Cinema Guild News

New Release: THE AXE IN THE ATTIC

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:00:58 GMT

What does it mean to be exiled in your own country? In the aftermath of Katrina, two filmmakers embark on a road trip to meet displaced evacuees. An important American documentary, The Axe in the Attic tackles questions of race, class, and the breakdown of trust between a government and its citizens.

New Release: THE GAME OF CHANGE

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:00:58 GMT

When the Loyola basketball team started four African-American players in 1963 they were suddenly thrust into the national spotlight. The Game of Change reaches far beyond sports, demonstrating this particular event's significance in the battle for race equality in a largely segregated country.

New Release: LIFE. SUPPORT. MUSIC.

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:34:42 GMT

When Jason Crigler, a young musician, suffered a brain hemorrhage, the doctors' prognosis was dire: if he survives, there won't be much left of him. Incorporating footage shot by hospital staff, this acclaimed documentary follows Jason's extraordinary rehabilitation and recovery. In the process, it opens an window into the workings of the human mind.

New Release: MEN ON THE EDGE: Fishermen's Diary

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:34:42 GMT

On an abandoned beach off the coast of Israel, against all odds, Israeli and Palestinian fishermen live and work together. documents four years in their lives, an eclectic group of men brought together by a shared relationship with the sea.

New Release: THE JUDGE AND THE GENERAL

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:34:42 GMT

In 1998, Chilean judge Juan Guzman, a longtime Pinochet supporter, was assigned to prosecute the ex-dictator for human rights crimes. This engrossing documentary follows the twists and turns of a landmark case that influenced the application of human rights laws around the world.

New Release: THE ORDER OF MYTHS

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:18:06 GMT

The first Mardi Gras in America was celebrated in Mobile, Alabama in 1703. In 2007, it is still racially segregated. A thoughtful investigation into our nation's history and traditions, this acclaimed documentary illuminates the complexities of race relations in 21st century America.

New Release: DIPLOMACY

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:37:07 GMT

Is the U.N. still relevant? This behind-the-scenes documentary follows the efforts of diplomats to pass an imperative Security Council resolution authorizing the deployment of a peacekeeping force to Darfur.

New Release: THE BATTLE OF LOCAL 5668

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:37:07 GMT

How a small labor dispute at the Ravenswood Aluminum Plant in Ravenswood, West Virginia erupted into a national boycott and media campaign that changed the way unions deal with management.

New Release: STRAWBERRY FIELDS

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:58:18 GMT

Planted in Israel, harvested in Gaza, and exported to gourmet markets in Europe, the Gazan strawberry is the only product sold abroad as Palestinian produce. The amazing story of this little red fruit - and the people who cultivate it - is a study in globalization, politics and occupation.

New Release: AFGHAN MUSCLES

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:00:19 GMT

In post-Taliban Kabul, the most popular sport is bodybuilding. Afghan Muscles takes us inside Afghanistan's thriving bodybuilding culture - attracting thousands of young men who dream of attaining a better life through muscles. It's a side of Afghanistan and Middle Eastern society that few have ever seen.

New Release: JERUSALEM CUTS

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:00:19 GMT

The founding of Israel - specifically the 1948 war for Jerusalem - is seen through the work of two photographers, British and Palestinian, in this compelling documentary that examines how pictures shape the way history is remembered and taught. Includes remarkable never-before-seen photos.

New Release: THE LOST COLONY

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:00:19 GMT

Somewhere in Russia, a primate laboratory tried to cross-breed monkeys and humans. But that's only half the story in this fascinating documentary about a once-renowned scientific institute struggling to survive in a fractured Eastern Europe.

New Release: BEYOND EYRUV

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:00:19 GMT

Hasidic communities in the U.S. and elsewhere are surrounded by an Eyruv, a thin wire that serves as a ritual boundary with the secular world. Beyond Eyruv follows a young man who decides to leave the ultra-orthodox Hasidic community, the only world he's ever known.

New Release: THE UNFORESEEN

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:53:39 GMT

An urgent, beautifully crafted examination of urban sprawl and its impact on the environment, The Unforeseen is a critically-acclaimed, award-winning documentary from director Laura Dunn and executive producers Terrence Malick and Robert Redford.

New Release: WHAT'S UNDER YOUR HAT?

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:50:37 GMT

A journey into the world of outsider art, as seen through the works of Judith Scott, an artist with Down Syndrome whose enigmatic sculptures have won her worldwide acclaim.

New Release: WE DON'T PLAY GOLF HERE - and other stories of globalization

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:10:37 GMT

What can the construction of a golf course in Mexico teach us about globalization? This disarmingly engaging documentary offers a primer on how 'free market' economics can distort both culture and the environment.

New Release: JOURNEY OF A RED FRIDGE

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:50:37 GMT

The journey of a young boy, hired to carry a red Coca-Cola fridge across the Himalayan Mountains, is an acute portrait of child labor in the developing world. This unusually beautiful and moving documentary is supported by the Global Fund for Children.

New Release: PROFIT MOTIVE AND THE WHISPERING WIND

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:00:37 GMT

An epic, visual meditation on the progressive history of the United States, from colonial times to the present, as seen through its cemeteries, historical plaques and markers. 2008 National Society of Film Critics Award winner.

New Release: GIMME GREEN

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:00:37 GMT

A social history of one of our most recognizable national symbols - the residential lawn. Humorous, but thought-provoking, Gimme Green considers the impact of this uniquely American obsession on the environment, our health, and our way of life.

New Release: LADIES OF THE LAND

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:00:37 GMT

As small farms continue to disappear at an alarming rate, a growing number of women are venturing into this tradition-bound, male-dominated industry - and revitalizing it from within. Ladies of the Land explores the recent emergence of the woman farmer and her connection to the boom in organic farming.

New Release: AFGHAN WOMEN: A History of Struggle

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:00:37 GMT

The tumultuous history of Afghanistan from the perspective of the country's female population, Afghan Women: A History of Struggle chronicles the stories of women who have risked their lives to achieve political, economic, and social equality.

New Release: TANGIER TREEHOUSE

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:02:37 GMT

When a group of Moroccan street children faced with the choice of emigrating illegally to Europe take part in a treehouse building workshop, they find themselves unexpectedly transformed. This wonderful documentary offers a timely and intimate window into the world of Arab youth.

New Release: LIKE A SHIP IN THE NIGHT

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:03:22 GMT

Abortion is illegal in Ireland. Yet every year, more than 8,000 women travel in secret to England to have abortions. They do so despite the risk of life imprisonment and social stigmatization. Like A Ship in the Night follows three such women as they plan their journeys across the sea.

New Release: FRONTRUNNER: The Afghan Woman Who Surprised the World

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:01:22 GMT

The heroic story of the first woman to run for President of Afghanistan. Frontrunner introduces us to Dr. Massouda Jalal, a mother of three children, whose campaign inspired thousands of women across the country to participate in the democratic process.

New Release: OCHBERG'S ORPHANS

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:01:32 GMT

From the Academy Award winning director of Anne Frank Remembered, comes the amazing story of Isaac Ochberg, a South African businessman who rescued hundreds of Jewish orphans across Eastern Europe in the brutal aftermath of the Russian revolution.

New Release: FRONTRUNNERS

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:01:32 GMT

It's hard to run for office - even in high school. Frontrunners follows the recent elections at the ultra-competitive Stuyvesant High School in New York City, and explores how politics works at its most nascent level.

New Release: NEVER PERFECT

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:01:32 GMT

How are ideals of beauty influenced by race, history, and geopolitics? And how are these ideals reinforced in ethnic communities? With a rich selection of film clips and archival footage, examines the dramatic rise in popularity of cosmetic surgery among Asian-American women.

New Release: CUBA: A Lifetime of Passion

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:01:32 GMT

With unprecedented access to Cubans on both sides of the Florida Straits, Cuba: A Lifetime of Passion looks at the extant reality of the Cuban Revolution and its uncertain post-Castro future.

New Release: MISS NAVAJO

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:01:32 GMT

For most of us, pageants conjure up smiling beauty-queen hopefuls parading around in bathing suits or glittery gowns. But most of us have never witnessed the Miss Navajo Nation competition - a unique pageant established in 1952 to celebrate women and tradition in Navajo culture.

New Release: CHE GUEVARA: THE BODY AND THE LEGEND

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:01:32 GMT

More than 40 years after his death, the image of Che Guevara has become one of the most recognizable icons of our age. This captivating documentary explores the mystery surrounding his death and the birth of his legend.

New Release: PRIMO LEVI'S JOURNEY

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:00:00 GMT

Narrated by Academy Award winning actor Chris Cooper, Primo Levi's Journey is a picaresque road trip through history.

New Release: COCALERO

Wed, 17 October 2007 12:00:00 GMT

In 2006, Evo Morales became the first indigenous president of Bolivia - winning the election with the largest majority in the country's history. Hailed as "outstanding" by the New York Times, is a captivating portrait of this controversial figure and his astonishing rise to power.

New Release: MAPPING STEM CELL RESEARCH: Terra Incognita

Thu, 25 July 2007 12:00:00 GMT

Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognita puts a human face on the stem cell debate by following the work of Dr. Jack Kessler, a renowned expert in the field, as he searches for a cure to spinal cord injury, and the breakthrough that will allow his injured daughter to walk again.

New Release: Orange Revolution

Thu, 16 July 2007 12:00:00 GMT

An in-depth look at Ukraine's historic Orange Revolution. Assembled from over 300 hours of original footage and archival materials, featuring penetrating interviews with key players, this documentary chronicles one of the most successful non-violent revolutions in decades.

New Release: Welcome To Nollywood

Thu, 21 June 2007 12:51:00 GMT

After the U.S. and India, the world's third largest producer of feature films is Nigeria. Barely a decade old and already generating over $286 million for the Nigerian economy, Welcome to Nollywood explores this burgeoning industry, from its unique challenges to its diverse array of films that both mirror and comment upon the social ills of the continent.

New Release: The Borinqueneers

Mon, 11 June 2007 12:51:00 GMT

The Borinqueneers is the first major documentary to chronicle the never-before-told story of the Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment, the only all-Hispanic unit in the history of the U.S. Army, from its creation in 1899 through its service in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. Narrated by Hector Elizondo.

New Release: Sonia

Mon, 11 June 2007 12:51:00 GMT

A magical portrait of Russia's revolutionary artistic avant-garde - Mayakovsky, Voloshin, Blok, Malevich, Tatlin - through the life of Sonia Dymshitz-Tolstaya, an impassioned artist whose life reflected the social upheavals of her time. She was one of the few Jewish women who became part of this inner circle.

New Release: To Tell The Truth: The Story of Lin Binyan

Mon, 11 June 2007 12:51:00 GMT

Chinese journalist Liu Binyan sought out the truth his entire life and consequently paid a huge price for his honesty. Named one of Time Magazine's Asian Heroes, this film documents his incredible story and struggle to build a freer China.

New Release: Promised Paradise

Tue, 08 May 2007 09:51:00 GMT

How can one believe that terrorism leads to heaven? Banned by the Indonesian government, this provocative documentary examines the psychology of extremism in a country with the largest Muslim population in the world.

New Release: In Memoriam: Alexander Litvinenko

Tue, 01 May 2007 12:51:00 GMT

Begun nearly two years before his death, this arresting documentary offers a meticulous account of the life and death of ex-FSB agent Alexander Litvinenko, and in the process, opens a fascinating window on the current political climate in Russia.

New Release: The Blood Of Yingzhou District

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:33:00 GMT

2007 Academy Award winner for Best Documentary Short Subject, The Blood of Yingzhou District is a groundbreaking documentary film which exposes the hidden AIDS epidemic in China, a country not commonly associated with the disease.

New Release: An Ordinary Family

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:31:00 GMT

When the Argentine economy collapsed in 2001, even the comfortably middle-class suddenly found themselves poor and struggling to survive. An Ordinary Family chronicles the experience of one family in Buenos Aires during this crisis.

New Release: Thin Ice

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:30:00 GMT

Forget the NHL! Real stories of triumph and determination are being played out on a makeshift ice rink in India. Thin Ice is the inspiring story of a group of young girls who broke gender and religious barriers to compete in the national ice hockey tournament.

New Release: Workingman's Death

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:29:00 GMT

Is manual labor disappearing in the 21st century or is it just becoming invisible? Michael Glawogger's stunningly photographed Workingman's Death showcases five of the most dangerous and grueling professions in the world, offering a ground-level lesson on globalization, humanity, and the environment.