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DOC NYC · 2020

DOC NYC 2020

International Perspectives

Programme

6 films · 3 reviews

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76 Days

Review preview for 76 Days

Across this film, two dominant themes emerge - the overwhelming nature of the situation and the importance of small acts of kindness.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Filmed in Wuhan, China by an independent crew, 76 Days covers the length of the city’s lockdown for Covid-19.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Weixi Chen, Hao Wu, Anonymous; Writer: Hao Wu)

Full review

The Letter

Review preview for The Letter

The documentarians put the locale to poetic use, employing photography of the natural surroundings to accompany a lot of the comments from the family rather than simply moving from talking head to talking head.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
In an increasingly common scheme to steal their land, land-owning Kenyan elders are being accused of witchcraft by younger family members and sent away. Responding to a bizarre Facebook message that his beloved grandmother is killing children, Karisa visits his family compound in rural Kenya to investigate.

(Country: Kenya; Year: 2019; Director: Maia Lekow, Christopher King)

Full review

Once Upon A Time In Venezuela

Review preview for Once Upon A Time In Venezuela

Although it may be a remote arm of the Venezuelan body politic, it mirrors a political and environmental malaise that is coursing through the veins of the country.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Once upon a time, the Venezuelan village of Congo Mirador was prosperous, alive with fisherman and poets. Now it is decaying and disintegrating – a small but prophetic reflection of Venezuela itself.

(Country: Venezuela, UK, Brazil, Austria; Year: 2020; Director: Anabel Rodriguez Rios; Writer: Anabel Rodriguez Rios)

Full review

Smog Town

Just outside of Beijing, the city of Langfang is on the front lines of China’s fight against air pollution. The local environmental protection bureau and its intrepid deputy chief — affectionately called “Uncle Smog Buster” by local school kids — are tasked with navigating Beijing’s strict national policy and the interests of local politicians and businesses.

(Country: China; Year: 2019; Director: Meng Han)

Summerwar (Sommerkreig)

Following two youngsters sent to a paramilitary summer camp - uber-patriotic teen Jasmin revels in the military-style maneuvers and gun training, while younger Jassip is much less enthusiastic about becoming a soldier.

(Country: Germany, Ukraine; Year: 2019; Director: Moritz Schulz; Writer: Moritz Schulz, Tetiana Trofusha)

Wuhan Wuhan

Capturing life at the epicentre of the epidemic.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Gong Cheng, Yung Chang)