Documentaries

 

In "Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North," the descendants of the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history retrace their ancestors' slave trade route from Rhode Island to Ghana to Cuba. Their journey is a bold first step and the start of an important conversation. One of the places they visit is Elmina Castle, a former slave fort along Ghana's Atlantic coastline. It is a place I have been to – and will stay with me forever.
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So often, what we hear about China refers to the nation as a whole: China's booming capitalist economy, its rising power on the international stage, the government's control over the media. But what about the private lives of the Chinese as a people? What hopes do they have? What anxieties? How much have their lives really changed? 

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How well do we ever know our parents? This thought occurred to me when I spent time with my mother and her friends over the weekend. I was with them in a social setting on their turf, and it was almost like seeing Mom as a person – not just a mother – for the first time. I chatted with many of her friends and felt as if I'd finally arrived as an actual adult. I was privy to candid stories, confessions and insecurities. From the corner of the room, I observed complicated dynamics among friends, husbands, wives, others. These could be my own friends, I thought.
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My friend Paul (not his real name) remembers being taunted as a kid in Chicago. He was an all-American kid whose grandparents were from India. His family was Sikh and his grandfather wore a turban and beard in keeping with traditional Sikh practices. Kids at school called Paul a range of derogatory names, including one in particular that still causes him to grit his teeth.
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Depression is treatable about 80% of the time, but too many men aren't seeking help – perhaps because they're afraid to speak up.
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Pro-war? Anti-war? Somewhere in between? When it comes to "Carrier," viewers' opinions – just like sailors' – cover the spectrum.

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In the last couple of years, Rocky Mountain PBS has placed great importance in hosting free public screenings and discussions of programs that will later be on TV. Although television is our medium, public screenings give our viewers a chance to meet each other, learn more about a program, hear from experts and share ideas with others.
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Is corn, the all-American staple, truly the cause of some all-American obesity? The makers of the new documentary "King Corn" think so.

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In my Tennessee hometown, you'll see a change jar at nearly every convenience store counter, collecting funds to help a family with a sick child. When this topic comes up, I've overheard or been part of many conversations that go like this.
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I eat documentaries for breakfast. Seriously, I can't see enough. Once I saw "Hoop Dreams" in 1994, I was hooked, and I've spent the years since catching up on the greats  – "Hearts and Minds," "Grey Gardens," "Gates of Heaven," etc. – and seeing all the new ones. It's why I love my job at Rocky Mountain PBS and why I love coordinating our ITVS Community Cinema screenings. It is extra exciting to me, then, to see two local filmmakers enjoy serious success with their ambitious, thoughtful documentaries.
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