spotlight on the latest documentaries

By @nadreviews

​Looking to catch up with the world of documentaries? Here are some of the most powerful and inspiring stories to keep your eyes on in this retrospective of the past year.

On the Record (dir. Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick)
The devastating story of music executive Drew Dixon is the subject of On the Record, a gripping documentary directed by Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick. In the wake of the Me Too movement founded by Tarana Burke, often missing from all discourse were (and are) Black women’s experiences which are necessary to be heard. This documentary follows Drew in the moments leading up to her decision to come forward and accuse Russell Simmons of sexual misconduct. With focus on Drew and her story, we see the emotional toll on her as well as what was lost over the course of several years.
Where to watch: Crave CA

Time (dir. Garrett Bradley)
Garrett Bradley’s incredible documentary, Time, is a moving portrait of love that spans over two decades. The story follows Fox Rich: an entrepreneur, abolitionist, and mom to 6 boys, trying to keep her family together while fighting for the release of her incarcerated husband. The documentary is told primarily through resonating home video diaries recorded by Fox over the years. Bradley weaves the footage together in a truly unforgettable way that shows Fox’s resilience within the ripple effects of America’s flawed prison system. This is one of the most intimate and emotional documentaries in years. 
Where to watch: Prime Video CA

The Donut King (dir. Alice Gu)
Alice Gu’s fascinating documentary The Donut King incorporates one intriguing perspective after another in its blend of historical and economic threads. The documentary follows how Ted Ngoy built a multi-million dollar donut empire. Ngoy, a refugee who escaped Cambodia in 1975, sponsored hundreds of refugees coming to America and gave them opportunities by teaching them how to run a donut business. By the late 70s, Cambodian-owned small donut shops cornered the pastry market in Southern California. This is a heartfelt story about survival, success, and the rise and fall of a mogul.
Where to watch: Eventive CA

Dick Johnson Is Dead (dir. Kirsten Johnson)
Told in one of the most creative ways imaginable, director Kirsten Johnson tries to get ahead of her 86-year-old father’s inevitable death in the documentary Dick Johnson Is Dead. Operating from the fear of losing a loved one, she prepares for the worst by confronting mortality and staging different ways he could die. This documentary is a fascinating, funny, and moving exploration of an incredible father-daughter relationship that has seen a rollercoaster of emotions. Dick Johnson Is Dead tells a heartfelt story of how powerful memories are, and how devastating it is to lose them.
Where to watch: Netflix CA

The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart (dir. Frank Marshall)
Frank Marshall’s musical documentary soars through the triumphs and losses of brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, known as the Bee Gees. The trio had a unique quality that set their voices apart from the rest: brotherhood. The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart tells a resonating tale of the trio’s tight knit childhood, meteoric rise to fame, and rollercoaster to fortune. Having gone into this documentary not knowing much about their history, it was a treat to discover just how many ballads they wrote, and to see how the band adapted to different genres of music during their later years. This documentary will make your heart sing.
Where to watch: Crave CA

Disclosure (dir. Sam Feder)
Disclosure is an absolute must-see. This documentary by Sam Feder unravels Hollywood stories that have influenced and harmed the transgender community. For decades, representation on screen has affected how transgender people are seen by themselves and by others. Through exploring the history of trans images in film and television, the importance of truthful narratives shine. It is crucial to note that while representation is improving, there is still a long way to go, and the work continues beyond the educational points brought up in this eye-opening documentary.
Where to watch: Netflix CA

Mucho Mucho Amor (dir. Kareem Tabsch and Cristina Costantini)
Walter Mercado - the iconic, gender non-conforming astrologer - mesmerized 120 million Latino viewers with his extravagance and positivity for decades until he mysteriously disappeared. Directed by Kareem Tabsch and Cristina Costantini, this beautiful documentary explores the events leading up to Walter’s disappearance from television, as well as the inspirational legacy he leaves behind. Archival footage, insightful interviews, and one-on-one moments with Walter paint a loving portrait of a legendary person who embodied joy. Mucho Mucho Amor is made with a lot of admiration and celebration of Walter’s life and the journey that brought him back into the limelight. 
Where to watch: Netflix CA

The Mole Agent (dir. Maite Alberdi)
Director Maite Alberdi brings an intriguing spy drama perspective to The Mole Agent, a charming documentary about loneliness and togetherness. Told mostly from inside a nursing home, private detective Romulo hires an 83-year old man named Sergio to pose as a resident and look for signs of abuse towards a client’s mother. This observational documentary tells a moving and endearing story about Sergio’s increasing personal ties as he befriends the other residents. The closer he feels to them, the more distracted he is to find evidence and report back to Romulo. The Mole Agent makes compelling observations about the power of friendship, and the emotions residents go through while living in isolation from the outside world.
Where to watch: YouTube CA

Collective (dir. Alexander Nanau)
After a tragic fire in a Romanian club, several victims transported to hospitals began dying with non-life threatening injuries. Collective is a startling example of investigative journalism that uncovers the corruption of the Romanian healthcare system and governmental negligence. That a lot of the whistleblowing emerged from a sports journalist watching the story unfold from the sidelines is indicative of a flawed, horrifying system. Collective immerses itself into the world of journalists and survivors in a fight for truth, justice, and transparency.
Where to watch: iTunes CA

Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (dir. Nicole Newnham and James LeBrecht)
Crip Camp tells an inspirational story of revolution, resilience, and togetherness. Down the road from Woodstock in the early 1970s, history was in the making. Camp Jened, a summer camp located in the Catskills, created a safe space for a diverse community of disabled teenagers to be themselves. Jened was a summertime oasis where people with disabilities were accepted. Directed by Nicole Newnham and former camper James LeBrecht, this resonating documentary explores the heartwarming power of community and the spark that led to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Where to watch: Netflix CA