Image shows the poster for the film Dawson City Frozen Time, in which a black and white image of a woman from a silent film is shown against an icy background.

Top of the Docs #48 – Dawson City: Frozen Time (2016)

By: Joel Whitaker
Columns, Top of the DocsLeave a Comment on Top of the Docs #48 – Dawson City: Frozen Time (2016)

With Dawson City: Frozen Time the, extremities at which film can survive is told through a documentary narrative like no other.

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Image is from the documentary 'Los Angeles Plays Itself' (2003) Image shows the lit up strips of Los Angeles by night, with the city's name overlaid in block text.

Top of the Docs #45 – Los Angeles Plays Itself

By: Joel Whitaker
Columns, Film, Top of the Docs, Leave a Comment on Top of the Docs #45 – Los Angeles Plays Itself

From stairwells to suburbs and beyond, Los Angeles quite literally is cinema, and Thom Andersen’s Los Angeles Plays Itself sets out to prove it.

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Image is from the documentary 'Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y' (1997). Image shows grainy footage of a plane in the middle distance exploding on a landing strip.

Top of the Docs #43 – Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y (1997)

By: Joel Whitaker
Columns, Top of the DocsLeave a Comment on Top of the Docs #43 – Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y (1997)

Released in 1997, Johan Grimonprez’s film explores plane hijackings almost as a cultural phenomenon, stretching back from the 1960s right up until his contemporary moment.

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Image shows a red wall with hole in it, which a child stares through. Over the wall are the words Can't Get You Out of My Head.

Top of the Docs #42 – Can’t Get You Out of My Head (2021)

By: Joel Whitaker
Film, Top of the Docs, , Leave a Comment on Top of the Docs #42 – Can’t Get You Out of My Head (2021)

Renowned for his breadth of research and incisive analysis, Curtis’ documentaries usually focus on an aspect of history, exploring its cultural, social and political impacts.

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Image is from the documentary 'Les sorcieres de l'Orient'. It shows a female volley ball player, animated in the style of 1960s anime, preparing to spike a ball.

Top of the Docs #41 – IFFR Special: ‘Les sorcieres de l’Orient’ (2021)

By: Joel Whitaker
Columns, Festivals, Film, Reviews, Top of the Docs, 1 Comment on Top of the Docs #41 – IFFR Special: ‘Les sorcieres de l’Orient’ (2021)

This year at IFFR, Faraut returns with his new film, Les sorcieres de l’Orient, a story of triumph, dedication, and perhaps Japan’s most iconic sports team.

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Image from the documentary Archipelago. Image depicts an animated road lined with trees and mountains in the distance.

Top of the Docs #40 – IFFR Review: Archipelago

By: Joel Whitaker
Festivals, Film, Top of the Docs, Leave a Comment on Top of the Docs #40 – IFFR Review: Archipelago

Félix Dufour-Laperrière’s documentary takes a poetic approach to what makes up “place” and the result is perhaps one of the most interesting psycho-geographic documentaries in recent years.

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Image is from the film Madelena (2021). It shows a mid-shot of a woman staring enigmatically at something off-camera.

IFFR 2021: ‘King Car’ (2021), ‘Madalena’ (2021), and the Power of Brazilian Cinema

By: Joel Whitaker
Featured, Festivals, Film, , , Leave a Comment on IFFR 2021: ‘King Car’ (2021), ‘Madalena’ (2021), and the Power of Brazilian Cinema

After an impressive 2019 in Cannes, with Bacurau earning such deserving praise, and The Invisible Life of Euradice Gusmao picking up the Un Certain Regard, this year’s IFFR proves that it has one.

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