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Sundance Film Festival · 2009

Sundance Film Festival 2009

World Cinema Documentary

This year's 16 films were selected from 744 submissions.

Programme

16 films · 8 reviews

Jump to a film

211:Anna

The story of Anna Politkovskaya, a Russian journalist and human rights activist who risked her life to report the truth about the Chechen conflict and President Vladimir Putin.

(Country: Italy; Year: 2009; Director: Paolo Serbandini, Giovanna Massimetti)

World Premiere

Afghan Star

Review preview for Afghan Star

Although not breaking new ground in terms of the way it is shot and edited, this is a compelling story and features some excellent archive footage.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Four hopefuls compete to become pop idols in post-Taliban Afghanistan.

(Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Havana Marking) , Official site

Full review

North American Premiere

Big River Man

Review preview for Big River Man

This is Jackass for the saddest and most isolated.

Chris · 2 out of 5
A Slovenian endurance swimmer takes on the Amazon.

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: John Maringouin; Stars: Matthew Mohlke, Borut Strel, Martin Strel) , Official site

Full review

World Premiere

Burma VJ (Burma VJ: Reporter i et lukket land)

Review preview for Burma VJ

A Japanese journalist is shot dead in the street. Gunfire can be heard everywhere. Crowds run in panic.

Angus Wolfe Murray · 3.5 out of 5
Burmese journalists risk life imprisonment to report from inside their sealed-off country.

(Country: Denmark; Year: 2009; Director: Anders Ostergaard) , Official site , Trailer

Full review

US Premiere

The End Of The Line

Review preview for The End Of The Line

One cannot come away from this film without thinking twice about that next order for Sashimi.

Tony Sullivan · 3.5 out of 5
The devastating effect global overfishing is having on fish stocks and the health of our oceans.

(Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Rupert Murray) , Official site , Trailer

Full review See: Sundance Diary: Day Five

World Premiere

The Glass House

Review preview for The Glass House

There is no doubt that the women's stories are heartbreaking, but they are not helped to express their views by Rahmanian, who persists in thrusting the camera in their faces at every opportunity.

Amber Wilkinson · 2.5 out of 5
Four teenagers attempt to overcome their problems at a day centre in Tehran.

(Country: US, Iran; Year: 2009; Director: Hamid Rahmanian) , Official site

Full review See: Sundance Diary: Opening Night and Day One

North American Premiere

Kimjongilia

Defectors from North Korea speak out about the terrifying reality of their lives - and escapes.

(Country: US, France; Year: 2009; Director: NC Heikin; Writer: NC Heikin; Stars: Lee Shin, Choi Young Hun, Kang Chol Hwan)

World Premiere

Let's Make Money

From the factories of India, to financial markets in Singapore, to massive housing developments in Spain and offshore banks in Jersey, this documentary reveals complex and shocking workings of global money flow.

(Country: Austria, China, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, US; Year: 2008; Director: Erwin Wagenhofer; Writer: Erwin Wagenhofer; Stars: Antonio Baena Perez, George Belton, John Christensen, Yves Delisle, Ramón Fernandéz Durán, Joseph James, Antonio Jinanez, Kalvilselven, Francis Kologo, Animata Kompaore)

World Premiere

Nollywood Babylon

Review preview for Nollywood Babylon

The charm of this film lies in its unpretentious mode of letting the filmmakers, artists and historians speak for themselves.

Sarah Artt · 4 out of 5
Welcome to the wacky world of Nollywood, Nigeria's bustling home-grown movie industry.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2008; Director: Ben Addelman, Samir Mallal; Writer: Ben Addelman, Samir Mallal; Stars: Osita Iheme, Chinedu Ikedieze, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Uche Jumbo, Kenneth Okonkwo, Bob-Manuel Udokwu)

Full review

US Premiere

Old Partner (Wonangsori)

Review preview for Old Partner

A thoroughly disarming horse-fly-on-the-wall documentary.

Tony Sullivan · 4 out of 5
Documentary about an elderly farmer, his wife and their loyal ox.

(Country: South Korea; Year: 2008; Director: Lee Chung-ryoul; Stars: Won-gyoon Choi, Sam-soon Lee)

Full review

North American Premiere

Prom Night In Mississippi

When a small-town Mississippi high school resolves to hold its first integrated senior prom, strong emotions fly and traditions are challenged to their core.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2009; Director: Paul Saltzman)

World Premiere

The Queen And I (Drottningen Och Jag)

Swedish filmmaker Sarvestani, an Iranian exile who helped overthrow the Shah's regime in 1979, confronts her own assumptions and complex truths about Iran when she enters the life of the Shah's widow.

(Country: Sweden; Year: 2009; Director: Nahid Persson Sarvestani)

World Premiere

Quest For Honor

A former teacher and tireless activist works with local lawmen, Kurdish government agencies and her colleagues to investigate and eradicate honor killings in the tribal regions of Kurdistan.

(Country: Kurdistan, US; Year: 2009; Director: Mary Ann Bruni)

World Premiere

Rough Aunties

Review preview for Rough Aunties

When I watched this film, many in the audience were in tears.

Val Kermode · 3 out of 5
A documentary looking at a women's organisation dedicated to rescuing abused children.

(Country: UK; Year: 2009; Director: Kim Longinotto) , Official site

Full review

North American Premiere

Thriller In Manila

Joe Frazier tells his side of the story of his legendary fight against Muhammad Ali.

(Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: John Dower)

North American Premiere

Tibet In Song

Through the story of Tibetan music, this film depicts the determined efforts of Tibetan people, both in Tibet and in exile, to preserve their unique cultural identity. Choephel served six years of an 18-year prison sentence for filming in Tibet.

(Country: US; Year: 2009; Director: Ngawang Choephel)

World Premiere