With actor Morgan Freeman's support, Mississippi's Charleston High School stages its first senior prom to integrate both black and white students. This documentary examines the perspectives of several seniors as they prepare for this historic event. A group of disapproving white parents, who refused to meet and talk with the filmmakers, organized a separate White Prom for their children to attend.
Bastards of the Party
Directed and hosted by Cle Sloan, a former member of Los Angeles' notorious gang, the Bloods, this documentary chronicles the history of black street gangs, from their first appearances in the 1940s to their present-day incarnations. Inspired by Mike Davis's book, City of Quartz, Sloan examines the culture from all sides, drawing on interviews with active and inactive gang members, former FBI agents and prominent community figures.
The YES Men Fix the World
Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno -- two high-minded pranksters known as the Yes Men -- use tomfoolery to highlight the political and economic shenanigans surrounding ecological catastrophes such as the 1984 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal, India. "Punk'd" meets social commentary as the Yes Men impersonate corporate spokespersons and other authorities, infiltrate media such as the BBC, and expose the moral limitations of government and commerce.
For the Bible Tells Me So
n this Sundance documentary, director Daniel Karslake goes to the Bible to examine the ways in which conservative Christian groups have used -- and sometimes exploited -- holy Scripture to deny basic human rights to gays and lesbians around the world. Highlights include interviews with V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion, and Chrissy Gephardt, the lesbian daughter of former U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt.
The Singing Revolution
James and Maureen Castle Tusty's moving documentary recounts Estonia's fight for independence from Soviet occupation, telling the remarkable story of the hundreds of thousands of protestors who gathered in public to voice their dissent through song. After 50 years of rule by the oppressive Soviet regime, the people of Estonia gave life to a grassroots movement for change by staging passionate rallies and singing forbidden patriotic songs.
Coal Country
Increasingly, Big Coal is spelling big trouble for Appalachian communities whose members have worked the mines for generations. This documentary reveals why with its explanation of the effects of mountaintop-removal mining on the region. Miners, coal company officials and area residents weigh in on the high price of "cheap energy" -- especially when it involves blowing off mountain summits to expose seams. Journalist Michael Shnayerson narrates.Coal Country(2009)
Who Killed the Electric Car?
Amid a volatile climate of ever-changing gas prices, this documentary delves into the short life of the GM EV1 electric car -- a fuel-efficient auto that was once all the rage in the mid-1990s and now has fallen by the roadside. How could such a green-friendly vehicle fail to transform lives? Through interviews with government officials, former GM employees and concerned celebs, filmmaker Chris Paine seeks to find out.
Outrage
Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Kirby Dick sets out to expose the hypocrisy of gay politicians who passionately criticize the LGBT community in public while concealing their own sexual orientation. In addition to exposing the secret lives of powerful policymakers -- and the damage they've inflicted on LGBT Americans -- this documentary also takes a critical look at the media's involvement in keeping homophobic politicians closeted.
Sicko
Michael Moore sets his sights on the plight of the uninsured in this Oscar-nominated documentary that uses Moore's trademark humor and confrontational style to ask the difficult questions and get to the truth behind the health care crisis. In the world's richest country, 45 million people have no health insurance, while HMOs grow in size and wealth. Moore also explores the widespread use of antidepressants and their possible link to violence. (Note: this description is slightly inaccurate. =))
Super Size Me
On the heels of recent lawsuits against McDonald's, director Morgan Spurlock takes a hilarious and often terrifying look at the effects of fast food on the human body, using himself as the proverbial guinea pig. For one month, Spurlock eats nothing but McDonald's, ordering everything on the menu and "super-sizing" his order whenever asked. The result is a sobering examination of the line between personal and corporate responsibility.
In Debt We Trust
Filmmaker and former journalist Danny Schechter (WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception) investigates Americans' ongoing love affair with credit cards and the staggering level of personal debt it's created, paying special attention to the relationship between Congress and the credit card industry. In a modern society that's increasingly "financialized," consumer debt is so common that extending credit has become highly lucrative.
descriptions from netflix.com
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