10 Nov Must Watch Films At DOC NYC
BY KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR
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DOC NYC, the country’s largest documentary film festival, is back for its 11th edition from November 11th to 19th. The festival has shifted online to showcase over 200 films including 23 World Premieres, 12 International/North American premieres, and 7 U.S. premieres. This year’s lineup is also focused on diversity with 53% of the feature films directed or co-directed by women and 34% of feature-films by Black, Indigenous, and people of color directors.
With a line up of 108 feature-length documentaries, it can be difficult to determine which films to watch. Here is a list of a few must-watch films from the DOC NYC program.
The Viewing Booth directed by Ra’anan Alexandrowicz
Do documentary films really help change minds? The Viewing Booth, directed by Philadelphia-based filmmaker Ra’anan Alexandrowicz, seeks to answer this complex question. Filmed with the support of both Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania, the documentary features Alexandrowicz showing a series of videos from nonprofits to college students, seeking their reactions. Some of the videos are from Human Rights organization B’Tselem and portray life in the West Bank city of Hebron. Student Maia Levy captured Alexandrowicz’s attention. Levy describes herself as “pro-Israel” and scrutinizes the videos as one would a fictional movie. Alexandrowicz is left wondering whether any of his films could ever really change people’s minds.
Landfall directed by Cecilia Aldarondo
Framed as a conversation between Puerto Ricans living on the archipelago and those in the diaspora, Landfall, directed by Cecilia Aldarondo, is a look at Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Collaborating with associate producer Lale Namerrow Pastor, Aldarondo was able to provide a nuanced perspective of the two sides of the archipelago: that of the Puerto Ricans and of the reconstruction efforts by wealthy foreigners. The film paints a frustrating portrait of the abusive colonial conditions of Puerto Rico as one side struggles to survive in ruined homes and the other buys multi-million dollar properties.
Landfall was acquired by POV and will premiere on PBS as part of the 34th season, which starts in June 2021.
Finding Yingying directed by Jiayan “Jenny” Shi
Finding Yingying follows the personal exploration of director Jiayan “Jenny” Shi as she learns about the death of her friend, Chinese international student Yingying Zhang. A loving and studious person, Yingying came to the United States to earn a PhD at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The 26-year-old’s life was cut short one day when she disappeared from her college campus. Director Jenny Shi picks up the camera and becomes intimately involved with the search for Yingying. Through the process, she connects with Yingying’s family to support them through the complex cross-cultural quest for answers. Finding Yingying was awarded the 2020 SXSW Special Jury Prize for Breakthrough Voice and Shi is a DOC NYC 40 under 40 honoree.
The film is an MTV Documentary film and has not announced a release date.
Unapologetic directed by Ashley O’Shay
After the murder of Rekia Boyd, two strong abolishionists, Janaé and Bella, lead the community to fight for the rights of Black women. Boyd was a 22-year-old Black woman who was murdered by off-duty police detective Dante Servin. Set in Chicago, Janaé and Bella work as community organizers with the Black Youth Project (BYP100) and the larger Black Lives Matter movement. The film spans past the election of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the first openly LGBT person and the first African American woman to be mayor. Unapologetic, directed by Ashley O’Shay, serves as a love letter to the Black women of Chicago.
Stray directed by Elizabeth Lo
Have you ever wondered what it was like to experience life as a dog? The film Stray, directed by Elizabeth Lo, follows three dogs on the streets of Istanbul, Turkey. While filming, Lo would often bend down to the dog’s height to capture their point of view. The cast of dogs include Zeytin, Nazar, and puppy Kartal as well as three young Syrian refugees. Stray examines the vagabond life of three dogs with the complexities of human life as a backdrop. The dogs move within the city often ignored and experience few moments of intimacy from people on the streets. These dogs serve as a mirror to the lives of the young refugees who are homeless. Both the dogs and their companions live off the scraps they can obtain from the city. In the end, the lives of the dogs are protected by law in Turkey because, as the film states, “it is now illegal to euthanize or hold captive any stray dog.” Yet, the lives of the Syrian refugees are not decriminalized.
Stray is distributed by Magnolia Pictures and set to be released on March 5, 2021.
Assassins directed by Ryan White
The assassination of Kim Jong-un’s half-brother, Kim Jong-nam, made headlines internationally. At the center of the story were two young women who were accused of espionage. Assassins, directed by Ryan White, follows the trial of Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong who were tricked by North Korean spies into murdering Kim Jong-nam. The film includes insightful interviews with lawyers, law officials, reporters, and family. In a stranger-than-fiction web of lies and practical jokes, Assassins tells the story of these two women’s unassuming fall.
The film is distributed by Magnolia Pictures and has yet to announce a release date.
The Mole Agent directed by Maite Alberdi
In a retirement home in Chile, an unlikely spy is on the case. In The Mole Agent, directed by Maite Alberdi, Sergio, an 83-year-old man, is hired by private detective Romulo to investigate allegations of elder abuse at a retirement home. Sergio is grieving from the death of his wife and seeks out the job as an opportunity to get out of the house. Romulo is painstakingly patient with Sergio as he teaches him how to use spy technology: a smart phone. The Mole Agent is a humorous, charming, and bittersweet look at the lives of elders.
Additional films to watch include No Ordinary Man and 76 Days, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Read our coverage of TIFF.
Kristal Sotomayor is a bilingual Latinx freelance journalist, documentary filmmaker, and festival programmer based in Philadelphia. They serve as Programming Director for the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival and Co-Founder of ¡Presente! Media Collective. Kristal has written for ITVS, WHYY, AL DÍA, and Documentary Magazine.
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