DOC NYC — A–Z of films

The very nature of Tsemel's passion for her projects makes this a compelling watch

Aengus James focuses on seemingly uninteresting moments, demythologising the cinematic imperative of searching for sensation.

This consideration of multiple lives, rather than one constructed arc serves to underline the sense that each person is only a small cog turning in the bigger wheel of the machine.

Despite knowing, thanks to the consumption of a dozen or so books, how things would play out...I still found myself tensing up when we see the Eagle lunar lander begin its descent

The real joy in the film lies in watching what started out as barren land gradually bloom over the years.

It's the people least likely to go and see this who stand to get the most out of it.

Daniel Vernon’s film is one of those meandering documentaries that starts out trying to do one thing and ends up going in directions that nobody involved seems to have anticipated.

There's a lot of ground to cover, but Costa keeps a strong grip on the material

Al-Kateab and Watt capture not just the horror of war but the vibrancy of those attempting to carry on their lives as best they can against its backdrop.

The directors let the humanism shine out without resorting to sentimentality, capturing moments of joy, such as the pleasure of shared, sticky honey with the same lack of artifice as moments of pain or grief.

Neatly put together, accessible and smart, Human Nature spends only a small portion of its running time mired in the usual debates, getting beyond them to explore much more interesting areas.

Nothing here is quite what it seems.

Writer/director Laurie Lynd does a good job of bridging the gap between LGBTQ and straight audiences.

Greenfield keeps tight control, allowing Marcos to say what she wants, while busily illustrating the opposing perspective.

The documentary is clearly on the side of candidates, which is fine, but it could also benefit from a bit more scepticism and empathy for its auxiliary subjects.

You don't need to be a fan of board sports to enjoy the latest documentary from Joe Berlinger, but if you are you'll certainly get plenty of added value

This is a small, personal story with big implications.

By keeping the camera in the back of the ambulance largely at a level above that of the various patients, Lorentzen ensures the film never becomes voyeuristic.

Unlike a more conventional refugee documentary - shot by an outsider parachuting in - this is an intimate and ongoing study in which the family have complete agency, lending the film an additional ring of truth.

There is something extremely sad about the collision of two women with each other.

Wang and Zhang are to be commended for fitting as much in as they do, even if it does mean the film roams about rather than having a single focus.

Personhood makes a distinctive contribution to the ongoing discussion about women's rights in today's America.

There are no easy answers here. Geller and Peary are at pains not to take sides.

There's little actual sport here, with more extensive focus on the half time entertainment, but that won't stop ice hockey fans from enjoying this ripping yarn.

Much of what it has to say is obvious enough once the facts are in order but it still serves as an important contributor to broader conversations about the cultural shift we have witnessed in recent decades.

Longinotto has always had a knack for getting interviewees to open up in such a way that even they can seem surprised at what they end up saying.

This is a well-constructed film, featuring not just strong talking head material, from experts and those bearing the impact of the industry across the globe, but also smart animations that crystallise the issues.

In keeping with its subject, Unschooled is loosely structured, throwing a lot of things into the mix.

It is in large part an ethnography, providing a glimpse inside a culture that gets relatively little exposure in media.

The stories are astonishing.