Ok, here's the list of documentaries I promised last week. This is not an exhaustive list, just a few good ones that really struck a chord with me recently (i.e. the past year).
The Agronomist (2004): Directed by Jonathan Demme, this profile of Haitian radio journalist and human rights activist Jean Dominique weaves historical footage of Haiti's troubled past with one-on-one interviews with Dominique and his devoted wife, Michele Montas. The film also incorporates rare footage shot just before Dominique's assassination on April 30, 2000.
Life and Debt (2001): This searing documentary examines how the policies of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other aid organizations have changed the Jamaican economy over the past quarter of a century, leaving the local people to struggle in poverty and work in sweatshops. Author Jamaica Kincaid narrates with Belinda Becker to a reggae soundtrack that includes songs by Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Mutubaruka and Peter Tosh.
The Future of Food (2004): Before compiling your next grocery list, you might want to watch this eye-opening documentary, which sheds light on a shadowy relationship between agriculture, big business and government. By examining the effects of biotechnology on the nation's smallest farmers, director Deborah Koons Garcia reveals the unappetizing truth about genetically modified foods: You could unknowingly be serving them for dinner.
Our Brand is Crisis (2005): Following members of a political consulting firm to Bolivia, where they've been hired to help controversial candidate Gonzalo "Goni" Sanchez de Lozada reclaim the presidency, filmmaker Rachel Boynton reveals the manipulation and orchestration involved in big-time political campaigning. With only a few weeks before the election, consultants Jeremy Rosner, Stan Greenberg and James Carville work their magic, shaping Goni into the ideal candidate.
A Place Called Chiapas (1998): One of the poorest regions in Mexico, the southern province of Chiapas drew worldwide attention in 1994 when a militant political faction, the Zapatista National Liberation Army, staged a major uprising. Featuring a rare on-camera interview with the mysterious insurgent leader Subcomandante Marcos, filmmaker Nettie Wild's documentary investigates the rebel movement and the government's attempts to quash the activities of the Zapatistas.
The Take (2004): Following Argentina's economic collapse in 2001, 30 unemployed auto-parts factory workers marched into an idle Buenos Aires plant and refused to leave. This simple protest -- the take -- ultimately pitted the workers against their bosses, the banks and the Goliath of corporate globalization. Journalist and social activist Avi Lewis's documentary chronicles the workers' passionate mission to reopen the plant -- and restore their lost dignity.
I also have several in my queue: Death in Gaza, Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price, Gaza Strip, The Trials of Henry Kissinger, The Corporation, and Favela Rising. I'll report back on anything especially riveting once I've seen these...
UPDATE: I just realized that A Place Called Chiapas can be viewed on Google Video (click for the full screen version):
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