This Film is Not Yet Rated
How the Motion Picture Association’s rating system has shaped American culture.
Running time: 1 hour 38 mins.
The Human Sexes
A socio-anthropological view of gender. Or, in less academic parlance, sex differences. A great series (even if the difference between science and hearsay is somewhat blurred). This is part 1, the remaining parts are also on Google video.
Running time: 51 mins.
Architecture is a new way to connect the world
Not sure how I missed this TED talk. Anyway, Thom Mayne was one of the founders of Morphosis, who were doing interesting things with asymmetric geometry or ‘deconstruction’, and actually getting it built, while people like Zaha Hadid were still just producing pretty drawings. Enjoy.
Running time: 22 mins
Full screen
Northern Soul
There are two places in the world that rank high in the importance of 60’s and early 70’s Soul: the North of the Midwest, where it was made and the North of England where the blue-collar, black American art form was truly appreciated by their white English counterpart.
This is a great documentary about the Wigan Casino an unlikely and forgotten cultural Mecca.
Running time: 26 mins.
Full screen
The War Game
Classic cold war piece. Infamous 1965 production about a hypothetical nuclear attack on Britain. The film was deemed so disturbingly realistic that it was never broadcast in the UK. It was released theatrically in the US, and went on to win an Oscar.
Running time: 48 mins
Panorama: Princes, Planes and Payoffs
Last week’s investigative report into the emerging billion dollar payoff of the former Saudi US ambassador, by the UK’s BAE.
Very poor quality video, but decent audio. This story will run and run.
Running time: 30 mins
Full screen
Comments Off on Panorama: Princes, Planes and Payoffs business, politics
J.G.Ballard – Shanghai Jim
Running time: 34 mins.
Full screen
Comments Off on J.G.Ballard – Shanghai Jim biography, history
Bumfights a Video Too Far
Documentary about the unbelievable exploitation of homeless people’s misery for profit.
Running time: 46 mins.
Fermat’s Last Theorem
If I were to pick my favorite documentary of all time – it would be this. Mathematics, the most rational of all subjects may seem to be an unemotional topic. For this very reason, seeing the tears in Wiles’ eyes when he recounts the inspirations that enabled him to finally solve a centuries old enigma make this a dramatic piece of the most subtle kind. Simultaneously gentle and powerful.
Running time: 43 mins.
31 comments history, science, smashing telly top 10 documentaries