into a club track, deconstructed and put…
Respect Yourself - The Stax Records Story (2007): Dir. Robert Gordon, Morgan Neville; Affecting documentary that traces the astonishing history of Stax Records, from it's humble beginnings as a neighborhood hangout in Memphis, to…
Return to Gorée (2007): Dir. Pierre-Yves Borgeaud; Insightful 'road' documentary follows Youssou N’Dour's musical tour via Atlanta, New Orleans, New York City, Luxembourg, and Dakar; the Senegalese…
Robbie Coltrane's Incredible Britain (TV Series) (2007-2008): Feat. Robbie Coltrane; Cherished British actor Robbie Coltrane takes a journey through the back–blocks of Britain in his Jag roadster to uncover the weird and…
Sand and Sorrow (2007): Dir. Paul Freedman; A sobering, all–encompassing document of the Darfur genocide that, while not subtle, powerfully informs of the atrocities committed, as well as…
Senator Obama Goes to Africa (2007): Dir. Bob Hercules; Succinct documentary following Barak Obama's emotional journey with his family to Africa in 2006 in the wake of becoming the newly elected U.S.…
Send A Bullet (Manda Bala) (2007): Dir. Jason Kohn; Unsettling doco exposing the corrupted underbelly of Sao Paulo, Brazil, where abduction, political fraud and torture runs rife. A protege of…
Sicko (2007): Dir. Michael Moore; Documentary icon Michael Moore's latest broadside utilizes his tried–and–true one–man approach to expose the inherent 'malpractice'…
Slacker Uprising (Captain Mike Across America) (2007): Dir. Michael Moore; Footage from Michael Moore's political crusade in 2004 to convince the masses of young non–voters – aka slackers – to give voting a…
Spirit of the Marathon (2007): Dir. Jon Dunham; Inspiring documentary following a group of amateurs and professionals from all walks of life as they prepare for the 2007 Chicago Marathon. Dir.…
Story of India with Michael Wood, The (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Michael Wood; Acclaimed historian Wood takes to the destination du–jour – India – in order to acknowledge its history and research its…
Story of Ned Kelly, The (2007): Feat. Charles Tingwell, Ian Jones; Historically accurate doco tracking the life of the ultimate Aussie rogue Ned Kelly. Aptly led by distinguished Kelly historian / author Ian Jones…
Stranded - The Andes Plane Crash Survivors (2007): Inspiring first–hand account of the devastating ordeal suffered by members of a Uruguayan rugby team whose plane famously crashed in the Andes…
Strange Culture (2007): Dir. Lynn Hershman-Leeson
Feat. Thomas Jay Ryan, Tilda Swinton, Peter Coyote; Topical and important docu–drama focusing on the charges of bio–terrorism brought against acclaimed artist Steve Kurtz after his wife's…
Suicide Killers (2007): Dir. Pierre Rehov; Based on interviews, this documentary examines the psychopathology of suicide bombers, with particular focus on the Israeli/Palestine conflict. The…
Super High Me (2007): Dir. Michael Blieden; Stand–up comedian Doug Benson decides to smoke (and eat) marijuana for 30 days straight and chronicle the side effects in this SUPER SIZE ME…
Surfwise (2007): Dir. Doug Pray; Surprisingly confronting documentary following the ultimate surfer dude dad – Dorian Paskowitz – and his suffering family who forsake…
Taxi to the Dark Side (2007): Dir. Alex Gibney; Academy Award–winning documentary from the dir. of ENRON exposing the darker impulses of the US forces through the true story of an Afghani…
Th' Dudes Live - Th' 2006 Reunion Tour (2007): One–time reunion tour sees Th’Dudes reunite after 26 years in celebration of Radio Hauraki’s 40th anniversary. Includes live concert…
This American Life (TV Series) (2007-2009): Ordinary strangers share their extraordinary anecdotes which are compiled by the worldly host into explorations on a given theme. This collection of…
Tim Marlow On...Henry Moore at Kew (2007): Feat. Tim Marlow; Tim Marlow ventures outdoors this time to present the highlights from Henry Moore's exhibition at Kew Gardens. Marlow gracefully explains the themes…
Tim Marlow On...The National Gallery's Grand Tour (2007): Feat. Tim Marlow; A fresh look at some of the world's greatest paintings displayed for a short time at a temporary gallery – the streets of London. Art critic…
Time of Our Lives, The (2007): Dir. Gaylene Preston; Kiwi documentarian Gaylene Preston joins 32 war veterans en route to London, selected to inaugurate the erection of a New Zealand War Memorial in…
To The Limit (Am Limit) (2007): Dir. Pepe Danquart; Extreme sport doco, from the director of HELL ON WHEELS, following the lofty ambitions of two speed rock–climbing brothers attempting to summit…
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Running Down a Dream (2007): Dir. Peter Bogdanovich; Peter Bogdanovich's exhaustive chronicle of the enormously successful pop/rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, from their inception as…
Tom Waits - Under Review 1971-1982 (2007): Feat. Tom Waits; Music doco chronicling the career of singer–songwriter Tom Waits, containing rarely seen interviews with the man himself, hit songs and rare…
Tori and Dean Inn Love (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Tori Spelling, Dean McDermott; Z–List "actress" Tori Spelling and hubby Dean McDermott leave behind their silver spoon–fed lives to run a quaint little "Bed and…
Trap, The (The Trap: What Happened to Our Dream of Freedom?) (2007): Dir. Adam Curtis; Ambitious treatise on the concept of freedom sees Curtis overreaching somewhat, and a certain arbitrary focus tends to lend this one a conspiratorial…
Trumbo (2007): Dir. Peter Askin
Feat. Joan Allen, Michael Douglas, Donald Sutherland…; Prominent blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo – the most famed of the alleged Communist sympathising ‘Hollywood 10’ – is the honoree of…
Union, The (2007): Dir. Brett Harvey; Convincingly argued case study for the legalization of cannabis, centred on British Columbia’s thriving – and seemingly legitimate – marijuana…
Unlikely Travellers (2007): Dir. Michael Noonan; A refreshingly open doco framing a group of intellectually disabled travellers on a once–in–a–lifetime holiday to Egypt, following…
Up The Yangtze (2007): Dir. Yung Chang; The large–scale transformation of the Yangtze River through the construction of the Three Gorges Dam is examined intimately through the eyes of…
Victoria's Empire (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Victoria Wood; Brit comedienne Victoria Wood tours the Commenwealth on behalf of her royal namesake, taking in such old Empire territories as Hong Kong, Borneo,…
Walk Into The Sea, A (Danny Williams and the Warhol Factory) (2007): Dir. Esther Robinson; Peripheral Factory filmmaker and one–time Warhol lover Danny Williams is the subject of this intriguing doco directed by his niece, which…
War / Dance (War Dance) (2007): Life–affirming Oscar–nominated doco investigates the lives of a group of war–torn Ugandan child refugees on their path towards…
War on Democracy, The (2007): Dir. John Pilger, Chris Martin; John Pilger continues his crusade against U.S foreign policy with this informative, persuasively polemical documentary about the manipulation and…
War, The (TV Series) (2007): Dir. Ken Burns; Seven–part documentary series, directed by respected filmmaker Ken Burns, addressing the horrors of WW2 from the perspective of American…
Warlords (TV Series) (Untold Stories of World War II) (2007): Well–reviewed UK documentary series analyses WWII's big players from a psychological perspective: Hitler, Churchill, Roosevelt and…
We Are Together (2007): Dir. Paul Taylor; This remarkable, uplifting documentary showcases the choir of the South African Agape Orphanage, comprised of talented youngsters whose families have…
What Would Jesus Buy? (2007): Dir. Rob Van Alkemade; Comedic activist doco tails the self–styled Reverend Billy and his faithful 'Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir' on a cross–country…
Words from the City (2007): Dir. Natasha Gadd, Rhys Graham; Documentary on contemporary Australian hip–hop, exploring fresh ground through its focus on the poetics of the art–form and its place in…
Young @ Heart (Young at Heart) (2007): Dir. Stephen Walker; A stirring, crowd–pleasing music doco for ages 9 to 99 that introduces a spritely senior citizen choir known as 'Young @ Heart' who are…
10 Questions for the Dalai Lama (2006): Dir. Rick Ray; A hopeful and intimate doco of the history and life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama; includes archival footage of a young Dalai Lama, the…
1st & Hope (2006): Mellow skatie homage set in the mean streets of smoggy LA pitch perfectly accompanied by alt tunes from the vibrant musician 'Beck.' Like a super…
9/11 Mysteries: Demolitions (2006): Dir. Sofia Shafquat; Another inflammatory conspiracy documentary on the ‘truth’ behind 9/11, this time purporting that the Twin Towers were in fact leveled by secret…
9/11: The Falling Man (2006): Dir. Henry Singer; Acclaimed documentary searches for the identity of one of the victims of the 9/11 attacks, whose desperate jump/fall from one of the Twin Towers was…
Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story (2006): Dir. Patty Kim, Chris Sheridan; This startling, blow–by–blow account of a notorious Japanese abduction reveals a staggering conspiracy at the heart of a…
Absolute Wilson (2006): Dir. Katharina Otto; Detailed, digestible documentary about the life and times of renowned experimental theatre director, Robert Wilson. Charting Wilson’s…
Agatha Christie's Garden (2006): The life of Britain’s grande dame of mystery is explored in this breezy documentary, taking in Christie's grandson, biographer, and fellow…
Air Guitar Nation (2006): Dir. Alexandra Lipsitz; Sublime documentary on a ridiculous subject, this follows the fortunes of two Americans at the World "Air Guitar" Championships in Finland, in which…
Altered by Elvis (2006): Dir. Tiffany Bartok, Jayce Bartok; Heartfelt documentary exploring the myriad of ways that Elvis Presley has affected people's lives, going down the rabbit warrens of American pop…
American Cannibal (2006): Dir. Michael Nigro, Perry Grebin; On the surface an expose of America’s insidious entertainment industry, this compulsive video diary of a failed Reality TV series challenges the…
An Inconvenient Truth (2006): Dir. Davis Guggenheim
Feat. Al Gore; Stark and compelling warning about the imminent effects of climate change – largely being stoked by carbon emissions from human activities…
Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens (2006): Dir. Barbara Leibovitz; Gratifying portrait of the life and career of trail–blazing superstar photographer Annie Leibovitz, directed by her sister who exposes select…
Ans Westra - Private Journeys/Public Signposts (2006): Dir. Luit Bieringa; Photographer laureate Ans Westra takes to the other side of the camera in this insightful, contemplative retrospective of her photography, and…
B4MD - Before the Music Dies (2006): Dir. Andrew Shapter; Slight but worthy documentary probing the music industry in order to find out why 'video killed the radio star': what has happened to nurturing new…
Bacon's Arena (2006): Dir. Adam Low; Truly 'definitive' portrait of 20th Century painter Francis Bacon, commissioned by his Estate to mark the centenary of his birth. Dir. Low takes…
Battle Of Long Tan / He's Coming South (2006): Dir. Damien Lay; Two insightful documentaries that each explore particular episodes in Australasia's war history. THE BATTLE OF LONG TAN tells the incredible story…
Battleplan (TV Series) (2006): A comprehensive history and analysis of military strategies, combat tactics, and the art of modern warfare. Across eighteen episodes, historical…
Beales of Grey Gardens, The (2006): Dir. Albert Maysles, David Maysles; Comprised of new footage and fresh hindsight, the Maysles brothers revisit the iconic Beales immortalised in their 1976 verite classic GREY GARDENS.…
Bergman Island (2006): Dir. Marie Nyreröd
Feat. Ingmar Bergman; Just four years before his death, legendary filmmaker Ingmar Bergman sits down at his home on Fårö Island to discuss his work, his fears, his…
Besieged Fortress (2006): Dir. Phillipe Calderon; French–produced documentary examines the struggle for survival of a colony of African termites threatened by a massive storm and marauding…
Beyond Hatred (Au Dela de la Haine) (2006): Sensitive documentary following the aftermath of a hate crime in which a 30–year old gay man was beaten to death by a trio of skinheads in a…
Black Gold (2006): Dir. Marc Francis; Urgent, surprisingly constructive expose of world coffee trade, tackling the exploitation of third world bean farmers by corporations, middlemen, and…
Bob Dylan - Rolling Thunder and The Gospel Years (2006): Feat. Bob Dylan; Chronicles the years between 1975 and 1981 when Dylan hit the road with a rag–tag band of folk troubadours in 1975's Rolling Thunder Revue, and…
Bridge, The (2006): Dir. Eric Steel; Controversial, yet thoughtful documentary which captures – and in turn addresses – suicide through a series of fatal leaps from San…
Buddha Wild - The Monk in a Hut (2006): Dir. Anna Wilding; Modest documentary following the lives of a group of Thai and Sri Lankan monks as they reveal their unique way of life and dedicated faith. Narrated…
Buddha's Lost Children (2006): Dir. Mark Verkerk; Engrossing, beautifully shot story about a Thai boxer–turned–monk's mission to revitalise the lives of impoverished young boys in the…
Bullrider (2006): Dir. Josh Aronson; Rough and tumble guide to the world of professional bullriding follows three top ranked cowboys as they embark on winning the sport’s lucrative…
Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride (2006): Dir. Tom Thurman
Feat. Gary Busey, John Cusack, Benicio Del Toro…; Definitive documentary about the life and death of the late, great gonzo himself, Hunter S. Thompson. Visuals draw heavily on clips, including…
Cats of Mirikitani, The (2006): Dir. Linda Hattendorf; Tenderly constructed documentary revealing the compelling life of a homeless artist living on the streets of NYC who survived an internment camp,…
Cinematographer Style (2006): Dir. Jon Fauer; 110 of the world's most celebrated cinematographers give in–depth interviews about their craft, painting a fascinating portrait of the process…
Civilisations (2006): Purporting new insight, this series chronicles four of the most influential ancient civilizations to lay foundations for the world we know today.…
Classic Artists: Cream (2006): Feat. Eric Clapton; Part of the excellent Classic Artist Series, this fully authorized doco is an intensive examination of the rise of pop supergroup Cream, and the…
Classic Artists: Jethro Tull (2006): Part of the excellent Classic Artist Series, this fully authorized doco is an intensive examination of the rise of rock group Jethro Tull and their…
Classic Artists: Moody Blues (2006): Part of the excellent Classic Artist Series, this fully authorized doco is an intensive examination of the 40 year history of 'art rock' group The…
Classic Artists: Yes (2006): Part of the excellent Classic Artist Series, this fully authorized doco is an intensive examination of the progressive rock band Yes, tracing their…
Closet Tales of Australian Fashion, The (TV Series) (2006): Art and commerce collide in this first–hand insight into the creative process of four of Australia's top fashion designers. Across four…
Cocaine Cowboys (2006): Dir. Billy Corben; True story of Miami's heady drug trade in the late 70s / early 80s, chronicling at an Amphetamine pace the highs and lows of smugglers and…
Colossal Youth (2006): Dir. Pedro Costa; A major work of contemporary art cinema, this mesmerizing sleepwalk throughout the demolished slums of Lisbon, Portugal is seen through the eyes of…
Crossing the Line (2006): Dir. Daniel Gordon; Documentary on the extraordinary defection of James Dresnok, an American military deserter to North Korea in 1962, who now resides permanently in the…
Crude Awakening, A (Oil Crash) (2006): Dir. Basil Gelpke, Ray McCormack; Impending doom in the form of ‘peak oil’ is the subject of this bleak environmental documentary, designed to scare industry and consumers alike…
Cuba - A Lifetime Of Passion (2006): Dir. Glenn Gebhard; With unprecedented access on either side of the Florida Straits, this comprehensive, and beautifully shot documentary highlights the complexity of…
Death of a President (2006): Dir. Gabriel Range; An audacious faux–documentary that contrives an utterly convincing scenario around the fictional assassination of President George W.…
Deep Water (2006): Dir. Louise Osmond, Jerry Rothwell; Superbly crafted documentary that charts an astounding human story that took place within the world's first solo, non–stop…
Deliver Us From Evil (2006): Dir. Amy Berg; A hard–hitting expose of pedophilia and abuse in the Catholic Church, this gathers powerful testimony from victims of priest Oliver O’Grady,…
Detour de France (2006): Dir. Dan Jones; Further insight into the world’s most grueling sporting event, the Tour de France, this follows three irreverent Australian reporters covering the…
Doctor, the Tornado and the Kentucky Kid, The (2006): Dir. Mark Neale; An energetic, visually immersive chronicle of the biggest motorcycle race in American history, the 2005 US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, California.…
Earthquake (2006): Dir. Gaylene Preston; Staple filmmaker and documentarian Gaylene Preston chronicles the devastating Hawkes Bay earthquake of 1931 through a series of vivid and moving…
Edge of Outside (2006): Dir. Shannon Davis; A succinct overview of the history of independent cinema, this overlaps ground covered in the likes of EASY RIDERS, RAGING BULLS and DECADE UNDER THE…
Ever Again (2006): Dir. Richard Trank; Documentary on the re–emergence of anti–semitism paying particular attention to the politicization of Europe's Neo–Nazi movement…
Everest: Beyond the Limit (TV Mini-Series) (2006): A gruelling Discovery Channel mini–series following a group of ambitious mountaineers, led by Kiwi climber Russell Brice, on their quest to…
Everyone Stares - The Police Inside Out (2006): Dir. Stewart Copeland; Drummer–turned–film composer Stewart Copeland digs up an archive of Super 8 footage in this homebrew documentary of The Police’s rise…
Exodus Decoded, The (2006): Dir. Simcha Jacobovici; Speculative historical documentary in the wake of the 'Da Vinci Code' phenomenon that attempts to find a factual basis behind the biblical story of…
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (2006): Dir. Lisa Ades, Lesli Klainberg; Scintillating sequel to the dirs. 1995 CELLULOID CLOSET, here discussing the history of 'out' gay cinema in the twentieth century from Kenneth…
Figure 8000 (2006): Dir. Lindon Puffin; Former glam rock front man of The Puffins, Lindon Puffin, takes to the road as an under–resourced solo act, touring with a single roadie in a…
Flock of Dodos (2006): Dir. Randy Olson; A humourous take on the great American evolution vs 'intelligent design' debate, this doco pits talking heads from both sides against each other to…
Francesco's Italy Top to Toe (TV Series) (2006): Further travels with charismatic Italian architect Francesco da Mosto, here giving a sweeping tour of the art, history and beauty of greater Italy by…
Freedom's Fury (2006): Dir. Colin K. Gray, Megan Raney; Sport and politics mix in this gripping account of a hotly contested water polo semifinal between Hungary and the Soviet Union during the 1956…
Glastonbury (2006): Dir. Julien Temple; Down and dirty documentary of that sodden, world famous Scottish music festival Glastonbury, sloshing together hours of submitted footage, archival…
Global Haywire (2006): Dir. Bruce Petty; Unruly political doco by celebrated Australian cartoonist and moviemaker Bruce Petty, that seeks to answer why the East and West have reached crisis…
God On My Side (2006): Dir. Andrew Denton; Aussie doco maker Andrew Denton infiltrates the National Religious Broadcasters’ Convention in Texas, striking upon the hilarious, serious,…
Going Bush (2006): Dir. David Batty, Tony Jackson; Cathy Freeman and actor Luke Carroll travel beyond the outer reaches of indigenous Australia in this eye–opening road trip that takes in such…
Great Australian Albums: Crowded House - Woodface (2006): In–depth story behind Crowded House's hit album 'Woodface,' including the creative process and personal struggles of the band. Featured as part…
Grumpy Old Holidays (2006): More whining and whinging from an new queue of dissatisfied old grumps, this time on the nightmare subject of holidays and holidaying.
Gunther's ER (2006): A follow on from the best–selling biology docos AUTOPSY: LIFE AND DEATH and ANATOMY FOR BEGINNERS. This time round Dr. Gunther von Hagens, made…
Hacking Democracy (2006): Dir. Simon Ardizzone; Alarming expose of America’s electronic voting system, which was disastrously shown–up in the 2000 US Presidential election. Casting its…
Helvetica (2006): Dir. Gary Hustwit; Treading unique, uncharted documentary territory is this lively case study on the ubiquitous typeface Helvetica, loved and loathed in equal parts for…
Herbie Hancock - Possibilities (2006): Dir. Doug Biro
Feat. Herbie Hancock; Uber–keyboardist Herbie Hancock collaborates with a roll call of admirers – Sting, Paul Simon, Annie Lennox and Christina Aguilera, among…
Hero's Journey, A (2006): President Xanana Gusmao presides over this documentary portrait of East Timor, its Resistance war against Indonesian occupation, and its current…
Hills, The (TV Series) (2006-2008): Heavy–handed Reality TV series focused on Laguna Beach It girl Lauren Conrad and her sassy friends trying to gain careers, a great tan and the…
History Of The British Police Force, The (2006): Feat. Brian Cox; Fairly detailed and illuminating history of the British bobby, from the days of Sir Robert Peel's first 'peeler' through to the large–scale…
Hunger for the Wild (TV Series) (2006-2007): Wellington restauranteurs Steve Logan and Al Brown (of 'Logan Brown') travel the wilds of New Zealand looking for fresh food to turn into…
In Search of Mozart (2006): Dir. Phil Grabsky; Thoughtful and well–orchestrated documentary about 18th century classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which aims to not only put across…
Jesus Camp (2006): Dir. Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady; A disturbing guided tour of extremist 'Jesus Camps' in the US, run by politically–aligned Evangelical Christian groups intent on indoctrinating…
Joan Sutherland - The Reluctant Prima Donna (2006): Dir. Steve Cole; Spotlight on Australian opera diva Joan ‘La Stupenda’ Sutherland, from her modest early years, through to international stardom via two…
John Osborne and the Gift of Friendship (2006): Dir. Tony Palmer
Feat. John Osborne, Tony Richardson, Laurence Olivier…; Exemplary presentation traces the life and works of groundbreaking British playwright John Osborne, whose 1956 play 'Look Back in Anger' changed the…
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006): Dir. Stanley Nelson Jr; The enigma of cultist Jim Jones is investigated in chilling detail as this documentary outlays the infamous ‘Peoples Temple’ cult and its…
Joy Division - Under Review (2006): Dir. Christian Davies; Unauthorised analysis of respected post–punk band, Joy Division. Through various interviews, photos and music clips, the history of the band is…
Kanyini (2006): Dir. Michelle Hogan; Concise, if a little one–sided, documentary on Aboriginal spirituality, centered around the life of an elderly Aborigine who looks at the…
Kiwi Kitchen (TV Series) (2006): A wee beauty of a TV series has gastronome Richard Till investigate the roots of Kiwi cuisine and serve up some iconic recipes and dinner…
Knowledge is the Beginning (incl. The Ramallah Concert) (2006): Dir. Paul Smaczny; Inspiring documentary about Daniel Baremboim's West–Eastern Divan Orchestra that illustrates how prejudices between young Arabs and Israelis…
Kurt Cobain - About a Son (2006): Dir. AJ Schnack; Elegiac, moving documentary on Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain takes an appositely nonconformist approach to his unusual life and times. Based on…
Lake of Fire (2006): Dir. Tony Kaye; From the ashes of AMERICAN HISTORY X, dir. Tony Kaye reconciles 15 years of groundwork and personal investment into this definitive documentary on…
Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain, The (2006): Dir. John Dower; BBC documentary speculating on the events leading up to the singer's death, from documentarian John Dower (LIVE FOREVER). Also provides a fairly…
Last Resort, The (2006): Dir. Errol Wright, Abi King-Jones; A modest coastal campground is the site of much dispute and debate in this thorny documentary casting light on New Zealand’s ceaseless ‘land…
Lesbian Sex and Sexuality (2006): Dir. Katherine Linton; A smart, inquisitive six–part series examining the various facets of lesbianism and sex in media, entertainment, and everyday life. Episodes…
Life in Loops (2006): Dir. Timo Novotny; This audio–visual companion piece to MEGACITIES remixes the documentary’s existing footage of global degradation with a throbbing electronic…
Life Under Napoleon (TV Series) (2006): Dir. Georg Schiemann; Broad, challenging historical overview of late 18th/early 19th century Europe, informed by the legacy and reign of French Emperor Napoleon.…
Lion in the House, A (2006): Dir. Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert; This powerful, heart–wrenching testimonial clocks in at almost four miraculous hours, chronicling the cancer treatment of five Cincinnati…
Loose Change - Second Edition (2006): Dir. Dylan Avery; Using an array of disconcerting "facts" and "expert" witnesses, this rapid–fire documentary purports to tell the 'truth' about the 9/11 attacks…
loudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies (Loud Quiet Loud) (2006): Dir. Steven Cantor, Matthew Galkin; Document on lauded alt–rockers The Pixies which revisits the band ten years after their split, through to their 2004 'Sell Out' Reunion Tour.…
Love Story (2006): Dir. Chris Hall; Belated but worth–the–wait tragi–profile of overlooked cult band Love, whose magnetic black frontman Arthur Lee passed away shortly…
Magical World of Misery, The (2006): A short documentary on the creations and career of New Zealander Tanya Thompson (a.k.a. 'Misery'), who began as a hip graffiti artist and has gone to…
Man vs Wild (TV Series) (2006): Feat. Bear Grylls; Macho malarkey with modern day Macgyver and master masochist Bear Grylls running round extreme terrains tormenting himself for the benefit of couch…
Maori Queen, The: 1931-2006 (Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu) (2006): Televised tribute to the 'Maori Queen', Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, on the occasion of her funeral in August 2006, edited down from…
Marcello, A Sweet Life (Marcello, una vita dolce) (2006): Dir. Mario Canale, Annarosa Morri; Sincere Italian documentary exploring the life of great Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni through archival footage and testimonials from his…
Marie Antoinette: The True Story of the Last Queen of France (2006): Dir. David Grubin; Exhaustive documentary on French monarchy's infamous last queen and the history behind her extravagant persona which has come to symbolise 18th…
Maxed Out (2006): Dir. James D. Scurlock; Exposing further blemishes (or is that crevices?) in the American capitalist model, this is a necessary indictment of America's credit card industry…
Meanies, The (2006): The history and music of punkish Australian band The Meanies is chronicled in this watchable documentary, which covers much of the Melbourne…
Meth Epidemic, The (2006): Timely documentary tackles the alarming ‘Meth Epidemic’, its increasing effects on American society, and the possible solutions to the…
Most Beautiful Women in Paris 2007, The (2006): Dir. Herve Lewis; Fashion industry guru Herve Lewis revives his love of black–and–white photograpy in this sensuous homage to the beauty of women. Lewis'…
MTV Barrio 19 (2006): Excellent compilation of amazing demonstrations by street performers from around the globe – Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, Britain... –…
Naked on the Inside (2006): Dir. Kim Farrant; Affecting documentary narrated by Australian filmmaker Kim Farrant as she investigates the issue of 'body image' through the lives of an amputee…
New Oceania, The (2006): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; Dir. Shirley Horrocks continues her excellent series on local artists and literary figures with an enthralling study of 'South Pacific' writer Albert…
Nigella Feasts (TV Series) (2006): Feat. Nigella Lawson; Foodie seductress Lawson invites us to her living room as she prepares feasts for every occasion. Never one to shy away from overt sensuality, the…
Noam Chomsky: Imperial Grand Strategy (The Conquest of Iraq and the Assault on Democracy) (2006): Feat. Noam Chomsky; Excellent compendium of Noam Chomsky lectures, with the elder activist contesting America's occupation of Iraq, 'Patriot Acts', dubious…
On Life And Enlightenment - Principles Of Buddhism With His Holiness The Dalai Lama (2006): Dir. Kaushik Ray; Comprehensive exploration of the practices of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, ranging from imparted wisdom care of his Holiness, through to a tour of the…
One Giant Leap (50 Years of Space Exploration) (2006): Historical doco covering 50 years of humans being propelled into space. Includes remastered footage from Sputnik all the way through to Apollo and…
Perfect Disaster (TV Series) (2006): SFX–heavy mini–series that looks at what would happen if a natural disaster – under 'perfect' conditions – were to hit…
Pervert's Guide to the Cinema, The (2006): Dir. Sophie Fiennes; Mad philosopher Slavoj Žižek delivers a swirling introduction to psychoanalytic theory via the history of popular cinema, inserting himself into…
Plan, The / Planet, The (2006-2010): Dir. Johan Söderberg, Michael Stenberg , Linus Torell; Two Scandinavian–produced eco documentaries which consider the plight of the earth from different perspectives: THE PLAN, a collection of…
Planet Earth (TV Series) (2006): Feat. David Attenborough; One of the most expensive and ambitious nature documentary series ever attempted, the reliable grave tones of Sir David Attenborough guide this…
Power of Art (TV Series) (2006): A scholarly, and indeed powerful, roam through art history’s seminal figures, with knowledge imparted by the revered Simon Schama. Disc 1…
Prehistoric Park (TV Series) (2006): Interesting documentary speculation pitched to children has naturalist Nigel Marvin 'rescue' dinosaurs and prehistoric animals, hypothetically…
Radiant City (2006): Dir. Gary Burns, Jim Brown; This account of a ‘typical’ nuclear family ensconced in America’s suburban wasteland doubles as a serious expose of consumption, sprawl, and…
Rampage (2006): Dir. George Gittoes; Australian war reporter George Gittoes turns his attention to urban combat in Brownsville, Miami, where four brothers – one having just returned…
Rape of Europa, The (2006): Dir. Bonni Cohen, Nicole Newnham; Documentary about the huge amount of European art that was tragically stolen and damaged by Nazi Germany, and the effort by the Allies to return and…
Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection (2006): Splendid swag of early short films from special f/x pioneer Ray Harryhausen, many using the mature stop–motion style of his work in features…
Red Chapel, The (2006): Dir. Mads Brügger; Award winning documentary that gives 'a rare glimpse into a totalitarian nightmare' when a Danish–Korean theater group travel to North Korea…
Road to Guantanamo, The (2006): Dir. Michael Winterbottom, Mat Whitecross; A searing, politically pertinent docu–drama from the prolific Michael Winterbottom (w/ co–dir. Whitecross), reenacting with…
Rock the Bells (2006): Dir. Denis Hennelly, Casey Suchan; Fly–on–the–wall document of the magic of the ‘Rock The Bells’ hip–hop festival, and the panic that ensues when…
Running with Arnold (2006): Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger; One–sided political doco following the ascent of muscle–head actor Arnie through the ranks of right–wing government to become the…
Salzburg Festival, The (2006): Dir. Tony Palmer; An epic and detailed look at the world's most revered classical music festival, which takes place annually in Mozart's birthplace, the Austrian town…
Sci-Fi Boys, The (2006): Dir. Paul Davids
Feat. Peter Jackson; Charming doco that charts the evolution of science fiction films from stop motion B movies to blockbusters, and the influence that the pioneers of…
Scott Walker - 30 Century Man (2006): Dir. Steven Kijak; Brilliant music documentary about enigmatic soundmaker and musical genius, Scott Walker, who enjoyed pop stardom in the 60's as half of The Walker…
Secret History of 9/11, The (2006): Dir. Terrence McKenna; A serious–minded Canadian television documentary which details the lead–up to the 9/11 attacks on the NYC World Trade Centre, including…
Secret, The (2006): Dir. Drew Heriot; In repackaging the ‘Law of Attraction’ theory for a New Age audience, Abraham (aka Esther Hicks) affirms the power of positive thinking, reviving…
Shackleton and Scott - Rivals for the Pole (2006): The intense 'polar' rivalry of Shackleton and Scott is relived in this documentary of the two explorers’ fatal trajectory towards the South Pole.…
Sharkwater (2006): Dir. Rob Stewart; Worthwhile documentary filmed in the shark rich waters of the world that aims to dispel human's inherent fear of sharks and demonstrate the important…
Shut Up and Sing (2006): Dir. Barbara Kopple, Cecilia Peck; Politics ("shut up") and music ("sing") find themselves reluctantly linked in this portrait of country superstars, "The Dixie Chicks", and the…
Sign of the Times (2006): Dir. Victoria Manning, Paul Wolffram; In April 2006 the New Zealand Parliament recognised New Zealand Sign Language as the third official language of New Zealand. This short 'insider'…
Silent Britain (2006): An intriguing journey into the 'Lost Atlantis' of the British silent film industry, which prior to 1929 generated thousands of films, as much through…
Squeegee Bandit (2006): Dir. Sandor Lau; The hard–luck story of a charismatic street window–washer who works the intersections of South Auckland is documented with warmth and…
Steal This Film (2006): The inside scoop on the world's most notorious (and popular) piracy website and its Swedish operators that also examines how file sharing / internet…
Struggle No More (2006): Dir. Costa Botes; Affectionate tribute to veteran Wellington band 'The Windy City Strugglers' who formed in 1968 to play a mix of blues, soul and jug–band music…
Surfing the Menu - New Zealand (2006): Adventure–bound Australian food show which here features surf–mad Kiwi chef Mark Gardner and host Ben O'Donoghue on an exciting food…
Swing Guitar - The Genius of Django Reinhardt (2006): Short but informative documentary about the legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, who rose from obscurity as a European gypsy to become perhaps…
Tell Me Do You Miss Me (2006): Dir. Matthew Buzzell; Both melancholic and humorous, the dissolution of celebrated New York band 'Luna' (fronted by Kiwi ex–pat Dean Wareham) is chronicled as they…
This Film is Not Yet Rated (2006): Dir. Kirby Dick; A film that is close to our hearts, this is a good–humoured yet scathing attack on the American Film Industry and the hush of its censorship…
This Filthy World (2006): Dir. Jeff Garlin
Feat. John Waters; Scholar of bad taste, John Waters, extols the virtues of filth in this stand–up routine–meets–film lecture dedicated largely to his…
Tim Marlow On...The Highlights of the New Tate Modern (2006): Dir. Phil Grabsky
Feat. Tim Marlow; Art critic Tim Marlow presents a guided tour of the highlights of the New Tate Modern. In his accessible and intelligent style, Marlow dissects…
Too Tough to Die: A Tribute to Johnny Ramone (2006): Dir. Mandy Stein; Documentation of the concert held three days before Johnny Ramone's death where a group of musicians including Henry Rollins, Eddie Vedder and the…
Tough Act (TV Series) (2006): Dir. Stuart McKenzie; Compelling 'reality TV' show follows a class of aspiring actors in their first year at Toi Whakaari – New Zealand Drama School in Wellington,…
Trials of Darryl Hunt, The (2006): Dir. Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg; Another infuriating indictment of the US legal system, this shockingly reveals beyond reasonable doubt in the case and conviction of Darryl Hunt,…
TV Junkie (2006): Dir. Matt Radecki; An excruciating, warts–and–all video confession exposing Rick Kirkam’s decade–long cocaine addiction from behind the face of a…
Unfolding Florence (The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst) (2006): Dir. Gillian Armstrong; Profiling eccentric Sydney personality Florence Broadhurst, dir. Gillian Armstrong reveals the lives less ordinary of Australia’s leading interior…
Unknown Soldier, The (2006): Dir. Michael Verhoeven; A sobering documentary exploration of the reaction to a museum exhibit in Munich detailing the war crimes and atrocities committed by Nazi Germany's…
US vs. John Lennon, The (2006): Dir. David Leaf, John Scheinfeld; Compelling exposition of the political persecution of outspoken, anti–war Beatle, John Lennon by the Nixon–led US government. While…
War of the World: The New History of the 20th Century (2006): Eye–opening historical documentary, presented by acclaimed historian Professor Niall Ferguson, challenging how we view and assess the arch of…
War Years, The - 1939-1945 (2006): Five part documentary series made with unique and previously unseen archive film and photographs, tells the story of World War ll in the European…
Waves (2006): Dir. Li Tao; Shot with empathy and an open heart, this fine documentary on the arrival of four Chinese high school students to New Zealand offers rare insight…
What Lies Beneath (TV Series) (2006): Feat. Simon Dallow; An eight–part series about New Zealand's archaeological heritage, presenting a series of intriguing site studies, with Simon Dallow asking the…
What the Bleep!? - Down the Rabbit Hole (2006): Dir. William Arntz, Betsy Chasse
Feat. Marlee Matlin; A sequel–recut of WHAT THE BLEEP? which again presents an New Age spread of provocative comparisons between the theories of quantum physics and…
When the Levees Broke - A Requiem in Four Acts (2006): Dir. Spike Lee; Powerful, enraging chronicle of this century’s first great natural disaster, and the man–made catastrophe that unfolded post–Hurricane…
When the Road Bends - Tales Of A Gypsy Caravan (2006): Dir. Jasmine Dellal; An exuberant celebration of Romani culture and Rom (Gypsies) that doubles as a high–end concert film, this follows the "Gypsy Caravan" tour…
White Planet, The (2006): Dir. Jean Lemire; Stunning, big–screen nature treatise turns its attention to the inhospitable glaciers of the Artic, where polar bears and other unique fauna…
Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock? (Who the Fuck is Jackson Pollock?) (2006): Dir. Harry Moses; Good–natured yet revealing art–world expose concerning 73–year–old trucker Teri Horton’s acquisition of a $5 thrift store…
Who the Hell is Pete Doherty? (2006): Dir. Roger Pomphrey; Revealing if somewhat flawed look at the chequered career of Pete Doherty – co–leader of British group 'The Libertines' plus leader of…
Wordplay (2006): Dir. Patrick Creadon; Seldom short on drama, this latest documentary to pay homage to the grammatically dexterous taps into the competitive and obsessive drive of…
Work of Directors, The - Boxset Vol. 2 (Anton Corbijn, Jonathan Glazer, Mark Romanek, Stephane Sednnaoui) (2006): Dir. Anton Corbijn, Jonathan Glazer, Mark Romanek; Directors Label boxset containing the final four music video/doco/shorts compilations in the series. Features the work of Anton Corbijn, Jonathan…
Zidane - A 21st Century Portrait (2006): Dir. Douglas Gordon, Philippe Parreno; Hypnotic, enigmatic video art–cum–feature film fetishises the football prowess of one Zinedine Zidane during a Spanish soccer league…
49 Up (2005): Dir. Michael Apted; The seventh part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britons of different…
51 Birch Street (2005): Dir. Doug Block; Filmmaker Doug Block goes looking for skeletons in his parents’ closet following the sudden death of his mother, and the unexpected remarriage of…
Aerosol Crimes (Chemtrails) (2005): Dir. Clifford Carnicom; Interesting account of the possible conspiracies lurking behind the increasing presence of 'chemtrails' in our skies. These are the polluting trails…
Agatha Christie Code, The (2005): Covertly analytical doco, narrated by Joanna Lumley, investigating exactly what made Agatha Christie the world's second best selling author (after…
Al Qaeda (2005): Alarming documentary investigating different facets of high–profile terrorist cell Al–Qaeda. Divided into three parts; Al–Qaeda…
Aliens of the Deep (2005): Dir. James Cameron; The dir. of TITANIC and THE ABYSS renews his fascination with the mysteries of the deep ocean, choreographing the crews of various submersibles for a…
All Apologies: Kurt Cobain (2005): An informative peer into the life and final days of cult rock star Kurt Cobain, lead singer for the band Nirvana, who committed suicide in 1994.…
American Jobs (2005): Dir. Greg Spotts; An exploration into the effects of three million job losses across USA and consequentially into the impact of low–wage foreign competition on…
Anatomy for Beginners (2005): Grotesque but rather fascinating documentary series in which anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens and pathologist Prof. John Lee systematically dissect…
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Anthony Bourdain; Dubbed the "Indiana Jones of world cuisine", best–selling author Anthony Bourdain uses his distinct reputation as a worldwide gourmet…
Arktos: The Inner Journey of Mike Horn (2005): Dir. Raphael Blanc; A documentary about South African–born adventurer Mike Horn, who in 2002 set out to circumnavigate the Arctic Circle – mostly against the…
Around the World in 80 Treasures (2005): A fascinating world tour through civilisation's lasting imprint, with historian Dan Cruickshank globetrotting the planet in search of the eighty…
Ballets Russes (2005): Dir. Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine; Splendidly absorbing and intimate look at the legacy of the famous Ballets Russes dance comapny, initially founded by Serge Diaghilev in 1909, then…
Banana in a Nutshell (2005): Dir. Roseanne Liang
Feat. Roseanne Liang; Having fallen in love with a white New Zealand boy, 27–year–old Liang turns the camera on herself in this thoroughly intimate…
Billy Connolly - World Tour of New Zealand (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Billy Connolly; The special New Zealand segment of comedian Billy Connolly's 2004 world tour, which has the crazed Scot covering the length of the country over eight…
Black Coffee (2005): Dir. Irene Lilienheim Angelico; Caffeine addicts with a bent for history will savour this three–part documentary series tracing the unique and volatile history of…
Black Sun (2005): Dir. Gary Tarn; French artist Hughes de Montalembert’s remarkable and resiliant recovery from a devastating act of violence marks this spirited documentary of one…
Blood of My Brother (2005): Dir. Andrew Berends; A revealing, often eye–opening Iraqi War perspective, shot through director Berends’ unprecedented access to the Mehdi Army and citizens…
Brasileirinho (2005): Dir. Mika Kaurismaki; Choro is often seen as the Brazilian equivalent of improvisatory jazz, and serves as the foundation for such unique styles like samba and bossa nova…
Bridezillas (TV Series) (2005): Take–no–prisoners 'Reality TV' series captures on camera the fascinating behaviour of some of New York's most stressed,…
Broad Horizons (2005): Dir. Various; Ten galvanizing short films by women tackling issues such as globalisation, spirituality, lesbianism and more, across multiple mediums. Released to…
Building the Gherkin (2005): Dir. Miriam Von Arx; In deconstructing London’s Gherkin Building – a 590–foot skyscraper in the heart of the CBD – dir. Von Arx reveals the opposing forces…
Catherine the Great (2005): Dir. John Burgess, John-Paul Davidson; Made with the help of newly–available documentation from the former Soviet archives, this impressive biopic about the life and times of…
Champion (2005): Dir. Joe Eckardt
Feat. Danny Trejo; Gravel–faced Danny Trejo, mildly famous for playing felons and criminal hard–men on the side (and most recently, the title role in…
Churchill's Bodyguard (2005): Imposing, unprecedented memoir of the life and times of Winston Churchill, adapted from the diaries of his stoic bodyguard, Walter H.…
Coast (TV Series) (2005): BAFTA award–winning series explores the secrets and stories behind the unique character of the British Isles and its coastal communities.
Coffee Crazy (2005): The humourous, caffeine–fueled quest of "Australia's top barista", Paul Bassett, to find the perfect cup of coffee across Italy, France and…
Criss Angel - Mindfreak (TV Series) (2005): The stage illusionist reinvented as a glam–rock showman, magician and escapologist Criss Angel performs a series mind tricks and death defying…
Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul (2005): Dir. Fatih Akin; Turkish dir. Fatih Akin unveils Istanbul’s rich and uninhabited music scene, listening in on the capital’s many sonic threads: a soundscape…
Crufts (2005-2008): The pedigree gathering for dog owners and their canine competitors, this documentary compiles BBC footage from the past three years of the…
Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005): Dir. Michel Gondry
Feat. Dave Chappelle; Dynamite concert film follows comedian Chappelle, in cahoots with an all–star roll–call of R&B and hip–hop acts, during the leadup…
Derailroaded (2005): Dir. Josh Rubin; Eye–opening documentary of tortured musical genius, with Larry ‘Wild Man’ Fischer the journeyman of this rock odyssey into mental illness…
Devil and Daniel Johnston, The (2005): Dir. Jeff Feuerzeig; Shadowy and sympathetic look at cult American songwriter Daniel Johnston, whose quirky pop gems – covered by the likes of Sonic Youth, Beck,…
Devil's Miner, The (2005): Dir. Kief Davidson, Richard Ladkani; A 14–year–old Bolivian teenager works the perilous silver mines of Cerro Rico to support his siblings and widowed mother in this…
Drive - Notes from the Wilderness (TV Series) (2005): Dir. Mike Vallely; Cult skateboarder Mike Vallely travels the world on four small wheels to try and understand the meaning of skateboarding culture around the…
Dust to Glory (2005): Dir. Dana Brown; Eyecatching documentary about the Baja 1000, a notorious off–on–road race on the Mexican Baja peninsula, in which competitors drive a…
Egypt - Rediscovering a Lost World (2005): Unique, edifying six–part BBC series dramatizing the discovery and archeology of Egypt's ancient history.
Elvis by the Presleys (2005): Feat. Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley; A comprehensive biographical portrait of 'The King', compiled by family and friends, that features special home movies, interviews and live footage…
Emperor's Journey, The (March of the Penguins) (2005): Dir. Luc Jacquet; This original French language version of MARCH OF THE PENGUINS is ostensibly the same film in appearance, but forgoes the paternal narration of…
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005): Dir. Alex Gibney; Cautionary documentary about the stellar rise and unseemly 2001 collapse of one of America's largest corporations – Enron – which…
Entrepreneurs, The (TV Series) (2005): A magazine–style series profiling a range of Australian business people and the successful empires they have each built from…
Escape to the Legion (2005): Feat. Bear Grylls; Action man Bear Grylls (MAN VS WILD) tackles the grueling assault courses and brutal training regime of the French Foreign Legion in this rare…
Excellent Cadavers (2005): Dir. Marco Turco; The hush–hush war between Sicily’s mafia and the prosecutors who slept with the fishes is recounted in this fascinating documentary, an ideal…
F Word, The (TV Series) (2005-2008): Feat. Gordon Ramsay; The love–him–or–hate–him Gordon Ramsay is back, this time opening up the doors of his restaurant and home to demonstrate…
F*ck (Fuck - A Documentary) (2005): Dir. Steve Anderson; It’s a word we’ve all heard and many have said – more and more so it seems in this contemporary age – this doco takes a looks at the…
Favela Rising (2005): Dir. Matt Mochary, Jeff Zimbalist; Rousing documentary traces the transformation of a violent slum in Rio de Janeiro by former drug–dealer Anderson Sa, who was so shocked by a…
Film School (TV Series) (2005): IFC, fly–on–the–wall series shadows four ambitious Graduate students in the midst of completing their thesis films. Offering…
Final Chance to Save (TV Series) (2005-2006): Feat. Joanna Lumley, Bill Bailey, Vic Reeves…; An eight–part series focused on efforts to save various endangered species from extinction, with a team of experts assisted by a celebrity…
First Descent (2005): Dir. Kemp Curly, Kevin Harrison; Exhilarating documentary trails five of the best snowboarders in the world (Shaun White, Hannah Teter, Shawn Farmer, Terje Haakonsen, Nick Perata)…
Five Days in September: The Rebirth of an Orchestra (2005): Dir. Barbara Willis Sweete; A supreme classical music doco, this intimate look behind the scenes of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra delves candidly into the artistic process of…
Flaming Lips - The Fearless Freaks (2005): Dir. Bradley Beesley; A sprawling fan's–eye–view of the innovative alternative rock band from Oklahoma, The Flaming Lips, who went from 1980s cowpunk obscurity…
Gallipoli: The Frontline Experience (2005): Dir. Tolga Ornek; Devastating documentary which revises traditional treatments of the notorious WW1 Gallipoli Campaign, to present the experience from the perspective…
Garbo (2005): Dir. Kevin Brownlow, Christopher Bird
Feat. Greta Garbo; A portrait of the luminous, reclusive and mystifying star Greta Garbo, co–directed by filmmaker and historian Kevin Brownlow (BUSTER KEATON…
Gay Sex in the 70's (2005): Dir. Joseph F. Lovett; An honest look at gay sex in Manhatten during the 70s, this captures a moment in time between two historical benchmarks: when homosexuality was…
Geldof in Africa (TV Series) (2005): Dir. John Maguire
Feat. Bob Geldof; A six–part series in which Irish rock star–humanitarian Bob Geldof traverses the luminous continent of Africa exploring its natural…
Ginga: The Soul of Brasilian Football (2005): Dir. Fernando Mierelles; A documentary about soccer in Brazil, where perhaps the finest players in the world learn, develop and excel, partly by developing the national…
Girl in a Mirror (2005): Dir. Kathy Drayton; An acclaimed tribute to the life and times of Australian Carol Jerrems, who from the late–1960s onwards rose to fame as a gifted photographer…
God Who Wasn't There, The (2005): Dir. Brian Flemming; A ballsy, reasonably well–argued debunking of Christianity, attempting to definitively expunge God’s existence through historical fact…
Grizzly Man (2005): Dir. Werner Herzog; One of dir. Herzog's (AGUIRRE) true classics, this is a devastating glimpse into the life of a self–styled naturalist, whose obsession with…
Grumpy Old Women (TV Series) (2005): A range of female celebrities gripe about everything from their husbands to drunkenness in this forthright – and often amusing – homage…
Guns, Germs and Steel (2005): National Geographic TV series in which innovative thinker Jared Diamond outlines his groundbreaking theory of history, which tries to account for the…
H. H. Dalai Lama : The Six Paramitas (TV Series) (2005): A detailed examination of the practice of the Buddhist philosophy, as outlined by the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. Disc 1: Buddhism, Central…
Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde (2005): A unique celebration of the life and work of Ireland's adored literary genius, Oscar Wilde, on his 150th birthday, in which 150 celebrities trade…
Heart of the Game, The (2005): Dir. Ward Serrill; Often–rousing documentary about a Seattle girls’ high school basketball team and their unconventional coach. Darnelia, a socially…
Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life (2005): Dir. Dick Carruthers; Definitely the most complete document to date on the musical phenomenon of 'heavy metal', in which dir. Carruthers marshalls an unrivalled lineup of…
Helen of Troy (2005): Bettany Hughes based this investigation on her own acclaimed book, which continues the historian’s pursuit of the ‘real’ Helen of Troy. Her…
Hell's Kitchen USA (TV Series) (2005-2008): Feat. Gordon Ramsay; High–tension reality show headlined by the unrelenting Gordon Ramsay as he pits a group of wannabe American chefs against each other until a…
Hidden History of Homosexual Australia, The (2005): Dir. Con Anemogiannis; A panoramic look at the history of gays and lesbians in Australia, from settlement convict days through to the present.
How Art Made the World (2005): Flying in the face of Simon Schama's higher, learned arts emporium, this illuminating and invigorating study of human nature through art considers…
How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) (2005): Dir. Joe Angio
Feat. Melvin Van Peebles; Blaxploitation pioneer Melvin Van Peebles’ SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAADASSSSS SONG is honoured in this high appreciation of the filmmaker and…
How William Shatner Changed the World (2005): Dir. Julian Jones
Feat. William Shatner; In his goofy middle age, William Shatner hosts this irreverent yet informational documentary on the continuing influence of STAR TREK’s fictional…
I Am A Sex Addict (2005): Dir. Caveh Zahedi
Feat. Caveh Zahedi; A clever – and we'd have to say quite unforgettable – confessional self–exhibit of filmmaker Caveh Zahedi’s hunger for sleeping…
I for India (2005): Dir. Sandhya Suri; When Yash Pal Suri left India in 1965 the first thing he did upon his arrival in England was buy two complete sets of film equipment – one for…
I Know I'm Not Alone (2005): Dir. Michael Franti
Feat. Michael Franti; Michael Franti, the African–American songwriter of politically–charged American band Spearhead (and formerly the Disposable Heroes of…
I Shouldn't Be Alive (TV Series) (2005): The makers of TOUCHING THE VOID seek out more remarkable stories of human resilience, dramatising ten harrowing tales of near–death through…
In Search of Myths and Heroes (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Michael Woods; BBC presenter Michael Wood explores four of the most famous myths in the world – Shangri–la, the Golden Fleece, the Queen of Sheba, and…
Inside Deep Throat (2005): Dir. Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato
Feat. Linda Lovelace; Thoroughly eye–popping expose of the sordid and ridiculous tale of super–successful 1970s porno film DEEP THROAT: funded by the Mob,…
Intervention (TV Series) (2005): An Emmy–winning series that pairs qualified professionals with families and friends attempting to help their loved ones recover from their…
Into Great Silence (2005): Dir. Philip Gröning; An austere, one–of–a–kind mediation on the lives of Roman Catholic monks in a remote French monastery, conceived as an almost…
Italian Film Festival Collection, The - 2007 (2005-2006): Comprehensive box–set collection of 11 of the best Italian films featured at the 'Italian Film Festival 2007' spread over 6 discs. Films…
Jamie's School Dinners (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Jamie Oliver; A heartening example of celebrity do–gooding, this sees the famous blonde chef Jamie Oliver engage in a campaign to transform the school…
Jisoe (2005): Dir. Eddie Martin; Through the expression of graffiti art, Justin Hughes’ (aka Jisoe) daily plight is explored in this social commentary on Australia’s…
Kim Cattrall - Sexual Intelligence (2005): Dir. Catherine Annau
Feat. Kim Cattrall; Minx of SEX AND THE CITY, Kim Cattrall, educates us on the cerebral side of intercourse, combining talking head theorizing with scientific and…
King Kong: Peter Jackson Production Diaries (2005): Presenting a close–to–the–ground account of the forging of Peter Jackson's KING KONG (2005), this shows the filming with all its…
Kinks, The - 1964-1978 (2005): Independent critical review of The Kinks, revisiting every major release from the band's inception, through to the Pye and RCA years, and beyond.
Ladette To Lady (TV Series) (2005): Trashy reality show that places a group of rough–and–ready "tom boys" in a finishing school to try and turn them into proper ladies who…
Last Mogul, The (The Life and Times of Lew Wasserman) (2005): Dir. Barry Avrich, Nat Brecia, Jeff Sackman; Fairly thorough look at the life of behind–the–scenes Hollywood legend Lew Wasserman, who built the MCA talent agency into a force to be…
Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man (2005): Dir. Lian Lunson
Feat. Leonard Cohen; A fittingly sublime homage documentary to the stately Leonard Cohen, based around the tribute concert held in his honour at the Sydney Opera House in…
Life in the Undergrowth (TV Series) (2005): Feat. David Attenborough; The indefatigable David Attenborough here brings a fresh universe of ecology to our attention, the lives of the invertebrates: insects, spiders...…
Looking for a Thrill: An Anthology of Inspiration (2005): Dir. Braden King; 112 musicians of the 'alternative' bent were asked by the director to identify moments of musical inspiration, whether through an experience, record,…
Loop Select 007 (We Are Here) (2005): The third of the hugely popular "showcase" for New Zealand music, music videos and short filmmaking. This edition also includes motion graphics…
Love, Speed and Loss (2005): Dir. Justin Pemberton; Skilfully interweaving home movies and and present day interviews, this presents a heartfelt tale of a couple's journey through grand prix racing in…
Mad Hot Ballroom (2005): Dir. Marilyn Agrelo; A fetching and occasionally poignant documentary which follows the efforts of pre–teenage students from three multiracial NYC elementary…
Make It Funky (2005): Dir. Michael Murphy; A worthy documentary about the teeming musical traditions of New Orleans (made before Hurricane Katrina), which displays a firm understanding of the…
March of the Penguins (2005): Dir. Luc Jacquet; An engrossing and naturally spectacular documentary epic, which 'dramatises' the perils and hardship of the Emperor Penguin's annual migration…
Marcus Lush Collection Boxset (Off the Rails, North, South, Ice) (2005-2011): Feat. Marcus Lush; Four quality documentary series on New Zealand's natural and personal history from television personality Marcus Lush.
Margot (2005): Dir. Tony Palmer; Dir. Palmer continues his classic treatments of notable figures of modern ballet and classical music with a lengthy look at the extraordinary life of…
Matthew Barney - No Restraint (2005): Dir. Alison Chernick
Feat. Matthew Barney, Bjork; Uber–conceptual artist Matthew Barney boarded a Japanese whaling ship, replete with 45,000 pounds of petroleum jelly, in this documentary…
Meerkat Manor (TV Series) (2005): In the tradition of ANIMALS ARE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, this cheeky Animal Planet series follows a commune of Meerkats living in the Kalahari Desert in…
Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005): Dir. Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen, Jessica Joy Wise; Sharply humorous look at the world of Heavy Metal, treating the musical subject as a subculture of its own, transcending the stereotypes and clichés…
Miami Ink (TV Series) (2005): Tattoo–obsessed reality series chronicling the day–to–day custom of a parlour on Miami Beach, its creative and entrepreneurial…
Michelangelo Superstar (2005): Dir. Wolfgang Ebert, Martin Papirowski; The agony and ecstasy of Michaelangelo’s twin passions – life and art – are examinedin this study of his artistic legacy and…
Midnight Movies - From The Margin To The Mainstream (Incl. Night of the Living Dead and Reefer Madness) (2005): Dir. Stuart Samuels; Entrenched in the counter–cultural fertility of the seventies, this documentary profiles six seminal underground flicks that transformed the…
Modify (2005): Dir. Jason Gary, Greg Jacobson; Revealing study of body modification and mutilation, with over 50 "procedures" documented, from the innocuous and commonplace (tanning, waxing,…
National Geographic - Inside 9/11 (2005): Cogent, well–considered, and remarkably balanced overview of the key events before, during and after September 11’s infamous terror…
National Geographic - Strange Days on Planet Earth (2005): Foreboding eco documentary hosted by actor and keen environmental campaigner Edward Norton (AMERICAN HISTORY X) uncovering the connections between…
New York Doll (2005): Dir. Greg Whiteley; Affecting yet hilarious documentary about the bass–player of influential glam–punk band The New York Dolls, Arthur 'Killer' Kane, whose…
New York Dolls: All Dolled Up (2005): Dir. Bob Gruen, Nadya Beck; Fascinating – if roughly hewn – documentary about the legendary NYC glam–punk music group, compiled from archival footage shot by…
No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005): Dir. Martin Scorsese; Scorsese's comprehensive biography focuses on Bob Dylan's life and music from 1961–66, includes never–seen performance footage and…
Off the Rails - A Love Story (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Marcus Lush; Quality TV series that journeys with presenter and train buff Marcus Lush from Bluff in the South to Opua in the North on a variety of railways…
Oil Factor, The (2005): Dir. Audrey Brohy, Gerard Ungerman; Another addition to the panoply of anti–Iraq War documentaries, this attempts to draw the links between the Western World's over–reliance…
Old Men of the Point (2005): Dir. Evan Booth; A quasi–experimental documentary which covers the surfing scene on the West Auckland coast including Piha. Includes some tasty archival footage…
Once in a Lifetime (2005): Dir. John Dower; An explosive, tabloid–juicy account of the rise and fall of the New York Cosmos, a fledging team in the American Soccer League who, within the…
Our Daily Bread (2005): Dir. Nikolaus Geyrhalter; This surreal, highly formalised expose of industrial food practices visually documents the machinery and mass production of Europe’s modern food…
Overcoming (2005): Dir. Tómas Gislason; An insightful glimpse into the process of cycling team Danish CSC being primed for the 2004 Tour De France, directed with kinetic and emotional force…
Palm World Voices: Africa (2005): An enjoyable journey through the landscapes and varied human spectacles of the African continent – with an undercurrent of music providing a…
Palm World Voices: Vedic Path (2005): A splendid audiovisual journey through the spiritual, cultural, musical and geographic realms of India. Musically, this combines traditional Indian…
Paper Clips (2005): Dir. Elliot Berlin, Joe Fab; Straightforward and rather touching documentary about a schoolroom project in the backwoods Tennessee town of Whitwell which aimed to raise awareness…
Project Runway (TV Series) (2005): Mega–hit reality show presented by supermodel Heidi Klum sees fifteen designers compete against each other in order to win enough cash to start…
Protocols of Zion (2005): Dir. Marc Levin; An alarming examination of the widespread post–9/11 rumour that Jewish workers at the World Trade Centre, New York City, were forewarned of the…
Punk: Attitude (2005): Dir. Don Letts; The politics, fashion, attitudes and music of the punk pop culture trend are examined in this expansive doco from influential insider, starting with…
Real Dirt on Farmer John, The (2005): Rousing doco depicting the hardships of American farming through the eccentric and inspirational cultivator Farmer John. An affectionate exposé of…
Rediscovering Intrepid Journeys (TV Series) (2005): Generally enlightening TV series in which New Zealand celebrities journey to various exotic climes and give a running version of their…
Ringers: Lord of the Fans (2005): Dir. Carlene Cordova; A passionately reverential treatment of 'Lord of the Rings' culture and Tolkien mania, dissecting the varied influences of the now–ubiquitous…
Rize (2005): Dir. David LaChapelle; An infectious documentary about a growing dance phenomenon in the United States, dubbed Krumping, which has emerged from the hip–hop movement…
Rock School (2005): Dir. Don Argott; From the 'is this for real?' school of documentary, dir. Argott investigates the "Paul Green School of Rock Music", where 9 to 17 year–olds in…
Route 66 Marathon Tour - Chicago to LA (2005): America's hallowed Route 66 is traversed from east to west in this epic 2500 mile roadtrip. A nostalgic and lively journey through the small towns,…
Rufus Wainwright - All I Want (2005): Music doco about Canadian–American singer–songwriter Rufus Wainwright, includes jamming sessions, music vids and interviews with…
Save Your Legs! (2005): Dir. Boyd Hicklin; Genial documentary follows a group of amateur Australian cricketers – the Abbotsford Anglers Cricket Club – on a 'tour' to India.…
Screaming Masterpiece (Gargandi snilld) (2005): Dir. Ari Alexander Ergis Magnusson; A loud and proud showcase for Iceland’s eclectic, burgeoning music scene, headlined by the incomparable Bjork and a bevy of unclassifiable…
Search for the Northwest Passage (2005): Dir. Louise Osmond; A partially dramatised documentary examines the two most famous expeditions which attempted to find a passage around the northern–most…
Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus (2005): Dir. Andrew Douglas; A soulful meander through the streets, scrapyards, swamps, mines, churches and bars of the American South under the guidance of alt–country…
Sedition (2005): Dir. Russell Campbell; Thorough and fascinating doco about the experiences of conscientious objectors in New Zealand during WW2 – particularly the social ostracism…
Shakespeare Behind Bars (2005): Dir. Hank Rogerson, Jilann Spitzmiller; Issues of redemption and reform underlie this strangely moving account of a troupe of male convicts in a Kentucky correctional facility who, over the…
Sisters in Law (2005): Dir. Kim Longinotto, Florence Ayisi; Spirited portrait of two women working in the Cameroonian Judiciary – a State Prosecutor and a judge in the magistrate’s court, respectively –…
Sketches of Frank Gehry (2005): Dir. Sydney Pollack; Heaping praise on acclaimed architect Frank Gehry, Hollywood filmmaker Sydney Pollack crafts a loving, unashamed ode to his close friend and mentor…
Space Race - Superpowers, Secrets And Soaring Ambition (2005): A compelling, if slightly undercut chronicle of the exhilarating Cold War Space Race between Russia and America that captured the imagination of…
Speer And Hitler: The Devil's Architect (2005): Dir. Heinrich Breloer
Feat. Sebastian Koch, Tobias Moretti; Painstaking docu–drama attempts to reevaluate the war crimes of one Albert Speer, Third Reich celebrity and Hilter’s personal architect…
Spooked: The Ghosts of Waverly Hills Sanatorium (2005): Dir. Christopher Saint Booth, Shane Dax Taylor; A 'haunting' documentary, made during a horror film shoot, about a Kentucky hospital built in the 1910s to combat the growing numbers of deaths due…
Story of 1, The (The Story of One) (2005): Dir. Nick Murphy
Feat. Terry Jones; Truly fascinating BBC documentary that sees Ex–Python Terry Jones traverse the globe in search of the history of numbers, and in particular,…
Street Fight (2005): Dir. Marshall Curry; Director Marshall Curry's (IF A TREE FALLS) first film is this Oscar–nominated political documentary detailing the 2002 mayoral campaign of…
Super Flu: Race Against A Killer (2005): Dir. Stefan Moore; A straightforward summary of the progress of the current 'bird flu' pandemic – the H5N1 avian influenza virus – which is gradually…
Supervolcano (TV Series) (2005): Dir. Tony Mitchell
Feat. Michael Riley, Gary Lewis; Sci–fi/ doco hybrid from the BBC presents a possible case scenario for the cataclysmic eruption of the volcano under Yellowstone Park. comes…
Ten Days To Victory (2005): Dir. Tim Conrad; Two–part TV documentary depicting the final days of WWII, from the perspective of ten individual storylines. Combines occasionally violent…
That Man: Peter Berlin (2005): Dir. Jim Tushinski; Documentary about Peter Berlin, the model, porn star, photographer, film maker, clothing designer and gay cultural phenomenon. Told in his own words…
This Divided State (2005): Dir. Steven Greenstreet; Ground–hugging documentary follows the alarmingly extreme response in conservative Utah when filmmmaker Michael Moore (FARENHEIT 9/11) is…
Tim Marlow On...The Museum of Modern Art (2005): Dir. Phil Grabsky
Feat. Tim Marlow; This 2–part series provides an introduction to the highlights of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Art critic Tim Marlow takes us on a…
Time to go John - The Awful Truth About John Howard (2005): A collage of left–wing animations, comedies, dramas and documentary fragments compiled before the re–election of Australian PM John…
Townes Van Zandt - Be Here to Love Me (2005): Dir. Margaret Brown; Evenhanded, tenderly–puzzled documentary about the country songwriter Townes Van Zandt (1944–1997), creator of a canon of forlorn, quirky…
Unknown White Male (2005): Dir. Robert Murray; Suitably amazed documentary tracks the true story of British stockbroker Doug Bruce, who regained consciousness one day on a Coney Island train,…
Viva Zapatero (2005): Dir. Sabina Guzzanti; Confronting Italian documentary made by comedian Sabina Guzzanti in response to her satirical TV show being axed after her scathing imitation of…
Wal-Mart - The High Cost of Low Price (2005): Dir. Robert Greenwald; Although rough around the edges, this documentary expose of the business, employment and environmental practices of giant American retail corporation…
Who Do You Think You Are? (TV Series) (2005): Celebrated BBC series which explains the 'ins and outs' of researching your own family genealogy through a featured celebrity. Each episode touches…
Who Killed the Electric Car? (2005): Dir. Chris Paine; The promise of electric–powered transport and its subsequent demise is playfully detailed as a faux ‘murder mystery’ in this engaging…
Who Laughs Last? (2005): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; Short but informative documentary about New Zealand's most successful playwright, Roger Hall. Covers his long career writing for both the stage and…
Why We Fight (2005): Dir. Eugene Jarecki; Matching THE FOG OF WAR in terms of impact and cogency, this Sundance–winning doco investigates the long history of American involvement in…
Wild Blue Yonder, The (2005): Dir. Werner Herzog
Feat. Brad Dourif; Moody 'science fiction fantasy' depicting an alternate reality where an alien species try to colonise a now inhospitable Earth. Dir. Herzog…
Wild South America (TV Series) (2005): Another entry in the BBC documentary series charting the natural history of the Earth's continents, this time the varied ecology and life of South…
Woody Guthrie - This Machine Kills Fascists (2005): Dir. Stephen Gammond; A lengthy tribute documentary to legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie who penned such American classics as 'This Land is Your Land' and was equally…
Work of Director Anton Corbijn, The (2005): Dir. Anton Corbijn; A celebrated photographer, particularly in his association with Depeche Mode and U2 (he shot the iconic album cover for Joshua Tree), Anton Corbijn's…
Workingman's Death (2005): Dir. Michael Glawogger; Astonishing depiction of six of the most gruelling jobs known to man that soberingly conveys the extremes that certain members of the global…
You're Gonna Miss Me (2005): Dir. Keven McAlester; The tormented artist is extolled in dir. Keven McAlester’s tragi–documentary of psychedelic rock enigma Roky Erickson, whose success as lead…
Zizek! (2005): Dir. Astra Taylor; Colourful, candid exclusive on Slovenian cultural philosopher Slavoj Zizek, filmed inquisitively by dir. Astra Taylor in various states of rant,…
(Inside) Out: Warren Zevon (2004): A rewarding documentary about the making of Warren Zevon's final album 'The Wind', completed shortly before the singer's death. Adding a cerebral,…
A Day in the Life... (2004): Dir. Matty Gye; An unusually impressionistic surf documentary which travels the world in search of the life stories of various wave–riders, not all famous, but…
Adventures of Errol Flynn, The (2004): Dir. David Heeley
Feat. Errol Flynn; The derring–do, glamour and controversy of Australian–born actor Errol Flynn's phenomenal Hollywood career is covered in considered…
Allie Eagle and Me (2004): Dir. Briar March; A portrait of an artist, dir. Briar March's highly personalised dedication to Allie Eagle confronts the painter's staunch feminist and lesbian…
Andy Goldsworthy - Rivers and Tides (2004): Dir. Thomas Riedelsheimer; Visually beautiful, though essentially straightforward documentary on the Scottish landscape sculptor Andy Goldsworthy, who creates his work out of…
Beyond The Gates Of Splendor (2004): Dir. Jim Hanon; Documentary with a Christian bent, based around the Operation Auca incident where five Christian missionaries were killed when trying to make contact…
Bill Gates - Sultan Of Software (2004): Informative doco on Microsoft King Of The World Bill Gates, featuring a detailed biography of his early life, rise to fame and success at the top.…
Born Into Brothels (Calcutta's Red Light Kids) (2004): Dir. Zana Briski, Ross Kaufmann; Heartbreaking examination of the lives of children born into the world of prostitution in Calcutta's red light district, but given a ray of hope…
Boy Who Plays On The Buddhas of Bamiyan, The (2004): Dir. Phil Grabsky; A picturesque and moving documentary which follows in the footsteps of an impoverished family living in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, where a gigantic stone…
British Isles: A Natural History (TV Mini-series) (2004): Dir. Mary Colwell; Utilising the latest scientific evidence and cinematic f/x, this 8–part series guides us through the aeons of geological time, as they relate…
Broadway: The American Musical (2004): Dir. Michael Kantor; A 6–part PBS documentary series on the history and development of the Broadway musical from Florenz Ziegfield and his fantastical Follies…
Century of Flight, The (TV Series) (2004): All the accidents and achievements of man’s quest for flight are documented in this unprecedented history of taking to the skies. 26 episodes…
Citizen King (2004): Dir. Orlando Bagwell; A tale told in compellingly objective style, this PBS documentary covers 5 years in the life of Martin Luther King from his iconic "I have a…
Classic Albums - Nirvana (Nevermind) (2004): Dir. Bob Smeaton; Grunge–rock group Nirvana's iconic 'Nevermind' album is deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative…
Colin McCahon: I Am (2004): Dir. Paul Swadel
Feat. Sam Neill; A sterling examination of the life and work of New Zealand's most renowned modern artist, Colin McCahon, who was born in 1919 and blossomed into a…
Colour of War: The ANZACs (2004): Dir. Paul Rudd, Ben Ulm
Feat. Russell Crowe; Russell Crowe hosts this documentary TV series about the Australian and New Zealand military experience from the 1930s to Vietnam, utilising colour…
Control Room (2004): Dir. Jehane Noujaim; An important documentary that tunes in to the other side of the Iraq War through the "Control Rooms" of both the leading Arab TV station, 'Al…
Cowboy Junkies - Long Journey Home (2004): Live Liverpool gig from Canadian country / alternative band 'Cowboy Junkies,' performing all their past hits together with more recent songs and…
Cracking the Da Vinci Code (2004): Cash–in documentary about the coded message supposedly hidden in the works of Leonardo Da Vinci, popularly explored by author Dan Brown in his…
Czech Dream (Ceský sen) (2004): Dir. Vit Klusak, Filip Remunda; A document of two young filmmaker's satirical stunt to promote a gigantic supermarket (hypermarket) to be supposedly constructed on the outskirts of…
Darwin's Nightmare (2004): Dir. Hubert Sauper; A chilling expose of ecological disaster and Western exploitation in Tanzania, Africa – centred around the foolish introduction of Nile perch…
Death in Gaza (2004): Dir. James Miller; A powerful, if not devastating, study of two children and a teenager growing up in the fractious and perilous Gaza Strip, where attacks by Israel and…
Deep Blue (2004): A luminous feature documentary from the makers of THE BLUE PLANET series, that utilises ground–breaking technology to explore and photograph…
Derek Jarman: Life as Art (2004): Dir. Andy Kimpton-Nye
Feat. Tilda Swinton, Nigel Terry; Maddeningly conventional portrait of the iconoclastic director is lacking Jarman's own formal audaciousness, and is too often a clunky mix of talking…
Dig! (2004): Dir. Ondi Timoner; Arguably the best and most illuminating of the recent wave of 'rock docs', this intimately charts the polarising fortunes of two buddy rock bands,…
Dogora (2004): Dir. Patrice Leconte; A filmic mediatation on Cambodia, loosely in the style of BARAKA, for which dir. Leconte travelled to the formerly wartorn country to capture the…
Double Dare (2004): Dir. Amanda Micheli
Feat. Zoe Bell, Jeannie Epper; Stunt double Zoe Bell steps into the spotlight as the infectious, rough–and–tumble subject of a documentary on her rise to (almost)…
Dragon's World - A Fantasy Made Real (2004): Dir. Justin Hardy; Interesting TV hybrid, poses the question "what if dragons were real?", and unfolds the story of a group of hikers who stumble upon the frozen…
Duke Ellington - The Classic Hollywood Years (2004): The legendary jazz composer, bandleader and pianist Duke Ellington featured in various Hollywood films during his career and this DVD compiles short…
Earth From Above (Terre vue du ciel, La) (2004): Dir. Renaud Delourme; Awe–inspiring documentary of French photographer Yann Arthus–Bertrand’s ‘Earth From Above’ series – exhibited in New Zealand as…
Edgeplay - A Film about The Runaways (2004): Dir. Victory Tischler-Blue; Minus the input of Joan Jett (who denied the filmmakers access to her songs), this rough–and–ready retrospective of The Runaways' heady…
End of Suburbia, The (Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream) (2004): Dir. Gregory Greene; Boldly spelled out in its full title, this provocative (and possibly profound) documentary convincingly mounts a thesis around the issue of "Peak…
End of the Century - The Story of the Ramones (2004): Dir. Michael Gramaglia, Jim Fields; A compulsive portrait of NYC punk pioneers The Ramones, who fused pop melodies, ironic lyrics and brash guitar sonics in the mid–1970s and…
Europe in the Middle Ages (2004): Comprehensive, revisionist history documentary attempts to change perception of the Middle Ages as an era of ‘dark times’, largely through…
Executioners, The (2004): A three–part TV series detailing the grueling history of mankind's ultimate form of punishment: the death penalty. Examines the early…
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004): Dir. Michael Moore
Feat. Michael Moore; In his gravest comedy yet, the fearless Michael Moore dissects the credibility of the Bush administration since the election controversy of 2000 and…
Fahrenhype 9/11 (2004): An interesting riposte from the political right to the incendiary documentary FAHRENHEIT 9/11, that makes credible (if not ultimately convincing)…
Fallen Angel - Gram Parsons (2004): Dir. Gandulf Hennig; Ragged–edged but thorough look at the life of cultural pioneer Gram Parsons, who came from a priviledged Southern family to forge a unique…
Five Obstructions, The (5 Obstructions) (2004): Dir. Lars Von Trier, Jorgen Leth
Feat. Claus Nissen, Jorgen Leth; Arthouse big–shot Lars Von Trier pays off another gambit with what turns out to be a stimulating rumination on the process of film–making…
Frank Hurley - The Man Who Made History (2004): Dir. Simon Nasht; A probing documentary about the renowned pioneer of cinema documentary who specialised in extreme environments or ethnographic subjects, most…
Funny Kinda Guy (2004): Dir. Travis Reeves; Heartfelt documentary of trans–gendered singer–songwriter Simon de Voil, whose desire to become a man is complicated by various…
Future of Food, The (2004): Dir. Deborah Koons Garcia; An informative, at times frightening, investigation into how multinationals companies – often supported by government subsidies – have…
Genesis (2004): Dir. Claude Nuridsany, Marie Perrenou; A meticulous nature–documentary, complete with venerably–scientific narration, which scrutinises some of the more unusual, compelling and…
George W. Bushisms (2004): Dir. Elizabeth Reeder
Feat. Brian Unger; A smirkingly hilarious compilation of some of US President George W. Bush's worst manglings of the English language during speeches and…
Gladiators Of World War Two - The Anzacs (2004): A special look at the contributions of the Australian and New Zealand ANZAC troops during WWII, covering the Greek, African, Italian and Pacific…
Going Upriver - The Long War for John Kerry (2004): Dir. George Butler; Potent, if late–in–the–day study of unsuccessful 2004 US Presidential nominee John Kerry and his Vietnam War experiences. A…
Great Moments of the 20th Century (2004): A newsreel journey through the momentous 20th century, told in three separate parts and narrated by Laura McKenzie. An essential resource for…
Guerilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst (Neverland: The Rise and Fall of the Symbionese Liberation Army) (2004): Dir. Robert Stone; An indepth examination of the Californian 'hippie–terrorists', the SLA, who rose to prominence in the 1970s attempting to change America with…
Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues (2004): Dir. Morgan Neville; Concise TV documentary on the great cowboy singer–songwriter whose life encompassed musical super–talent, financial success, public…
Hawking (2004): Dir. Philip Martin
Feat. Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Firth; BBC Miniseries interposes the fictionalised story of Stephen Hawking's overcoming motor neuron disease with a 1978 interview with Nobel Prize winning…
Hell on Wheels (Hollentour) (2004): Dir. Pepe Danquart; A densely–constructed, insider's account of the world's greatest cycle race, the Tour de France, here caught in the midst of the 2003 struggles…
How Arnie Won the West (2004): Dir. Alex Cooke
Feat. Arnold Schwarzenegger; A beguiling account of Arnold Schwarzenegger's transformation from Hollywood star into Republican Governor of California, through a 2004 state recall…
How We Ruined the Italian Movie Business (Come inguaiammo il cinema italiano) (2004): Sprawling Italian documentary telling the story of Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia, a treasured comedy duo from Sicily who began their careers as…
Hunting Of The President, The (2004): Dir. Nikolas Perry; The amazing story of an attempted political lynching by rich right–wing supporters who never forgave the democrat's for their part in bringing…
In the Realms of the Unreal (2004): Dir. Jessica Yu; The art of Henry Darger is brought to life in this absorbing document of closeted genius, rediscovering the work of an elderly recluse who, upon his…
Jamie's Kitchen (2004): Feat. Jamie Oliver; Highly watchable "reality TV" show that follows the attempts of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to knead a series of young trainees into shape for his…
Jazz Memories - The Incomparable Lena Horne (2004): Feat. Lena Horne; Comprehensive documentary detailing the life and work of singer, actress and cultural icon Lena Horne, who began as a dancer in 'The Cotton Club' in…
Jazz Memories - The Legendary Nat King Cole (2004): Feat. Nat King Cole; A straight–forward account of the life of the charismatic Black–American performer Nat 'King' Cole, who made significant inroads into the…
Jeff Koons Show, The (2004): The life and work of polarising contemporary artist Jeff Koons is examined in this insightful, if uncritical documentary portrait. Curators,…
John Pilger's Stealing a Nation (2004): Dir. John Pilger; Activist journalist John Pilger relates the alarming story of the deportation of all natives from Diego Garcia – a small island in the Indian…
John Safran vs God (TV Series) (2004): Feat. John Safran; Ozzie media–satirist John Safran explores religion in the modern world with high irreverance, low humour and agnostic scepticism. Among the…
Kaikohe Demolition (2004): Dir. Florian Habicht; A glimpse into the mirth, mayhem and pathos of provincial New Zealand, this concerns a group of unkempt Northland residents who relish their…
Land Mines - A Love Story (2004): Dir. Dennis O'Rourke; Articulate documentary from the director of CUNNAMULLA , presenting the realities of life for Afghani people living with the effects and threat of…
Last Trapper, The (2004): Dir. Nicholas Vanier
Feat. Norman Winther; Doco–drama covers a year in the life of real, live fur trapper Norman Winter who lives at one with nature, his Native American partner…
Letters to Ali (2004): Dir. Clara Law; Devastating story of a 15–yr old Afghani boy refugee, 'detained' for several years in Australia under its harsh immigrant regime in a remote…
Long Way Round (TV Series) (2004): Feat. Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman; An engrossing 'reality' show which tags along with actor Ewan McGregor (TRAINSPOTTING) and his best friend Charley Boorman on an improvised…
Long Way Round - Collector's Edition Box Set (Long Way Round, Race to Dakar, Long Way Down) (2004-2007): Feat. Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman; The ultimate collector's box set for any fan of Ewan and Charley's cross–continental escapades on their top–of–the–line…
Looking for Fidel (2004): Dir. Oliver Stone; Oliver Stone revisits Fidel Castro – the subject of his 2003 documentary COMMANDANTE – in an effort to address some of more questionable social…
Looking for Sophia (2004): Dir. Roberto Olla, Danila Satta; The fairytale story of iconic Italian actress Sophia Loren, who escaped her impoverished origins in the Fascist era to become a truly global star, is…
Lost World of Mitchell and Kenyon, The (2004): The recent discovery of 800 rolls of early nitrate film on a building site proved a rare cinematic find – turning out to be documentary footage…
Map Makers, The (TV Series) (2004): Dir. Stuart Clarke, Ali McGrath; An SBS – 'History Channel' documentary series which describes the intriguing history of cartography and the efforts of Western civilization to…
Marti - The Passionate Eye (2004): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; A celebratory savour of the life and times of New Zealand photographer Marti Friedlander, who arrived from England in 1958 and proceeded to document…
Metallica - Some Kind of Monster (2004): Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky; A compulsive documentary spectacle concerning the years of crisis (2001–2003) for Heavy Metal group "Metallica" as they grappled with internal…
Michael Hutchence - The Loved One (2004): Feat. Michael Hutchence; Heartfelt music doco tracking the life and career of INXS' charismatic former front man Michael Hutchence whose suspected suicide robbed a nation of…
Michael King - History Man (2004): Feat. Colin Hogg; A balanced television documentary on acclaimed NZ historian Michael King, made shortly after his untimely death in 2004. Presenter/writer Colin Hogg…
Michael Moore Hates America (2004): Dir. Mike Wilson; Skeptical backlash to the polemical documentaries of Michael Moore seeks to 'out' Moore as a grandstanding shyster who manipulates facts and…
Michael Palin: Himalaya (TV Series) (2004): Dir. Roger Mills, John-Paul Davidson
Feat. Michael Palin; Michael Palin continues his globe–trotting in this 6–part series in which he travels to the wild places of the Himalayan region. Filled…
Miracle of Candeal (2004): Dir. Fernando Trueba; A nicely–crafted documentary – if a little inconsequential – about the journey of an aging Cuban jazz pianist, Bebo Valdés,…
Monarchy (TV Series) (2004): Historical TV Series presented by Dr David Starkey tracing the blood–stained history of the English monarchy covering all the epic battles and…
Mondovino (2004): Dir. Jonathan Nossiter; A sobering documentary about the effects of globalisation on the wine industry, which travels to various vineyards, villages and offices to quaff a…
Monster Road (2004): Dir. Brett Ingram; A revealing peek into the strange world of Bruce Bickford, a reclusive self–taught animator, most famous for his collaborations with Frank…
Moog (2004): Dir. Hans Fjellestad; An informative tribute to Robert Moog, the American boffin who in 1964 invented the world's first commercially available sound synthesizer, which…
Murderball (2004): Dir. Henry Alex Rubin, Dana Adam Shapiro; Uplifting, intensely competitive document of quadriplegic rugby's rivalry between the US and Canadian Paralympic teams, headed by charismatic…
Murders Of Hollywood (2004): An informative trawl through the homicide files of Tinseltown, covering in quick succession the untimely cases of Johnny Stompanato, Sal Mineo, Bob…
Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004): Dir. Robert Greenwald; Hot off the press, and of scorching topicality in the run up to the 2004 American Elections, this cogent piece of agit–prop convincingly argues…
Pavarotti: The Last Tenor (2004): Feat. Luciano Pavarotti; A quality BBC–commissioned documentary portrait that follows the great Italian tenor through a momentous period of his life as he says goodbye…
Persona Non Grata (2004): Dir. Oliver Stone; Dir. Stone's second documentary in a proposed trilogy about world leaders (after COMMANDANTE) has the frazzled American attempt to gain an interview…
Persuaders, The (2004): Incisive doco from American public affairs series FRONTLINE takes a penetrating look at the multi–billion dollar American advertising industry…
Peter Sellers Story... As He Filmed It (2004): BBC documentary on the career of enigmatic comic genius Peter Sellers, using footage which Sellers, a compulsive amateur film–maker, shot…
Peter, Paul and Mary - Carry it On (2004): Documentary about the New York folk music trio who "carried it on" from their socially–conscious forebearers like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger…
Power of Nightmares, The (2004): Dir. Adam Curtis; Another provocative documentary from dir. Curtis, this time out he examines how political parties have created and used fears in order to maintain…
Power Shift: Energy and Sustainability (2004): Dir. Kirk Bergstrom
Feat. Cameron Diaz; A brief study of how energy is produced and used in Western society, and how we might create more aware and efficient means of using it in the era of…
President Versus David Hicks, The (2004): Dir. Curtis Levy; Timely, if 'difficult' documentary which follows the efforts of the father of 'Australian Taliban' fighter David Hicks, to free his son from US…
Ramones - Raw (2004): Dir. John Cafiero; The definitive document of NYC punk icons The Ramones, who crossed bubblegum pop melodies with raw guitar and hilarious trash lyricism. This DVD…
Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (TV Series) (2004-2005): Feat. Gordon Ramsay; Potty–mouthed chef and reality TV mogul Mr Gordon Ramsay visits some of the scummiest and most incompetent restaurants and gives them a swift…
Rhythm Is It! (2004): Dir. Thomas Grube; The Berlin Philharmonic’s ambitious and dramatic undertaking – to school 250 children in a staging of Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" – is…
Riding Giants (2004): Dir. Stacy Peralta; Perhaps the definitive cinematic fan–letter to the sport of surfing, in particular its "big wave" subcult, with the dir. of DOGTOWN AND…
Roman Empire (2004): Overarching three–part documentary series anatomising the rise and spectacular fall of the Roman Empire.
Root of All Evil?, The (2004): Dir. Russell Barnes; Divisive, religion–debunking documentary from staunch atheist Richard Dawkins (author of 'The God Delusion') attempts to dismantle Islam,…
Scared Sacred (2004): Dir. Velcrow Ripper; Visiting sites of some of the world’s most horrible stories doesn’t seem like a relaxed night’s viewing, but this doco by the interestingly…
Seconds From Disaster (TV Series) (2004): Compellingly constructed doco series covering some of the most devastating disasters of modern history, each episode opening with a dramatic…
Seven Wonders of the Industrial World (2004): Using the propulsive docu–drama style of the BEYOND IMAGINATION series, this illuminates the stories behind seven great achievements of the…
Shake Hands With the Devil (The Journey of Roméo Dallaire) (2004): Dir. Peter Raymont; Arresting account of the deplorable Rwandan genocide, told through the eyes of one of the most controversial figures surrounding the 1994 massacre,…
Sheilas: 28 Years On (2004): Dir. Annie Goldson, Dawn Hutchesson; Utilising the approach of Michael Apted's 7–UP films, this features encounters with the participants of the 1976 New Zealand TV series 'Women'…
Slasher (2004): Dir. John Landis; Documents a frenzied working weekend in the life of Michael "The Slasher" Bennett, a travelling used car salesman – the worst of his breed…
Slaves to the Rhythm (2004): Music producer extraordinaire Trevor Horn celebrates 25 years of producing chart busting pop acts with this Wembley Stadium spectacular. A diverse…
Soundtrack to War (2004): Dir. George Gittoes; A decidedly oblique, ground–level view of the war in Iraq (post –9/11) which takes the musical listening habits and creations of US…
Staircase, The (TV Mini-series) (Soupcons) (2004): Dir. Jean-Xavier de Lestrade; Fascinating and ambiguous documentary mini–series tracks in detail the trial of a North Carolina man accused of murdering his wife, who was…
Star Portraits with Rolf Harris (TV Series) (2004): Under Rolf Harris’ artistic guidance, this unique art show commissions three professional artists to paint a portrait of a guest celebrity –…
State of Mind, A (2004): Dir. Daniel Gordon; An astonishing effort from British dir. Gordon, who documents life in the closed society of North Korea from the perspective of two young girls…
Status Anxiety (TV Series) (2004): Writer and presenter Alain De Botton explores the myth that our level of material wealth and career success has a bearing on our happiness and…
Take, The (2004): Dir. Avi Lewis, Naomi Klein; A feisty documentary about the aftermath of Argentina's disastrous economic 'crash' in 2001 and how a group of unemployed workers attempt to occupy…
Tales From A Golden Age: Bob Dylan 1941-1966 (2004): Dir. Tom O'Dell; An unauthorised documentary about the iconic singer made in association with the Dylan fanzine ISIS, which despite featuring none of his music,…
Tell Them Who You Are (2004): Dir. Mark Wexler; An intimate, prickly, and ultimately moving portrait of famed American cinematographer Haskell Wexler, who lensed seminal films such as ONE FLEW OVER…
The History of Iron Maiden Part 1: The Early Years (2004): For Maiden fans this is a double–disc treasure trove of live material alongside a feature length documentary, all focusing on the wildly…
Thin (2004): Dir. Lauren Greenfield; A sobering chronicle of the lives of four young women afflicted by eating behaviour disorders, this documents with uncharted depth the ebb and flow…
Touch the Sound (2004): Dir. Thomas Riedelsheimer; Classical percussionist Evelyn Glennie is the subject of this inspiring, award–winning documentary. Profoundly deaf since childhood,…
Toward the Unknown Region - Malcolm Arnold (2004): Dir. Tony Palmer; An in–depth exploration and celebration of the life and music of Britain's foremost 20th century composer – Malcolm Arnold – who…
Trekkies 2 (2004): Dir. Roger Nygard; A surprisingly compelling followup to the documentary TREKKIES, which peered into the strange world of American STAR TREK fandom. A tad upset by…
Tying the Knot (2004): Dir. Jim de Seve; An acclaimed look at the 'same–sex marriage' debate in the United States, beginning with footage of 1970s protests and current political…
Unconstitutional: The War on our Civil Liberties (2004): Dir. Nonny de la Pena, Robert Greenwald; The third in a series of Robert Greenwald–produced 'public interest' docos – this one examines American civil liberties and what became…
Uncovered: The Whole Truth about the Iraq War (2004): Dir. Robert Greenwald; Born out of a personal "rage" against the Bush administration's justification for the pre–emptive war in Iraq, film–maker Robert…
Une Visite au Louvre (2004): Dir. Jean-Marie Straub, Daniele Huillet; A rigorous, if oddly illuminating art film about art, with Cézanne's own personal critiques of art narrated over a series of Louvre artworks, shot…
Unforgivable Blackness (2004): Dir. Ken Burns; Engrossing and provocative look at the greatest black American boxer of the early 20th century, Jack Johnson, renowned equally for his physical…
Vincent: The Full Story (2004): Dir. Mark James; Expertly assembled documentary of the great artist drawing on his early life –including previously untold accounts – and following…
Voices of Iraq (2004): In January 2004 over 100 digital video cameras were distributed to people in Iraq with the request to film themselves, with the aim of gaining an…
Wall (Mur) (2004): Dir. Simone Bitton; A visual and aural rumination on the physical divide between Israel in Palestine, this observant documentary never motions to take sides, meditating…
What the Bleep do we Know!? (What the #$*! Do We (K)now!?) (2004): Dir. William Arntz, Betsy Chasse, Mark Vicente
Feat. Marlee Matlin; A unique and certainly popular piece of 'New Age intellectualism", this follows the travails of a deaf photographer (Matlin) through life and…
White Diamond, The (2004): Dir. Werner Herzog; Werner Herzog finds another slightly insane alter–ego for himself in Dr Graham Dorrington, here documenting the engineer's wild ambition to…
Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, The (2004): Dir. Judy Irving; The unlikely tale of a homeless street musician in San Francisco, Mark Bittner, and his longtime attachment to a flock of wild parrots…
WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception (2004): Dir. Danny Schechter; Media–commentator Schechter presents an angry analysis of the narrative of Western media complicity in the official 'line' on the US invasion…
Word Wars (2004): Dir. Eric Chaikin, Julian Petrillo; A chastening, though lightly toned chronicle of a year on the US scrabble circuit for four top players, each hoping to win the US$25000 top prize at…
World According to Bush, The (2004): Dir. William Karel; A familiar, if bracingly emotive European broadside on the presidency of George W. Bush, covering the 1000 days of from the 9/11 attacks to the midst…
Worst Jobs in History (TV Series) (2004): Dir. Brendan Hughes
Feat. Tony Robinson; BLACKADDER’s Tony Robinson (aka Baldrick) takes us through the hardship of British history via the most unenviable jobs imaginable. A tour of…
Wrestling With The Angel - Janet Frame (2004): An unique insight into Janet Frame's private world, accurately framing her childhood years, psychiatric institutionalisation, and eventual freedom…
Year of the Yao, The (2004): Dir. Adam Del Deo, James D. Stern; Thoroughly entertaining documentary about towering Chinese basketballer Yao Ming's (7' 6") rookie season playing for the Houston Rockets in the 2002…
Z Channel - A Magnificent Obsession (2004): Dir. Xan Cassavetes; Relevant to any movie buff, this documentary charts the 1970s rise of one of America's first cable TV stations – Channel Z – and its…
A Decade Under the Influence (2003): Dir. Ted Demme, Richard LaGravenese; Tantalizing doco for film–buffs examining the decade of the 1970s, a turning point in American cinema that saw the director given unprecedented…
Agronomist, The (2003): Dir. Jonathan Demme; A heartfelt documentary about the life and murder of prominent creole journalist Jean Dominique, who for many years ran a dissident radio station in…
Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003): Dir. Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill; A compelling 'sequel' to the renowned documentary on the case of Aileen Wuornos, once touted as the world's first 'female serial killer'. Ten…
American Misfits (2003): A unique mix of skateboarding, prankery, skits and interviews – hosted by JACKASS star Wee Man and fellow misfit Laban Phiedas. Much stuntwork…
Art: 21 (TV Series) (Art in the 21st Century) (2003): A PBS documentary series looking at visual art in America in the 21st century, eliciting some fascinating insights from various creative types.…
Australian Idol (TV Series) (2003): The Australian version of the globally popular talent show which looks to narrow down and groom a selection of young candidates for a career as a pop…
Backyard Science (2003): A likeable demonstration of the basic principles of science, with four Australian kids finding all they need in the kitchen, garage, and the garden…
Basque Ball (2003): Dir. Julio Medem; A dizzying documentary journey through the history and politics of the troubled Basque region of northern Spain, which for centuries has been…
Battlefield Britain (TV Series) (2003): Dir. Mary Cranitch; Father–and–son team Peter and Dan Snow explore the history of Britain through a detailed investigation into 8 epoch–making battles…
Beatles, The - Anthology (2003): Feat. Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison…; Epic 4–disc, 8–episode collection presenting the story of the fab four from their early days in Liverpool to worldwide superstardom.…
Behaviours of the Backpacker (2003): Dir. Sandor Lau; Chinese/Hungarian–American film student, Sándor Lau, walked 500km alone from Auckland to Cape Reinga – New Zealand's geographic and…
Billabong Odyssey (2003): Dir. Philip Boston; Surf documentary with a difference – this chronicles the search by a group of top wave–riders (Shawn Barron, Layne Beachley, Ken…
Block, The (TV Series) (2003): Australian reality–TV competition in which couples contest for the best DIY renovation on the block.
Blockade, Landscape, Revue: 3 Films by Sergei Loznitsa (2003-2008): Dir. Sergey Loznitsa; Three documentaries from Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa (DONBASS). Landscape (2003, 60 mins) is set at a bus stop in a small village, with the…
Blues Film Collection, The (Soul of a Man, Red, White and Blues, Feel Like Going Home, Godfathers and Sons, Piano Blues, The Road to Memphis, Warming by the Devil's Fire) (2003): A lavish collection of Blues documentary features made under the auspices of Martin Scorsese. Directed by an impressive line up of…
Bright Leaves (2003): Dir. Ross McElwee; One of dir. McElwee's best features, in which he traces his own family history in the tobacco business in typically divergent, distracted and…
Broadway: The Golden Age (2003): Dir. Rick McKay
Feat. Bob Fosse, Carol Channing, Carol Burnett…; Comprehensive documentary about America's most celebrated indigenous art form, Broadway theatre, covering an entire century of New York theatre, and…
Bukowski - Born Into This (2003): Dir. John Dullaghan; Hailed as the "definitive" documentary on the cult novelist and poet Charles Bukowski, whose insights into skidrow Los Angeles in the 1950s and 60s…
Bullshit (TV Series) (Penn & Teller: Bullshit!) (2003): Abrasive and profanely cogent, partners in crime Penn & Teller (better known as a gross–out magic duo) turn to their BS–detectors in…
Can DVD (2003): The definitive DVD 'document' on influential German Krautrock band Can, who combined rock and funk rhythms, with intriguing instrumental textures and…
Capturing the Friedmans (2003): Dir. Andrew Jarecki; Not an easy watch but as compelling as they come, this is a uniquely close–up portrait of a middle–class Jewish family who are ripped…
Chlorine (2003): Commended documentary covers the hardcore pool–skating scene in the USA, in which emptied swimming pools are transformed into adhoc…
Cirque du Soleil - La Nouba (2003): Dir. David Mallet; Another astounding stageshow from Canadian troupe Cirque du Soleil, here performing a celebration of hedonism (the title means "to party") at Disney…
Classic Albums - Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon) (2003): Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators.…
Commandante (2003): Dir. Oliver Stone; A unique, if rather–too–adoring, portrait of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro by political maverick dir. Oliver Stone (JFK,…
Corporation, The (2003): Dir. Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott; In a modern world where corporate power has come to exceed political power, this in–depth documentary defines a growing popular concern about…
Countdown to Wednesday (2003): Insider's documentary provides a thorough "fan" schematic of the comic book industry, its behind–the–scenes mechanics, and how to break…
Days That Shook The World (TV Series) (2003): A monumental overview of the world’s most profound and history–defining events, this tome to humankind's great achievements and failures is…
Desperate Man Blues (2003): Dir. Edward Gillan; Record collector Joe Bussard has been tracking down and preserving rare 'roots' 78rpm discs from his Maryland home for over 40 years. Amassing a…
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls (2003): Dir. Kenneth Bowser; Based on the infamous 'tell–all' book by Peter Biskind, this in–depth documentary that details Hollywood's fertile creative period of the…
Edith Piaf - A Life of Passion (2003): Full–length documentary on 'the little sparrow', French singer Edith Piaf. Features historic footage and interviews about this iconic 20th…
Educational Archives - Sex and Drugs (2003): An interesting and amusing assortment of educational films for the young, dating from the 1940s through to the 1970s, dealing with the dread perils…
Faster (2003): Dir. Mark Neale; Ewan McGregor–narrated documentary takes viewers deep inside the world of MotoGP racing. Revolving predominantly around Valentino Rossi, the…
Festival Express (2003): Dir. Bob Smeaton; Vivid filmed account of a legendary travelling rock festival, which crossed Canada by train in June 1970 and reached realisation in a series of…
Finisterre (Saint Etienne Presents Finisterre) (2003): Dir. Kieran Evans, Paul Kelly; Latter day 'City Symphony' about London, which uses the music of English group Saint Etienne to underscore its enigmatic montage of streets,…
Five Sides of a Coin (2003): Dir. Paul Kell; A thorough exploration of the five sides of hip–hop culture: rap, turntablism, break–dancing, human beat–boxing and…
Flight From Death: The Quest for Immortality (2003): Dir. Patrick Shen; A thought–provoking TV essay – based on the theories of Ernest Becker and explained by various high–powered academics – about…
Fog of War, The (2003): Dir. Errol Morris; A perfectly–formed, Oscar–winning documentary about the life and career of Robert S McNamara, who served as Secretary of Defense under…
Frazetta - Painting With Fire (2003): Dir. Lance Laspina; Trail–blazing illustrator and comic artist Frank Frazetta is under the spotlight in this documentary on his life and work, showcasing his…
Full Frame Documentary Shorts Volume I (2003): Dir. Mira Nair, Roger Weisberg, Eva Saks; Inaugural selection of titles from the Full Frame Documentary Festival held annually in Durham, North Carolina, which screens over 100 docos each…
Game Over (Kasparov and the Machine) (2003): Dir. Vikram Jayanti; Interesting examination of the 1997 chessmatch between world champion Gary Kasparov and IBM's 'Deep Blue' supercomputer, which ended in a…
Ghosts of the Abyss (2003): Dir. James Cameron
Feat. Bill Paxton; Armed with IMAX cameras, dir. James Cameron dives deep to the mid–Atlantic wreck of the 'Titanic' to take a leisurely float through the…
Give it a Whirl (2003): An in–depth visual and musical exploration of New Zealand rock 'n' roll stories, from the fledgling sounds of the 1950s to today's…
Go Further (2003): Dir. Ron Mann
Feat. Woody Harrelson; A quirky, semi–stoned travelogue that gets on the bus with activist–actor Woody Harrelson and his entourage on a 'consciousness raising'…
Grumpy Old Men (TV Series) (2003-2004): An impressive array of British male celebrities take their turn to chew the fat on all manner of irksome annoyances especially concerning the modern…
Haunting Douglas (2003): Dir. Leanne Pooley; Mesmerising exploration of renowned New Zealand contemporary dance performer and choreographer Douglas Wright, featuring generous excerpts of his…
Holy War, Inc. (2003): National Geographic's TV 'special' on Osama Bin Laden and his 'al–Qaeda' organisation, that presents a straight–forward account till…
Hooligans and Thugs (2003): An historical overview of hooligan behaviour in mass sport, from its modern origins in the 1960s through to presentday incidents. Concentrates mainly…
In Search of Shakespeare (2003): Presenter Michael Wood and award–winning director Greg Doran investigate the world of William Shakespeare. Using backstage recreations of…
In Search of the Afghan Girl (2003): Renowned TV documentary follows the attempts to find out what has happened to the Afghani refugee whose startling features graced the cover of…
Jandek on Corwood (2003): Dir. Chad Freidrichs; An admirable effort to pin down that most enigmatic of "unknown" musicians, the Texan–based Jandek, whose atonal guitar meanders and even…
Jim Rose Circus Sideshow, The (2003): A circus fit for the new millenium, 'The Jim Rose Circus' features various self–described freaks such as Torture King, Mr Lifto, The Enigma and…
Journey to Planet Earth - A Delicate Balance (TV Series) (2003): Feat. Matt Damon, Kelly McGillis; Matt–Damon–hosted global eco series divided into four episodes; 'On the Brink' investigates links between environmental issues and…
Joy of Madness (Lezate divanegi) (2003): Dir. Hana Makhmalbaf; An unusual and invigorating self–reflexive documentary created by the teenage sister of acclaimed filmmaker Samira Makhmalbaf, during the…
Killing Hitler (TV Mini-series) (2003): Dir. Jeremy Lovering
Feat. Peter McDonald, Kate Ashfield, Kenneth Cranham…; Accurate docu–drama merging archival footage with recreations and educated interview to portray and dissect 'Operation Foxley' – a secret…
Last Post, The (2003): Dir. Dan Cleary, James Hollings; A documentary of local significance, yet universal application, charting the last week of operations for the long–running Wellington newspaper…
Leonardo (TV Mini-series) (+ The Divine Michelangelo) (2003): Feat. Mark Rylance; Three–part BBC docu–drama exploring the life of Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci, from early childhood to his death in 1519. Dramatic…
Life and Music of Dizzy Gillespie, The (2003): Feat. Dizzy Gillespie; A musical double–bill featuring legendary jazz trumpet–player Dizzy Gillespie, one of the key bebop musicians of the 1940s and…
Life of Mammals, The (TV Series) (2003): David Attenborough coordinates another mammoth natural history series, here focusing on the mammal life of the planet (that includes us…
Lonely Planet - Six Degrees (2003): The flagship travel show of globetrotting bible LONELY PLANET, this lively series follows guides Asha Gill and Toby Amies as they journey from…
Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003): Dir. Thom Andersen; Thom Andersen's sprawling cinematic essay about Los Angeles draws upon clips from movies filmed within the city to create a masterpiece of quotation…
Love is in the Air (TV Series) (2003): Following on from the excellent chronicle of Australian rock, LONG WAY TO THE TOP, this five–part sister series from the ABC traces the history…
Mandela - The Living Legend (2003): Feat. Nelson Mandela; Notable BBC documentary on the former South African President who was imprisoned in the 1960s under the Apartheid regime and survived decades behind…
Mayor of the Sunset Strip (2003): Dir. George Hickenlooper; A portrait of the unlikely yet legendary radio rock DJ Rodney Bingenheimer, whose star connections and influential broadcasts on Los Angeles…
My Architect - A Son's Journey (2003): Dir. Nathaniel Kahn; A thoroughly intriguing documentary about the Jewish American architect Louis Kahn (born in Estonia) who struggling for years to be recognised,…
My Date with Drew (2003): Dir. Brian Herzlinger, Jon Gunn, Brett Winn
Feat. Brian Herzlinger; Taking the showbiz reality genre to its logical nadir, 'regular Joe' and amateur film–maker Brian Herzlinger documents his quest to, er, get a…
My Flesh and Blood (2003): Dir. Jonathan Karsh; A raw and perceptive documentary set around 53–year old Californian woman Susan Tom and her life caring for eleven adopted children – all…
Mythbusters (TV Series) (2003): A series which attempts to test and debunk various 'urban myths', by having two special f/x experts devise (often highly destructive) experiments to…
Ngatahi - Know the Links (2003): Dir. Dean Hapeta
Feat. Dean Hapeta; An extended voyage by Upper Hutt Posse–founder Dean Hapeta through the self–determining cultures of many of the world’s indigenous…
Noam Chomsky: Rebel Without a Pause (2003): Dir. Will Pascoe
Feat. Noam Chomsky; A modest, though vitalising portrait of intellectual activist Noam Chomsky made following 9/11, but before the US invasion of Iraq. Captures…
Nomi Song, The (2003): Dir. Andrew Horn
Feat. Klaus Nomi; Satisfying exploration of the life, music and 'alternate reality' of Klaus Nomi, a late–1970s underground music legend who combined opera…
Off The Charts - The Song-Poem Story (2003): Dir. Jamie Meltzer; A gem of a music doco from off the beaten track, this charts the arcane history of the "song poem", a genre of music where members of the public have…
Orwell Rolls in his Grave (2003): Dir. Robert Kane Pappas; Although made on a shoestring, this documentary about the state of Western media holds its own with FAHRENHEIT 9/11 and OUTFOXED in terms of bleak…
Overnight (2003): Dir. Mark Brian Smith, Tony Montana; One–time screenwriter Troy Duffy's Hollywood career trainwreck is excruciatingly detailed in this documentary that lays bare how the scribe of…
Peter Blake - Death on the Amazon (2003): Investigative documentary about the death of famed New Zealand yachtsman Sir Peter Blake, who was sailing up the Amazon River in 2001 before being…
Petula Clark - This Is My Song (2003): A fascinating look into the life and career of Petula Clark, from childhood stardom to the present. Using archive footage and interviews with famous…
Photography As Told By Life Magazine (Photography Life) (2003): Dir. David Hoffman; Life Magazine's 50th Anniversary is celebrated with this passionate documentary, which showcases the the work of 15 of the magazine's greatest…
Piaf: Her Story... Her Songs (2003): Dir. George Elder
Feat. Raquel Bitton; A film version of a stageshow celebrating the life and art of French singer Edith Piaf. In the lead role, Raquel Bitton does a sterling job of…
Plan Colombia - Cashing-In on the Drug War Failure (2003): Dir. Gerard Ungerman, Audrey Brohy
Feat. Noam Chomsky; A punchy expose of the US Government's 'Plan Colombia', which was purportedly designed to fight drug cartels in the South American country. However,…
Plaster Caster (2003): Dir. Jessica Villines; Groovy "cockumentary" tracing the colourful career of artist and super–groupie Cynthia Albritton, who became infamous for making commemorative…
Power Trip (2003): Dir. Paul Devlin; This edge–of–your–seat documentary tells the real–life story of the devastating impact a huge American power company has had…
Private Life of a Masterpiece, The (TV Series) (2003): Expansive, all–encompassing art history as tackled by the BBC, canvassing masterpieces from the Renaissance era through to 20th Century works…
Pyramid - Beyond Imagination (2003): Dir. Jonathan Stamp
Feat. Omar Sharif; Short study concerning the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the largest manmade structures on the planet. Inside the dramatic framework of one worker's…
Real Middle Earth, The (2003): Jim Hickey embarks on a journey into the making the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, touring the NZ countryside and talking with Peter Jackson (and many…
Riding in Vans With Boys (2003): Dir. Matthew Beauchesne; Spirited rock–u–mentary that follows second–generation punk–pop bands Blink 182, Green Day, and Jimmy Eat World with support…
Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe (2003): Dir. Michael Raeburn; A cogent reference point on the plight of Zimbabwe, dir. Raeburn documents his personal experiences as a former Rhodesia once in support of Robert…
Salif Keita (2003): Feat. Salif Keita; Music doco journeying back to Mali with renowned African performer Salif Keita to reveal the life and career of this multi–talented artist.…
Secrets of Middle-Earth: Inside Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (2003): Dir. Chris Gormlie; An extensive documentary on J R R Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings', in which various experts comment on the story, its composition and themes, throwing…
Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (2003): Presented by Playboy magazine, this documentary treads interestingly through the history of sex in Hollywood movies. Featuring excerpts of dozens…
Shane MacGowan - If I Should Fall From Grace (2003): Dir. Sarah Share; The leader of Irish band The Pogues is worthily portrayed in loose, documentary fashion. Reveals something of the inspiration, demons and incessant…
Simple Life, The (TV Series) (2003): Feat. Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie; One of the more gratuitous 'Reality TV' shows puts famously inane heiress Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie (daughter of Lionel), into farm clothes to…
Speedo - A Demolition Derby Love Story (2003): Dir. Jesse Moss; An entertaining look 'under the hood' with lovable demolition driver–mechanic Ed 'Speedo' Jager, one of the best practitioners of the craft in…
Spellbound (2003): Dir. Jeffrey Blitz; Surprise hit documentary that struck a universal chord in following eight high–school hopefuls in their bid to succeed at the American National…
Step Into Liquid (2003): Dir. Dana Brown; Various top surfers travel the world's best and biggest waves in this stylish assembled documentary. Interviews pepper and exotic travelogues pepper…
Steve Earle - Just an American Boy (2003): Dir. Amos Poe
Feat. Steve Earle; Made on the cusp of country–rock singer Steve Earle's leap into notoriety in 2003, this modestly styled documentary presents live footage,…
Stoked (The Rise and Fall of Gator) (2003): Dir. Helen Stickler; A questioning and provocative look at the rise and fall of 1980s skateboarding star Mark 'Gator" Rogowski and the Southern California 'scene' which…
Super Size Me (2003): Dir. Morgan Spurlock
Feat. Morgan Spurlock; Entertaining expose of the evils of 'fast food', in which the filmmaker uses himself as a human guinea–pig by embarking on a 30–day,…
Surreal Life, The (TV Series) (2003-2006): Feat. Corey Feldman, Gabrielle Carteris; Tacky reality show that places washed–up actors and ex–reality stars in a LA mansion and watches the sparks fly as these has–been…
Tarnation (2003): Dir. Jonathan Caouette; Famously stitched–together documentary of one Jonathan Caouette’s troubled life, where 19 years of home movie footage was edited for pennies…
Test, The (2003): Television documentary celebrating 100 years of rugby with New Zealand's All Blacks. Includes interviews with various legends of the game –…
The Blues: Feel Like Going Home (2003): Dir. Martin Scorsese
Feat. Taj Mahal; The opening part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". In this…
The Blues: Godfathers and Sons (2003): Dir. Marc Levin; The fifth part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". A interesting…
The Blues: Piano Blues (2003): Dir. Clint Eastwood; The seventh and final part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". One…
The Blues: Red White and Blues (2003): Dir. Mike Figgis; The sixth part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". Another of the…
The Blues: The Road to Memphis (2003): Dir. Richard Pearce, Robert Kenner; The third part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". This episode…
The Blues: The Soul of a Man (2003): Dir. Wim Wenders; The second part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". One of the…
The Blues: Warming by the Devil's Fire (2003): Dir. Charles Burnett; The fourth part of Martin Scorcese's TV mini–series celebration of one of America's quintessential musical forms "the Blues". One of the…
Three Days - Jane's Addiction (2003): Dir. Kevin Ford, Carter Smith; A look at the career of influential rock–band Jane's Addiction, with particular focus on their 'Relapse' reunion tour in 1997. Packed with…
Tibet - Cry of the Snow Lion (2003): Dir. Tom Piozet; Extremely powerful documentary about the 'occupation' of Tibet by China, where the world's last Buddhist state was invaded by the new Communist…
Tintin et Moi (Tintin and Me) (2003): Dir. Anders Ostergaard; Fascinating and probably definitive look at the life and work of Hergé, the Belgian comicbook artist who from the 1930s onwards created the graphic…
Touching the Void (2003): Dir. Kevin MacDonald; A documentary spectacle that recreates a mountaineering disaster in the Peruvian Andes and the heart–pounding, agonizing bid for survival…
UK/DK + Holidays in the Sun (2003): Dir. Christopher Collins, Ken Lawrence; Two films covering the hardcore punk scene in Britain. UK/DK – A collection of live footage, interviews and video clips from the heyday of…
Union Square (2003): Dir. Stephen J Szklarski; Powerful and absorbing documentary about the worlds of seven heroin addicts who 'hang out' in Union Square, New York City, and testify and…
Unlikely Heroes (2003): Dir. Richard Trank; Inspirational documentary tracing the little–known stories of Jewish men and women who displayed acts of extraordinary courage during the…
Vietnam War with Walter Cronkite (2003): Collection of CBS Documentaries narrated by broadcaster Walter Cronkite revealing the graphic inside story of the Vietnam War through the medium of…
Walking With Cavemen (2003): Dir. Richard Dale; Continues the series of BBC documentaries begun by WALKING WITH THE DINOSAURS into the era of early mankind. Uses dramatisations and CGI to…
Way Things Work, The (2003): Set on the fantastical Mammoth Island, this animated series seeks to dramatise the great, groundbreaking inventions of history. Guided by The…
Weeping Camel, The (Story of the Weeping Camel, The) (2003): Dir. Byambasuren Davaa, Luigi Falorni; A lovingly filmed and touchingly simple excursion into the lives of a family of nomadic shepherds in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, which blurs the line…
Wesley Willis: The Daddy of Rock 'n' Roll (2003): Dir. Daniel Bitton; Fittingly lo–fi portrait of the infamous and frighteningly prolific outsider artist Wesley Willis, a morbidly obese schizophrenic whose crude…
Wheel of Time (2003): Dir. Werner Herzog; Completing Werner Herzog's recent documentary trinity (together with THE WHITE DIAMOND and GRIZZLY MAN), the German iconoclast lucidly absorbs the…
Wild Weather (TV Series) (2003): Dir. John Maguire, Ben Fox; Intrepid presenter Donal MacIntyre braves the most extreme elements on planet Earth, by travelling to corners of the planet where it doesn’t get…
Wings of Nature (2003): Dir. Jacques Cluzaud; This visually stunning documentary from the film–makers that brought you Travelling Birds is a rare chance to gain insight into the migration…
Work of Director Michel Gondry, The (2003): Dir. Michel Gondry; A comprehensive compilation of music videos, art experiments and short films from the fiercely creative French director Michel Gondry, whose visual…
Work of Director Spike Jonze, The (2003): Dir. Spike Jonze; Before his successful foray into feature films, director Spike Jonze made his name as the pre–eminent music video director of the 1990s. He…
Work of Directors, The - Boxset Vol. 1 (Spike Jonze, Chris Cunningham, Michel Gondry) (2003): Dir. Spike Jonze, Chris Cunningham, Michel Gondry; Directors Label boxset containing the first three music video/doco/shorts compilations in the series. Features the work of Spike Jonze, Chris…
World War 1 In Colour (2003): Dir. Jonathan Martin; Documentary using computer colourised archive footage from worldwide sources including Russia, Germany, France, Italy, the USA and Britain’s own…
Yes Men, The (2003): Dir. Chris Smith, Sarah Price, Dan Ollman; Riding a wave of highly successful feature docos from the political left, this one has the honour of being the funniest and perhaps most…
1 Giant Leap (2002): Dir. Duncan Bridgeman, Jamie Catto
Feat. Dennis Hopper, Brian Eno; A unique audiovisual collaboration between writers, musicians, scientists and actors – celebrating the diversity of the globalised world.…
7 Days in September (2002): Dir. Steven Rosenbaum; A collage of images and events shot during the events of September 11th 2001, this is actually one of the most impressive filmic memorials made thus…
9/11 (2002): Dir. Jules Naudet, Gedeon Naudet, James Hanlon; What started out as an amateur documentary by two French brothers about the New York Fire Department turns into a vital, ground’s–eye view of…
A History of Britain (TV Series) (2002): The complete series of Simon Schama's accessible, but provocative look at British history from 3000 BC to 2000 AD. Disc 1 – Beginnings,…
Adventure of English, The (2002): Dir. Robert Bee, David Thomas; An involving lesson in linguistics, presenter Melvyn Bragg takes us back to the roots of the English language – which found its genesis in…
Amandla! (A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony) (2002): Dir. Lee Hirsch; A moving tribute to the role of protest music in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa from 1948 to 1994 – slowly put together by dir.…
An Evening With Kevin Smith, Parts I & II (Too Fat for 40) (2002): Dir. J.M Kenny
Feat. Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes; Thorough and unvarnished compilation of indie director Kevin Smith's (CLERKS, DOGMA) infamous Q & A sessions, with crude humour and bad taste abound…
Andy Warhol - The Complete Picture (2002): Dir. Chris Rodley; Commendable TV documentary on the multi–talented Warhol, provides updated information and fresh interviews from various associates.…
Anna Nicole Smith Show, The (TV Series) (2002): Feat. Anna Nicole Smith; Former Playmate turned gold digger Anna Nicole Smith joins the queue in adapting her vacant Z–list lifestyle into a Reality TV series.…
Australia: Land Beyond Time (2002): Dir. David Flatman; Striking documentary that follows Australia from its earliest beginnings up to present day. Originally shot for IMAX theatres, visually this is…
BaadAsssss Cinema (2002): Dir. Isaac Julien
Feat. Pam Grier, Richard Roundtree, Quentin Tarantino…; A fan's–eye–view of 1970s Blaxploitation cinema, featuring juicy interviews with players, directors, critics and aficionados. Although…
Backyard, The (2002): Dir. Paul Hough; A cringe–inducing glimpse into the American subculture of backyard amateur wrestling, in which contestants up the ante with barbed wire,…
Berlusconi's Mousetrap (2002): Dir. Aaron Rip; Eye–witness, partisan account of the G8 summit in Genoa, Italy, which led to serious clashes between police and protesters (leaving one dead…
Beyond Imagination (Pyramid, Colosseum, Pompeii) (2002-2003): This set comprises three excellent BBC documentary–dramas which deal with two monuments and one disaster of the ancient world. Contains…
Biggie and Tupac (2002): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Plucky British journalist and one–man controversy machine Nick Broomfield embarks on his most dangerous documentary enquiry yet – the…
Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey (2002): Feat. Bill Wyman; Founding Rolling Stones member Bill Wyman (now fronting The Rhythm Kings) acknowledges the blues inspiration behind his bass guitar career. In…
Blue Vinyl (2002): Dir. Judith Helfand, Daniel B Gold; Filmmaker Judith Helfand and award–winning cinematographer Daniel B Gold collaborate on this blatantly honest and surprising look at the…
Bobby Moore: Hero (2002): Dir. Tony Palmer; Loving portrait of one of soccer's greatest icons and players who famously lead during their victorious 1966 World Cup campaign. While there's plenty…
Bookshelf on Top of the Sky, A (12 Stories About John Zorn) (2002): Dir. Claudia Heuermann; A fittingly unconventional look at the background and achievements of postmodern musician/composer John Zorn, made by longtime fan, Claudia…
Bowling For Columbine (2002): Dir. Michael Moore
Feat. Michael Moore, Charlton Heston; Essential viewing from the dir. of ROGER AND ME, constructing another entertaining and devastating critique of the contradictions of the US of A,…
Broken Silence (2002): Dir. Andrzej Wajda, Pavel Chukhrai, Luis Puenzo; Five 55–minute films concerning the Holocaust, and its role in the history of five respective countries. 'Some Who Lived' (dir. Puenzo)…
Bus 174 (2002): Dir. José Padilha; A riveting analysis of an incident in Rio de Janeiro in June 2000 in which a lone, desperate gunman held hostage the passengers of a bus, while the…
Captain's Log (2002): Feat. Peter Elliot; Peter Elliot sails around New Zealand retracing Captain Cook's voyage of discovery in 1769. Travelling on 20 different boats, this television series…
Century of the Self, The (2002): Dir. Adam Curtis; An expertly assembled wealth of archival footage helps tell the complex story of the growth of the mass–consumer society and the role played by…
Children of Gallipoli (2002): Dir. Anna Cottrell; Interesting documentary interviews the grandchildren of four combatants in the ANZAC Gallipoli campaign of WWI – involving Turkish and New…
Cinemania (2002): Dir. Stephen Kijak, Angela Christlieb; An enthralling must–see for movie–buffs of any degree, this documents the daily rituals of five New York eccentrics whose lives are…
Cirque du Soleil - Fire Within (TV Series) (2002): A 13–part documentary series which showcases the creative processes of the 'Cirque du Soleil' dance–theatre troupe who specialise in a…
Classic Albums - Deep Purple (Machine Head) (2002): Dir. Matthew Longfellow; Deep Purple's 'Machine Head' deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators.…
Classic Albums - Def Leppard (Hysteria) (2002): Dir. Matthew Longfellow; Def Leppard's "Hysteria" album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators.…
Classic Albums - Elvis Presley (2002): Dir. Jeremy Marre
Feat. Elvis Presley; Elvis Presley's self–titled album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key…
Classic Albums - Sex Pistols (2002): Dir. Matthew Longfellow; The Sex Pistol's 'Never Mind the Bollocks' deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key…
Cockettes, The (2002): Dir. Bruce Weber, David Weissman
Feat. Divine; A grandly entertaining chronicle of the lives of a zany troupe of drag vaudeville performers from 1969–1972: from their early days in San…
Coffee, Tea or Me? (2002): Dir. Brita McVeigh; An engaging lowkey look at the experiences of seven woman who worked as air hostesses in the 1960s and 70s. Similiar in tone to the documentaries…
Comedian (2002): Dir. Christian Charles
Feat. Jerry Seinfeld, Orny Adams; A thoroughly absorbing insight into the profession of stand–up comedy that contrasts the careers of former king–of–comedy Jerry…
Daughter from Danang (2002): Dir. Gail Dolgin, Vicente Franco; A moving and troubling documentary about Heidi Bub, the daughter of an American serviceman and a poor Vietnamese woman, born in Danang and raised in…
David Attenborough: Life on Air (2002): Feat. David Attenborough, Michael Palin; Intriguing look at the television career of the charismatic naturalist draws on a wealth of archival material and Attenborough's own keen memory.…
Decasia: The State of Decay (2002): Dir. Bill Morrison; Highly original experimental film that achieves a stunning aesthetic and haunting visual poetry by compiling an array of found archival film footage…
Derrida (2002): Dir. Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering Kofman; A fittingly self–reflexive and experimental biography of iconoclastic French theorist Jacques Derrida. Known for his playful and subversive…
Drowned Out (2002): Dir. Franny Armstrong; A forerunner, and now excellent companion piece to the much vaunted UP THE YANGTZE, this captures in sobering close–up the plight of an Indian…
Edge of the Universe (2002): Feat. John Hurt; Sequel to the TV series' THE PLANETS and UNIVERSE, which goes beyond the 'known universe' to outline the attempts and successes of astrophysicists to…
ESPN's Ultimate X - The Movie (2002): A plethora of 'extreme sport' footage from the 2001 Summer X Games in Philidelphia – encompassing BMX riding (downhill, dirt stunts),…
Etre et Avoir (To Be and to Have) (2002): Dir. Nicolas Philibert; Acclaimed internationally for its inspirational power and transcendence of the documentary form, this non–fiction film observes the simple,…
Family Fundamentals (2002): Dir. Arthur Dong; Balanced insight from documentarian Arthur Dong into the lives of Christian fundamentalist parents and their gay children. If less probing into…
Fellini's Magic (2002): Dir. Carmen Piccini; Essential viewing for Fellini fans, this vivid if humble homage to the Italian ringmaster–cum–filmmaker brings together a useful mixture…
Finest Hour (2002): Dir. Nick Read; In–depth and atmospheric study of the ‘Battle of Britain’, the crucial air war of WWII fought over England in 1940. Gripping…
Flying Visit, A (TV Series) (2002-2003): Former TVNZ weatherman Jim Hickey channels the heritage of his father as a WWII Spitfire pilot and flies a Cessna 182 around New Zealand airstrips,…
Georgie Girl (2002): Dir. Annie Goldson; The unique and quite remarkable life story of Georgina Beyer, born George, a Maori transsexual and former sex–worker, who recently was elected…
Goya: Crazy Like a Genius (2002): Renowned art critic Robert Hughes explores the world of Francisco Goya, charting his achievements as a court painter, satirist and war reporter, as…
Gulpilil: One Red Blood (2002): Dir. Darlene Johnson
Feat. David Gulpilil; Candid and intimate portrait of Australia talisman David Gulpilil, the Aboriginal actor plucked from obscurity as a teenager to star in Nicholas…
Hoover Street Revival (2002): Dir. Sophie Fiennes; An eye–opening journey into the world of the Greater Bethany Community Church and its inspiring leader, Bishop Noel Jones. Situated in a…
Horns and Halos (2002): Dir. Michael Galinsky, Suki Hawley; A fascinating sidebar to the controversial American Presidency of George W. Bush, involving the struggle for author J.H. Hatfield to publish an…
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart (2002): Dir. Sam Jones
Feat. Jeff Tweedy; Solidly realised account of the making of ‘alt country’ band Wilco’s acclaimed “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” album and near–unmaking of the…
I Don't Know Jack (2002): Dir. Chris Leavens
Feat. Jack Nance; Concerning the life, work and death of Jack Nance, star of ERASERHEAD and eccentric of other David Lynch films, whose self–destructive…
In a Land of Plenty (2002): Dir. Alister Barry; Described as ‘the story of unemployment in New Zealand,’ this serves as a strong companion piece for SOMEONE ELSE'S COUNTRY, dir. Barry’s…
Inner Tour, The (2002): Dir. Ra'anan Alexandrowicz; An Isreali documentary that sparked controversy in the Israeli press for its sympathetic portrayal of Palestinians, this is simply a portrait of…
James Bond Gadgets (2002): James Bond experts, production designers and collectors provide their learned insight on some of 007's most famous and desirable gadgets, including…
Jamie Oliver Collection, The (2002-2007): Feat. Jamie Oliver; 9–disc collection including all of Jamie Oliver's wildly successful culinary shows; JAMIE AT HOME, JAMIE'S SCHOOL DINNERS, JAMIE'S KITCHEN,…
Kid Stays in the Picture, The (2002): Dir. Brett Morgen, Nanette Burstein
Feat. Robert Evans; Unique auto–documentary about Hollywood 'super–producer' Robert Evans who put together pictures like THE GODFATHER and…
Kings and Queens (TV Series) (2002): A solid TV documentary series tracing lives and reigns of 12 of England's most influential monarchs. Historian Dr Nigel Spivey draws from an array of…
La Tropical (2002): Dir. David Turnley; A sultry black and white tribute to Havana’s legendary dancehall ‘La Tropical’, with Pulitzer–Prize–winning photographer Turnley…
Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan, The (I Told You I Was Ill) (2002): Dir. Dominic Brigstocke
Feat. Kathy Burke, Harry Enfield, Eddie Izzard…; A live tribute to the genius of British comedian Spike Milligan, devised by the BBC 6 months after his death. Features performances and readings of…
Live Forever (2002): Dir. John Dower; A self–congratulatory, and often hilarious, documentary on the 1990s rock–pop 'movement' Britpop, which encompassed acts such as Oasis,…
Living Room, The (TV Series) (2002-2006): Nicely quirky and unpretentious TV series about different (mostly young) local artists living in New Zealand and overseas. Each episode is presented…
Lord of the Rings - Beyond the Movie (2002): Dir. Kathleen Phelan; Made for the National Geographic TV–channel, this documentary explores the background to Peter Jackson’s monumental adaptation, as well as J…
Lost Dinosaurs, The (2002): Dir. Bryan Bruce; The true story of Joan Wiffen who in 1975 discovered dinosaur bones in the remote Mangahuanga Stream (Hawkes Bay, New Zealand). Returning to the…
Lost in La Mancha (2002): Dir. Keith Fulton, Louis Pepe
Feat. Terry Gilliam, Johnny Depp, Jean Rochefort; A cautionary fable of filmmaking in the mould of HEARTS OF DARKNESS, concerning director Terry Gilliam’s (BRAZIL) attempt to film a version of…
Making Venus (2002): Dir. Gary Doust; A filmmaking 'horror story' which recounts the saga of Australian indie feature "The Venus Factory", from optimistic inception in 1997 to bedraggled…
Manapouri - The Toughest Tunnel (2002): New Zealand's specialist documentarians 'Natural History NZ' tell the heroic story of how a team of a thousand men laboured in the 1960s to complete…
Mark Twain (2002): Dir. Ken Burns; A popular humorist, philosopher and social satirist, Mark Twain was the well–known nom–de–plume of writer Samuel Clemens, the…
Marshall McLuhan - McLuhan's Wake (2002): Dir. Kevin McMahon; Illuminating documentary on one of the 20th century's most famous intellectuals, Marshall McLuhan, who was one of the first to fully realise the…
Michael Palin Sahara (TV Series) (2002): Dir. John Paul Davidson, Roger Mills
Feat. Michael Palin; Michael Palin takes his most celebrated journey into the vastness and strangeness of our world, here circling through the western and central Sahara…
Moro no Brasil (2002): Dir. Mika Kaurismaki; A toe–tapping delve into the ferment of Brazil's popular musical traditions, with dir. Kaurismaki zeroing in to explore the hidden roots of the…
Muhammad Ali - The Whole Story (2002): An extensive biographical record of boxer Ali on two DVDs. This features original footage of many of his most–famous fights.
Naqoyqatsi (2002): Dir. Godfrey Reggio; Dir. Reggio follows up KOYAANISQATSI and POWAQQATSI, with another spectacular and mesmerising montage of global imagery, with Philip Glass again…
Nick Frost's Danger! 50,000 Volts (TV Series) (2002): Feat. Nick Frost, Simon Pegg; Amusing TV series that provides practical advice on surviving the many pitfalls of our perilous world, while also managing to find humour in its…
Noam Chomsky: Distorted Morality (2002): Feat. Noam Chomsky; Renowned political thinker Noam Chomsky ruminates on America's 'War on Terror' in this raw and lively Harvard 'Q & A'. Analyzing the official…
Noam Chomsky: Power and Terror In Our Times (2002): Dir. John Junkerman
Feat. Noam Chomsky; A no–frills TV documentary (made in Japan) in which arch–media critic and philosopher Noam Chomsky, examines the post–9’11 world,…
Okie Noodling (2002): Dir. Bradley Beesley; An amiable glimpse into the American tradition of "noodling", whereby giant catfish in Oklahoma are lured and captured bare–handed. This…
Only the Strong Survive (2002): Dir. Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker; Warm and intelligent appreciation of several of the soul–music legends of the 1960s and 70s by a veteran documentary team. Based around a…
Osbournes, The (TV Series) (2002): Feat. Ozzy Osbourne; A smash hit of the ‘Reality TV’ genre, this follows the antics of wealthy heavy metaller Ozzy Osbourne, wife/manager Sharon and two of their…
Phil Collins - A Life Less Ordinary (2002): Intimate portrait of the MOR titan and drummer extraordinairre. Featuring performance his monster hits: In the Air Tonight, Easy Lover, Groovy Kind…
Prisoner of Paradise (2002): Dir. Malcolm Clarke, Stuart Sender; Justly acclaimed examination of an unusual chapter in the Holocaust, in which the Dutch–Jewish comic actor Kurt Gerron was forced to make a…
Project Greenlight (TV Series) - Season 2 (2002): The second season of the excellent HBO series in which the winners of a film–making competition are followed through the production process of…
Real Mary Poppins, The (The Shadow of Mary Poppins) (2002): Dir. Lisa Matthews; A documentary on the life and times of P.L. Travers, creator of Mary Poppins, whose working relationship with Walk Disney was the stuff of legend,…
Sex with Strangers (2002): Dir. Joe Gantz, Harry Gantz; Notorious 'documentary' on swinging couples in America, following three couples on their exploration of open sexuality. Though issues of…
Shipwreck: Deadly Harbour (2002): Dir. Christopher Rowley; Short but vivid documentary account of the disastrous voyage of the Interisland ferry 'Wahine' in April 1968, in New Zealand's worst recorded storm.…
Smashing Machine, The (The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr) (2002): Dir. John Hyams; Intense and strangely moving look at the life of Mark Kerr, the most successful and celebrated combatant in the (now banned) Ultimate Fighting…
Spy in the... Collection, The (TV Series) (2002-2004): Feat. David Attenborough; Overtly sneaky wildlife doco series where cameras are hidden in the environments of a den of lions, a herd of elephants, a clan of bears and a pride…
Stan Lee's Mutants, Monsters and Marvels (2002): Dir. Scott Zakarin; Two documentaries on one DVD, concerning Marvel Comics maestro Stan Lee, the creator of ‘The Fantastic Four’, ‘The Incredible Hulk’, ‘The…
Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002): Dir. Paul Justman; A treat for soul–music lovers, this uncovers the hidden history of Motown's seminal, wildly successful and yet almost completely unknown…
Steve-O - Don't Try This at Home (2002): Feat. Steve-O; A collection of special moments featuring Steve–O, one of the wilder stars of MTV's JACKASS show. Lacking the imaginative wit of the movie,…
Stevie (2002): Dir. Steve James; A provocative, uniquely intimate doco in which the director reknews his acquaintance with a troubled adoptee, now facing prison, whom he once…
Stone Reader (2002): Dir. Mark Moskowitz; A treat for devotees of reading, this unique literary quest concerns the dir.'s obsession with an obscure American novel and quest to find its…
Tomb of the Unknown Warrior (2002): A four–hour special on the opening of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Wellington, New Zealand. This monument was planned to commerate the…
Travelling Birds (Winged Migration) (2002): Dir. Jacques Perrin, Michel Debats, Jacques Cluzaud; Anyone with an appreciation of natural beauty will be transfixed, and possibly transported, by this superlative documentary from the makers of…
Trials of Henry Kissinger, The (2002): Dir. Alex Gibney, Eugene Jarecki; A corrosive yet robust investigation that alleges a misuse of power amounting to 'war crimes' by controversial US diplomat Henry Kissinger –…
True Meaning of Pictures, The (Shelby Lee Adams' Appalachia) (2002): Dir. Jennifer Baichwal; A provocative look at the work of American photographer Shelby Lee Adams, whose images of impoverished Appalachian life have earned him a reputation…
Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election (2002): Dir. Richard R. Perez, Joan Sekler, Robert Greenwald; Astute examination of the controversial battle for the presidency in Florida from an unabashed pro–Democrat viewpoint that asserts that the…
Vietnam's Unseen War - Pictures from the Other Side (2002): National Geographic documentary focuses on the unusual perspective of North Vietnamese photojournalists who covered the Vietnam War from the…
Walking with Beasts (2002): Further CGI–enhanced recreations of the prehistoric era, here the post–dinosaur age of sabre–toothed tigers, mastadons and woolly…
Weather Underground, The (2002): Dir. Sam Green, Bill Siegel; A stimulating, incisive look back at the angry workings of "The Weathermen", a radical splinter faction of the protest movement who were responsible…
You See Me Laughin' (2002): Dir. Mandy Stein; Doco about the latterday backwoods blues musicians clustered around the Fat Possum label. Includes R L Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Cedell Davis,…
American Mullet (2001): Dir. Jennifer Arnold; Less hair–raising than affectionate documentary about that most controversial of hairstyles; the mullet. Going on the road in her "mullet…
Architecture (TV Series) (2001-2005): Dir. Stan Neumann, Richard Copans, Frederic Compain; Inspiring series devoted to the most ambitious creations of the 19th and 20th century. Featuring a wealth of archival material, scale–models…
BBC Earth Collection Boxset (The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Life) (2001-2009): David Attenborough's three landmark BBC nature series, collated in one impressive boxset. Special Editions of THE BLUE PLANET and PLANET EARTH are…
Bee Gees - The Official Story (2001): Released as a tie–in with the 2001 Greatest Hits this collection sweetly summarizes the Gibb brothers extraordinary career, plenty of home…
Big Brother (TV Series) (2001-2003): 'Unseen, Uncut, Unreel' – A three part compilation of selected 'highlights' from the Australian version of the ultimate Reality TV…
Billy Connolly - World Tour of... (TV Series) (2001): Feat. Billy Connolly; TV series following comedian Billy Connolly on tour throughout the world. "World Tour of England, Scotland and Wales" (available to rent):…
Blerta - The Return Trip... (Blerta Revisited) (2001): Dir. Geoff Murphy
Feat. Bruno Lawrence, John Clarke, Martyn Sanderson…; Less a nostalgia 'trip' than a brilliant compendium of manic moments from New Zealand's 1970's travelling roadshow of anarchic performance –…
Blind Spot: Hitler's Secretary (2001): Dir. Othmar Schmiderer, Andre Heller; The astonishing true story of Hitler's private secretary, Traudl Junge, who at the age of 80 comes to terms with working alongside unspeakable evil…
Blue Planet, The (TV Series) (2001): Dir. Alastair Fothergill; Breathtaking footage of our planet’s largest feature – the ocean – reveals wondrous worlds within this still almost completely unexplored…
Bound for Pleasure (2001): Dir. David Blyth; Non–sensational delve into the Auckland B&D scene from horror dir. Blyth (DEATH WARMED UP), that throws up some bizarre scenes of mistresses,…
Brain Story (TV Series) (2001): Professor Susan Greenfield presents this six–part documentary series concerning that curious organ, the brain, using CGI illustrations,…
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Live in New York City (2001): Dir. Chris Hilson; Emmy award winning HBO concert film of the first ever major televised Bruce Springsteen performance, live at Madison Square Garden. 1–1 My…
Chop Suey (2001): Dir. Bruce Weber; Free–form homage to Bruce Weber's favourite things and an exploration of the lives of his subjects, including the beautiful 16 year old…
Classic Albums - Elton John (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road) (2001): Dir. Bob Smeaton; Elton’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators.…
Classic Albums - Iron Maiden (2001): Dir. Tim Kirkby; Iron Maiden’s Number of the Beast deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key…
Classic Albums - Judas Priest (British Steel) (2001): Dir. Tim Kirkby; Judas Priest's "British Steel" (1980) deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators.…
Classic Albums - Lou Reed (Transformer) (2001): Dir. Bob Smeaton; Lou Reed's "Transformer" deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators. Generously…
Classic Albums - Metallica (2001): Dir. Matthew Longfellow; Metallica's 'Metallica' album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators.…
Cool and Crazy (Heftig og Begeistret) (2001): Dir. Knut Erik Jensen; A laconic, ultimately touching documentary on the male choir of Berlevag, a remote Norwegian village that was the setting for BABETTE’S…
Culturejam: Hijacking Commercial Culture (2001): Dir. Jill Thorpe; Fun but ultimately serious expose of various pranksters who subvert the advertising and retail industries of the US. Featuring conversations with…
Devil's Playground (2001): Dir. Lucy Walker; An extremely rare glimpse into Amish culture, with focus on a rite of passage known as "Rumspringa", during which their 16–year–olds…
Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky, The (2001): Dir. Paul Cox
Feat. Derek Jacobi, Chris Haywood; Loosely based on the published diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky, one of the great male ballet dancers, this experimental biopic is impressionistic and…
Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001): Dir. Stacy Peralta; Celebrated beyond its niche audience of surf–and–skaters, this documentary recounts the origins and rise to fame (and mixed fortune) of a…
Down from the Mountain (2001): Dir. Nick Doob, Chris Hegedus, D A Pennebaker; Concert film of the much–admired bluegrass soundtrack from the Coen Bros O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?, that was a surprise winner of the Grammy…
Early Days Yet (2001): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; A quietly thoughtful and engaging look at the life and work of New Zealand poet Allen Curnow, filmed when Curnow was in his late–80s and still…
Earth, Wind and Fire - Shining Stars (2001): Pretty comprehensive look at the long career of US funksters 'Earth, Wind and Fire', including interviews with band members, music clips and live…
Educational Archives - Social Engineering 101 (2001): A delightful mixture of government American educational films from the 1940–70 period which were shown in schools to tutor children in the ways…
Endurance, The (2001): Dir. George Butler; Perhaps the most comphrehensive account of Ernest Shackleton's doomed voyage to the Antarctic in 1914. Utilising interviews, on–location…
Epitaph (TV Series) (2001): Feat. Paul Gittens; TV series that scours the cemeteries of New Zealand for the intriguing, weird and worthy tales of our ancestor's demises. Paul Gittens is the…
Evolution (TV Series) (2001): Thorough and rigorous seven–part PBS series extols – and not without wading into the science vs. religion debate – the virtues of Charles…
Facing the Music (2001): Dir. Bob Connolly, Robin Anderson; Art and commerce clash in corridors of academia at Sydney University, as budget cuts compromise the integrity and possible viability of the music…
Flight 703 - The Survivors (2001): Individual stories of miraculous survival, heroism and tragedy emerge through the telling of this gripping story of the 15–hour rescue…
Great Composers - Volume 1 (Bach, Mozart) (2001): Dir. James Runcie, Francesca Kemp; Excellent BBC series gives a substantial insight into its selected classical composers, combining biographical narrative with musical–analysis…
Great Composers - Volume 2 (Beethoven, Wagner) (2001): Dir. Jill Marshall, Kriss Rusmanis; Excellent BBC series gives a substantial insight into its selected classical composers, combining biographical narrative with musical–analysis…
Great Composers - Volume 3 (Tchaikovsky, Puccini, Mahler) (2001): Dir. Simon Broughton, Chris Hunt, Kriss Rusmanis; Excellent BBC series gives a substantial insight into its selected classical composers, combining biographical narrative with musical–analysis…
Happy Days - Biography (2001): Feat. Ron Howard, Henry Winkler; The 1970s US TV–Series ‘Happy Days’, set in suburban 1950s Milwaukee, is revisited with the crew and cast.
Hell House (2001): Dir. George Ratliff; Behind–the–scenes account of a small fundamentalist church in Texas whose "Hell House" serves as a tool to literally "scare the hell out…
Hip-Hop Nation: Notes from the Underground (TV Series) (2001): A comprehensive, but suitably casual tour of the contemporary hip–hop movement and all its various facets: the history, the luminaries, the…
Hotere (2001): Dir. Merata Mita; Noted documentary on New Zealand's reclusive artist Ralph Hotere, constructed in non–linear, impressionistic style. Seven years in the making,…
Human Face, The (2001): Dir. James Erskine
Feat. John Cleese, Elizabeth Hurley; BBC series studying the science and mystery of human faces, with John Cleese and Elizabeth Hurley providing an entertaining double–act as…
Impressionists, The (2001): Dir. Bruce Alfred; A two–part examination of the French Impressionist movement, in which painters like Monet, Degas and Renoir captured visual reality in a…
In Shifting Sands (2001): Dir. Scott Ritter
Feat. Scott Ritter; A pertinent, compelling though rather schizophrenic film–diary directed by the former Chief UN weapons inspector in Iraq. Exploring the…
Inside The Vatican (2001): Intriguing documentary granting 'unprecedented' access into the worlds tiniest state, the Vatican. Worth it for those who want to see the inside…
Jazz (2001): Dir. Ken Burns; Sprawling and absorbing documentary series from the maker of THE CIVIL WAR, charting the rising star of jazz during the 20th century, with an…
Krays, The (The Final Word) (2001): Dir. Aubrey Powell; Although probably not the 'final word' on the notorious East End gangsters who ruled London in the 1950s–60s, this is still an impressively…
Legend of Leigh Bowery, The (2001): Dir. Charles Atlas; An out and proud exponent of 'wearable art', Leigh Bowery's outlandish conceptual fashions brought him to London (from the 'cultural wasteland' of…
Life and Debt (2001): Dir. Stephanie Black; A scathingly political look at the "new world order" from the point of view of Jamaican workers and farmers, as well as government and policy…
Long Way to the Top (TV Series) (2001): A seven–hour extravaganza tracing the evolution of Australian (and ex–pat New Zealand) rock ‘n’ roll, from the fledgling sounds of…
Made in Sheffield (2001): Dir. Eve Wood; Sturdy documentary, obviously crafted by a real fan, which narrates the rise of the electronic music scene in Sheffield in the 1980s aftermath of the…
Magical World of J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) (2001): The creator of the kidult ‘Harry Potter’ books is documented in this made–for–TV study.
Matrix Revisited, The (2001): Dir. Josh Oreck
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss; Feature–length behind–the–scenes account of the making of THE MATRIX, including deleted scenes, fight and film demonstrations and a…
Miles Davis Story, The (2001): Dir. Mike Dibb
Feat. Miles Davis; A Channel 4 documentary on the life and times of trumpeter, composer and jazz music legend Miles Davis. The only authorised film of Miles' life…
My Voyage to Italy (Il Mio Viaggio in Italia) (2001): Dir. Martin Scorsese; Martin Scorsese’s personal journey through Italian cinema is an epic appreciation, less an overview than a guide to the films and filmmakers who've…
Nine Hundred Nights - Big Brother and the Holding Company (2001): A documentary survey of the career of Janis Joplin and her backing band 'The Holding Company', including rare live footage. Narrated by Rip…
Party's Over, The (Last Party 2000) (2001): Dir. Philip Seymour Hoffman
Feat. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Noam Chomsky, Michael Moore; A pre–9/11 political doco that still resonates loudly in the George W. Bush era, actor and “concerned citizen” Phillip Seymour Hoffman…
Pink Floyd and the Syd Barrett Story (2001): Dir. John Edginton; A look at the early days of rock band Pink Floyd and their madcap lead singer, Syd Barrett. Staunchly reclusive for over three decades, it is…
Porn Star - The Legend of Ron Jeremy (2001): Dir. Scott J. Gill
Feat. Ron Jeremy; Ron Jeremy, an overweight, unappealing slab of middle–American, also happens to be the single most popular male ‘actor’ in the history of…
Project Greenlight (TV Series) (2001): This outstanding documentary series about the making of a low–budget feature film is mandatory for anyone interested in film and the…
Property Ladder (TV Series) (2001): Fiendishly addictive series follows the ups and downs of first time house buyers as they renovate dilapidated homes in the hope of turning a…
Ram Dass Fierce Grace (2001): Dir. Mickey Lemle
Feat. Ram Dass; A remarkable documentary portrait of one–time Harvard professor Richard Alpert, who in the 1960s began an epic spiritual voyage through LSD and…
Raw Deal: A Question of Consent (2001): Dir. Billy Corben; Testing the boundaries of what is permissable in documentary, this tries the case of several frat–boys in Florida who were accused of gang…
Rebel Music - The Bob Marley Story (2001): Dir. Jeremy Marr; Documentary on the reggae superstar, notable for featuring many previously unreleased songs and pieces of live footage. Also unique for its…
Savage Planet (2001): Dir. Chris Malone, Emma Hawley, Tony Coldwell; Various extreme ‘acts of God’ are showcased in this visually compelling nature odyssey. Stray asteroids, storms, volcanos, avalanches, baking…
Schlock! - The Secret History of American Movies (2001): Dir. Ray Greene; A suitably low–rent survey of 50s and 60s B–grade movies, with insights courtesy of Roger Corman, Peter Bogdanovich, David F. Friedman,…
Scratch (2001): Dir. Doug Pray; Comprehensive coverage of the evolution of DJing as an artform, from its formative years in the early 80s to its establishment as a movement known as…
Searching for Debra Winger (2001): Dir. Rosanna Arquette; Hollywood actress Roseanna Arquette analyzes the pressures and rewards of her profession in this loosely–formed patchwork of interviews with…
Son of God (TV Series) (2001): Three–part documentary series utilising scientific and historical research to uncover the truth behind who Jesus of Nazareth really was and the…
Stanley Kubrick - A Life in Pictures (2001): Dir. Jan Harlan
Feat. Malcolm McDowell, Woody Allen, Jack Nicholson…; Authorised by his family, a 'biography' of the great, reclusive, obsessive film–maker, whose genius is attested by the likes of…
Startup.com (2001): Dir. Jehane Noujaim, Chris Hegedus
Feat. Kaleil Tuzman, Tom Herman; A supremely timely, as–it–happens recording of the boom–and–bust story of two naively ambitious internet entrepreneurs –…
Stripped (2001): Dir. Jill Morley; Directed by a former stripper, this gritty, though at times amateurish delve into the lives of six American strippers delivers some real shocks,…
Sweetest Sound, The (2001): Dir. Alan Berliner; Wry, speculative documentary on identity and genealogy finds dir. Alain Berliner turning the camera on himself – and twelve other ‘Alan…
Titless Wonders (2001): Dir. Gaylene Preston; “An upfront exploration of the emotional discoveries of women with breast cancer”, this bravely and valuably documents a subject most people…
Trembling Before G-D (Trembling Before God) (2001): Dir. Sandi Simcha Dubowski; Contemplative and personal filmmaking that intimately captures the personal stories of Orthodox and Hasidic Jews coming to terms with their…
Trio at the Top (2001): Dir. John Milligan; Playful Kiwi doco telling the story of the 'golden age' of New Zealand motor sport in the 60s, when Bruce McLauren, Denny Hulme and Chris Amon were…
Walt - The Man Behind the Myth (2001): Dir. Jean-Pierre Isbouts
Feat. Walt Disney, Dick Van Dyke; A television documentary on the life of the extraordinary Walt Disney, whose animated characters and overall vision conquered the public imagination…
War Photographer (2001): Dir. Christian Frei; A clear–minded documentary on acclaimed war–photographer James Nachtwey, who began his career in 1980s on the battlefields of the Third…
Welcome to Death Row (2001): Dir. Leigh Savidge; Fairly impartial and mostly enlightening account of the notorious ‘gangsta–rap’ record label Death Row, who in the 1990s released…
Westway to the World - The Clash (2001): Dir. Don Letts
Feat. Joe Strummer; An informative flashback through the history of punk–rock group The Clash, made by London–colleague Don Letts. Includes snippets of…
Wild Africa (TV Series) (2001): Typically thorough BBC doco series charts the natural history of the African continent, which is unique in its flourishing biodiversity. Comprising…
Wine Lovers Guide to Australia (TV Series) (2001): Acclaimed TV Series hosted by wine expert Grant van Every and wine–maker Maryann Egan, documents everything from the history of…
Wingspan (2001): Feat. Paul McCartney; Doco tracing 9 years in the history of the Paul McCartney driven 70's rock band 'Wings' that emerged post Beatles mania. Tends to skim over murky…
Woodstock - The Music (2001): They say if you can remember it, you weren't there – that rainy weekend in 1969, when half a million people converged for one of the greatest…
A Constant Forge (2000): Dir. Charles Kiselyak; A lengthy examination of the life and work of renowned American filmmaker John Cassavetes, who pioneered the use of improvisation in film…
A Moment of Innocence (2000): Dir. Mohsen Makhmalbaf; A slowly unfolding tale of the dir.'s own involvement in the stabbing of a policeman when he was an Islamic radical in the 1970s. Subsequently…
Adolf and Eva (2000): A reasonably informative account of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's private life, in particular his relationship to Eva Braun. Includes much colour…
American Nightmare, The (2000): Dir. Adam Simon
Feat. Wes Craven, David Cronenberg, John Carpenter…; A searching examination of the American horror films of the late 1960s and 1970s, in which the paranoia of the times was reflected in some intense…
Beefcake (2000): Dir. Thom Fitzgerald
Feat. Daniel MacIvor, Carroll Godsman, Jack Griffin Mazeika…; The director of THE HANGING GARDEN blends archival footage and dramatic action to reveal the secret world behind the well–oiled muscles and…
Better Living Through Circuitry (2000): Dir. Jon Reiss; A cinematic valentine to underground dance culture in documentary form, this intersperses interviews with Genesis P–Orridge, Wolfgang Flur, DJ…
Bouncer: Behind the Velvet Rope (2000): Dir. Steven Cantor; Those guardians of bars and nightclubs describe the perils and perks of their profession (and why for some there’s no difference between them).…
Calle 54 (2000): Dir. Fernando Trueba; A luxurious and overdue tribute to the charms of Latin jazz, dir. Tueba’s (BELLE EPOQUE) musical passion. Interviews with greats like Tito…
Celtic Britain (TV Series) (2000): Visually splendid three–part series that examines the history of the Celtic lands of Britain, using a mixture of dramatisation and sweeping…
Children Underground (2000): Dir. Edet Belzberg; Disturbing and unanswerable documentation of a group of deperate homeless children (aged between 10 and 16) who call a dirty corner of a…
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens (2000): Dir. Margaret Selby
Feat. Chuck Jones; An in–depth look at the life and work of Warner Bros' visionary animator Chuck Jones, who began work as a low–level minion and rose to…
Cunnamulla (2000): Dir. Dennis O'Rourke; The provocative director of GOOD WOMAN OF BANGKOK turns his lense onto the Australian community of the title, a rag–tag small–town in…
Dark Days (2000): Dir. Marc Singer; A remarkable, compassionate document of homeless people condemned to living in underground shelters in the New York subway…
Diplomat, The (2000): Dir. Tom Zubrycki; Panorama of East Timor’s struggle to regain independence from Indonesia following the 1975 invasion, expressed through the 24 year exile of former…
Endless Harmony: The Beach Boys Story (2000): Dir. Alan Boyd; An accessible tour through the history of California’s pop success story – The Beach Boys – featuring archival footage from the…
Eyes of Tammy Faye, The (2000): Dir. Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato; The heavily–mascaraed eyes of Tammy Faye Bakker shed a lot of tears as she recounts her experiences before and since the scandals that…
Fastpitch (2000): Dir. Jeremy Spear; Satisfying personal story of the director’s experiences as a pitcher on the US fast–pitch softball tour, encountering the expected patches of…
Feathers of Peace, The (2000): Dir. Barry Barclay; Acclaimed study of the curious history of the Chatham Islands, originally occupied by the Moriori people before conquest by Maori tribes and…
Fighter (2000): Dir. Amir Bar-Lev
Feat. Arnost Lustig, Jan Wiener; A powerfully affecting documentary that juxtaposes two compelling stories: Jan Wiener’s thrilling escape from Nazi–occupied Czechoslovakia to…
Filth and the Fury, The (2000): Dir. Julien Temple; Film–maker Julien Temple gives an angry and commanding voice to 'The Sex Pistols' (incl. the late Sid Vicious), who tell their story 'like it…
First Person (TV Series) (2000): Dir. Errol Morris; Errol Morris, the renowned cinematic observer of human testimony, nuance and eccentricity, here extends his patented "Interrotron" interview…
Freestyle - The Art of Rhyme (2000): Dir. Kevin Fitzgerald
Feat. Eminem, Tupac Shakur; An acclaimed history of rap performance from the early 1980s up till recent years, with emphasis on the art of improvisation. Includes a plethora…
From a Whisper to a Scream (2000): Dir. David Heffernan; Three part chronicle on the extraordinary rise of Irish popular music from the 1950s onwards, starting from the ‘showband’ era, through Van…
Gendernauts (2000): Dir. Monika Treut; Prolific lesbian director Monika Treut takes a tour of San Francisco’s transgender community. Aided by the likes of queer luminaries Annie…
Gleaners and I, The (2000): Dir. Agnes Varda; A widely–admired work by the godmother of French film, which essays the wastefulness of western society through a clutch of interviews with…
Gospel According to Philip K. Dick, The (2000): Dir. Mark Steensland; A loosely–assembled scan through the unusual life and mind of influential sci–fi writer Philip K. Dick, whose twisting literary…
History Lessons (2000): Dir. Barbara Hammer; A "revisionist" archival doco from militant experimentalist, Barbara Hammer, that montages (and modifies) esoteric lesbiana as a clarion call for…
Howard Goodall's Big Bangs (TV Series) (2000): Feat. Howard Goodall; Presented by affable Brit maestro, Howard Goodall (whose own notable works include the theme tunes to Blackadder and Mr. Bean), this enlightening,…
Into the Arms of Strangers - Stories of the Kindertransport (2000): Dir. Mark Jonathan Harris; Sombre journey into one of the dark corridors of the Holocaust, revealing the stories of Jewish children rescued in the months before WWII from Nazi…
Iron Ladies, The (2000): Dir. Yongyooth Thongkonthun
Feat. Jesdaporn Pholdee, Sahaphap Tor, Ekachai Buranapanit; The true story of a volleyball team in the Thai national champs composed of gay men, transsexuals and transvestites, never really clears the net of…
JFK's Women (2000): Revealing, if tabloid–esque expose of philandering in the White House: not Bill Clinton, but John F. Kennedy, whose affairs with four women may…
John Pilger's No Middle Ground in the Middle East (Paying the Price: Killing the Children of Iraq; Palenstine is Still the Issue; Breaking the Silence: Truth and Lies in the War on Terror) (2000-2003): Dir. John Pilger, Alan Lowery
Feat. John Pilger; Three of journalist John Pilger’s most recent and cogent illustrations of the plight of the Middle East, with Iraq, foreign policy, Israel and…
Johnny Cash - The Man, His World, His Music (2000): Feat. Johnny Cash; A loosely constructed documentary that follows country folksinger Johnny Cash on tour and at home in the late 1960s. Though the quality of footage…
Keep the River On Your Right (2000): Dir. David Shapiro, Laurie Shapiro
Feat. Tobias Schneebaum; Pursues the bizarre experiences of one Tobias Schneebaum, a gay NYC artist, who in the 1950s sought to ‘find himself’ in the jungles of the…
Kurosawa (2000): Dir. Adam Low
Feat. James Coburn, Clint Eastwood, Kon Ichikawa; Solid, though roughly tailored journey through the life of the Japanese film director of THE SEVEN SAMURAI and YOJIMBO. Composed mostly of interview…
Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces (2000): Dir. Kevin Brownlow
Feat. Lon Chaney; A comprehensive overview of the life and career of "Man of a Thousand Faces" Lon Chaney, one of the greatest actors of the silent era. Narrated by…
Mario Bava - Maestro of the Macabre (2000): Dir. Garry S Grant; Find out where Dario Argento (and others) stole their licks from in this rare glimpse into the life and work of the Godfather of modern horror, whose…
Mark of Cain, The (2000): Dir. Alix Lambert; Instructive documentary on an esoteric subject: the disappearing art of the Russian prison tattoo. Journeying the penal system of the Russian…
Metallica - S & M (2000): Dir. Wayne Isham; Michael Kamen directs the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in an epic accompaniment for heavy–metal gods Metallica. Songs include: The Ecstasy…
Murder on a Sunday Morning (2000): Dir. Jean-Xavier de Lestrade; Winner of the 2002 Oscar for Best Documentary, this riveting coverage of the murder of a tourist in Florida and the inept (even vindictive)…
Mysterious Object at Noon (Dokfa nai Meuman) (2000): Dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul; Unique "exquisite corpse"* documentary follows a multi– faceted (to say the least) story constructed on the fly by rural Thailanders, and shot…
Naked States (2000): Dir. Arlene Donnelly; American concept–artist Spencer Tunick’s particular concept is to persuade ordinary folk to disrobe and pose in public places, often in…
Natural History of the Chicken (2000): Dir. Mark Lewis; The dir. of CANE TOADS here uses the odd behaviour of the humble chook as a wryly comic springboard for examining the equally odd behaviour of their…
North Korea (Three Documentaries on the Despotic Regime of Kim Jong-Il) (2000-2003): Topical and timely companion of three documentaries on the ostracised state of North Korea: ‘Nuclear Nightmare: Understanding North…
Notes from a Small Island (2000): The observant, ironic travel–writer Bill Bryson ambles through the United Kingdom making consistently amusing note of the oddities he discovers.
One Day in September (2000): Dir. Kevin MacDonald; Compelling reconstruction of events surrounding the terrorist siege that took centre–stage at the Munich Olympic Games in 1972, where eleven…
Oracle of Omaha (2000): Dir. Lisa D Gildehaus; The second–richest man in America, investor Warren Buffett, is the subject of this study, whose investment success and ethics have made him a…
Our People Our Century (2000): Major, award–winning series tells the story of New Zealand and its people throughout the 20th century. Six episodes across three…
Paradise Lost 2 - Revelations (2000): Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky; Essential sequel to the brilliant documentary of the now infamous Robin Hills Murder trial that saw three small boys savagely murdered and three…
Paragraph 175 (2000): Dir. Robert Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman; An uneasy delve into past atrocities, this bitter–tasting but necessary document of Nazi war crimes goes beyond the oft–told persecution…
Phandom Menace, The (2000): Dir. Craig E Tonkin, Warwick Holt; A vivid look into the 'realities' of various obsessive STAR WARS fans in Australia, on the eve of THE PHANTOM MENACE being released in 1999. The…
Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness (TV Series) (2000): Feat. Alain de Botton; Presented by respected modern–day philosopher Alain de Botton, this six part series features six historical thinkers and their theories on how…
Pie in the Sky - The Brigid Berlin Story (2000): Dir. Vincent Freemont, Shelly Dunn Freemont
Feat. Brigid Berlin; The true story of Brigid Polk, real name Brigid Berlin, a blueblood socialite who rebelled to become an Andy Warhol bad–girl, and starred in…
Pilot Guides (TV Series) (2000): Travel series inspired by the LONELY PLANET backpacker books and hosted by enthusiastic intrepid travellers as they explore the four corners of the…
Rapmania (2000): A transcontinental coming–together of US rappers and hiphoppers with twin concerts at New York’s Apollo Theatre and L.A.’s Palace…
Real New Zealand, The (2000): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; An interesting 'backpack' across New Zealand, as seen from the perspective of tourists who choose to get off the beaten trail and spend their…
Rebels with a Cause (2000): Dir. Helen Garvy; Straight–up look at the 'Students for a Democratic Society', the student group that began as pro–civil rights organization concerned with…
Scooterz (2000): Dir. Todd Grossman
Feat. John Wilkening, Ali Kermani; Pro–riders like John Wilkening, Ali Kermani, and Kevin Keehl demonstrate the most cutting–edge tricks (or ways to put yourself in…
Songs for Cassavetes (2000): Dir. Justin Mitchell; Documentary homage to the idealistic, participatory spirit of the latter–day US punk bands of the 1990s. Featuring interviews and…
Sound and Fury (2000): Dir. Josh Aronson; An intimate, thought–provoking documentary that uses one extended family to explore the controversy surrounding a revolutionary procedure that…
Southern Comfort (2000): Dir. Kate Davis; A fascinating and compassionate portrait of two transsexuals – a craggy cowboy (born a woman) and a vivacious siren (born a man) – who…
Space (TV Series) (2000): Feat. Sam Neill; Sam Neill conducts a tour of Outer Space and some of the phenomenon of this vast (indeed possibly infinite) region. Broadly examines galactic and…
State of the Planet (TV Mini Series) (2000): A three–part series in which BBC documentarian David Attenborough investigates the various environmental crises besetting Earth at the present…
Superhuman (2000): The makers of THE HUMAN BODY plumb the latest developments in bodily research and medical development, again utilising their cogent,…
They Filmed the War in Colour: France is Free! (Ils ont filmé la guerre en couleur) (2000): Dir. Rene-Jean Bouyer; Rewarding TV documentary (made in France) which combines rediscovered colour footage of the German occupation of France during WW2, with interviews…
Todd McFarlane - The Devil You Know (2000): Dir. Kenton Vaughan; A straightforward look at the life of comicbook 'wunderkind' Todd McFarlane, who got his start at Marvel comics drawing Spider–Man, and later…
Universal Horror (2000): Dir. Kevin Brownlow; Reeling back to the horror films produced by Universal Studios in the 1930s, this Kevin Brownlow documentary is a lovingly–made reminder of the…
Universe (TV Series) (2000): Dir. Mark Everest; Channel 4's acclaimed sequel to THE PLANETS, moves out of the solar system to investigate what else is going on in the cosmos. Again distinguished by…
Whirling Man, The (2000): Dir. Gretchin Mornin, James Hollings
Feat. Arnold Brooker; Brief compelling whirl through the world of Arnold Brooker, an eccentric fixture on the streets of Wellington who campaigns for the rights of the…
World War 2 In Colour (2000): Two part series that presents previously unseen global footage, from pre–war Germany to the end of the war in Africa, and the atomic bomb.
20 Dates (1999): Dir. Myles Berkowitz; Queasily, both a documentary and 'mockumentary'; the director set out to make a movie and find himself a girlfriend at the same time, organising 20…
42 Up (1999): Dir. Michael Apted; The sixth part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of different…
Abba - The Winner Takes it All (1999): Dir. Steve Cole; Documentary about the iconic Swedish pop group, covering both their stellar career and their personal lives. Includes interviews with all four…
American Movie (1999): Dir. Chris Smith
Feat. Mark Borchardt; Touching a particular nerve in wannabe film–makers and struggling artists, this wonderful documentary finds a central character in aspiring…
American Pimp (1999): Dir. Hughes Brothers; Provocative documentary on that classic black socio–cultural archetype – The Pimp. Although the makers tend to be out–manipulated by…
Art of Piano, The (1999): Dir. Donald Sturrock; Survey of 20th century classical pianists that starts with Hofman and ends with Arrau, taking in such diverse talents of the keyboard as Rachmaninov,…
Awful Truth, The (TV Series) (1999): Dir. Michael Moore
Feat. Michael Moore; Find out what's really going on in America with merciless media activist Michael Moore, fighting for the common man against the evil–doers of…
Beyond the Mat (1999): Dir. Barry W. Blaustein; Lifelong wrestling fan Barry Blaustein explores the myth and machine of pro–wrestling, focusing on the men behind the public image. WWF…
Brakhage (1999): Dir. Jim Shedden; Conventional, though enlightening portrait of experimental film maverick Stan Brakhage, whose work consistently pushed the boundaries of the medium…
Buena Vista Social Club (1999): Dir. Wim Wenders; A handful of sprightly elderly Cuban musicians assembled in 1996 by guitarist Ry Cooder produced, with their soulful, melodic jazz sound, the biggest…
Campaign (1999): Dir. Tony Sutorius; Close–up account of the cracking political contest for the marginal seat of Wellington Central during the 1996 general election, given a…
Cinema Europe - The Other Hollywood (1999): Dir. Various.; Kevin Brownlow and David Gill continue their extended homage to all things cinema with an in–depth series on early cinema in Europe leading up…
Cinema Verite - Defining the Moment (1999): Dir. Peter Wintonick; Unique "documentary of documentaries" from the dir. of MANUFACTURING CONSENT that chronicles "Cinema Verite", a film–making movement bound by a…
CKY Trilogy (1999-2003): Feat. Bam Margera, Ryan Dunn, Brandon DiCamillo; Sampling scenes from the 'Camp Kill Yourself' videos and documentary, this is an excellent compilation of skate–boarding and twisted stuntwork.…
Close to You - Remembering the Carpenters (1999): A documentary celebration of Karen and Richard Carpenter's rise to pop stardom. Features extensive interviews with Richard, videos, live…
Curse of the Blair Witch (1999): Expose of the BLAIR WITCH PROJECT back–story, keeping up the pretence of 'fact' and wringing more than a modicum of new twists out of the…
Destination Disaster - The Sinking of the Mikhail Lermontov (1999): Compelling document of the 1986 sinking of Soviet cruise ship Mikhail Lermontov in the Marlborough Sounds. Delves into the controversial aftermath of…
Ella Fitzgerald - Something to Live For (1999): Dir. Charlotte Zwerin; A modest and carefully selected musical 'album' of jazz singer Fitzgerald's greatest years. Not really biographical in its focus, this…
Faith Of The Century - A History Of Communism (1999): Using fascinating, never–before–seen footage from the national archives of many countries including Russia and France, this documentary…
Federation (1999): Well–written doco that brings to life the events, personalities and experiences that lead up to the federation of the Australian colonies in…
Frank Lloyd Wright (1999): Dir. Ken Burns; Epic biography of America's most esteemed architect (notably of the Guggenheim Museum and the 'Prairie'–style ranch–house), whose…
Fugazi - Instrument (1999): Dir. Jem Cohen, Fugazi; Culled from concert, interview and home footage, this portrayal of fiercely independent rock–bank Fugazi transcends the…
Funny by George (The George Wallace Story) (1999): Dir. Don Percy; Celebrates the life and times of unashamedly Australian vaudeville comedian and movie star, George Wallace.
Genghis Blues (1999): Dir. Roko Belic; Absorbing, stranger–than–fiction tale of San Francisco singer Paul Pena’s passion for Tuvan ‘Throat–singing’…
Getting to Our Place (1999): Dir. Gaylene Preston, Anna Cotrell; The creation of NZ’s national museum, Te Papa, was an exciting, self–conscious and fraught journey in defining the nation’s identity, this…
Girl Next Door, The (1999): Dir. Christine Fugate
Feat. Stacy Valentine; Worldly, even–handed and fascinating documentary details the life–style and life–story (not to mention plastic surgery history) of…
Grand Designs (TV Series) (1999-2016): Kevin McCloud presents this inspiring design series investigating the architectural aspirations of a selection of British homeowners keen on pushing…
Grass (1999): Dir. Ron Mann
Feat. Woody Harrelson; A kaleidoscopic assemblage of newsreel, anti– and pro–drug films and interviews that traces the chequered history of marijuana in 20th…
Hands on a Hard Body (1999): Dir. S.R. Bindler; Low–budget but enthralling chronicle of the annual ‘Hands on a Hard Body’ competition run by a local Texas radio station, in which 23…
Hitman Hart - Wrestling with Shadows (1999): Dir. Paul Jay; A must for wrestling fans and detractors alike, this is the hugely compelling real–life story of Brett 'The Hitman' Hart, five times WWF…
Last Days, The (1999): Dir. James Moll; Accompanied by return visits to their homeland and the Nazi death camps, five Hungarian survivors of the Holocaust recount their remarkable stories…
Life and Art - Maria Callas (1999): Dir. Alan Lewens, Alistair Mitchell
Feat. Maria Callas; Sympathetic documentary concerning the life and art of famed opera singer Maria Callas. Features extracts from 'Tosca', "Norma', 'Barber of Seville',…
Life of Python, The (1999): Feat. Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam…; The BBC celebrates 30 years of Monty Python with new sketches and a plethora of guest appearances. Volume One: "Pythonland" – Journey with…
Louis Theroux's - The Collection (Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends, When Louis Met....) (1999): Four disc set compiling the best of the affable Louis Theroux, drawing from his three series to date. More disarming than Borat, Theroux’s…
Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure (1999): Feat. Michael Palin; The fourth of Michael Palin's travel series with the BBC, this one recounts the life of author Ernest Hemingway, as Palin travels to places that…
Millennium (1999): Dir. Various; Exhaustive history of the last thousand years, taken from the book by Felipe Fernandez–Armesto and presented by CNN. Refreshingly deals not…
Mr Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr (1999): Dir. Errol Morris; Another wholly idiosyncratic and remarkable work from documentarian Errol Morris, this time with the human oddity factor turned up to a…
My Best Fiend (Mein Liebster Feind) (1999): Dir. Werner Herzog
Feat. Klaus Kinski, Werner Herzog; Werner Herzog’s personal portrait of his friend and famous ‘alter ego’, the late Klaus Kinski, threads together just some of the bizarre…
New York: A Documentary Film (1999-2003): Dir. Ric Burns; Grand and compelling PBS portrait of New York City in the vein of Ken Burns's fulsome documentaries (incidentally, directed by younger brother Ric)…
New Zealand Wars, The (1999): Dir. James Belich
Feat. James Belich; Praised, yet inevitably controversial documentary series on New Zealand's 19th century history, in particular the various land–wars between…
Original Schtick / Schtick Happens (1999-2002): Dir. Maciek Wszelaki; A stranger–than–fiction documentary following American visual artist and egotistical maniac Robert (Bob) Fischer on a bizarre tour of…
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (1999): Dir. St. Clair Bourne; Documentary exploring the life and career of Paul Robeson, the singer, actor and political activist whose distinctive bass baritone is heard on some…
Planets, The (1999): Suitably ambitious 8–part TV series on the planets and other aspects of our solar system, including its history, space explorations and the sun…
Pop and Me (1999): Dir. Chris Roe; A 'real life' documentary with a distinctive twist – would–be film–maker Chris Roe convinces his affluent divorcee father to not…
Punitive Damage (1999): Dir. Annie Goldson; Emotive documentary about the ordeal of an ordinary New Zealand mother, Helen Todd, who ultimately sued an Indonesian general for punitive damages…
Roy Orbison - In Dreams (1999): Comprehensive documentary claiming to be the only authorised Roy Orbison doco, includes performances of his greatest hits, home video footage and…
Second World War in Colour, The (TV Mini Series) (1999): The first of the various TV specials which replayed the events of WW2 utilising newly discovered colour film footage, lending an added new dimension…
Sex - The Annabel Chong Story (1999): Dir. Gough Lewis; A sensational yet even–handed insight into the performer (and sicko subculture) behind a famously transgressive sexual act – Ms. Chong’s…
Source, The (1999): Dir. Chuck Workman
Feat. Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Dennis Hopper; Superb chronicle of the ‘Beat’ movement and the work of its founding fathers – Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs – and their…
To The Moon (1999): A 30th anniversary documentary to mark the 1969 Apollo moon landing, this two–hour special reminiscences with the astronauts, and more…
Trekkies (1999): Dir. Roger Nygard; Comprehensive, eye–opening tour of the STAR TREK phenomenon and the lives of some of its more ardent devotees. Chuckle and gasp as Denise…
Two Fat Ladies (TV Series) (1999): Feat. Jennifer Paterson, Clarissa Wright; The commanding humour, presence and culinary skills of Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Wright are served up in this cuddly cooking series.
UB40 - The Story Of Reggae (1999): Dir. Bob Smeaton; Essentially a South Bank Show Special Edition that tells the story of British reggae–rockers UB40, from their formation in 70's Birmingham…
Walking with Dinosaurs (TV Series) (1999): Dir. Tim Haines
Feat. Kenneth Branagh; In tracing the 160 million year history of the big lizards, this comprehensive BBC doco slavishly recreates the flora, fauna and geography of the age…
Wisconsin Death Trip (1999): Dir. James Marsh; A deadpan, quietly unsettling documentary that charts 10 years of creeping misfortune at the end of the 19th century in the small Midwest town of…
Zoo, The (TV Series) (1999-2006): Selected highlights from New Zealand's own animal documentary series, which looks at the goings–on at the Auckland Zoo among the various animal…
1968: The Year That Shaped a Generation (1998): Dir. Steve Talbot; Stolid examination of the watershed year filled with familiar images and oft heard soundbites. Key people and events featured include: the…
Barry Humphries - Flashbacks (TV Series) (1998): Feat. Barry Humphries; Iconic Aussie entertainer Barry Humphries and his alter–ego's Dame Edna, Sir Les Patterson and Sandy Stone take us on a journey through a slice…
Cold War (1998): Dir. Various; With encyclopedia–like detail, this lengthy documentary series analyses every aspect of the Cold War, from the onset of frosty relations…
Cruise, The (1998): Dir. Bennett Miller; A wonderful insight into life in New York City in the late 1990's through one of the cities eccentric characters – Tim "Speed" Levitch, a tour…
Dancemaker (1998): Dir. Matthew Diamond
Feat. Paul Taylor; Exemplary biography of American choreographer Paul Taylor, whose vivid, unconventional works are a high–point in modern dance. Made by an…
David Oistrakh - Artist of the People? (1998): Dir. Bruno Monsaingeon; The life of the renowned 20th century Russian violinist, who at times locked horns with the Soviet state, is told through interviews with family and…
Decline of Western Civilization Part III, The (1998): Dir. Penelope Spheeris; The third in Penelope Spheeris' cult trilogy set in the late 90's follows the format and musical subgenre of the original, but with heightened…
Destroy All Rational Thought (1998): An eclectic patchwork of material to do with William Burroughs and Brion Gysin, including footage from Burroughs films and home–movies, and…
Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y (1998): Dir. Johan Grimonprez; An exploration into the history of airline hijacking, from media spectacle in the 1960's to the present terrorist mainstay. Shot before the 9/11,…
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau - Autumn Journey (1998): Dir. Bruno Monsaingeon; Interviewed on his 70th birthday the German baritone recollects his life and art in fascinating detail. Tape includes an 85–min concert recital…
Divine Trash (1998): Dir. Steve Yeager; A divine treat for fans of the film–maker John Waters’, this supplements contemporary and archival interviews with rare footage of the…
Endurance (1998): Dir. Leslie Woodhead; Quietly profound docu–drama on the life of the 1996 Olympic 10,000 metre champion, Haile Gebrselassie, gives unique insight into the man behind…
Enrico Caruso: Voice of the Century (1998): Biographical documentary exploring the life of the Italian operatic tenor, filmed in Naples and featuring Placido Domingo, Beverly Sills, and Luciano…
Everest (1998): The most commercially successful documentary of all time is an astonishing technical achievement, filmed in the giant IMAX format for exhibition in…
Frank Sinatra - His Life and Times (1998): Feat. Frank Sinatra; Comprehensive look at Frank's legendary 50–year career, including phases as radio star, Academy Award–winning actor, and quintessential…
Full Tilt Boogie (1998): Dir. Sarah Kelly; Little more than a 'making of' FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, edited to feature–length to cash in on Tarantino–mania. Without dramatic meat or…
Gathering, The (1998): Dir. Kylie Plunkett; Document of the popular New Years Eve celebrations at Takaka Hill 1997–8, featuring a variety of dance–music, local DJs and of course,…
Great Day in Harlem, A (1998): Dir. Jean Bach; Featuring a panorama of interviews on the 1950s heydays of Harlem jazz, this Oscar–nominated doco centres round a famous photograph of 50 odd…
Henry Rollins - You Saw Me There (1998): Dir. Modi; Spoken–word performance from the beefy, former–Black Flag singer, displaying his talent for combining humour with cringe–worthy…
Hey Hey We're The Monkees (1998): Celebratory doco featuring rare concert footage, interviews, outtakes and TV commercials of the actors–turned–'musicians', The Monkees.
Hillary - A View From the Top (1998): Feat. Edmund Hillary; A straightforward, populist documentary about New Zealand’s most famous individual, mountaineer and philanthropist Sir Edmund…
Human Body, The (TV Series) (1998): Extraordinary, unique overview of human physiology from conception to death. Scrupulously researched and entertainingly presented by the slightly…
Life of Birds, The (TV Mini Series) (1998): Feat. David Attenborough; Naturalist Sir David Attenborough presents this 10–part series looking at all aspects of the winged creatures of Earth. As would be expected…
Lou Reed - Rock and Roll Heart (1998): Dir. Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
Feat. Lou Reed; Filmic biography tracing the life and career of iconic musician Lou Reed, from his seminal work with The Velvet Underground in the late 60s through…
McLibel (1998): Dir. Franny Armstrong; The true story of England's most protracted court case that witnessed the all–powerful McDonalds hamburger empire file a libel suit against two…
Megacities (1998): Dir. Michael Glawogger; The dir. of WORKINGMAN'S DEATH reveals a global underclass with portraits of poverty and neglect, from Bombay to Moscow to Mexico City. Some may…
Modulations (1998): Dir. Iara Lee; Sub–captioned "Cinema for the Ear", this is an enlightening exposition of electronic music – a marginalised yet broadly significant music…
Mouth Wide Open (1998): Dir. Jonathan Dennis; A portrait of pioneering NZ camera person and inventor Ted Coubray, who was one of the first people in Australasia to use a sound camera. Offers a…
Party Monster - The Shockumentary (1998): Dir. Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato; Compulsively sordid true story of one Michael Alig, whose success as a New York night club impresario devolved into drug abuse and the brutal murder…
Peter Beard: Scrapbooks from Africa and Beyond (1998): Dir. Guillaume Bonn, Jean-Claude Luyat
Feat. Charlotte Rampling; Expansive documentary presenting the life and career of one of the world's greatest adventure photographers and painters. Covers the major…
Planet Ustinov - Following the Equator with Peter Ustinov (1998): Mark Twain's 1898 account of his epic journey around the globe is traced by Peter Ustinov in this part travelogue, part history lesson, which takes…
Radiohead - Meeting People Is Easy (1998): Dir. Grant Gee; The album OK COMPUTER took the Oxford quintet into the rock stratosphere, a place where, on this evidence, they'd often rather not be.…
Regret to Inform (1998): Dir. Barbara Sonneborn; A moving and haunting doco which analyzes the Vietnam War from the point of view of the American and Vietnamese women who lost the men they loved to…
Richter, The Enigma (1998): Dir. Bruno Monsaingeon; Lengthy biography of the supremely expressive Russian pianist Sviatoslav Richter, who only emerged from behind the Iron Curtain in the late 1950s.…
Stephen Hawkings' Universe (1998): The various theories of the wheelchair–confined English cosmologist are explained by other researchers in this in–depth BBC TV series.…
Tackle Happy (1998): Dir. Mick Molloy
Feat. Simon Morley, David Friend; Eye–widening puppet–show utilises the visual and tactile properties of the male–organ to impersonate… all sorts of things:…
Timothy Leary's Dead (1998): Dir. Paul Davids
Feat. Todd Mills; An adoring eulogy to counter–cultural 60s guru, chiefly known for extolling the virtues of LSD and fuzzy–headed philosophy. With a…
Top Gear (TV Series) (1998): Feat. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May; Selected highlights from the BBC series in which three car–crazy lads (Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond) have fun driving and…
Turandot Project, The (1998): Dir. Allan Miller
Feat. Zhang Yimou, Zubin Mehta; The glorious insanity of Italian opera defeats all obstacles in this amusing behind–the–scenes account of a gigantic international…
Velvet Dreams (1998): Dir. Sima Urale; Director Sima Urale presents this short documentary investigating the world of 'velvet paintings' by traversing the Pacific to talk to artists and…
Wadd: The Life and Times of John C Holmes (1998): Dir. Cass Paley, Alan Smithee
Feat. John Holmes; Well hung, generously portioned portrait of the American sex film industry's most famous and successful male 'porn star'. Legendary for his…
Wild Man Blues (1998): Dir. Barbara Kopple
Feat. Woody Allen; Affably entertaining documentary that follows Woody Allen 'on tour' through Europe in 1996 aboard his musical side–act, a New Orleans Jazz Band…
Affluenza (1997): A fascinating look at how America turned from being a nation that prized thriftiness into a culture struck with "one of the greatest social maladies…
Art of Conducting - Volume 2, The (1997): Dir. Peter R Smith; Excellent study of six more conductors of the 20th century – Sergiu Celibidache, Wilhelm Furtwangler, Erich Kleiber, Evgeny Mravinsky, Charles…
Big One, The (1997): Dir. Michael Moore
Feat. Michael Moore; Just as smart and witty though with less focus than his watershed doco ROGER AND ME, this intervening 'video diary' sets the format for his popular…
Century of Cinema - Australia / NZ / UK (1997): Dir. George Miller, Sam Neill, Stephen Frears; Director George Miller (MAD MAX) construes his own personal perspective on the history of Australian cinema and its wider cultural meanings. Perhaps…
Century of Cinema - France / Germany / Scandinavia (1997): Dir. Jean-Luc Godard, Edgar Reitz, Stig Bjorkman; French entry is a typically obtuse, subversive essay by iconoclast Jean–Luc Godard, questioning the validity of celebrating cinema. The Germans…
Charlie Mingus - Triumph of the Underdog (1997): Dir. Don McGlyn; The enigmatic bass player, as much known for his volcanic temperament as his musical innovations is well–served in jazz–documentarian…
Classic Albums - Bob Marley (Catch A Fire) (1997): Dir. Jeremy Marre; Bob Marley's Catch A Fire deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by key collaborators. Generously…
Classic Albums - Fleetwood Mac (Rumours) (1997): Dir. David Heffernan; Fleetwood Mac's Rumours deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artists themselves.…
Classic Albums - Grateful Dead (1997): Dir. Jeremy Marre; The Grateful Dead's Anthem to Beauty album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artists…
Classic Albums - Jimi Hendrix (1997): Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artists…
Classic Albums - Meat Loaf (Bat Out Of Hell) (1997): Dir. Bob Smeaton
Feat. Meatloaf; Meat Loaf's 'Bat Out Of Hell' deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by Meat, Jim Steinman, Todd…
Classic Albums - Paul Simon (Graceland) (1997): Dir. Jeremy Marre
Feat. Paul Simon; Paul Simon's "Graceland" album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artists themselves.…
Classic Albums - Phil Collins (Face Value) (1997): Dir. Jeremy Marre
Feat. Phil Collins; Phil Collins' Face Value deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by Phil himself and key…
Classic Albums - Steely Dan (1997): Dir. Alan Lewens; Steely Dan's Aja deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the group and key collaborators.…
Classic Albums - Stevie Wonder (Songs in the Key of Life) (1997): Dir. David Heffernan; Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the…
Classic Albums - The Band (1997): The Band's self–titled album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artists…
Classic Albums - U2 (The Joshua Tree ) (1997): U2's Joshua Tree deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the group themselves and collaborators…
Four Little Girls (1997): Dir. Spike Lee; Spike Lee's Oscar–nominated documentary focuses on a quartet of pre–teens killed in the 1963 bombing of a black congregational church in…
I.M. Pei (First Person Singular, The Museum on the Mountain) (1997-1998): Dir. Peter Rosen; Two excellent documentaries about the internationally renowned architect I.M. Pei. 'First Person Singular' – This charts the career of the…
In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great (1997): Dir. David Wallace; Following the travails of the Greek military commander who conquered most of Asia Minor, historian Michael Wood explores the traditional story and…
Isle of Wight Festival: The Movie - Message to Love (1997): Dir. Murray Lerner; Epic doco capturing the music, anarchy and general behind–the–scenes mayhem at the final Isle of Wight Music Festival in 1970. Dir.…
Kurt and Courtney (1997): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Not even an unofficial biography of 'Nirvana', Kurt Cobain or Courtney Love, but instead a wickedly amusing slice of pop–cultural…
Licensed to Kill (1997): Dir. Arthur Dong; Applauded, regularly disturbing investigation into the mindset of anti–gay killers, bringing together a series of interviews by dir. Arthur…
Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1997): Dir. Werner Herzog; Another quirky yet significant doco from Werner Herzog, whose remarkable subject here is expatriot German Dieter Dengler, who returns to the Vietnam…
Locked-In Syndrome (1997): Dir. Jean-Jacques Beineix; Heart–rending look at the life of Jean–Dominque Bauby whose autobiography was filmed as THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY.
Mabo (Mabo: Life of an Island Man) (1997): Dir. Trevor Graham; Landmark documentary, passionately told, that recounts the extraordinary life story of land activist Eddie Mabo.
Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember (1997): Dir. Anna Maria Tato; Documentary about iconic Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni, providing a full–career portrait across an indulgent 3+ hours. Based on…
Méliès the Magician (The Magic of Méliès, Méliès Magic Show) (1997): Dir. Georges Melies, Jacques Meny; George Méliès was a unique pioneer of cinema, who virtually invented the 'trick shot' and created an astonishing 1000 short films using special…
Michael Palin: Full Circle (TV Series) (1997): Feat. Michael Palin; The intrepid Michael Palin completes another quasi–anthropological circumlocution of the globe, with a 15000 mile journey around the Pacific…
Microcosmos (1997): Dir. Claude Nuridsany; All the dramas of human life play out in a secret kingdom contained in a French meadow, and brought into extreme close–up by superlative…
Peoples Century (TV Series) (1997): Dir. Various; Indispensible BBC TV series covering 20th century history told via the accounts of ordinary people, gives a vivid and sobering taste of world events.…
Pitch (1997): Dir. Spencer Rice, Kenny Hotz
Feat. Al Pacino, Roger Ebert, Matt Dillon…; A pair of unknowns – the film–makers – pitch their movie scripts at the Toronto Film Festival and in Hollywood. Their unique,…
Pretty As a Picture (1997): Dir. Toby Keeler
Feat. Jack Nance, Mel Brooks, Dean Stockwell; A beguiling and extensive peep behind the velvet curtains of director David Lynch's creative processes, during the making of LOST HIGHWAY. Helping…
Road to Jerusalem + Roaring Forties (1997): Dir. Bruce Morrison; Affectionate biography/homage tracing the life of the late great NZ poet James K Baxter. Admirable recitals of his verse complement many candid…
Robinson in Space (1997): Dir. Patrick Keiller
Feat. Paul Scofield; Following up his widely–noted documentary LONDON, dir. Keiller again hits the road with his anonymous alter ego (voiceover by Paul Scofield)…
Russia's War - Blood Upon The Snow (1997): Exhaustive 10–part series that traces Stalin's rise to power, his association with Hitler and Soviet involvement in the Second World War,…
Sick (1997): Dir. Kirby Dick; Stunning, compassionate feature biography of the life of Bob Flanagan, whose 'super–masochism' and extreme performance art was born of his…
Six O'Clock News (1997): Dir. Ross McElwee; An interesting chapter in the unfolding saga of dir. Ross McElwee's (SHERMAN'S MARCH) autobiographical filmmaking, here centering on his new…
Slam Nation (1997): Dir. Paul Devlin; Portland, Oregon is the home of The National Poetry Slam, a performance poetry competition which attracts participants from twenty–six states…
Thomas Jefferson (1997): Dir. Ken Burns
Feat. Sam Waterston, Blythe Danner, Ossie Davis…; Burns "paints an enigmatic portrait of self–contradiction" in this comprehensive and reverential documentary of America's third President,…
Titanica (1997): Dir. Stephen Low
Feat. Leonard Nimoy; Stunning footage of the world's most famous shipwreck shot by IMAX, who specialise in high–definition photography under exacting conditions.…
Tranceformer: A Portrait of Lars Von Trier (1997): Dir. Stig Bjorkman; Insight into the methods and career of celebrated Danish director Lars Von Trier, covering up to his breakout hit, BREAKING THE WAVES.
Vietnam War - Unknown Images (1997): Dir. Isabelle Clarke; Recently declassified military footage gives a harrowing new look into the years of the Vietnam War. Three episodes – 'Secrets of War',…
Waco - Rules of Engagement (1997): Dir. William Gazecki; The disastrous FBI siege of the Branch Davidian Sect compound at Waco, Texas in 1993 is pulled to pieces in this acclaimed documentary, revealing a…
Year of the Dogs, The (1997): Dir. Michael Cordell; A warts–and–all documentary about the Australian Rules Footscray Football Club, during their disastrous 1996 season. Capturing the…
Yo-Yo Ma - Inspired by Bach Vol. 1 (1997): Dir. Kevin McMahon, Francois Girard; Cellist Yo–Yo Ma’s celebrated musical exploration of Bach’s enigmatic solo cello suites, prompted six films, attempting to complement the…
Yo-Yo Ma - Inspired by Bach Vol. 2 (Falling Down Stairs / Sarabande) (1997): Dir. Barbara Willis Sweete, Atom Egoyan
Feat. Arsinee Khanjian, Don McKellar; Cellist Yo–Yo Ma’s celebrated musical exploration of Bach’s enigmatic solo cello suites, prompted six films, attempting to complement the…
Yo-Yo Ma - Inspired by Bach Vol. 3 (1997): Dir. Niv Fichman, Patricia Rozema; Cellist Yo–Yo Ma’s celebrated musical exploration of Bach’s enigmatic solo cello suites, prompted six films, attempting to complement the…
Alien Autopsy Video (1996): Dir. Tom McGough; Documentary based around footage purporting to come from the Roswell, New Mexico UFO crash in 1947, showing an 'alien' being dissected. A suspect…
Alien Empire (1996): Dir. Steve Nicholls; Utilising miniature cameras and endoscopes to peer into the 'microcosmos' of various insect species, this BBC series endeavours to vividly reveal…
American Cinema (Box Set) (1996): In–depth series explores most dimensions of the American feature film (mainly post–1930s). Ten 50 minute episodes include classic clips…
Betrayal, The (1996): Dir. John Anderson
Feat. Allen O'Leary; A dynamic mix of documentary, rare achive footage, and vivid dramatic recreations tells the extraordinary adventures of Kiwi Ron Jeffrey in wartime…
Biography - The Inventors (TV Series) (1996-2000): A 'Biography Channel' series which presents informative summaries of the lives and achievements some of the most notable inventors of the past 300…
Burma (1996-2006): Dir. Evan Williams, Mark Stucke; South East Asian hot–point Burma is the subject of this diptych examining the country’s military dictatorship, harsh oppression, and student…
Catwalk (1996): Dir. Robert Leacock; Supermodel Christy Turlington unzips her privacy for this insider tour of the backstage world of models and designers (incl. Giorgio Armani and…
Celluloid Closet, The (1996): Dir. Robert Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
Feat. Stewart Stern, Tony Curtis, Whoopi Goldberg…; Fascinating doco revises the history of mainstream cinema from a gay and lesbian perspective, with an eye for discreet and…
Century of Cinema - A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese (1996): Dir. Martin Scorsese, Michael H. Wilson; Martin Scorsese details a history of American film from his own perspective, with particular focus on the mavericks and unsung heroes of…
Century of Cinema - China (Yang±Yin - Gender in Chinese Cinema) (1996): Dir. Stanley Kwan; One of the more outstanding (and idiosyncratic) episodes in the CENTURY OF CINEMA series, dir. Kwan (ROUGE) analyzing depictions of sexuality and…
Cinema of Unease (1996): Dir. Sam Neill & Judith Rymer; Sam Neill essays a personal history of Kiwi film as a reflection of our national identity. From his big break in the landmark SLEEPING DOGS to the…
Conspirators of Pleasure (1996): Dir. Jan Svankmajer
Feat. Petr Meisell, Gabriela Wilhemova; Famed animator Svankmajer moves further into the live–action arena, but remains anything but conventional. The private perversities and…
Dancing in the Street (TV Series) (1996): Exemplary documentary chronicles the history of pop music through nine hour–long episodes defined by generic lineage. Truly rare clips and…
Dexter Gordon - More Than You Know (1996): Dir. Don McGlynn; Tenor jazz saxophonist Dexter, renowned for his work with Lionel Hampton and others, gets fan treatment in a lively montage of performance and…
East Side Story (1996): Dir. Dana Ranga; Enchanting curiosity draws back the Iron Curtain to detail the history of the Communist musical! Focus on the Russian, East German, and…
Every Little Thing (La Monindre des choses) (1996): Dir. Nicolas Philibert; Documentarian extraordinaire Nicholas Philibert observes the rehearsals and performance of an annual summer play by the inmates of an idyllic French…
Fast, Cheap and Out of Control (1996): Dir. Errol Morris; Further pushing out a signature style that impresses technique as much as subject, dir. Errol Morris here takes real life as a mere starting point…
Fetishes (1996): Dir. Nick Broomfield; One of dir. Broomfield's more insalubrious documentaries, where his customised faux innocence is used as a passport into the world of New York's…
Gallivant (1996): Dir. Andrew Kotting; An engrossing ‘gallivant’ around the coastline of Great Britain (and the parameters of experimental documentary) with the filmmaker, his…
Gray's Anatomy (1996): Dir. Steven Soderbergh
Feat. Spalding Gray; The late Spalding Gray delivers another of his patented movie–length monologues, this time relating in manic, humourous style his efforts to…
Hemp Revolution, The (1996): Dir. Anthony Clarke; Wide–ranging look at the manifold properties and uses of hemp, incl. medicine, textiles, fuel, food and ‘inspiration’. Though made by…
Hommage a Noir (1996): Dir. Ralf Schmerberg; Photographed in black–and–white in Cameroon, this presents an aesthetically unusual impression of Africa in all its extremes. Unlike the…
Hone Tuwhare (1996): Dir. Gaylene Preston; The late poet laureate, Hone Tuwhare, is captured in this affectionate, candidly observed portrait of an artist. Filmed by Gaylene Preston in the…
Human Mind, The (TV Series) (1996): Further explorations of the human body, with Dr. Robert Winston helming this phenomenal journey deep into the recesses of the brain. Once again…
Hype! (1996): Dir. Doug Pray; Absorbing document of the evolution of the Seattle grunge–music 'scene' from its genesis in the early '80s. Reflected in the ambiguous light of…
Inside Burma - Land of Fear (1996): Dir. John Pilger; Ever–pertinent John Pilger expose of Burmese plight and terror, revealing corporations, foreign investors and tourists as complicit in…
Jackie Chan - My Story (1996): Feat. Jackie Chan; An authorised biography of the incomparable one–man movie–machine from Hong Kong. Banal presentation is compensated by clips from all his…
Jimmy Cliff - Moving On (1996): Reggae laureate Jimmy Cliff talks candidly about his music, religion and Jamaican culture to the tune of his greatest hits. Performances include: The…
Journeys in the New Zealand Heartland (Heartland (TV Series)) (1996): Feat. Gary McCormick; From Stewart Island to Cape Reinga, Kiwi bloke Gary McCormick exposes out–of–the–way New Zealand by way of a scenic…
Kiwi As (1996): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; The second of dir. Shirley Horrocks journey into the delightful world of 'Kiwiana' – those often quaint artifacts of New Zealand's past –…
Kiwiana (1996): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; The first of two congenial excursions into the increasingly popular genre of 20th century New Zealand cultural artifacts, collectively known as…
Knowledge of Healing, The (1996): Dir. Franz Reichie; The first feature length film dealing extensively with 'Tibetan medicine', one of the most highly developed, holistic approaches to healing, based on…
Leaving Home (TV Series) (Orchestral Music in the 20th Century) (1996): The famed conductor Sir Simon Rattle here presents an accessible guide to the challenging classical music traditions of the 20th…
Looking for Richard (1996): Dir. Al Pacino
Feat. Alec Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, Winona Ryder…; Al Pacino's pet project, and his directing debut, explores the American actor's paradoxical obsessions with Shakespeare, debunking some of the…
Lynyrd Skynyrd (Freebird: The Movie / Tribute Tour) (1996): Dir. Jeff G Waxman, Christine Strand, Nancy Saslow; A feast for Lynyrd Skynyrd fans, this features two full–length movies about the rock–n–roll band of the American South. Freebird…
Not Fourteen Again (1996): Dir. Gillian Armstrong; Inspired by the British 7–UP series, film–maker Armstrong completes(?) her anthropological documentary following the lives of three…
Paradise Lost (1996): Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky; A ‘tour de force’ crime documentary, courtroom saga and true life horror show, this is a bare witness account of the trial of three…
Project Grizzly (1996): Dir. Peter Lynch; Endearing documentary depicting the improbable quest by self–styled inventor Troy Hurtuboise to construct a suit of armour capable of…
Rats in the Ranks (1996): Dir. Bob Connolly, Robin Anderson; Bruising political doco follows the squabbles in a Sydney suburb between mayor and city councillors. The filmmakers gained an extraordinary degree of…
Rocker, The - A Portrait of Phil Lynott (1996): An in depth look at the life and death of of legendary rocker, Phil Lynott, founding member of top 70's group Thin Lizzy. Through archive footage and…
Russia - The Missing Years (1996): A glance at the disturbing facts of the Eastern Front conflict of 1942–43 that resulted in Russian glory at a cost of three million lives.…
Someone Else's Country (1996): Dir. Alister Barry; Controversial account of the 'rise of the New Right revolution in New Zealand' was refused television broadcast on account of its 'left wing bias'.…
Sun and the Moon, The (1996): A revealing documentary elaborating on Earth’s two most important neighbours: the moon, with its gravity properties and continued role in space…
The Promise - Sir Tristram's Story (1996): The remarkable story of the world's most famous stud stallion Sir Tristram and his partnership with the New Zealand studmaster Patrick Hogan.
Transformation of the World Into Music (1996): Dir. Werner Herzog; Werner Herzog, indulging in a love of opera, turns his documentary eye on the Richard Wagner Festival, capturing the pulse of the annual event, and…
Transformers (1996): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; A short documentary about a mid–1990s international art exhibition which showcased works that 'transform' in various ways (create music, grow,…
Trilogy of Films by Alister Barry, A (Someone Else's Country, In a Land of Plenty, A Civilised Society) (1996-2007): Dir. Alister Barry; Alister Barry's trilogy of 'New Right' economic policy documentaries, available together in one set.
Triumph of the Nerds (1996): The 20–year saga of the personal computer, as enthusiastically told by uber–geek Robert Cringely. Brings together the likes of Steve…
West, The (TV Series) (1996): Dir. Stephen Ives; Steered by a protégé of documentary–guru Ken Burns (JAZZ), this epic TV–study of the conquest and reshaping of the American West shares…
When We Were Kings (1996): Dir. Leon Gast; Dateline: Zaire, 1974, the 'Rumble in the Jungle'. The hype and drama of the Muhammad Ali/George Foreman boxing match is brilliantly caught in this…
World of Luc Jacquet, The (1996-2002): Dir. Luc Jacquet; Fascinating retrospective of French naturalist filmmaker Luc Jacquet’s pre–MARCH OF THE PENGUINS career, working as a renowned…
30 Years of National Geographic Specials (1995): Since 1964, National Geographic has produced many televsion documentaries on a wide variety of topics: natural history, culture, world history,…
Battle Over Citizen Kane (1995): Dir. Michael Epstein, Thomas Lennon; As this useful overview makes clear, the story behind the making of the classic CITIZEN KANE was as fraught with drama and clashing egos as the film…
Car Crash (1995): Dir. David Caesar; Typically eccentric doco from the director of IDIOT BOX. Various Aussies express their near–fetishistic obsession with cars, then somewhat less…
Celluloid Heroes, The (TV Series) (1995): A celebration of Australian filmmaking, this fascinating four–part series details the evolution of Australian cinema from the early silent…
Century of Cinema (UK / Ireland) - Typically British (1995): Dir. Mike Dibb, Stephen Frears, Donald Taylor Black; The British contribution to the series celebrating 100 years of the moving image. Film–maker Stephen Frears chats to industry heavyweights Alex…
Century of Cinema - Japan / Korea (1995): Dir. Nagisa Oshima, Jang Sun-Woo; Provocative director Nagisa Oshima provides a purely cinematic, subjective overview of Japanese cinema, its themes, forces and historical context,…
Century of Cinema - Russia / Poland (1995): Dir. Sergei Selyanov, Pawel Lozinski; In 'The Russian Idea' the philisophical concept of a self–contradicting Russian 'character' is discussed using the films of various political…
Churchills, The (1995): Dir. Greg Lanning; Composed primarily of archival footage, this profiles Winston Churchill and the role his family played during his time as the nation's leader.…
Crusades, The (TV Series) (1995): Dir. Alan Ereira, David Wallace
Feat. Terry Jones; The gruesome history of the crusades is covered here in great detail in this BBC production, from the political background to the harsh daily life of…
Directors, The (1995-1999): Dir. Robert J Emery; Seven episodes on individual DVDs from the American Film Institute series covering film directing greats. Each episode comprises one hour of…
Executions (1995): Despite the exploitative title and subject, this in fact draws attention to the inhumanity of the death penalty and makes a case for its worldwide…
Flip and Two Twisters (1995): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; Exploring NZ film–maker Len Lye's other outstanding talent, this documents the ongoing quest to build full–size versions of his…
For Love or Money (1995): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; An interesting documentary about the 1990s New Zealand art scene, in particular the rise in number of those collecting art, whether for pleasure or…
Gaea Girls / Shinjuku Boys (1995-2000): Dir. Kim Longinotto, Jano Williams; Two documentaries, one on the fascinating and hitherto unexplored world of Japanese women wrestlers (GAEA) and a second on Japanese transmen 'Onnabe'…
Gesualdo - Death for Five Voices (1995): Dir. Werner Herzog; A sharp, sometimes unflattering profile of 16th century composer Don Carol Gesualdo, with dir. Herzog dividing his time between the artist's sexual…
Greatest Moments In Sport, The (1995): A sterling compilation of world–famous sporting moments, matches and races from from Phar Lap's 1930 Melbourne Cup to Fermin Cacho Ruiz's 1500m…
Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam (1995): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Another sensational art–tabloid gem from professional muck–raker Nick Broomfield, who here lies down with various dogs of the film and…
History of Rock 'n' Roll, The (TV Series) (1995): Feat. Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Madonna…; An epic and (mostly) comprehensive journey through the history of rock music from the 1950s to the mid–1990s, featuring an unprecendented…
I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (1995): Dir. Don Was; Step gingerly into the strange world of Beach Boys genius Brian Wilson. Interviews with friends, family and Wilson himself chart a tumultuous and…
Krzysztof Kieslowski: I'm So So (1995): Dir. Krzysztof Wierzbicki; A brilliant portrait of the great and famously modest Polish director, which by virtue of being made by a longtime confederate, imparts an intimacy…
Lost Civilizations (TV Series) (1995): Historical series covering nearly 7000 years of history over 25 countries. Brought to life with spfx technology and recreated historically accurate…
Lumiere and Company (1995): Dir. Various; Fitting homage to those pioneers of filmmaking, the Lumiere Brothers, made on Cinema’s Centennial celebrations in 1995. Forty directors were asked…
Masters Of American Music (1995)
Moruroa - The Big Secret (1995): Dir. Michel Daeron; A damning indictment of French nuclear testing program in the South Pacific. A French team investigate the impact of the tests on the neighbouring…
Nico Icon (1995): Dir. Susanne Ofteringer; Most famous as one–time singer for the Velvet Underground or arguably just for being famous, this takes a biographical tour of the late German…
Pacific Rescue (1995): Framed around the infamous 1994 rogue storm which hit 40 vessels and aircraft at sea, this is the story of the largest ever sea rescue in the South…
Paris Was a Woman (1995): Dir. Greta Schiller; Capturing a distinct ambience of early 20th century Paris, this feminist–orientated look at American–Parisians such as Gertrude Stein,…
Private Life of Plants, The (1995): Feat. David Attenborough; Typically comprehensive and fascinating look at the plant–life of planet Earth from the husky–voiced David Attenborough. Judicious use of…
Putting Our Town On the Map (1995): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; An eye–opening documentary about how many New Zealand towns create prominent versions of local icons in their search for distinction and…
Show, The (1995): Dir. Brian Robbins; Well–made document of a 90s hiphop roadshow featuring Run DMC, Naughty BY Nature, Warren G and Wu–Tang Clan. Combines live and backstage…
Trinity and Beyond (1995): Dir. Peter Kuran
Feat. William Shatner; Solid presentation of the history of the US atomic weapons programme, including interviews and much recently de–classified footage. Narrated by…
Unzipped (1995): Dir. Douglas Keeve; A giddy slice of non–fiction, the camera gets intimate with the colourful world of fashion king Isaac Mizrahi, whose charm and humour survives…
War Stories (War Stories our Mothers never told us) (1995): Dir. Gaylene Preston; Remarkable documentary manages to compel almost exclusively via the spoken word as seven elderly women offer candid yet articulate and boldy frank…
Wigstock (1995): Dir. Barry Shils; Following PARIS IS BURNING and UNZIPPED, this is the third quintessential camp New York doco! Essentially an on–the–spot recording of an…
32 Short Films About Glenn Gould (1994): Dir. Francois Girard; Built out of 32 disparate fragments, this quasi–doco on the Canadian pianist is fittingly tailored to its difficult and elusive subject,…
Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious Universe (TV Series) (1994): Follow–up to the popular MYSTERIOUS WORLD series with Sci–fi author Arthur C Clarke investigating more strange phenomena around the…
Baseball (1994-2010): Dir. Ken Burns; Ken Burns's celebrated documentary transcends its sporting appearance to deliver an elegant and engrossing social history through baseball over 150…
Black is...Black Ain't (1994): Dir. Marlon T. Riggs; Powerful documentary from the late artist Marlon T. Riggs, looking at black identity in America. Using interviews with prominent black…
Blur - Starshaped (1994): Dir. Matthew Longfellow; Following the early career of 'Britpop' rockers Blur on the road in Europe between 1991 and 1994, this gives a certain insight into the makings of…
Carmen Miranda: Bananas Is My Business (1994): Dir. Helena Solberg; Catch fever Brazilia (followed by a dose of true story reality) in this all–you–need–to–know expose of the exuberant Samba…
Coming Out Under Fire (1994): Dir. Arthur Dong; As America joined the war effort against Nazism and the persecution of Jews, its own military continued to discriminate against gay and lesbian…
Crumb (1994): Dir. Terry Zwigoff; Remarkable portrait of controversial cartoonist and non–conformist Robert Crumb. Documented over six years, his friend Terry Zwigoff manages to…
Dennis Potter - The Last Interview (1994): Dir. Tom Poole; The maverick writer's final interview (on the Southbank Show), made just weeks before his death, is a gripping and highly personal summing–up…
Ed Wood: Look Back in Angora (1994): Doco on the B–movie director, that reveals the man beneath the pink cardy. Covering the time of Tim Burton's biopic and beyond, through to the…
Endless Summer 2 (1994): Dir. Bruce Brown
Feat. Patrick O'Connell, Robert Weaver; Brown is some thirty years older but his passion for surfing and engaging humour has diminished none. Awesome surfing footage is captured this time…
Flesh and Blood - The Hammer Heritage of Horror (1994): Dir. Ted Newsom; A tour through the history of horror film specialists Hammer Studios, whose rise in the 1950s ushered in a new era for the genre. Narrated by Peter…
George Stevens: D-Day to Berlin (1994): Dir. George Stevens; Short but powerful documentary, chiefly distinguished by its colour footage – shot by Hollywood film director George Stevens in the months…
Glitterbug (1994): Dir. Derek Jarman; An unnarrated montage of Derek Jarman's super 8 footage from 1970 to 1986, with a specially composed soundtrack by Brian Eno. It offers a personal…
Harley Davidson (1994): Dir. Joel T. Smith; The definitive story of how the humble motorcycle company became a cultural phenomenon with celebrity and bikie interviews and good old rock 'n' roll…
Hated (1994): Dir. Todd Phillips; Unflinching shock–umentary exposes the grubby exploits of the late GG Allin – punk rocker, nihilist, sad bastard – who, despite…
Hoop Dreams (1994): Dir. Steve James; Chronicles the 8–year saga of two black teenagers striving for basketball glory in the NBA. Like the British 7/14UP series, this captures…
House of Windsor, The (TV Series) (1994): The story of the most famous family in the world – from the reign of the first Windsors, King George V and Queen Mary, to the long rule of…
Human Animal, The (1994): Famed zoologist Desmond Morris' personal assessment of the human being spans the cultural globe to understand behavioural peculiarities that we daily…
Inside The Actors Studio (TV Series) (1994-2006): Revered interview series hosted by James Lipton, in which the burly talk show host engages high profile guests on the art of acting and filmmaking,…
Jack Kerouac - King of the Beats (1994): Dir. John Antonelli; Solid documentary about the renowned, but troubled beatnik writer Jack Kerouac, whose novel 'On the Road' became a true classic of American…
Joanna Lumley: Girl Friday (1994): Feat. Joanna Lumley; Considered one of the first programmes to experiment with the celebrity travelogue concept, this vintage BBC series features Joanna Lumley as a 'fish…
London (1994): Dir. Patrick Keiller; The giant dichotomy that is London is exposed by counter–pointing post–card imagery with Paul Scofield's narration of the ironic,…
Martha and Ethel (1994): Dir. Jyll Johnstone; This touching and absorbing recount of the lives and times of two octogenarian nannies, one a fastidious German immigrant, the other a compassionate…
Maya Lin - A Strong Clear Vision (1994): Dir. Freida Lee Mock; Inspiring and forthright account of Vietnam Veterans Memorial creator Maya Lin, a mere 21–year–old architecture student when she beat out…
Not Angels But Angels (1994): Dir. Wiktor Grodecki; A documentary exploring the male prostitution scene in and around Prague, as it was in 1994, with director Grodecki in remarkably candid interviews…
Search For Glory (1994): Dir. Rod Hay; A vibrant perspective on Africa as a thriving football force, charting the development of the game and its social and cultural significance in a…
Time Team (TV Series) (1994): Feat. Tony Robinson; Stimulating television series featuring a group of enthusiastic archaeologists unearthing the secrets of British history from overlooked areas of…
Tracking Down Maggie (1994): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Classic Broomfield, in which the persistent Brit spends the entire film trying to secure an interview with former PM Margaret Thatcher, who at the…
Act of Murder (1993): Dir. Shirley Horrocks
Feat. Miranda Harcourt; A riveting look at NZ actress Miranda Harcourt's impressive solo theatre show 'Verbatim' (written by William Brandt), which was derived from…
Aileen Wournos: Selling of a Serial Killer (1993): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Brit doco–man Nick Broomfield takes his mike and cameraman to Florida to reveal the strange truth beneath the myth of the 'world's first female…
Annie Leibovitz (1993): Dir. Rebecca Frayn; South Bank Show biography of American photo–journalist Annie Leibovitz, whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. Melvyn Bragg…
Art of Conducting - Volume 1, The (1993): Dir. Sue Knussen; Sixteen of the 20th century’s greatest conductors are studied in this top–notch, award–winning series, including: Bernstein,…
Baraka (1993): Dir. Ron Fricke; The cinematographer of KOYAANISQATSI montages gloriously filmed images from around the globe with modern world music and creates more than just an…
Boys and Balls (1993): Dir. Sue Thompson; An amusing look at men obsessed with knocking a round piece of leather 'round the paddock. Many Ocker sports–blokes offer their theories.
Curse of the Dragon (1993): Dir. Fred Weintraub
Feat. Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee; A look at the life of Kung–Fu cult hero, Bruce Lee, with an emphasis on the circumstances surrounding his mysterious death. Incorporates…
D.W. Griffith - Father of Film (1993): Dir. Kevin Brownlow, David Gill
Feat. D.W. Griffith; The feature–film pioneer who directed classics such as BIRTH OF A NATION and Broken Blossoms, is paid lavish homage in this three–part…
Dambusters - The True Story (1993): An interesting overview of the legendary dambusting raids by British Lancaster bombers during WWII, which utilised the 'bouncing bombs' of Barnes…
From the East (1993): Dir. Chantal Akerman
Feat. Natalia Chakhovskaia; Travelogue documentary shot on 16mm which describes the lives of people in Poland, Russia and East Germany before the collapse of the Soviet…
Homo Promo (1993): Dir. Jenni Olson; A brief yet fulfilling history of gay cinema in theatrical trailers from 1953–1977. Marvel at the sometimes–hilarious depiction of gays,…
Last Bolshevik, The (1993): Dir. Chris Marker; Chris Marker's video essay celebrates the life and work of little known film pioneer Aleksandr Medvedkin to reflect on the legacy of Soviet…
Latcho Drom (1993): Dir. Tony Gatlif; A moving testament to the plight of inter–continental gypsy culture and to the redemptive and communicative power of music, Tony Gatlif's…
Life & Times of Allen Ginsberg (1993): Dir. Jerry Aronson; This resonant film double–acts as a nostalgic looking–glass into bohemian culture and as a showcase of the New York beat poet/political…
Lip Gloss (1993): Dir. Lois Siegel; The lives of transvestites, drag queens and female impersonators are chronicled in this revealing portrait that takes you behind the scenes as they…
Luck, Trust and Ketchup (1993): Dir. Mike Kaplan, John Dorr; Director Robert Altman is observed while at work on 'Short Cuts'. Includes many interviews with cast and crew, including Tess Gallagher (the late…
New Zealand Trams (1993): A comprehensive look at the history of trams in New Zealand, which have been an elegant and much–admired form of public transport, although…
On Denniston (1993): Dir. Hugh MacDonald, David Sims; Nicely informative documentary on the West Coast coal–mining town of Denniston, which was notable for its ingenious railway incline access and…
Palms (Ladoni) (1993): Dir. Artour Aristakisian; Examining the plight of Moscow’s homeless and adrift, dir. Aristakisyan’s jarring, but resolute formalism (unfussy 16mm black and white footage…
Sacred Sex 2 (1993): Sequel to the highly successful sex doc is more specialised in its focus, geared more as a practical, introductory handbook for those wishing to take…
Seven Songs for Malcolm X (1993): Dir. John Akomfrah; A tribute to the revolutionary activist compiles interviews with people that knew him and those that know much about him as well as authentic footage…
Tangiwai and Wahine Disasters (1993-2002): Dir. David Sims, John Carlaw; Released for the first time together on DVD, two in–depth documentaries detailing two of New Zealand's worst transport disasters of the last…
Theremin - An Electronic Odyssey (1993): Dir. Steven M. Martin; The fascinating life of Prof. Leon Theremin, the Russian inventor of the Theremin – a unique musical instrument/sound effects generator,…
Time Indefinite (1993): Dir. Ross McElwee; A sterling sequel to SHERMAN'S MARCH by an indefatiguable chronicler of his own life passages, this finds dir. McElwee about to settle into marriage…
War Room, The (1993): Dir. Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker; Going behind the scenes with the men behind Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign reveals there to be an exact science beneath the media…
Wild Swans (The Daughters of China) (1993): Dir. Mischa Scorer; Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans recollects the experiences that inspired her award–winning book.
Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl, The (1993): Dir. Ray Muller; Regarded both as great filmmaker and Nazi Party propagandist, Leni Reifenstahl, the maker of TRIUMPH OF THE WILL and OLYMPIAD, will always be a…
Lessons of Darkness / Fata Morgana (1992/1969): Dir. Werner Herzog; Two of dir. Herzog’s impressionistic documentaries on a double DVD. LESSONS OF DARKNESS investigates the aftermath of the Gulf War, with…
35 Up (1992): Dir. Michael Apted; The fifth part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of different…
Atlantis (1992): Dir. Luc Besson; Luc Besson takes his camera on an exclusive underwater journey through the world's marine life with regular composer Eric Serra on board to further…
Black Harvest (1992): Dir. Bob Connolly, Robin Anderson; The sequel to JOE LEAHY'S NEIGHBOURS and the final part of the 'Highlands Trilogy', this documents the repercussions for coffee–grower Leahy…
Brother's Keeper (1992): Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky; An outstanding piece of criminal reportage, that takes a case of hillbilly crime and punishment from backwoods New York State and over the course of…
Charles Manson - Then and Now (1992): Tracing America's morbid fascination with the infamous sociopath , jailed in 1970 after members of his cult "family" went on a murder spree, this…
Cyberpunk (1992): Dir. Marianne Trench
Feat. William Gibson, Timothy Leary; Low–budget insight into the cyberpunk counter–culture. Author William Gibson and many hangers–on offer their view of what it means…
Daddy and the Muscle Academy (The Art, Life and Times of Tom of Finland) (1992): Dir. Ilppa Pohjola; A fascinating delve into the mind of cult gay artist 'Tom of Finland', whose iconic hyper–masculine images of muscled, uniformed men and women,…
Emperors of Antarctica (1992): Dir. Max Quinn; Before MARCH OF THE PENGUINS, New Zealand's own dedicated documentarians 'Natural History NZ' filmed the story of the Emperor penguin's journey…
Fishing with John (TV Series) (1992): Dir. John Lurie
Feat. Matt Dillon, Willem Dafoe, Dennis Hopper…; Neo–beatnik musician John Lurie hosts his own candid, off–beat TV show in which he takes a hipster celebrity pal on an exotic fishing…
Forbidden Love (1992): Dir. Aerlyn Weissman, Lynne Fernie; A wonderful collection of vignettes that celebrates the experiences and defiance of a dazzlingly diverse bunch of Canadian lesbians who came out in…
Gully-ites, The (1992): Dir. John Anderson; A slice of character–filled life filmed in our own backyard, this is a heartwarming insight into a community with a unique history, capturing…
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time (1992): Dir. Robert Heath; Fascinating, non–sensational doco presents the Playboy magnate's perspective of how he built his colossal publishing empire through the decades…
In the Land of the Deaf (Le Pays des sourds) (1992): Dir. Nicolas Philibert; The extraordinary debut of dir. Philibert (ETRE ET AVOIR) giving unrushed insight into the deaf community in France. Recounting their stories and…
Incident at Oglala (1992): Dir. Michael Apted; A compelling case is made for the innocence of a native American accused of murdering two FBI agents in 1976, though it's sense of social injustice…
JFK: Assassination Tapes (1992): Dir. John Barbour; Largely a basis for Oliver Stone's opus, Jim Garrison himself speaks frankly about his investigation into the alleged cover–up surrounding the…
Joe Leahy's Neighbours (1992): Dir. Bob Connolly, Robin Anderson; Part Two of the 'Highlands Trilogy' by the makers of RATS IN THE RANKS, this gingerly investigates the tensions between a Papua New Guinea tribe and…
Last Man Hanged, The (1992): Dir. Lewis Fitz-Gerald
Feat. Colin Friels; 'Docu–drama' reenacting the cold–blooded execution of petty thief Ronald Ryan, whose botched prison escape resulted in the unwarranted…
Manufacturing Consent (1992): Dir. Achbar, Peter Wintonick
Feat. Noam Chomsky; Important film presents the theories of Noam Chomsky on the media and its mainstream bias which may have a far–reaching political agenda. What…
Masterpieces of the Hermitage (TV Series) (1992): A breathtaking tour through the State Hermitage Museum of St. Petersberg, home to some three million works of art. Begining with the 14th century…
MGM - When the Lion Roars (1992): The story of "super–studio" Metro–Goldwyn–Meyer from its origins in 1924 to become one of the largest production companies in…
Mojo Working - The Making of Modern Music (1992): Exhaustive compilation of rare archival footage charting modern music’s greatest influences. Includes seminal performances by BB King, James Brown,…
Panama Deception, The (1992): Dir. Barbara Trent; Oscar–winning film is unabashedly activist attempt to uncover some truths about the propaganda used to sanitise the U.S. Government's invasion…
Pole to Pole (TV Series) (1992): Feat. Michael Palin; Michael Palin's followup to his model travel–series AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. Here he journeys from the North Pole to South Pole across Asia…
Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992): Dir. Mark Rappaport; An irreverent deconstruction of the films of Rock Hudson with an amusing conceit; that Rock never concealed his homosexuality, it was all up there on…
Search for Robert Johnson (1992): Dir. Chris Hunt; Essential documentary attempts to unshroud the mystery surrounding the legendary Blues singer/songwriter who was murdered in 1938 at only 27.
See What I Mean (1992): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; An interesting and educative documentary about hearing loss and deafness, which follows two sets of experiences: first, of a family who are all deaf,…
Silent Feminists, The (1992): Dir. Anthony Slide, Jeffrey Goodman; A factual study of the silent movie era that tributes the pioneering women behind Hollywood's cameras. Features rare film clips,…
Sister Wendy - The Complete Collection (TV Series) (1992): Strangely intriguing series hosted by Sister Wendy Beckett – an endearingly impish nun with a passion for paintings who takes her viewers on a…
Stepping Razor Red X (1992): Dir. Nicholas Campbell; A vivid, disturbing portrait of politically–minded reggae–singer Peter Tosh, who after many turbulent years in Jamaica was killed in…
Twist (How Rock 'n' Roll Got its Soul) (1992): Dir. Ron Mann; Toe–tapping, snappy chronicle of pop culture's biggest ever dance craze, The Twist, with terrific archival footage from king 'twisters' Elvis…
Visions of Light (1992): Dir. Arnold Glassman; Illuminating film about the unsung heroes of the film industry – the humble cinematographer – that person responsible for the 'look' of a…
Alice Cooper: Prime Cuts (1991): Feat. Alice Cooper; A splendid two–disc compilation of documentaries, interviews, song clips and other delights relating to that theatrical, satirical and depraved…
Architecture of Doom (1991): Dir. Peter Cohen; Uniquely, this study of the Nazi era concentrates on the vast creations of Adolf Hitler’s Masterplan – choreographed rallies, architecture,…
Brief History of Time (1991): Dir. Errol Morris; A fitting tribute to the life and work of Stephen Hawking, who has continued his breakthrough studies in the physical sciences despite suffering from…
Cage/Cunningham (1991): Dir. Elliot Caplan; A document of the extraordinary 50–year collaboration between avant–garde composer John Cage and choreographer Merce Cunningham, who…
Commissioner of Sewers (1991): Dir. Klaus Maeck; Dir. Maeck brings a European perspective to bear on the cult American writer, William S. Burroughs (NAKED LUNCH). A familiar blend of archival…
Good Woman of Bangkok (1991): Dir. Dennis O'Rourke; A typical sex–worker reveals her experiences to illuminate the harsh reality and profound sadness at the base of Thailand's prolific sex…
In the Shadow of the Stars (1991): This winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary film 1991 depicts the lives of various members of the chorus in the San Francisco Opera.
Jacquot De Nantes (1991): Dir. Agnes Varda
Feat. Philippe Maron, Edouard Joubeaud, Laurent Monnier; Beautifully–crafted, affectionate tribute to the director's late husband, the film–maker Jacques Demy (UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG, LOLA).…
Jerry Springer Uncut (Jerry Springer Uncensored) (1991): An appalling compilation of salacious and outrageous moments from the legendarily vulgar tabloid talk–show hosted by Jerry Springer, sometimes…
Leader, the Driver and the Driver's Wife, The (1991): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Both scary and hilarious, this look at the Afrikaner Resistance Movement and its leader Eugene Terreblanche, sees Nick Broomfield honing his…
Making Sense of the Sixties (1991): Fulsome documentary overview of the turbulent sixties, specifically in context with America, where John F. Kennedy, civil rights, the Vietnam War,…
Monster in a Box (1991): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Spalding Gray recalls the adventures that befell him while trying to write his autobiography. Colourfully delivered monologue with Laurie Anderson…
Oscar's Greatest Moments (1991): Highlights from twenty years of Academy Award ceremonies
Pleasures and Dangers (1991): A glance at the work and lives of six women artists in New Zealand; Alexis Hunter (painter), Alison MacLean (film–maker), Julia Morison…
Ray Charles - The Genius of Soul (1991): A quality TV documentary on the blind soul pianist, featuring live clips, interviews and conversations with friends like Willie Nelson, Billy Joel…
Rebels in Retrospect (1991): Dir. Russell Campbell; An inquiry into the aims, methods and achievments of the Progressive Youth Movement, Kiwi political activists in the turbulent '60s.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Funky Monks (1991): Dir. Gavin Bowden; Stylishly shot documentary about the California funksters, caught on the cusp of massive worldwide success.
Republic Pictures Story, The (1991): In its heyday one of the most important of the 'small' Hollywood studios, Republic Pictures is here documented from its beginnings in 1935 to its…
Richard Dawkins: Growing up in the Universe (1991): An educational series of lectures by Professor Richard Dawkins (ENEMIES OF REASON) on mankind's purpose and place within the universe. Through the…
Sacred Sex (1991): Dir. Cynthia Connop; Eye–opening peek into the world of Tantra, Taoism and sexual fulfilment beyond the garden variety orgasm. From the legit orgies of group…
Superstar - The Life and Times of Andy Warhol (1991): Dir. Chuck Workman
Feat. Andy Warhol, Dennis Hopper; Told through the words of friends and admirers like Dennis Hopper, David Hockney, Tom Wolfe and Sylvia Miles, the life behind the enigmatic visage of…
Talk 16 (1991): Dir. Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchell; The transition of childhood to womanhood is revealed in this intimate, candid study of five 16–year–old girls over a five year period.
Time Will Tell - Bob Marley (1991): Dir. Declan Lowney; A fitting tribute to the Third World's first superstar, this gives a unique insight into his life as a spiritual and political spokesman as well his…
Wisecracks (1991): Dir. Gail Singer
Feat. Ellen DeGeneres; A pre–famous Ellen DeGeneres is just one of many comediennes in this fascinating and overdue tribute to the women of stand–up comedy.…
American Dream (1990): Dir. Barbara Kopple; An Oscar–winning documentary about the effects of trade–union–company conflict at a meat–packing plant in Minnesota in…
Berkeley in the Sixties (1990): Dir. Mark Kitchell; A lively, dense study of 1960s counter–culture in microcosm, this chronicles the rise and fall of the student movement in a Californian campus…
Close-Up (1990): Dir. Abbas Kiarostami
Feat. Hossain Sabzian, Mohsen Makhmalbaf; A uniquely–devised work intermingling life and art, documentary and fiction, born of a real life incident in which an unemployed film buff is…
Creative Process - Norman McLaren (1990): Dir. Donald McWilliams
Feat. Norman McLaren; The ideas and intriguing techniques of Canadian animator Norman McLaren are dissected in this detailed documentary. Draws upon uncompleted works and…
Discovering Hamlet (1990): Dir. Mark Olshaker
Feat. Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Patrick Stewart; Invaluable documenting of Derek Jacobi's 1988 production of Hamlet with a young Kenneth Branagh in the lead. Focussing solely on the rehearsal…
Hearts of Darkness - A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (Coda - Thirty Years Later) (1990): Dir. Fax Bahr, George Hickenlooper, Eleanor Coppola; Astonishing illustration of the nightmare that was the making of APOCALYPSE NOW, a production that endured huge personal and commercial crises,…
I Want to Die at Home (1990): Dir. Monique Oomen; A sensitive documentary about Elizabeth, a woman with terminal liver cancer who chose to die at home. This is the story of her dying wishes,…
Jodorowsky Constellation, The (1990): Dir. Louis Mouchet; The creator of latterday surrealist films such as EL TOPO, THE HOLY MOUNTAIN and SANTE SANGRE, Alejandro Jodorowsky, gets due homage in this detailed…
Maria's Story (A Portrait Of Love And Survival In El Salvador's Civil War) (1990): Dir. Monona Wali, Pamela Cohen
Martin Scorsese Directs (1990): Dir. Joel Sucher, Steven Fischler; Summarises the life and film–making of the American director of 'Taxi–Driver' & 'Raging Bull'. Shot during the making of 'Goodfellas',…
Paris Is Burning (1990): Dir. Jennie Livingston; Revealing and rare insight into the colourful but often tragic lives of Harlem's gay and trans–sexual community, whose calendar highlights are…
Roger and Me (1990): Dir. Michael Moore
Feat. Michael Moore; A brilliantly irreverant personal odyssey by the film–maker who, equipped with a mic and a camera, endeavours to extract comment from General…
Trials of Life (TV Series) (1990): Feat. David Attenborough; The definitive natural history of animal behaviour sees David Attenborough trek through inland empires and coastal fortresses in this most…
Wonderful World of Dogs (1990): Dir. Mark Lewis; A refreshing expose of man's four legged friends, the subject receives the whimsical treatment that endeared viewers to the director's CANE TOADS.
Andy Kaufman - I'm From Hollywood (1989): Dir. Lynne Margulies
Feat. Andy Kaufman; Cheeky doco tracing renowned comic Andy Kaufman's foray into the world of professional wrestling with all the thrills and spills of specialised…
Civil War, The (The American Civil War) (1989): Dir. Ken Burns; An extraordinary documentary series on the American Civil War, widely recognised as one of the greatest ever made. Using archival photographs,…
Comic Book Confidential (1989): Dir. Ron Mann; A comic–buff’s guide to late 20th century comics that gains the confidence of mainstream and offbeat talents alike, including Stan Lee,…
Common Threads (1989): Dir. Robert Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman; Oscar–winning doco from the makers of 'Harvey Milk' and the more recent 'Celluloid Closet', weaves together the disparate stories of five AIDS…
For Adults Only (Sex and Buttered Popcorn) (1989): Dir. Sam Harrison; A must–see for schlock film fans, this investigates the origins of exploitation film–making in the 1930s and 1940s, mixing rarely seen…
For All Mankind (1989): Dir. Al Reinert; A rousing, near avant–garde meditation on the story of the first lunar landing and the 24 men who traveled to the moon and back. Edited…
Ilé Aiyé (The House of Life) (1989): Dir. David Byrne; David Byrne documents the Candomblé, the African–influenced spirit cult of the Bahia region of Brazil, exploring the ways in which they have…
John's Not Mad (1989): Affecting document of one John Davidson's battle with Tourette's Syndrome, his remarkable character, and the failure of society to accommodate his…
Let's Get Lost (1989): Dir. Bruce Weber; Stylish biography of jazz trumpeter/singer Chet Baker; rare concert footage and personal interviews combine to detail the life and music of this…
Lost Worlds - Vanished Lives (1989): Famed nature–boffin David Attenborough here delves into the subject of prehistoric fossils, speculating in typically comprehensive fashion as…
Michael Palin Around the World in 80 Days (TV Series) (1989): Feat. Michael Palin; The first of Michael Palin's successful globe–trotting escapades follows the scheme of Jules Verne's novel – a circumnavigation of the…
Notebook on Cities and Clothes (1989): Dir. Wim Wenders; Furthering his Japanese sojourn, Wim Wenders profiles fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto, extracting some fascinating ruminations on the creative…
Palin Travel Collection (1989-2007): Feat. Michael Palin; Comprehensive 19–disc set containing all of Michael Palin's BBC travel documentary series including; Great Railway Journeys, Around the World…
Preston Sturges - Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer (1989): Dir. Kenneth Bowser; Celebration of the unique comic vision of Preston Sturges, who shot to success with 40s films like Sullivan's Travels and The Miracle of Morgan's…
Shakers, The (1989): Dir. Ken Burns; Documentary about the religion often characterised by their ecstatic dancing, pacifism and belief in non–conventional medicine. Ken Burns…
Stephen King's World of Horror (1989): Doco covering the various facets of Stephen King's works, plus tributes to fave movies.
Still Life at the Penguin Cafe (incl. Penguin Cafe Orchestra - A Profile) (1989): Two selections featuring the unique musical entourage 'Penguin Cafe Orchestra' who combine classical and world music genres. 'Still Life at the…
Bingo, Bridesmaids and Braces (1988): Dir. Gillian Armstrong; Taking a cue from the British 7–UP series, Gillian Armstrong's anthropological documentary follows the lives of three working–class…
Cane Toads (An Unnatural History) (1988): Dir. Mark Lewis; Since 1935 these noxious green freaks have been multiplying rapidly throughout Australia. Lewis tackles them and their absurd human foes head on in…
Chaos (1988): CHAOS is a mathematical theory which attempts to address, and possibly predict, social and natural phenomena. This video describes its constituent…
Colin McCahon - Victory Over Death (1988): Dir. Judy Rymer; An award–winning documentary on New Zealand's most controversial and profound contemporary artist, and the social environment that influenced…
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam (1988): Dir. Bill Couturie; Intensely moving docudrama of the Vietnam experience in which some of Hollywoods most famed actors read soldier's letters sent home to their…
Decline of Western Civilization 2: The Metal Years (1988): Dir. Penelope Spheeris
Feat. Lemmy , Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth; Affectionate tribute to heavy–metal music, the musicians and the culture. The seen–it–all anecdotes of Lemmy, Ozzy Osbourne and…
Depeche Mode - 101 (1988): Dir. D.A. Pennebaker; Fascinating tour movie gives a fly–on–the–wall insight into the minds of adolescent pop music fans, a group of whom win a tour…
Forever James Dean (1988): Dir. Ara Chekmayan; Revealing portrait of the quintessential lost–boy–turned– Hollywood legend, tragically killed at age 24 with just 3 films to his…
Histoire(s) Du Cinema (1988-1998): Dir. Jean-Luc Godard; Grizzly bastion of art cinema and all things French, Jean–Luc Godard, delivers a personal visual essay on the state of the medium. His…
Imagine (1988): Dir. Andrew Solt
Feat. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison…; A definitive document on the life of John Lennon, comprised of 200 hours of footage from newsreels, interviews and photographs. Narrated by Lennon…
John Pilger's Return Ticket (South Africa: Apartheid Did Not Die; Frontline: In Search Of Truth In Wartime; Vietnam: The Last Battle) (1988-1995): Dir. Alan Lowery, David Munro
Feat. John Pilger; John Pilger revisits the remnants of war, stained politics, and social injustice in this fifth volume of his hard–hitting documentary…
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Journey of Dreams (1988): Dir. David Lister
Feat. Paul Simon; An informative documentary about the South African vocal group as a window into the world of Apartheid and the irrepressible musical protest of the…
Powaqqatsi (1988): Dir. Godrey Reggio; Extending the themes and montage techniques of cult favourite ‘Koyaanisqatsi’, this sequel introduces media culture excess and the plight of the…
Power of Myth - Joseph Campbell, The (1988): Dir. Bill Moyers; Enlightening journey through the mind of myth–guru Joseph Campbell, compiling six hours of interviews by Bill Moyers in the 2 years preceding…
Straight No Chaser (1988): Dir. Charlotte Zwerin; Composed of B&W archival footage of Thelonious Monk (rediscovered 20 years after the fact), this sees the idiosyncratic jazz pianist in full…
Thin Blue Line, The (1988): Dir. Errol Morris; Director Morris digs up a 1976 murder case and uncovers a web of deceit and police corruption. A twisting, bizzare slice of journalism, nicely offset…
Three Seats for the 26th (1988): Dir. Jacques Demy
Feat. Yves Montand, Mathilda May, Francoise Fabian; Musical maestro Jacques Demy's last picture was this pseudo–documentary conceived around singer and actor Yves Montand, who returns to his home…
Trial of Bernhard Goetz (1988): Dir. Harry Moses; A verbatim re–creation of the courtroom battle that ensued after Goetz admitted to shooting four black muggers on the New York subway in 1984.…
Buster Keaton - A Hard Act to Follow (1987): Dir. Kevin Brownlow, David Gill
Feat. Buster Keaton; Lovingly assembled by historians Kevin Brownlow and David Gill, this three–part biography on the great 'stone–faced' comedian compares a…
Eyes on the Prize (TV Series) (America's Civil Rights Years 1954-1965) (1987): Award–winning, definitive story of the civil rights era from the point of view of the ordinary men and women whose extraordinary actions…
Faded Dreams (1987): Dir. James Forsher; In true Hollywood tradition this film explores alternative theories over the controversial deaths of such Hollywood legends as James Dean, Marilyn,…
First Eden, The (TV Series) (The Mediterranean World and Man) (1987): Feat. David Attenborough; Part of Sir David Attenborough's canonical 1967 Natural World project, this series focuses on the Mediterranean, cradle of Western civilization, from…
Futebol (1987): Dir. Joao Moreira Salles; A richly informative series of three documentaries about different aspects of futebol (football) in Brazil, mainly centred around the renowned…
Going Hollywood - The War Years (1987): Dir. Julian Schlossberg
Feat. Vivian Blaine, Dane Clark, Jackie Cooper…; A glance back at Hollywood attitudes, movies and stars during the WW2 years 1941–1945. Compromising movie clips, newsreel footage and…
Heavy Petting (1987): Dir. Obie Benz; A nostalgic peagent to what made being a teen in the 50's as cute and corny as it was. A mix of cheesy pop music, clips from sex and drug–ed…
Intervista (1987): Dir. Federico Fellini
Feat. Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg, Sergio Rubini; An easy–going ode to dir. Fellini's early career at Cinecitta Studios, this takes the form of a mock interview–flashback, with the…
Journeys in National Parks (1987): Peter Hayden presents this classic tour through New Zealand's famed National Parks. Episodes: Tongariri, Te Maunga, Westland Aoraki, Fiordland, Te…
Len Lye - Doodlings (1987): Dir. Keith Griffiths; A refreshing paean to New Zealand's best known avant–garde filmmaker (who is equally famous for his kinetic sculptures). Features clips from…
Marvin Gaye - Scenes from a Life (1987): Scenes from the life of the great soul singer Marvin Gaye – known for his particularly sincere delivery and progressive albums and songwriting.
Mondo New York (1987): Dir. Harvey Keith
Feat. Joseph Arias, Rick Aviles, Charlie Barnett; Eye–opening documentary depicts the seedy underbelly of life in the Big Apple. Fascinating but often repulsive, so keep the remote at close…
Out on a Limb (1987): Dir. Robert Butler
Feat. Shirley Maclaine, Charles Dance, Anne Jackson…; Unusual docudrama that follows the epic journey of self–discovery of actress Shirley MacLaine, as she travels the world in search of…
Rolling Stone - 20 Years of Rock 'n' Roll (1987): Feat. Dennis Hopper; Dennis Hopper hosts this informative showcase of American rock history from the psychedelic era onwards, via clips and interviews with the performers…
Secret Life of Sergei Eisenstein (1987): Dir. Gian Carlo Bertelli; Thorough look at the legendary Soviet director of 'Battleship Potemkin' and 'Alexander Nevsky', acknowledged pioneer of the montage approach to…
Swimming to Cambodia (1987): Dir. Jonathan Demme
Feat. Spalding Gray; Recounting his experiences in Thailand, while acting in THE KILLING FIELDS, arch–raconteur Spalding Gray whips up a verbal storm, with Laurie…
T. Dan Smith (1987): Dir. Amber Film Collective; Docu–drama chronicles of events leading to the imprisonment of a maverick Newcastle councillor. Made in collaboration with Smith himself, it…
Vincent: The Life and Death of Vincent Van Gogh (1987): Dir. Paul Cox; Engrossing and expressive documentary of the famous artist, using his own written letters and paintings as clues to his tortured personality. John…
What Happened to Kerouac? (1987): Dir. Richard Lerner, Lewis MacAdams; Film biography of the reluctant beat author set to the sound of fifties jazz. Includes interviews with such contemporaries as Burroughs and Ginsberg,…
And the Pursuit of Happiness (1986): Dir. Louis Malle; A satisfying rumination on the nature of the 'American Dream', as it relates to the constrasting experiences of immigrants to the United States, from…
Athens, GA - Inside Out (1986): Dir. Tom Gayton; A likeable survey of the music–scene in Athens, Georgia in its mid–80s heyday when bands like R.E.M. and The B–52s formed the…
Erotic Tatooing and Body Piercing (1986): Dir. Charles Gatewood; A behind–the–scenes peek at the 'modern primitive' sub–culture. Mondo king Charles Gatewood visits a body adornment convention…
Heavy Metal Parking Lot (1986): Dir. John Heyn, Jeff Krulik; A public access TV crew turn their cameras to a concert venue parking lot before a 'Judas Priest' performance, resulting in a hilarious short film…
Leading Edge, The (1986): Dir. Michael Firth
Feat. Billy T. James; Adventure docu–drama that's little more than an excuse to show off some wonderful South Island scenery and awesome ski theatrics. Billy T.…
Matter of Heart (1986): An inspired film portrait of Carl Jung that weaves together interview, home movie and archival footage of the famous psychoanalyst to deliver an…
Mother Teresa (1986): Dir. Ann Petrie, Jeanette Petrie; Powerful and definitive documentary filmed over the course of five years that follows the daily activities of Mother Teresa and her nuns, in service…
Oprah Winfrey Show: 20th Anniversary Collection (1986-2006): Feat. Oprah Winfrey; A gigantic 6–DVD distillation of the extremely influential US daytime TV show which propelled Oprah Winfrey into mega–celebrity, wealth…
Picasso: Man and His Work (1986): Dir. Edward Quinn; A two cassette anthology of perhaps the greatest painter of all time. This unique film reveals many unknown aspects of his work and personality, and…
Sherman's March (1986): Dir. Ross McElwee; A wonderfully oddball chronicle of the disastrous and wacky lovelife and times of the film–maker. Intending to make a historical doco, he veers…
Werner Herzog Documentaries and Shorts - Part 6 (Wodaabe: Herdsmen of the Sun; Lessons of Darkness; Bells From the Deep; Portrait Werner Herzog) (1986-1993): Dir. Werner Herzog; The complete short documentaries and fictional works of the legendary German director, over six discs. Wodaabe: Herdsmen of the Sun…
28 Up (1985): Dir. Michael Apted; The fourth part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of…
All American High (All American High Revisited) (1985-2014): Dir. Keva Rosenfeld; Excellent 'time–capsule' account of a year at an affluent American High School in Los Angeles, California in 1984. The film's key character…
Broken Rainbow (1985): Dir. Victoria Mudd; This 1985 Oscar–winning documentary, narrated by Martin Sheen, deals with the forced relocation of the Desi (Navajo) people from their…
Chronos (1985): Dir. Ron Fricke; This earlier short film from the director of BARAKA is a montage of time–lapse and aerial photography thematically connected by the consequence…
Dario Argento's World of Horror (1985): Dir. Dario Argento
Feat. James Franciscus, Karl Malden, Jessica Harper…; A compendium of scenes and images from the work of Italian horror maestro Dario Argento, including an indepth interview with the maestro. Covering…
Day the Universe Changed, The (TV Series) (1985): Feat. James Burke; Science historian James Burke's classic 10–part series for the BBC exploring key moments in Western History where new knowledge in science…
Filmmaker's Journey, A (1985): Dir. George Stevens Jr.; Remarkable bio of the life and career of George Stevens, director of GIANT and SHANE, in context of the political events of the time. Directed by his…
God's Country (1985): Dir. Louis Malle; This early excursion to the States sees Louis Malle observe the everyday workings of a prosperous farming community in Minnesota, returning six years…
Hooligan (1985): Dir. Ian Stuttard; Notorious documentary acts as both a study of football hooliganism and as a concise history of the group who became most synonymous with mindless…
In Search of the Trojan War (1985): Dir. Bill Lyons; A thorough, intelligible excavation of Homer’s epic poems and the speculation of a Trojan Society, historian Michael Wood takes us back in time via…
Islands of the Empire (1985): Dir. Alister Barry, Rod Prosser, Russell Campbell; Documentary from Wellington production company Vanguard Films (SOMEONE ELSE'S COUNTRY) offering a valuable examination of military relationships…
Journeys Across 45 Degrees Latitude South (1985): Unique documentary series tracing Peter Hayden's journey from the east of the South Island to the rugged west coast. Made by the same creative team…
Louie Bluie (1985): Dir. Terry Zwigoff; The feature debut of director Terry Zwigoff (CRUMB) explores the life and music of William Howard Taft Armstrong, (known as Louie Bluie), a blues…
Private Practices: The Story of a Sex Surrogate (1985): Dir. Kirby Dick; The debut feature from bold documentarian Kirby Dick (SICK) is this fascinating and humane portrait of a sex surrogate Maureen Sullivan, who is…
Shoah (1985): Dir. Claude Lanzmann; Claude Lanzmann's epic documentary on the Holocaust – 10 years in the making – is everything Resnais' 'Night and Fog' isn't; rough,…
That's Dancing! (1985): Dir. Jack Haley, Jr.
Feat. Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, James Cagney…; A compilation of splendid dance sequences from dozens of Hollywood films. Includes over fifty top dancers, with the best of the crop generally dating…
Tokyo-Ga (1985): Dir. Wim Wenders; Wim Wenders travels to Tokyo to deliver a love letter to Yasujiro Ozu and the surviving bastion of his films, actor Ryu Chishu, though ends up…
We are the World (1985): The complete story behind the renowned 1980s charity pop–song 'We are the World' is covered in this anniversary special edition of the original…
Antonio Gaudi (1984): Dir. Hiroshi Teshigahara; The aesthetic worlds of architect Antonio Gaudi and Japanese visualist Teshigahara (WOMAN OF THE DUNES) collide with spectacular results in this…
Balanchine (1984): Dir. Merrill Brockway; Renowned TV documentary about one of the most celebrated dance choreographers of the 20th century – George Balanchine – whose career…
Beach Boys: An American Band (1984): Dir. Malcolm Leo; Authorized history of the Californian hitmakers. Includes some rare, eyebrow–raising footage of Wilson family lunacy.
Before Stonewall (1984): Dir. Greta Schiller; Anecdotes and archival footage reflect the difficulties and absurdities of gay life from the 1920s up until the landmark revolt in 1969 following a…
Chicken Ranch (1984): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Astonishing expose of a famous legal whorehouse in Texas on which a popular Dolly Parton movie was based. What is revealed, however, is far from the…
First Contact (1984): Dir. Robin Anderson, Bob Connolly; The first part of the dir.'s 'Highlands Trilogy' about the recent history of the New Guinea Highlands combines period and contemporary footage to…
Grasp Of Wind, A (1984): Dir. Robert Franken, Russell Campbell
Feat. Neal Gunn; Dutch born New Zealand visual artist Robert Franken's one–and–only directorial effort is a quietly surreal, wordless fable in which a…
Highlands Trilogy, The (First Contact; Joe Leahy's Neighbours; Black Harvest) (1984-1992): Dir. Bob Connolly, Robin Anderson; The acclaimed trilogy of documentaries about the interractions between indigenous people and Westerners in Papua New Guinea.
John Pilger's The New Rulers of the World (The New Rulers of the World; War By Other Means; Burp! Pepsi v Coke in the Ice Cold War) (1984-2001): Dir. David Munro, Alan Lowery
Feat. John Pilger; Three more essential documentaries from journalist John Pilger, with the emphasis on big business, globalisation, and the plight of the Third…
Marlene (1984): Dir. Maximilian Schell
Feat. Marlene Dietrich; Maximilian Schell presents his own personal vision of Germany's greatest screen legend, Marlene Dietrich. Witness the woman in person and her career…
Pumping Iron II - The Women (1984): Dir. George Butler; This look at the burgeoning world of women's bodybuilding is even more entertaining than its male precursor. Conflicts over what determines a…
Robert Epstein Collection, The (The Times of Harvey Milk, Common Threads: Stories From The Quilt, The Celluloid Closet, Paragraph 175) (1984-2000): Dir. Robert Epstein; Superb collection of four documentaries and special features from Academy–Award winning director Robert Epstein acclaimed for his confronting…
Times of Harvey Milk (1984): Dir. Robert Epstein; A powerful and moving document of the life of the first openly homosexual political candidate who was tragically assasinated in San Fransisco after…
Another State of Mind (1983): Dir. Adam Small; A compelling time–capsule from the early 1980s American punk–scene, documenting the travails of two L.A. bands (Social Distortion and…
Hell's Angels Forever (1983): Dir. Richard Chase, Kevin Keating, Leon Gast
Feat. Bo Diddley, Willie Nelson; Seemingly straightforward doco is more a chilling endorsement of the self–styled outlaws. Even amid disturbing glimpses of short–fuse…
Koyaanisqatsi (1983): Dir. Godfrey Reggio; This unique visual and aural masterpiece looks at our earth and 20th Century 'progress' through the eye of time–lapse camera. The…
Living Planet, The (TV Series) (1983): Feat. David Attenborough; The inimitable Sir David Attenborough presents his followup to the "Life on Earth" series, with a glimpse into the varied ecosystems of our planet.…
Making Utu (1983): Dir. Gaylene Preston; Exemplary behind the scenes documentary observes the making of Geoff Murphy's groundbreaking 'puha western' UTU, revealing both the insistence on…
Other Side of Nashville, The (1983): Feat. Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash; The 'alternative' stars of country music are the subject of this loose documentary, which includes some rare live footage. Featured are Bob Dylan,…
Patu! (1983): Dir. Merata Mita; The 1981 protests against the South African Rugby tour of New Zealand are documented here by M?ori director Merita Mita, providing a landmark in…
Power of Emotion, The (1983): Dir. Alexander Kluge; A bold, kaleidoscopic essay film from theorist and New German Cinema co–founder Alexander Kluge, combining staged vignettes with raw archival…
Style Wars (1983): Dir. Tony Silver; Landmark PBS documentary on the explosion of graffiti art in New York in the late 70s/early 80s, which became an important foundation stone in the…
Unknown Chaplin (1983): Feat. Charles Chaplin; Previously unseen footage raided from Chaplin's private collection forms the backbone of this splendid documentary series, delving into the great…
Atomic Cafe, The (1982): Dir. Kevin Rafferty, Jayne Loader, Pierce Rafferty; An insight into the American phenomenon of A–Bomb culture, which compiles cheesy propaganda flicks and newsreels with hilariously naive…
Burden of Dreams (1982): Dir. Les Blank
Feat. Werner Herzog; Les Blank's most famous film sticks with Werner Herzog through the thick and thin of the Amazon jungle during the notoriously troubled shooting of…
Clive James Collection, The (1982-1988): Feat. Clive James; A collection of eclectic and pioneering specials from Australia's intrepid writer/documentarian. Ten episodes across three…
Killing of America, The (1982): The ugly flipside of the land of the free, this disturbingly accounts many of America's most bizarre and horrific acts of violence including Manson,…
Once, at a Border - Tony Palmer's film about Stravinsky (1982): Dir. Tony Palmer; Another exceptional documentary from Tony Palmer, this time about Igor Stravinsky, the "most important and influential composer of the 20th century".…
Rolling Stones - Let's Spend the Night Together (1982): Dir. Hal Ashby
Feat. Mick Jagger; Above–average concert film of Brit rockers The Rolling Stones, which combines three individual concerts from their 1981 US tour and assorted…
Room 666 (1982): Dir. Wim Wenders; Wim Wenders chews the fat with his contemporaries at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, provoking them into a debate on the future of film. Accosted…
Sans Soleil (1982): Dir. Chris Marker; An exotic cinematic essay from eclectic film–maker Chris Marker weaving footage from all continents with semi–detached, esoteric…
Vernon, Florida (1982): Dir. Errol Morris; An early gem from dir. Morris (THE FOG OF WAR) that ambles around the small backwater town of the title, documenting the eccentricities and humour of…
Wild Style (1982): Dir. Charles Ahearn; The Hip–hop movement had it first wide impact via this documentary–drama shot on the streets of The Bronx in 1982. With its close…
Wim Wenders Documentaries (Room 666, Tokyo-Ga, Notebook on Cities and Clothes) (1982-1989): Dir. Wim Wenders; Three documentaries from the hand of Wim Wenders, concerned with his chief obsessions in Japanese culture and the state of cinema.
Being Different (1981): Dir. Harry Rasky
Feat. Billy Barty, Sandra Elaine Allen, Jo-Ann Cantilla; Siamese–twin cowboys, a bearded lady, the world's tallest woman and a living 'elephant man' are among those that come upfront for this well…
Decline of Western Civilization, The (1981): Dir. Penelope Spheeris; Iconic exploration of the Los Angeles punk scene circa 1980 featuring behind–the–scenes and performance footage of seminal bands X, The…
Devil At Your Heels, The (1981): Dir. Robert Fortier; Sensational, now classic documentary chronicling a major turning point in the life of stuntman Ken Carter, who is put under financial and public…
Genocide (1981): Dir. Arnold Schwartzman; A harrowing recount of the atrocities enacted by Hitler's regime during WW2 as told by the survivors of his infamous death camps. Narrated by…
Heartworn Highways (1981): Dir. James Szalapski; Cult documentary on country music's 'Outlaw Movement' of the 1970s, featuring key players like Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Steve…
Man Who Saw Tomorrow (1981): Dir. Robert Guenette
Feat. Orson Welles; Orson Welles narrates and appears in this dramatisation of the prophecies of Nostradamus, many of which have proved to be alarmingly accurate.
Our Heritage (TV Series) (1981): A unique series of television snippets, in which seven ballads by legendary Waitakere historian Jack Diamond are recited over historical imagery and…
Pasolini - Whoever Says the Truth Shall Die (1981): Dir. Philo Bregstein; A fascinating scan of the multi–faceted life of Pier Paolo Pasolini, as poet, theorist and film–director. Gives a lucid account of his…
Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious World (TV Series) (1980): Sci–fi author Arthur C Clarke investigates strange phenomena around the planet in this intriguing television series. Travelling the world from…
Charleen / Backyard (1980-1984): Dir. Ross McElwee; Two early Ross McElwee documentaries on a single disc, showing progress towards his mature humanist style, often subtly dealing with issues of his…
Cosmos (Carl Sagan's Cosmos) (1980): Using a combination of special effects and Sagan’s enthusiastic narration, Cosmos covers a range of awe inspiring topics including the origins of…
Errol Morris DVD Collection, The (Gates of Heaven, Vernon, Florida, The Thin Blue Line) (1980-1988): Dir. Errol Morris; DVD collection of celebrated documentary maker Errol Morris' first three films.
From Mao to Mozart (1980): Dir. Murray Lerner; Deserving winner of the Best Documentary Oscar follows violinist Isaac Stern on his concert and tutorial tour of China in 1979. A film as moving as…
Gates of Heaven (1980): Dir. Errol Morris; This acclaimed debut of dir. Errol Morris (THIN BLUE LINE) staked a high water mark for eccentric film subjects by documenting the closing down of a…
Lightning Over Water (Nick's Movie) (1980): Dir. Wim Wenders
Feat. Nicholas Ray; A disturbing portrait of Hollywood film director Nicholas Ray's final days, shot by fan and friend Wim Wenders. Although he made some of the most…
Memories of Duke Ellington (1980): A tribute to the great jazz composer–pianist 'Duke' Ellington, who created and developed his own sophisticated aesthetic from the late 1920s to…
Soldier Girls (1980): Dir. Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill; Early Nick Broomfield entry surveys the US Army's training regime for female recruits. Though less obtrusive than in later incarnations, Broomfield…
Space Movie, The (1980): Dir. Tony Palmer; Documentary produced by the great Tony Palmer, at the request of NASA, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Taking the…
Three Popular Films by Jean-Pierre Gorin (Poto and Cabengo, Routine Pleasures, My Crasy Life) (1980-1992): Dir. Jean-Pierre Gorin; Three delightfully absorbing observational documentaries from director Jean–Pierre Gorin, well know for his collaborations with Jean–Luc…
We Jam Econo - The Story of The Minutemen (1980-1985): Dir. Tim Irwin; Detailed documentary on the too–brief life of the intensely creative and somewhat groundbreaking band, The Minutemen. The history of the band…
Benjamin Britten: A Time There Was (1979): Dir. Tony Palmer; Revered British composer Benjamin Britten’s life and times is given the royal Tony Palmer treatment in this comprehensive, loving portrait of…
Best Boy (1979): Dir. Ira Wohl; Academy–award winning doco follows three years in the life of the film–maker's cousin Philly, a 52–year–old with the…
Kids Are Alright, The (1979): Dir. Jeff Stein
Feat. Keith Moon, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend; Chaotic yet compulsive documentary defining the eclectic career of 'The Who', made shortly before the death of drummer Keith Moon. The others, of…
Last of the Blue Devils, The (1979): Dir. Bruce Ricker; Jazz documentary covering everything from the Basie big–band sound to Kansas City Jazz and blues and the rock and roll that brought attention…
Rust Never Sleeps (1979): Dir. Neil Young
Feat. Neil Young; King loser Neil Young triumphs in this concert film of him and Crazy Horse at the height of their rustic charm. Twenty songs, a great guitar sound…
Valentine's Day - Liberace (1979): The flamboyant ivory–tinkler shows us around his personal museum, hot air ballon, super–yacht and wardrobe, performing some piano ditties…
Let Me Die a Woman (1978): Dir. Doris Wishman; You’ll need a strong stomach for trash queen Doris Wishman’s sensational bad taste documentary about men (and women) desperate to change their…
Life on Earth (TV Series) (1978): Feat. David Attenborough; David Attenborough's groundbreaking epic of evolutionary study traces chronologically the development of the fauna, the fish, insects and animals we…
Scared Straight! (1978): Dir. Alan Shapiro
Feat. Peter Falk, Danny Glover; A famous, Oscar–winning documentary in which a group of 17 budding teenage crims are shown the harsh realities of prison life, chiefly being…
Tattooed Tears (1978): Dir. Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill; Early Nick Broomfield doco eschews his later interactive style for an unrelenting examination of the life of four youths in a prison for young…
Unknown War, The (1978): Burt Lancaster narrates this enormous 20–part documentary series on the conflict between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
21 Up (1977): Dir. Michael Apted; The third part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of different…
All You Need is Love (TV Series) (1977): Dir. Tony Palmer; Prolific arts filmmaker Tony Palmer oversaw this landmark, encyclopedic history of modern pop and rock – prescribed viewing for anyone who’s ever…
Baryshnikov's The Nutcracker (1977): Dir. Tony Charmoli
Feat. Mikhail Baryshnikov; Landmark version of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet 'The Nutcracker', about a young girl on Christmas Eve who enters the magical kingdom of a wizard,…
Christians, The (TV Series) (1977): "Meticulously constructed and lavishly produced", this thirteen part documentary series was one of the most ambitious TV projects of the 1970's.…
Frost/Nixon Watergate Interviews (1977): Dir. Jorn Winther
Feat. David Frost, Richard Nixon; The legendary 28 hour interview between the charismatic David Frost and former President Richard Nixon is touted as the greatest political interview…
Grateful Dead Movie, The (1977): Dir. Jerry Garcia
Feat. Jerry Garcia
Pumping Iron (1977): Dir. George Butler, Robert Fiore; Arnold Schwarzennegger gets his first taste of the camera when a film crew follow his defence of the Mr. Olympia title. Lou Ferrigno doesn't stand a…
Werner Herzog Documentaries and Shorts - Part 4 (La Soufriere; I Am My Films; Jag Mandir) (1977-1991): Dir. Werner Herzog; The complete short documentaries and fictional works of the legendary German director, over six discs. La Soufriere (1977) I Am My Films…
Wigan Casino, The (1977): Dir. Tony Palmer; Captivating time–capsule about The Wigan Casino, a famous dance hall near Manchester, which was home to ‘Northern Soul' in the mid 1970's,…
Grey Gardens (1976): Dir. Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Ellen Hovde; An intimate portrait of acute eccentricity, this offers a ‘home movie’–style insight into the lives of colourful high–society…
Harlan County USA (1976): Dir. Barbara Kopple; A vivid, enlightening documentary about a violent labour dispute on the East Kentucky coalfields, prompted by decades of poor conditions in the…
Off the Edge (1976): Dir. Michael Firth; This breathtaking film captures both the grandeur of the Southern Alps and some spectacular skiing and handgliding feats performed by an American…
Sunday in Hell, A (1976): Dir. Jorgen Leth; Classic sports documentary from dir. Jorgen Leth (THE FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS) accounting for the physically grueling, emotionally testing, and always…
Werner Herzog Documentaries and Shorts - Part 3 (God's Angry Man; Echoes From a Sombre Evening; How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck) (1976-1990): Dir. Werner Herzog; The complete short documentaries and fictional works of the legendary German director, over six discs. God's Angry Man (1980) Echoes From a…
Aussie Rules Collection (Year of the Dogs, The Great MacArthy, The Club) (1975-1997): Three Aussie features concerning the unique rough–and–tumble of 'Aussie Rules' football.
Overlord (1975): Dir. Stuart Cooper
Feat. Brian Stirner; Remarkable one–off that seamlessly interweaves archival war footage and a fictional narrative, this accounts a twenty–year–old’s…
Smokes and Lollies / Fourteen's Good, Eighteen's Better (1975-1980): Dir. Gillian Armstrong; The first of five documentaries Gillian Armstrong directed on Adelaide women Kerry, Josie and Diana, this introduces the fresh–faced trio as…
Story of Kerry, Josie and Diana 14-47, The (Smokes and Lollies; Fourteen's Good, Eighteen's Better; Bingo, Bridesmaids & Braces; Not Fourteen Again; Love, Lust & Lies) (1975-2009): Dir. Gillian Armstrong; The complete documentaries of Gillian Armstrong's series on the lives of three working class Adelaide women, introduced as 14–year–olds…
Tomorrow Show, The: John, Paul, Tom and Ringo (1975-1981): Hosted by broadcasting legend Tom Synder, this features the last ever interview with John Lennon before he disappeared from the public eye, as well…
Tribal Eye, The (TV Series) (1975): Feat. David Attenborough; New release of Sir David Attenborough's classic 1975 series exploring aspects of tribal art from indigenous communities all over the world –…
5 Films About Christo and Jeanne-Claude (Christo's Valley Curtain, Running Fence, Islands, Christo in Paris, Umbrellas) (1974-1995): Dir. Albert Maysles, David Maysles; The complete set of filmic documentations by the Maysles brothers (and various other directors) on the French concept–sculptors Christo and his…
Animals are Beautiful People (Beautiful People) (1974): Dir. Jamie Uys; Playful naturalist documentary engages with cuteness and a degree of artistic license life in Africa’s Namib Desert for its many animal…
Bigger Splash, A (1974): Dir. Jack Hazan; A whimsical, unconventional doco, interweaving the somewhat vacuous daily life of English painter David Hockney and his retinue, with the formal…
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1974): Dir. Phillipe Mora; Intriguing montage of Depression–era America, that combines newsreels and Hollywood movie–clips in an ambiguous, imaginative…
Edvard Munch (1974): Dir. Peter Watkins; Norwegian painter Munch's life and artistic genius is portrayed here in an original and hypnotic synthesis of documentary and drama, by acclaimed…
General Idi Amin Dada (A Self Portrait) (1974): Dir. Barbet Schroeder; General Idi Amin Dada’s narcissism is serviced willingly by an intrigued Barbet Schroeder, focusing his camera on the lunatic dictator during his…
Hearts and Minds (1974): Dir. Peter Davis; The most famous Vietnam War documentary, this ambitious project took a year to film at the cost of a million dollars, representing the catastrophe…
Johnny Cash - Ridin' The Rails: The Great American Train Story (1974): Dir. Nicholas Webster
Feat. Johnny Cash; Johnny Cash narrates this fascinating glimpse into the history of America's railroads, which includes performances of his well–loved songs…
Leonard Cohen: Bird on a Wire (1974): Dir. Tony Palmer
Feat. Leonard Cohen; Fittingly moody portrait of the master of melancholy is an intimate account of his exhausting 1972 European Tour.
Shocking Asia Vol.1 & 2 (1974-1985): Dir. Rolf Olsen; One of the original ‘video nasties’, this mondo–style reportage on extreme social practices on the Asian continent includes cremations in…
Andy Warhol and His Work (1973): Dir. Lana Jokel; Enigmatic pop artist Warhol's life and art is chronicled through a mixture of film footage and interviews.
Ascent of Man, The (TV Series) (1973): Feat. Jacob Bronowski; Renowned TV series from the era of epic–length documentaries, this analyses the progress of mankind through scientific and technological…
Inner Space (TV Series) (1973): Feat. Ron Taylor, Valerie Taylor, William Shatner; Ron and Valerie Taylor, who sit comfortably alongside Jacques Cousteau in the aquatic exploration stakes, fronted this classic nature series on the…
Mururoa 1973 (1973): Dir. Alister Barry; Documentary filmed on the protest boat "The Fri" which visited Mururoa Atoll in 1973 to protest the testing of nuclear weapons by the French…
Painters Painting (1973): Dir. Emile de Antonio; Both a beginner's and connoisseur's guide to "Abstract Expressionism", this excellent 70's documentary provides satiating first hand insights from…
Swastika (1973): Dir. Lutz Becker, Phillipe Mora; Consisting solely of startling archival footage, this documentary portrait of the era of Adolf Hitler's domination of Nazi Germany, eschews narration…
Wattstax (1973): Dir. Mel Stuart; A little–seen yet significant concert film of the 'Wattstax' festival in Los Angeles in 1972, organised to commemorate the 7th anniversary of…
Werner Herzog Documentaries and Shorts - Part 5 (The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner; The Dark Glow of the Mountains; No One Will Play With Me; Ballad of the Little Soldier) (1973-1984): Dir. Werner Herzog; The complete short documentaries and fictional works of the legendary German director, over six discs. The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner…
World At War, The (1973): Epic – both in length and scope – series that comprehensively examines the second World War. Assembling a vast array of rare footage and…
Alistair Cooke's America (TV Series) (1972): Feat. Alistair Cooke; Considered one of the great TV documentary series, this is English broadcaster Cooke's personal view of American history and its teeming,…
Ciao! Manhattan (Edie) (1972): Dir. Sam Green, David Weisman
Feat. Roger Vadim, Isabel Jewell, Viva; The notorious documentary portrait of Andy Warhol 'superstar' Edie Sedgwick, whose beguiling good looks and dissolute lifestyle came to symbolise the…
Crystal Voyager (1972): Dir. George Greenough; A psychedelic surf oddity which sees a lone narrator build a boat and cross the ocean to find that perfect wave. Hippie tomfoolery climaxes in a…
George Harrison and Friends: The Concert for Bangladesh (1972): Feat. George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan…; A lavish presentation of possibly the first all–star charity concert, organised by ex–Beatle George Harrison in 1971 at Madison Square…
I am a Dancer (1972): Dir. Pierre Jourdan
Feat. Rudolph Nureyev; Documentary on Russian ballet dancer Rudolph Nureyev is a solid record of several superb performances, with a rehearsal sequence of Glen Tetley's…
Ladies and Gentlemen...The Rolling Stones (1972): Dir. Rollin Binzer; Legendary Stones concert film captures the band at arguably their artistic peak shortly after the release of Exile on Main Street. Filmed on a…
Lenny Bruce Without Tears (1972): Dir. Fred Baker; Unsparing yet compassionate, this documentary covers the life of oneof the most renowned comedians of the 20th century, Lenny Bruce, whose stage…
Marjoe (1972): Dir. Sarah Kernochan, Howard Smith
Feat. Marjoe Gortner; Provocative Oscar winning doco about Marjoe Gortner, a child preacher who subsequently rebelled against the faith however continued preaching as an…
Morning of the Earth (1972): Dir. Albert Falzon; Acclaimed as one of the greatest surfing films ever made, this is also a languorous and mesmerizing testament to the counter–culture spirit of…
Rossellini's History Films: Renaissance and Enlightenment (The Age of the Medici, Cartesius, Blaise Pascal) (1972-1974): Dir. Roberto Rossellini; Three TV films about some of the western world's major figures and moments, from Italian master Roberto Rossellini in the final phase of his…
Weekend of a Champion (1972): Dir. Frank Simon
Feat. Roman Polanski; A fascinating cinéma vérité project filmed during Formula One's heydays, which eavesdrops on a series of conversations and hang outs between…
Wild South (TV Series) (1972-1982): Acclaimed nature series from renowned wildlife documentary makers NHNZ. Includes the best episodes from the series covering the lives of a range of…
Winter Soldier (1972): Dir. Winterfilm Collective; An astonishing and rare document of the Vietnam War, which records how over one hundred members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in…
Attenborough In Paradise: The David Attenborough Specials (1971-2004): Collection of one–off TV shows hosted by David Attenborough over the years, including 'Attenborough In Paradise', 'The Lost Gods Of Easter…
Blue Water, White Death (1971): Dir. Peter Gimbel
Feat. Tom Chapin, Phil Clarkson, Valerie Taylor…; Groundbreaking and slightly campy doco featuring two shark experts Valerie and Ron Taylor as they attempt to 'de–mystify' the Great White…
On Any Sunday (1971): Dir. Bruce Brown
Feat. Steve McQueen; Cult documentary on motorcycle racing notable for the participation of bike enthusiast Steve McQueen.
Ciao, Federico! (1970): Dir. Gideon Bachmann; This portrait of director Federico Fellini was shot during the making of Satyricon. Revealing, while managing to capture his many contrasting sides.
Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970): Dir. Denis Sanders
Feat. Elvis Presley; The King is captured in preparation of an elaborate Las Vegas concert that was to mark the end of an eight year absence from public performance. With…
Gimme Shelter (1970): Dir. David Maysles, Albert Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin
Feat. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood…; The Rolling Stones captured at the summit of their popularity and musical form in 1970, on the tour that led to disaster at Altamont. The Maysles…
Groupies (1970): Dir. Ron Dorfman, Peter Nevard; A flawed but fascinating glimpse into the world of rock groupies (both male and female) during the heyday of psychedelia in 1969. Though managing…
John Pilger's Documentaries That Changed the World (The Quiet Mutiny; Do You Remember Vietnam?; Year Zero; Death of a Nation) (1970-1994): Dir. David Munro, John Pilger
Feat. John Pilger; Four of journalist John Pilger's most important documentaries, that exemplify his fiercely humanist perspective which makes few concessions to…
Let It Be (1970): Dir. Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Feat. John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney…; 'Fly on the wall' chronicling of The Beatles' recording session for their "Let It Be" album that unwittingly provided glimpses into the fractious…
Nashville Sound, The (1970): Dir. David Hoffman, Robert Elfstrom; Encyclopedic doco filmed during Country Music Week 1969, featuring a pretty impressive lineup from a great period for the form. Includes Roy…
Werner Herzog Documentaries and Short - Part 2 (Land of Silence and Darkness; Handicapped Future; Fata Morgana) (1970-1971): Dir. Werner Herzog; The complete short documentaries and fictional works of the legendary German director, over six discs. Land of Silence and Darkness…
Woodstock (1970): Dir. Michael Wadleigh; Historical gathering of the world's best rock performers and half a million Americans for an unabashed weekend of sex, drugs, rock and roll and…
Calcutta (1969): Dir. Louis Malle; Louis Malle’s companion piece to PHANTOM INDIA isolates some extraordinary footage of Calcutta, presenting a fiery and tempestuous image of a city…
Civilisation (TV Series) (1969): "Not a history of the arts, but a history of life–giving beliefs and ideas made visible and audible through the medium of art." Kenneth Clark's…
Peter Weir Short Film Collection (1969-1972): Dir. Peter Weir; Four early shorts from one of Australia's greatest directing talents; "Homesdale", "Three to Go", "Three directions in Pop Music", "Incredible…
Phantom India (1969): Dir. Louis Malle; Captured on film, Louis Malle’s pilgrimage to India is relayed with remarkable and imposing gravitas as the director discovers the country, warts…
Sorrow and the Pity, The (1969): Dir. Marcel Ophuls; A Classic. Investigating life and death in the Occupied France city of Clermont–Ferrand during WWII, chiefly through interviews, this provides…
This is New Zealand (1969): Dir. Hugh MacDonald; A long–awaited DVD release of the landmark three camera/three projection spectacle, produced by the National Film Unit for the New Zealand…
All My Loving (1968): Dir. Tony Palmer; Early essay–piece from Tony Palmer was born from a challenge to the then–classical music documentarian by John Lennon and Paul McCartney:…
Children of the Sun (1968): Dir. Andrew McAlpine; A nostalgic time capsule from the 1960s about the burgeoning surf culture of New Zealand and Australia during the heyday of longboarding. Filmed…
Complete Monterey Pop Festival, The (Monterey Pop, Jimi Plays Monterey, Shake! Otis at Monterey) (1968-1997): Dir. D.A. Pennebaker
Feat. Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding; In 1967 the acclaimed documentary maker D.A. Pennebaker recorded performances at the Monterey Pop Festival, California. This…
Doors, The - Feast of Friends (1968): Previously only available as a bootleg, this long sought after documentary, self–produced by The Doors, features mythological footage of the…
Elvis - '68 Comeback Special (1968): Feat. Elvis Presley; An extraordinary and comprehensive compilation of material centering around the televised 'comeback' of Elvis Presley in 1968. In addition to the…
Rocky Road to Dublin (1968): Dir. Peter Lennon; Ex–Guardian reporter Lennon recruited French New Wave lensman Raoul Coutard to film this scathing Irish postcard, exposing wayward politics and…
Salesman (1968): Dir. David Maysles, Albert Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin; Devastating look at the borderline existence of four door–to–door bible salesman, as they go their round from coffee–shop,…
Sex, Drugs And Rock 'N' Roll: The 60's Revealed (1968): The result of TV personality Bernard Braden's massive project where he interviewed dozens of celebrities from the swingin' 60s, then…
The London Nobody Knows / Les Bicyclettes de Belsize (1968): Dir. Norman Cohen, Douglas Hickox
Feat. James Mason; The London Nobody Knows: James Mason narrates this short documentary about some of London's more run–down neighbourhoods, which were soon to be…
Actuality Dramas of Allan King, The (Warrendale; A Married Couple; Come on Children; Dying at Grace; Memory For Max, Claire, Ida and Company) (1967-2005): Dir. Allan King; A collection of five cinema–verité style documentaries from the extraordinary Canadian auteur Allan King, all of which are emotionally…
Don't Look Back - Bob Dylan (1967): Dir. D.A. Pennebaker
Feat. Bob Dylan; One of the best portraits of an artist ever committed to film, this extraordinary documentary about Bob Dylan captures the man behind the phenomenon…
Far from Vietnam (1967): Dir. Agnes Varda, Joris Ivens, William Klein
Feat. Anne Bellec, Karen Blanguernon, Bernard Fresson…; A documentary essay film with seven segments each directed by seven French New Wave directors, who express their opposition to the Vietnam War and…
Festival! (1967): Dir. Murray Lerner; A valuable time–capsule of the mid–1960s US folk movement, which browses performances from the Newport Folk Festival in the 1963–66…
History of Australian Cinema (1967-1979): A three part television special that charts the early decades of the Australian film industry and its many pioneers. Part 1: The Pictures That…
Country Calendar (TV Series) (1966-2015): The iconic New Zealand series that unveils the doings of our rural populace – their innovations, traditions and eccentricities. 'Very Best…
Endless Summer (1966): Dir. Bruce Brown
Feat. Mike Hynson, Robert August; Widely popular cult documentary follows two American surfers who trot the globe looking for the perfect wave, even stopping off at Raglan, NZ.…
National Geographic - 125 Years (1966-2012): A commemorative boxset featuring the new anniversary documentary, 'Exploring New Frontiers: National Geographic at 125 years', plus a further 11…
Primitive London (1965): Dir. Arnold L. Miller; This once–shocking mondo style documentary film sets out to reflect societal decay through the sideshow spectacle of 60's London depravity.…
Tokyo Olympiad (1965): Dir. Kon Ichikawa; Ichikawa produced this 'definitive' sports documentary from the output of over a thousand cameras to capture the fascinating human element behind the…
War Game, The (1965): Dir. Peter Watkins; A bleak, heartbreaking depiction of the events that would follow a nuclear war, that was so powerful the BBC banned it from broadcast for 20 years,…
7 Up / 14 Up (Seven Plus Seven) (1964-1970): Dir. Paul Almond, Michael Apted; The first two parts of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of…
Culloden (1964): Dir. Peter Watkins; A groundbreaking documentary depicting the famous battle in 1746 between the English loyalists and Scottish Jacobites. Re–enacting this…
Four Days in November (1964): Dir. Mel Stuart; An unbiased view of events surrounding the death of JFK taken from more than eight million feet of newsreel footage encompassing joyous Kennedy…
Guns of August, The (1964): Dir. Nathan Kroll; A World War I documentary based on the writings of Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Barbara Tuchman that traces the origins and actions of the…
I am Cuba (1964): Dir. Mikhail Kalatozov; One of the most renowned documentaries of the 1960s, this poetic evocation of Cuba under Batista is today notable for both its quaint politics and…
London in the Raw (1964): Dir. Arnold L. Miller, Norman Cohen; 1960s documentary detailing the sordid underbelly of London, aiming for the shock–value notoriety of Mondo Cane, which was released several…
National Geographic Specials (1964-2012)
Up Series Boxset (7-49UP) (1964-2005): Dir. Michael Apted; All 49 years of Michael Apted's extraordinary documentary series chronicling the evolving lives of ordinary Brits.
What's Happening: The Beatles in the USA (The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit) (1964): Dir. David Maysles, Albert Maysles
Feat. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr…; First aired for television, this all access fly–on–the–wall account of the Beatles first trip through the USA in February 1964 is a…
Crisis (1963): Dir. Robert Drew; Tense account of a key battle in the American Civil Rights movement with President Kennedy locked in a tense negotiation with Alabaman Governor…
It Happened Here (1963): Dir. Kevin Brownlow, Andrew Mollo; A genuine filmic curiousity, this meticulous historical fantasy proposes that Nazi Germany invaded Britain in 1940 – leading to a lengthy…
Elgar (1962): Dir. Ken Russell
Feat. Peter Brett, Rowena Gregory, George McGrath; Restrained and brilliant TV docudrama on England’s greatest 20th century composer, Edward Elgar, that made the director’s name and…
Vive Le Tour / Human, Trop Humain / Place de la Republique (1962-1974): Dir. Louis Malle; Louis Malle turns the camera on his homeland, France, in these three documentaries that reveal a curiosity in ordinary human lives: an encapsulation…
Werner Herzog Documentaries and Shorts - Part 1 (Herakles; Last Words; The Unprecedented Defence of the Fortress Deutschkreutz; Huie's Sermon; The Flying Doctors of East Africa; Wings of Hope; Precautions Against Fanatics) (1962-1999): Dir. Werner Herzog; The complete short documentaries and fictional works of the legendary German director, over six discs. Herakles (1962) Last Words (1967) The…
Mein Kampf (1961): Dir. Erwin Leiser; Based on the infamous diary of Adolf Hitler, this is an impressive, prudent chronicle of his life, from his formative years through the horrors of…
Two Sides of Johnny Cash (Five Minutes to Live + Johnny Cash: An Anthology) (1961): Dir. Bill Karn
Feat. Johnny Cash; Double disc DVD includes Cash's starring turn in sixities B–movie thriller FIVE MINUTES TO LIVE, plus JOHNNY CASH: AN ANTHOLOGY, a tribute…
Primary (1960): Dir. Robert Drew; Landmark documentary captures the charismatic JFK as he contests the Wisconsin Democratic Primary with Hubert Humphrey. One of the first films of…
Royal Ballet, The (1960): Dir. Paul Czinner; Outstanding performance film showcases prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn on the stage of London's Covent Garden. Includes extracts from Swan lake,…
Savage Innocents, The (1960): Dir. Nicholas Ray
Feat. Anthony Quinn, Peter O'Toole, Yoko Tani; Curiously compelling ethnological drama from dir. Ray in which an eskimo (Quinn) wages an ongoing battle for survival in the Arctic environment and…
European Nights (1959): Dir. Alessandro Blasetti; A variety bill of nightclub acts from the heyday of European cabaret. Included are acts from Carmen Sevilla, The Platters, Ukrainian Balalaika…
Delius (1958): Dir. Ken Russell; Ken Russell's BBC film biography of the music and life of English composer Frederick Delius, who had to overcome blindness and paralysis to fulfil…
Whicker's World (TV Series) (1958-1994): Feat. Alan Whicker; Fronted by one of the most celebrated social commentators and journalists of the 20th century, Alan Whicker's television masterpieces saw the polite…
James Dean Story (1957): Dir. Robert Altman
Feat. Martin Gabel; Martin Gabel narrates this portrait of James Dean created shortly after his death, which assembles the material available at this time, including…
Mystery of Picasso, The (1956): Dir. Henri-Georges Clouzot; Famed director Henri–Georges Clouzot gains exclusive entry into Pablo Picasso's inner creative sanctum, observing the master painter at work on…
Three Worlds of Jacques Cousteau, The (The Silent World, World Without Sun, Voyage to the Edge of the World) (1956-1976): Dir. Jacques Cousteau, Louis Malle; A trilogy of award–winning documentary feature films from famed oceanogragher, Jacques Cousteau. The Silent World (1956) won the Palm D'Or…
Nuit et Broulliard (Night and Fog) (1955): Dir. Alain Resnais; Haunting, influential doco on the Nazi concentration camps investigates the ways in which images of past events cause guilt for those in the present,…
Back of Beyond, The (1954): Dir. John Heyer; A classic early documentary on Australia's untamed outback, this influential film follows intrepid mailman (and fair dinkum Aussie legend) Tom Kruse,…
Conquest of Everest, The (1953): Dir. George Lowe; Technicolour documentary about the various expeditions to the summit of Mount Everest. Both cameraperson Tom Stobart and New Zealand director George…
Divine Horseman (1953): Dir. Maya Deren; Interesting filmic record of Voodoo 'possession' dances from Haiti, shot by experimental filmmaker Deren, whose rhythmic editing patterns enhance the…
Kon-Tiki (1950): Dir. Thor Heyerdahl; Captain of the legendary Kon–Tiki, Thor Heyerdahl, recalls the experience of his crew via precious archival footage, in this powerful…
Norman McLaren: The Collector's Edition (1948-1968): Dir. Norman McLaren, Donald McWilliams; A collection of 14 films from Norman McLaren, the visionary Canadian filmmaker who pioneered innovative techniques to blend animation and…
Trial at Nuremberg (1947): Dir. Jack Kaufman; Actual footage of the historic war crime hearings in which Goering, Hess and 19 other SS Nazi leaders would be brought to trial over 217 days at the…
Why We Fight (Prelude to War, Tunisian Victory, Know Your Enemy: Japan, War Comes to America, Battle of China, Battle of Britain, Divide and Conquer) (1943-1945): Dir. Frank Capra; Old boy Frank Capra directed seven raging propaganda films between ARSENIC AND OLD LACE and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE for the rhetorically–dubbed…
WWII - The John Huston Documents (Let There Be Light; The Battle of San Pietro) (1943-1947): Dir. John Huston; Two legendary war documentaries from John Huston (THE MALTESE FALCON) who participated in WWII as a combat filmmaker yet whose films are the…
Native Land (1942): Dir. Leo Hurwitz, Paul Strand; Impassioned and authentic, this landmark film call for social revolution in Depression–era America blends vivid re–anactments with actual…
War Years (1939-1945): An excellent representative selection of wartime footage shot by the National Film Unit during WW2. Originally distributed as newsreels, this…
Olympia (Olympiad) (1936): Dir. Leni Riefenstahl; Hitler confidant Leni Riefenstahl's legendary recording of the Berlin Olympics when German nationalism and Nazi pride was at fever pitch. A…
Hooked: Anti-Drug Films from the 30's to the 70's (1935-1979): Dir. Various; Typically alarmist and all the funnier for it this set of nine "educational" shorts never lets research get in the way of putting the fear into…
Triumph of the Will (1935): Dir. Leni Riefenstahl; The famous official document of the Nazi rally at Nuremberg, 1934, shot in stunning geometric compositions. This manages to stagger the senses, while…
Britain in the Thirties (1934-1939): Dir. Various; A compilation of short films from Britain’s flowering of innovative documentary and experimental film during the 1930s. Featured films: Song of…
Man of Aran (1934): Dir. Robert Flaherty
Feat. Colman 'Tiger' King, Maggie Dirrane, Michael Dillane; Powerful study of the daily struggle for survival on the Aran Islands off the western coast of Ireland, without even the benefit of soil to plant…
Las Hurdes (Land Without Bread) (1933): Dir. Luis Bunuel; Surrealist non–fiction short film focused around Las Hurdes, the poorest region of Western Spain. An unnervingly straight travelogue delivered…
Land of Promise - The British Documentary Movement 1930-1950 (1931-1951): A revealing, 40–strong film archival of British society, culture, work ethic, and nationalism, preserved in documentaries shot during the…
Tabu (1931): Dir. F.W. Murnau
Feat. Anna Chevalier; A beautifully filmed romantic tragedy based on a simple Pacific island folk tale. Poetry and sensuality is startlingly evoked through the play of…
Time to Remember, A - New Zealand Edition (Movietone Edition) (1930-1975): Comprehensive archive of New Zealand Cinesound and Movietone newsreels, from 1930–1975. Surveying five decades of Kiwi history and heritage,…
Great White Silence, The (90 Degrees South) (1924-1933): Dir. Herbert G Ponting; Awe–inspiring footage from Robert Falcon Scott's disastrous expedition to the South Pole in 1910, covering the ship–voyage and…
Nanook of the North (1922): Dir. Robert Flaherty; Landmark early documentary that was also dir. Flaherty's debut, depicting life for a plucky Eskimo family who use all their ingenuity to survive in…
Oskar Fischinger: Ten Films (1921-1947): Dir. Oskar Fischinger; A collection of ten films from German–American filmmaker and visual artist Oskar Fischinger, whose brilliant abstract animated films paved the…
Time to Remember, A - British Empire Edition (Movietone Edition) (1920-1980): Widespread collection of British Empire Movietone newsreels, from 1920–1980. Providing an unbeatable insight into major events in British…
South (1919): Dir. Frank Hurley; Documentary portrait of the most epic survival story of our time, Ernest Shackleton's 1914 expedition to the South Pole, in which their ship became…
Time to Remember, A - World Edition (Pathe Edition ) (1900-1980): World edition of this invaulable newsreel series, compiling segments from the Pathe archives on two World Wars, totalitarianism, the Holocaust,…
100 Years of Olympic Glory: A panoramic history of the modern Olympic Games. Contains all the classic highlights and competitors, plus many interesting but little–known…
20th Century Newsreels: A leisurely tour through the most famous newsreels of the 20th century, from the Boer War and San Francisco earthquake to Chuck and Di's wedding.…
50 Worst Movies Ever Made: An appropriately schlocky, American–centered countdown of the 'worst movies ever made', ranging from classic cult items like "Glen or Glenda"…
A Life to Remember - Frederic Chopin: 2 disc ode to the great classical pianist Chopin by internationally celebrated pianist and Chopin enthusiast–Alan Kogosowski, performing over…
Adventures in Maoriland: An insight into the making of 'Hei Tiki', a romantic drama by American Alexander Markey, circa 1930. From the Education and Resource Series.
Alfred Hitchcock - Legend: The Master of Suspense discusses his film–making techniques and career, as well as interviews with those that worked with him and many excerpts…
American Civil War: Robert Powell summarises the four year history of America's most costly conflict.
Attenborough's Anthology: Feat. David Attenborough; Britain's foremost naturalist, Sir David Attenborough selects his ten favourite episodes from the various documentary series he's fronted for the BBC…
Birds and the Bees, The: A collection of 16 sex education films distributed to high school classrooms and military barracks between 1917 and 1973. By turns enlightening,…
CNN: 1991 Year in Review: America's News Network takes a look at a significant year in history – from the Russian revolution and the Gulf war to general events in sport,…
Coast New Zealand (TV Series): New Zealand chapter of the picturesque BBC documentary series exploring the world's coastlines. Neil Oliver returns as presenter, and explores…
Complete Beatles, The: Feat. Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison…; Almost everything you ever wanted to know about the pop music phenomenon is here contained. Their performances, recording and marketing techniques…
Dalekmania: Feat. Peter Cushing; Cast members and cultists take a nostalgic peek at the making of the Dr. Who feature films.
Day the Wall Came Down: Chronicle of events that led to the falling of the Berlin Wall and the re–integration of East and West Germany.
Death Row + Worst Crimes of the 20th Century: Part one looks at the history of capital punishment in America while the second examines four of the most horrific mass murders of this century…
Doors, The - Tribute to Jim Morrison: An interesting documentary on which much of Oliver Stone's film was based. Much rare footage is intercut with interviews from band members and…
Empires (TV Series): Epic mini–series series focused on the greatest eras of our time and how they shaped the world as we know it. Directed by respected…
Exiles - The Story Of A Polish Journey: Dir. John Anderson; A 30 year old writer and historian endeavours to uncover more about her Polish mother's harrowing life prior to arriving in Wellington in 1944, as…
Fish Tank Tele: Impress your party guests and turn your television set into an instant aqaurium! Contains sixty minutes of action–packed fish life.
Football's Greatest: 25 legends of the round ball game are considered for the title of world's greatest footballer in this engrossing sports series. Disc 1 –…
Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras: The official videos of both the 1994 and 1995 Sydney Mardi Gras Parade integrating insider and public interviews with the famously flamboyant street…
Great Crimes and Trials of the Twentieth Century: This absorbing crime series analyses the grim details of century's most heinous yet fascinating crimes. Five volumes to quench that voyeuristic…
Great War, The: Nine million died over the four years of World War 1. This chronicles events with exclusive use of achival footage.
History of Pornography: Dir. Hons Wegmunsen; Raw expose of the origins and changing social implications of taboo erotica. The 'stag' movies of the '30s and '40s, in this context are particularly…
Horror of Hammer, The: Brilliant collection of movie trailers from Hammer Studios horror heyday in the 1950s and 60s. Includes all the classics, plus two featurettes…
Ingmar Bergman - Distinction Series: Useful collection of several documentaries and articles relating to the singular Swedish filmmaker. Also contains a short doco on the great…
Joys of the Women: Dir. Franco Di Chiera; An Australian–Italian folk–singer rediscovers the songs of her grandmother's generation in this inspiring document of her search, and…
Keri Hulme: An encounter with the acclaimed writer by Gaylene Preston plus an except from Hulme's short story 'Hooks and Feelers'. From the Education and…
Life and Crimes of Ronald Arthur Biggs, The: Comprehensive documentary with the train robber and former world's most hunted fugitive Ronnie Biggs recounting his various exploits. Filmed in the…
Making Movies: This complete movie–making serial collates footage from the golden age to give insight into the role of the director, the actors,…
Maori - Culture, Traditions and History: Historical doco presented by NZ historian Don Stafford tracing the history of Maori from their arrival on the fair shores of Aotearoa to traditional…
Newest City On the Globe: Dir. Peter Wells, Stewart Main; From the Education and Resource Series, this is Peter Wells and Stewart Main's film about our art deco city, Napier.
Pop - The Conspiracy of Popular Culture: Dir. Aaron Keown; Laughable, local–made conspiracy ‘doco’ concerns a dubious Larry Loungehard galavanting around the world with various pop cultural icons in…
RFK Must Die: Dir. Shane O'Sullivan; Provocative documentary, the thesis of which is that convicted murderer Sirhan Sirhan did not act alone, but in fact assassinated Kennedy while under…
Rhino's Guide to Safe Sex: A hilarious retrospective of public service sexual films from the '40s, '50s and '60s, detailing everything from proper petting etiquette to military…
Shocking San Francisco / Weirdo New York: Dir. Charles Gatewood; Two galleries in which Gatewood's low–tech perv–cam sniffs out dubious delights from both capitals of kink. SEE a mistress of…
Songmakers Collection, The: Dir. Morgan Neville; Documentary about the musical revolution that took place in New York's Brill Building, an office space a few blocks from Times Square dubbed "The Hit…
This Is Horror I & II: Feat. George Romero, Clive Barker, Dario Argento…; Two informative and entertaining documentaries that celebrate the best of modern horror. Contains many excerpts from films (some unavailable) with…
Ufos Are Real!: Close encounters of all kinds and conspiracy cover–ups are revealed in this tabloid–style doco which is determined to have you believe!…
Wake: Dir. Annie Goldson; Annie Goldson's complex film that examines 'NZ as the promised land for immigrants'. From the Education and Resource series.
Werner Herzog Documentary Collection (Encounters at the End of the World, The White Diamond, The Flying Doctors of East Africa, La Soufriere.): This special collection brings together four stunning films from legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog. Featuring previously unseen, breathtaking scenery…

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