• News
  • Videos
  • Adobe Premiere Tips
  • About
  • FocusPulling.com
Menu
  • News
  • Videos
  • Adobe Premiere Tips
  • About
  • FocusPulling.com

Author Description

Paul Moon
Connect on Facebook Connect on Twitter Connect on Linkedin

H. Paul Moon is a filmmaker based in New York City and Washington, D.C. whose works concentrate on the performing arts. Major films include “Sitka: A Piano Documentary” about the craftsmanship of Steinway pianos, “Quartet for the End of Time” about Olivier Messiaen’s transcendent WWII composition, and an acclaimed feature film about the life and music of American composer Samuel Barber that premiered on PBS. Moon has created music videos for numerous composers including Moondog, Susan Botti and Angélica Negrón, and three opera films set in a community garden. His film “The Passion of Scrooge” was awarded “Critic's Choice” by Opera News as a “thoroughly enjoyable film version, insightfully conceived and directed” with “first-rate and remarkably illustrative storytelling.” Further highlights include works featured in exhibitions at the Nevada Museum of Art and the City Museum of New York, PBS television broadcasts, and best of show awards in over a dozen international film festivals.

30 October 2025

This Week In Documentary

Written by Paul Moon

Happy Halloween and the beginning of November, and congratulations to us for exceeding 1,000 subscribers last week! First, I want to remind readers that no scary movie you watch this Friday will give you nightmares worse than any documentaries about mass murderers, nuclear weapons, or other real terrors. Second, because it’s the start of a new month, there are a lot of documentaries to feature and highlight this week, so I need to make this introduction short.

Before we get to all that, though, I want to share a link to Alexei Aigui’s Critics Choice-nominated score for Orwell 2+2=5, which is now available to stream or purchase. I also want to share the amazing footage of Jim Morrison becoming the first person to ski the North Face of Mount Everest, a feat that will be the subject of a new documentary (tentatively titled Everest North) directed by Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin for National Geographic.

Now, without further ado, below are this week’s documentary highlights, including capsule reviews of new nonfiction films and series. They are followed by daily listings for all notable releases and a brief look at what’s coming soon for doc fans. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future, and to give me more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have a doc in need of coverage or a mention in our listings, you can reach me at christopherbartoncampbell (at) gmail.

Nonfics Pick Of The Week: Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk (2025)

I’m not the biggest fan of Sepideh Farsi’s latest feature, but as I concluded my review of Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, it’s worth watching for the sake of its subject if not the film. The documentary follows a year in the life of Palestinian photojournalist and poet Fatma Hassouna as she shares her life in Gaza amidst the bombing, and she deserves to have her story heard and her work seen. Plus, as you’ll see in the awards highlights below, it’s a popular contender and will probably be in the conversation for the Oscar. Films that I don’t like but many others do will always be something to recommend.

Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk opens in theaters on Wednesday, November 5.


Other Documentary Highlights

Johnny Pigozzi and Johnny Pigozzi in I Am Curious Johnny

Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives Of Q Lazzarus (2025)

If you want to have the song “Goodbye Horses” stuck in your head for days and also learn about the woman who sang that song (best known for its use in the film The Silence of the Lambs), then you’ll want to watch at least a bit of this documentary. You can be forgiven for skimming through it, though, as it’s too long even for a subject with so many chapters, as the title suggests. Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus credits four editors, but it just needed one with the sense to pace the story with more regard for the viewer. As is stressed throughout, Diane “Q” Luckey always deserved better, this film included.

Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus begins streaming exclusively on The Criterion Channel on Saturday, November 1.

I Am Curious Johnny (2025)

When it comes to vanity projects, there’s never been anything like I Am Curious Johnny. The film’s subject, uber-wealthy photographer and art collector Johnny Pigozzi, isn’t even listed as a producer, but it comes across as his project more than that of director Julian Temple (The Filth and the Fury). I can’t imagine anyone even asking for a documentary about him other than him. The feature-length profile celebrates him for having a supposedly interesting life while showing off his island, multiple mansions, famous friends, and past lovers. One person compares him to the protagonist of Zelig; Pigozzi seems obsessed instead with comparing his life to that of Citizen Kane. If only he were as compelling a figure as either one.

The documentary makes some creative choices in the ways that it gets Pigozzi’s story out of him. Many of his interviewers are celebrities he knows, mostly via Zoom calls. He also interviews himself, as the film sometimes features two of him on screen in conversation with one another. He is also interviewed by his late father and talks to himself as a boy, F for Fake era Orson Welles, and others, using AI tools. And he is even interviewed by a partially animated cartoon character he claims at the time is his chauffeur. The problem is that he’s not an interesting subject, just a rich and privileged one. The film’s eccentrics fit his character, but especially at the end, the audience is made to (or should) dislike him, undercutting his alleged charm that made him who he is (I have to believe it was more the money than the personality). I am mad that I got to know him, though I enjoyed some of how I got to know him.

I Am Curious Johnny debuts on HBO Max on Monday, November 3.

Indigenous-American Documentaries

Beginning November 1, timed to Native American Heritage Month, The Criterion Channel is spotlighting documentaries by and about Indigenous Americans with a curation called Native Nonfiction. Many of these films, of various lengths, are not available anywhere else ahead of their being exclusively programmed on the streaming service. They include the feature Itam Hakim, Hopiit, and the shorts Navajo Talking Picture, Hooghan, F1ghting Looks Different 2 Me Now, and Tiger, the last of which just won a directing award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Lee Grant Documentaries

Actress and filmmaker Lee Grant turns 100 years old on October 31, and we recommend watching some of her documentaries for the occasion of her centenary. Last week, we highlighted her Oscar-winning film Down and Out in America as part of an early celebration. You can watch that and the following titles on Kanopy: The Willmar 8, When Women Kill, What Sex Am I?, and Battered. Her American Masters installment, Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light, is streaming on HBO Max.

The White House Effect (2024)

Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen are back to the topic of climate change with one of two documentaries they have hitting Netflix this week (the other is In Waves and War). Previously, he directed and she produced The Island President, which dealt with the issue as it could impact the Maldives. They later co-directed An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power. This time, they’ve brought on Pedro Kos, who edited The Island President, as a third director for the fully archival feature The White House Effect.

I’m a sucker for these kinds of films, but its chronicling of the George H.W. Bush administration’s handling of the problem plays like a light gathering of historical material as merely a look back at why we are where we are today on the issue. It’s the rare archival documentary where I wish there were some talking heads or at least some voiceover from fresh interviews discussing more than the obvious connections. The only effect that it may have on viewers is to anger them about a past that can’t be changed. It doesn’t need to be more than that, though some blindly see it as a more important and necessary documentary than it is, simply because it concerns the issue.

The White House Effect begins streaming on Netflix on Friday, October 31.

Werner Herzog Documentaries

Another one of The Criterion Channel’s November programming highlights is a celebration of Werner Herzog’s filmography, including both fiction and nonfiction shorts and features. Many of the titles being added to the streaming service on November 1 are documentaries that haven’t been there already. Most have been available through other outlets, with Tubi being a common place to find his lesser-known works, but now The Criterion Channel will be at least temporarily a hub for anyone to catch up with Herzog’s prolific career as a director. Also, if you want to know which to watch first, we ranked Werner Herzog’s documentaries years ago, and it hasn’t been updated since and so it’s not exhaustive, but 38 of them are on that list.


Awards Highlights

Cinema Eye Honors Nominees

The first batch of nominees for the 19th Annual Cinema Eye Honors was revealed last week, as were this year’s “Unforgettables” honorees. Only eight names were selected for the latter recognition of documentary subjects. They are Noam Shuster-Eliassi from Coexistence, My Ass! (now in theaters), Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley from Come See Me in the Good Light (premiering on Apple TV on 11/14), Seymour Hersh from Cover-Up (in theaters on 12/5), Sara Shahverdi from Cutting Through Rocks (in theaters on 11/21), Pasha Talankin from Mr. Nobody Against Putin (coming soon), Jacinda Ardern from Prime Minister (now on HBO Max), and Fatma Hassouna from Put Your Soul On Your Hand and Walk (opening theatrically this week). Two of these honorees have died since appearing in their respective films.

All of those films, save for Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, are also up for the Audience Choice Prize. They’re joined by Apocalypse in the Tropics (Netflix), Deaf President Now! (Apple TV), The Eyes of Ghana (coming soon), Folktales (arriving on VOD on 11/4), It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley (now on VOD), The Librarians (in theaters), Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (PBS), Orwell 2+2=5 (in theaters), and The Tale of Silyan (in theaters on 11/28). Deaf President Now! is the only one of those fan favorites to be relegated to the Broadcast Film Nominees section of the Cinema Eye Honors, which also recognizes such hits as My Mom Jayne (HBO Max), Pee-wee as Himself (HBO Max), and the series Social Studies (Hulu). The short documentary shortlist was also announced, with contenders including The Devil is Busy (HBO Max), Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud (HBO Max), and We Were the Scenery (debuting on The Criterion Channel on 11/1).

The Gotham Film Award Nominees

Last week, the Gotham Film & Media Institute announced its nominees for the 35th Annual Gotham Film Awards, including those in the Best Documentary Feature category. The five contenders include 2000 Meters to Andriivka (coming soon to PBS), BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions (opening theatrically this week), My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow (currently unavailable), The Perfect Neighbor (now on Netflix), and Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (opening theatrically this week).

Subscribe now


Documentary Release Calendar 10/31/25 – 11/6/25

John H. Sununu and George H.W. Bush in The White House Effect

Friday, October 31, 2025

East Harbor Heroes Season 1, Episode 2: “Heavy Lifting” – The second installment of a docuseries following various maritime workers in St. John’s, Newfoundland. (Discovery Channel)

Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman Season 1, Episode 3: “The Beefy King” – The latest installment of a travel food series following the titular pro wrestler as he attempts to eat every item on restaurant menus. This episode brings him to Orlando, Florida. (USA Network)

I’m Not Everything I Want to Be (2024) – An archival documentary about Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková. (In Theaters)

Murder at the Motel Season 2, Episode 1: “Surf Motel” – The latest episode of this true-crime docuseries involves a murder in Sacramento. (A&E)

Murder on Trial Season 1, Episode 1: “Deadly Betrayal” – The first episode of this new true-crime series involves the death of a celebrity hairdresser. (A&E)

The State of BBQ: A Texas Monthly Special (2025) – A documentary special on Texas barbecue joints. (PBS)

Walk With Me (2024) – A documentary feature by casting director Heidi Levitt about her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. (In Theaters)

What Do You Think? (Number Three) (1938) – A short film about communication with the dead. (TCM)

The White House Effect (2024) – A documentary feature by Bonni Cohen, Pedro Kos, and Jon Shenk about the U.S. government’s failure with climate change. (Netflix)

Who’s Superstitious? (1943) – A short documentary examining various superstitions. (TCM)

A Witch Story (2022) – A documentary feature about the ancestor of one of the Salem witch trial victims. (OVID)

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Austin City Limits Season 51, Episode 5: “Samara Joy” – The latest installment of this music docuseries features a performance by Samara Joy. (PBS)

Ballad of the Little Soldier (1984) – A medium-length documentary by Werner Herzog about the use of child soldiers in Nicaragua. (The Criterion Channel)

The Black and the Green (1983) – A medium-length documentary about African-American civil rights activists who traveled to Belfast during the time of the Troubles in solidarity with the Northern Irish seeking liberation. (The Criterion Channel)

Blue Baby (2024) – A documentary feature following incarcerated youth at a prison alternative called Boys Town. (Tubi)

CNBC Sport: On the Record Season 2, Episode 3: “The Investors”- The latest installment of this sports news and documentary series focuses on the money people. (CNBC)

Commandment Keeper Church, Beaufort South Carolina, May 1940 (1940) – A short filmed record of religious services in a Gullah community. (The Criterion Channel)

The Dark Glow of the Mountain (1984) – A short documentary by Werner Herzog following mountaineers attempting to climb the Karakoram peaks Gasherbrum I and Gasherbrum II. (The Criterion Channel)

Echoes from a Somber Empire (1990) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog about Bokassa’s rule in the Central African Republic. (The Criterion Channel)

F1ghting Looks Different 2 Me Now (2022) – A nonfiction short film by Fox Maxy about her move home. (The Criterion Channel)

Faces, Displays, and Other Imaginary Things (2020) – A nonfiction short film about Indigenous labor in the Pacific Northwest. (The Criterion Channel)

Fata Morgana (1971) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog consisting of footage shot in the Algerian Sahara Desert. (The Criterion Channel)

God’s Angry Man (1981) – A short documentary by Werner Herzog about televangelist Gene Scott and his fights with the FCC. (The Criterion Channel)

Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus (2025) – A documentary feature about the singer Diane Luckey, who performed as Q Lazzarus. (The Criterion Channel)

The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner (1974) – A short documentary by Werner Herzog about a carpenter who is also a champion ski jumper. (The Criterion Channel)

Grizzly Man (2005) – Feature documentary from Werner Herzog on the lives and deaths of grizzly bear activists Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard. Read our review of Grizzly Man. (The Criterion Channel)

Heart of Glass (1976) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog about the foreman of a village glassworks. (The Criterion Channel)

Herdsmen of the Sun (1989) – A medium-length documentary by Werner Herzog about the Wodaabe people of the Sahara/Sahel region. (The Criterion Channel)

Hooghan (2018) – A short documentary in which a Navajo couple tell their family’s story while a traditional Hogan dwelling is being built. (The Criterion Channel)

How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck… (1976) – A short documentary by Werner Herzog about a competition for cattle auctioneers. (The Criterion Channel)

Huie’s Sermon (1981) – A documentary record by Werner Herzog of a sermon delivered by Reverend Huie L. Rogers. (The Criterion Channel)

Itam Hakim, Hopiit (1984) – A medium-length documentary about the Hopi nation. (The Criterion Channel)

Land of Silence and Darkness (1971) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog following a deaf and blind woman who works on behalf of others who are deaf and blind. (The Criterion Channel)

Lessons of Darkness (1992) – A medium-length feature by Werner Herzog showing the Kuwaiti oil fields in flames. (The Criterion Channel)

Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1997) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog about a U.S. Naval pilot and his experience being held in and escaping from a prison camp during the Vietnam War. (The Criterion Channel)

Long Line of Ladies (2022) – A short documentary about a Karuk coming-of-age ceremony. (The Criterion Channel)

Lucky Dog: Down Under Season 1, Episode 5: “Biscuit and Buster” – A docuseries in the Lucky Dog franchise starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he works in Australia. (CBS)

Lucky Dog: Reunions Season 3, Episode 5: “Gunner Reunion” – A docuseries starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he revisits past clients. (CBS)

Malni: Towards the Ocean, Towards the Shore (2020) – A documentary feature about the death myth from the Chinookan people. (The Criterion Channel)

The Many Miracles of Household Saints, Martina Savoca-Guay (2024) – A medium-length documentary on the making of the film Household Saints. (The Criterion Channel)

Miss Navajo (2007) – A medium-length documentary following the Miss Navajo Nation competition. (The Criterion Channel)

My Best Fiend (1999) – A feature documentary by Werner Herzog on his love/hate relationship with actor Klaus Kinski. (The Criterion Channel)

Navajo Talking Picture (1985) – A short documentary by Navajo filmmaker Arlene Bowman about her grandmother. (The Criterion Channel)

On Location: Where Eagles Dare (1968) – A short documentary on the making of the film Where Eagles Dare. (TCM)

One Hand Don’t Clap (1991) – A classic calypso- and soca-focused music documentary about Lord Kitchener and Calypso Rose. Read our review of One Hand Don’t Clap. (Kino Film Collection)

Prairie Fire (1977) – A short documentary, the first part of the Prairie Trilogy, about a veteran North Dakota poet and socialist organizer. (The Criterion Channel)

Rebel Earth (1980) – A short documentary, the second part of the Prairie Trilogy, about a veteran North Dakota poet and socialist organizer. (The Criterion Channel)

Rev. S.S. Jones Home Movies (1924-1928) – A collection of silent films documenting life in all-Black towns in Oklahoma in the 1920s. (The Criterion Channel)

Survivor (1980) – A short documentary, the third part of the Prairie Trilogy, about a veteran North Dakota poet and socialist organizer. (The Criterion Channel)

Taxi (2015) – A hybrid docufiction film by Jafar Panahi in which he poses as a taxi driver in Tehran. (The Criterion Channel)

This is Not a Film (2011) – A documentary feature by Jafar Panahi chronicling a day in his life during his house arrest as he awaits trial. (The Criterion Channel)

Tiger (2025) – A short documentary about the Indigenous family behind the Tiger t-shirt brand. (The Criterion Channel)

We Were the Scenery (2025) – A short documentary about Vietnamese refugees in the Philippines who became extras in the film Apocalypse Now. (The Criterion Channel)

Wheel of Time (2003) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog depicting the largest Buddhist ritual in Bodh Gaya, India. (The Criterion Channel)

White Shamans and Plastic Medicine Men (1996) – A short documentary about the commercialization of Native American spiritual traditions. (The Criterion Channel)

Zora Neale Hurston Fieldwork Footage (1928) – A compilation of silent films documenting Black life in the South in the late 1920s. (The Criterion Channel)

Sunday, November 2, 2025

BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions (2025) – A documentary based on the video art installation of the same name about the Black experience. (In Theaters)

The Fabulous Fraud (1948) – A nonfiction short film about Dr. Anton Mesmer, who discovered hypnotism. (TCM)

From Darkness to Light (2024) – A feature documentary about the unreleased Jerry Lewis movie The Day the Clown Cried. (TCM)

In the Eye of the Storm Season 3, Episode 1: “Tornado Torrent” – The return of this docuseries about natural disasters. (Discovery Channel)

The Magic Alphabet (1942) – A short nonfiction film dramatizing the work of Dutch physician Christiaan Eijkman, who discovered vitamins. (TCM)

Monday, November 3, 2025

After Action Season 3, Episode 5: “Veteran Growth” – The latest installment of a docuseries spotlighting U.S. military veterans. (PBS)

Ancient Aliens: Origins Season 2, Episode 5: “Extraterrestrial Deluge” – The latest installment of this docuseries in the Ancient Aliens franchise that looks back at the original show’s greatest mysteries involves global flood myths. (History)

I Am Curious Johnny (2025) – A documentary feature by Julien Temple about photographer, art collector, and fashion designer Johnny Pigozzi. (HBO Max)

In Waves and War (2024) – A documentary feature about U.S. Navy SEALs with PTSD. (Netflix)

Life After (2025) – A Sundance-winning documentary by Reid Davenport (I Didn’t See You There) about a disabled woman who sought “the right to die.” Presented as an episode of Independent Lens. Read our review of Life After. (PBS)

Torn: The Israel-Palestine Poster War on NYC Streets (2024) – A documentary about a clash between pro-Israel activists and pro-Palestine activists involving posters around New York City. Presented in an abridged 56-minute television version. Read our review of Torn: The Israel-Palestine Poster War on NYC Streets. (PBS/WNET)

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Bullets and Blueberries (2025) – A documentary feature about the direct perpetrators involved in the Holocaust. (DVD)

The Campaign (2013) – A medium-length documentary on marriage equality and the campaign to defend California’s law permitting same-sex marriage. (OVID)

Cat’s in the Cradle: The Song That Changed Our Lives (2025) – A documentary feature about the titular tune by Harry Chapin. (DVD)

Cheech and Chong’s Last Movie (2024) – A documentary about the legacy of the titular comedy duo. (Blu-ray)

Folktales (2025) – A Critics Choice-nominated documentary by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp) about a folk high school in Arctic Norway. Read our review of Folktales. (VOD)

History of a Movement (2023) – A documentary feature about a student-led movement in Mexico that sparked political protests among the country’s youth. (OVID)

Ice Road Rescue Season 7, Episode 2 – The latest installment of a docuseries about rescue workers in Norway. (National Geographic)

Men of War (2024) – A documentary feature about a U.S. Green Beret who failed in his task to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. (DVD)

Northwoods Survival Season 2, Episode 2: “Breaking New Ground” – The latest installment of a docuseries following young Canadians living in remote landscapes. (National Geographic)

The Rising Girls of K-Pop Confidential (2025) – A documentary about K-pop. (VOD)

Who Hired the Hitman? Season 1, Episode 1: “Home on the Range” – The first episode of this new six-part true-crime docuseries about murder-for-hire-plots involves the death of a farmer. (ID: Investigation Discovery)

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

About Face Season 1, Episode 2: “Marked at Birth”- The latest episode of this series that follows surgeons specializing in facial reconstruction. (TLC)

Expedition Files Season 3, Episode 1 – The return of this docuseries that presents historical stories. (Discovery Channel)

Expedition Unknown Season 16, Episode 1: “Shipwreck Triangle of Greece” – The return of this docuseries that follows an archaeologist looking for lost artifacts. (Discovery Channel)

Fugitives Caught on Tape Season 2, Episodes 9 & 10 – The latest installments of a docuseries following law enforcement in their pursuit of fugitives. (A&E)

Ghost Adventures Season 30, Episode 2: “Mountain of Madness Part 2” – The latest installment of a docuseries following paranormal investigators. (Discovery Channel)

The Mayor (2013) – A short documentary about a Republican mayor in Georgia and his connection to the local Latino immigrant community. (OVID)

Nature Season 44, Episode 3: “The Pigeon Hustle” – The latest installment of this long-running docuseries focuses on pigeons in New York City and London. (PBS)

Power Struggle (2016) – A documentary feature about the effort to shut down a nuclear power plant in Vermont. (OVID)

Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (2025) – A documentary feature following a Palestinian woman in Gaza as she shares her life under bombardment. (In Theaters)

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Alex vs. A-Rod (2025) – A three-part docuseries about baseball icon Alex Rodriguez. (HBO Max)

Love+War (2025) – A documentary feature directed by Oscar winners Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (Free Solo) about Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Lynsey Addario. Read our review of Love+War. (National Geographic)

Sarkozy – Gaddafi: the Scandal of Scandals (2025) – A documentary feature investigating the case that Muammar Gaddafi’s Libyan government financed Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign in France. (OVID)

The Toys That Built America Season 2 – The complete second season of this historical docuseries about toys. (Hulu)

Share Nonfics


Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon

11/7 – Pistachio Wars – An investigative documentary about a farming empire in California. (VOD)

11/10 – Saving Superman – A Critics Choice-nominated short documentary about a beloved man with autism spectrum disorder who dresses as Superman. (Switchboard)

11/11 – Surviving Mormonism with Heather Gay – A three-part docuseries exploring secrets of the Mormon Church. (Bravo)

11/14 – Quiet Voices in a Noisy World – A documentary feature about Black volunteers in Jasper, Texas, working to advance social justice. (In Theaters)

11/21 – Zodiac Killer Project – A meta-textual true-crime documentary about an abandoned documentary on the Zodiac Killer. Read our review of Zodiac Killer Project. (In Theaters)

11/26 – The Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder (2025) – A three-part true-crime docuseries about the killing of a mortician in Colorado. Watch the new trailer for the series here. (ID: Investigation Discovery)

11/28 – The Tale of Silyan – A documentary feature by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tamara Kotevska (Honeyland) that follows a struggling North Macedonian farmer. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

12/3 – Peaches Goes Bananas – A documentary feature following the musician known as Peaches over 17 years. (In Theaters)

12/5 – Endless Cookie – An animated documentary feature by Canadian half-brothers, one white and one Indigenous, about their family. The film was just acquired by the new distributor Obscured Releasing. (In Theaters)

12/7 – Monsta X: Connect X in Cinemas – A concert film starring the titular Korean boy band. (In Theaters)

2/25 – Man on the Run – A documentary feature by Morgan Neville (Piece by Piece) about Paul McCartney post-Beatles as he formed Wings. (Prime Video)

Nonfics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Uncategorized Comments are off
30 October 2025

This Week In Documentary

Written by Paul Moon

Happy Halloween and the beginning of November, and congratulations to us for exceeding 1,000 subscribers last week! First, I want to remind readers that no scary movie you watch this Friday will give you nightmares worse than any documentaries about mass murderers, nuclear weapons, or other real terrors. Second, because it’s the start of a new month, there are a lot of documentaries to feature and highlight this week, so I need to make this introduction short.

Before we get to all that, though, I want to share a link to Alexei Aigui’s Critics Choice-nominated score for Orwell 2+2=5, which is now available to stream or purchase. I also want to share the amazing footage of Jim Morrison becoming the first person to ski the North Face of Mount Everest, a feat that will be the subject of a new documentary (tentatively titled Everest North) directed by Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin for National Geographic.

Now, without further ado, below are this week’s documentary highlights, including capsule reviews of new nonfiction films and series. They are followed by daily listings for all notable releases and a brief look at what’s coming soon for doc fans. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future, and to give me more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have a doc in need of coverage or a mention in our listings, you can reach me at christopherbartoncampbell (at) gmail.

Nonfics Pick Of The Week: Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk (2025)

I’m not the biggest fan of Sepideh Farsi’s latest feature, but as I concluded my review of Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, it’s worth watching for the sake of its subject if not the film. The documentary follows a year in the life of Palestinian photojournalist and poet Fatma Hassouna as she shares her life in Gaza amidst the bombing, and she deserves to have her story heard and her work seen. Plus, as you’ll see in the awards highlights below, it’s a popular contender and will probably be in the conversation for the Oscar. Films that I don’t like but many others do will always be something to recommend.

Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk opens in theaters on Wednesday, November 5.


Other Documentary Highlights

Johnny Pigozzi and Johnny Pigozzi in I Am Curious Johnny

Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives Of Q Lazzarus (2025)

If you want to have the song “Goodbye Horses” stuck in your head for days and also learn about the woman who sang that song (best known for its use in the film The Silence of the Lambs), then you’ll want to watch at least a bit of this documentary. You can be forgiven for skimming through it, though, as it’s too long even for a subject with so many chapters, as the title suggests. Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus credits four editors, but it just needed one with the sense to pace the story with more regard for the viewer. As is stressed throughout, Diane “Q” Luckey always deserved better, this film included.

Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus begins streaming exclusively on The Criterion Channel on Saturday, November 1.

I Am Curious Johnny (2025)

When it comes to vanity projects, there’s never been anything like I Am Curious Johnny. The film’s subject, uber-wealthy photographer and art collector Johnny Pigozzi, isn’t even listed as a producer, but it comes across as his project more than that of director Julian Temple (The Filth and the Fury). I can’t imagine anyone even asking for a documentary about him other than him. The feature-length profile celebrates him for having a supposedly interesting life while showing off his island, multiple mansions, famous friends, and past lovers. One person compares him to the protagonist of Zelig; Pigozzi seems obsessed instead with comparing his life to that of Citizen Kane. If only he were as compelling a figure as either one.

The documentary makes some creative choices in the ways that it gets Pigozzi’s story out of him. Many of his interviewers are celebrities he knows, mostly via Zoom calls. He also interviews himself, as the film sometimes features two of him on screen in conversation with one another. He is also interviewed by his late father and talks to himself as a boy, F for Fake era Orson Welles, and others, using AI tools. And he is even interviewed by a partially animated cartoon character he claims at the time is his chauffeur. The problem is that he’s not an interesting subject, just a rich and privileged one. The film’s eccentrics fit his character, but especially at the end, the audience is made to (or should) dislike him, undercutting his alleged charm that made him who he is (I have to believe it was more the money than the personality). I am mad that I got to know him, though I enjoyed some of how I got to know him.

I Am Curious Johnny debuts on HBO Max on Monday, November 3.

Indigenous-American Documentaries

Beginning November 1, timed to Native American Heritage Month, The Criterion Channel is spotlighting documentaries by and about Indigenous Americans with a curation called Native Nonfiction. Many of these films, of various lengths, are not available anywhere else ahead of their being exclusively programmed on the streaming service. They include the feature Itam Hakim, Hopiit, and the shorts Navajo Talking Picture, Hooghan, F1ghting Looks Different 2 Me Now, and Tiger, the last of which just won a directing award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Lee Grant Documentaries

Actress and filmmaker Lee Grant turns 100 years old on October 31, and we recommend watching some of her documentaries for the occasion of her centenary. Last week, we highlighted her Oscar-winning film Down and Out in America as part of an early celebration. You can watch that and the following titles on Kanopy: The Willmar 8, When Women Kill, What Sex Am I?, and Battered. Her American Masters installment, Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light, is streaming on HBO Max.

The White House Effect (2024)

Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen are back to the topic of climate change with one of two documentaries they have hitting Netflix this week (the other is In Waves and War). Previously, he directed and she produced The Island President, which dealt with the issue as it could impact the Maldives. They later co-directed An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power. This time, they’ve brought on Pedro Kos, who edited The Island President, as a third director for the fully archival feature The White House Effect.

I’m a sucker for these kinds of films, but its chronicling of the George H.W. Bush administration’s handling of the problem plays like a light gathering of historical material as merely a look back at why we are where we are today on the issue. It’s the rare archival documentary where I wish there were some talking heads or at least some voiceover from fresh interviews discussing more than the obvious connections. The only effect that it may have on viewers is to anger them about a past that can’t be changed. It doesn’t need to be more than that, though some blindly see it as a more important and necessary documentary than it is, simply because it concerns the issue.

The White House Effect begins streaming on Netflix on Friday, October 31.

Werner Herzog Documentaries

Another one of The Criterion Channel’s November programming highlights is a celebration of Werner Herzog’s filmography, including both fiction and nonfiction shorts and features. Many of the titles being added to the streaming service on November 1 are documentaries that haven’t been there already. Most have been available through other outlets, with Tubi being a common place to find his lesser-known works, but now The Criterion Channel will be at least temporarily a hub for anyone to catch up with Herzog’s prolific career as a director. Also, if you want to know which to watch first, we ranked Werner Herzog’s documentaries years ago, and it hasn’t been updated since and so it’s not exhaustive, but 38 of them are on that list.


Awards Highlights

Cinema Eye Honors Nominees

The first batch of nominees for the 19th Annual Cinema Eye Honors was revealed last week, as were this year’s “Unforgettables” honorees. Only eight names were selected for the latter recognition of documentary subjects. They are Noam Shuster-Eliassi from Coexistence, My Ass! (now in theaters), Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley from Come See Me in the Good Light (premiering on Apple TV on 11/14), Seymour Hersh from Cover-Up (in theaters on 12/5), Sara Shahverdi from Cutting Through Rocks (in theaters on 11/21), Pasha Talankin from Mr. Nobody Against Putin (coming soon), Jacinda Ardern from Prime Minister (now on HBO Max), and Fatma Hassouna from Put Your Soul On Your Hand and Walk (opening theatrically this week). Two of these honorees have died since appearing in their respective films.

All of those films, save for Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, are also up for the Audience Choice Prize. They’re joined by Apocalypse in the Tropics (Netflix), Deaf President Now! (Apple TV), The Eyes of Ghana (coming soon), Folktales (arriving on VOD on 11/4), It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley (now on VOD), The Librarians (in theaters), Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (PBS), Orwell 2+2=5 (in theaters), and The Tale of Silyan (in theaters on 11/28). Deaf President Now! is the only one of those fan favorites to be relegated to the Broadcast Film Nominees section of the Cinema Eye Honors, which also recognizes such hits as My Mom Jayne (HBO Max), Pee-wee as Himself (HBO Max), and the series Social Studies (Hulu). The short documentary shortlist was also announced, with contenders including The Devil is Busy (HBO Max), Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud (HBO Max), and We Were the Scenery (debuting on The Criterion Channel on 11/1).

The Gotham Film Award Nominees

Last week, the Gotham Film & Media Institute announced its nominees for the 35th Annual Gotham Film Awards, including those in the Best Documentary Feature category. The five contenders include 2000 Meters to Andriivka (coming soon to PBS), BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions (opening theatrically this week), My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow (currently unavailable), The Perfect Neighbor (now on Netflix), and Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (opening theatrically this week).

Subscribe now


Documentary Release Calendar 10/31/25 – 11/6/25

John H. Sununu and George H.W. Bush in The White House Effect

Friday, October 31, 2025

East Harbor Heroes Season 1, Episode 2: “Heavy Lifting” – The second installment of a docuseries following various maritime workers in St. John’s, Newfoundland. (Discovery Channel)

Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman Season 1, Episode 3: “The Beefy King” – The latest installment of a travel food series following the titular pro wrestler as he attempts to eat every item on restaurant menus. This episode brings him to Orlando, Florida. (USA Network)

I’m Not Everything I Want to Be (2024) – An archival documentary about Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková. (In Theaters)

Murder at the Motel Season 2, Episode 1: “Surf Motel” – The latest episode of this true-crime docuseries involves a murder in Sacramento. (A&E)

Murder on Trial Season 1, Episode 1: “Deadly Betrayal” – The first episode of this new true-crime series involves the death of a celebrity hairdresser. (A&E)

The State of BBQ: A Texas Monthly Special (2025) – A documentary special on Texas barbecue joints. (PBS)

Walk With Me (2024) – A documentary feature by casting director Heidi Levitt about her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. (In Theaters)

What Do You Think? (Number Three) (1938) – A short film about communication with the dead. (TCM)

The White House Effect (2024) – A documentary feature by Bonni Cohen, Pedro Kos, and Jon Shenk about the U.S. government’s failure with climate change. (Netflix)

Who’s Superstitious? (1943) – A short documentary examining various superstitions. (TCM)

A Witch Story (2022) – A documentary feature about the ancestor of one of the Salem witch trial victims. (OVID)

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Austin City Limits Season 51, Episode 5: “Samara Joy” – The latest installment of this music docuseries features a performance by Samara Joy. (PBS)

Ballad of the Little Soldier (1984) – A medium-length documentary by Werner Herzog about the use of child soldiers in Nicaragua. (The Criterion Channel)

The Black and the Green (1983) – A medium-length documentary about African-American civil rights activists who traveled to Belfast during the time of the Troubles in solidarity with the Northern Irish seeking liberation. (The Criterion Channel)

Blue Baby (2024) – A documentary feature following incarcerated youth at a prison alternative called Boys Town. (Tubi)

CNBC Sport: On the Record Season 2, Episode 3: “The Investors”- The latest installment of this sports news and documentary series focuses on the money people. (CNBC)

Commandment Keeper Church, Beaufort South Carolina, May 1940 (1940) – A short filmed record of religious services in a Gullah community. (The Criterion Channel)

The Dark Glow of the Mountain (1984) – A short documentary by Werner Herzog following mountaineers attempting to climb the Karakoram peaks Gasherbrum I and Gasherbrum II. (The Criterion Channel)

Echoes from a Somber Empire (1990) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog about Bokassa’s rule in the Central African Republic. (The Criterion Channel)

F1ghting Looks Different 2 Me Now (2022) – A nonfiction short film by Fox Maxy about her move home. (The Criterion Channel)

Faces, Displays, and Other Imaginary Things (2020) – A nonfiction short film about Indigenous labor in the Pacific Northwest. (The Criterion Channel)

Fata Morgana (1971) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog consisting of footage shot in the Algerian Sahara Desert. (The Criterion Channel)

God’s Angry Man (1981) – A short documentary by Werner Herzog about televangelist Gene Scott and his fights with the FCC. (The Criterion Channel)

Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus (2025) – A documentary feature about the singer Diane Luckey, who performed as Q Lazzarus. (The Criterion Channel)

The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner (1974) – A short documentary by Werner Herzog about a carpenter who is also a champion ski jumper. (The Criterion Channel)

Grizzly Man (2005) – Feature documentary from Werner Herzog on the lives and deaths of grizzly bear activists Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard. Read our review of Grizzly Man. (The Criterion Channel)

Heart of Glass (1976) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog about the foreman of a village glassworks. (The Criterion Channel)

Herdsmen of the Sun (1989) – A medium-length documentary by Werner Herzog about the Wodaabe people of the Sahara/Sahel region. (The Criterion Channel)

Hooghan (2018) – A short documentary in which a Navajo couple tell their family’s story while a traditional Hogan dwelling is being built. (The Criterion Channel)

How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck… (1976) – A short documentary by Werner Herzog about a competition for cattle auctioneers. (The Criterion Channel)

Huie’s Sermon (1981) – A documentary record by Werner Herzog of a sermon delivered by Reverend Huie L. Rogers. (The Criterion Channel)

Itam Hakim, Hopiit (1984) – A medium-length documentary about the Hopi nation. (The Criterion Channel)

Land of Silence and Darkness (1971) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog following a deaf and blind woman who works on behalf of others who are deaf and blind. (The Criterion Channel)

Lessons of Darkness (1992) – A medium-length feature by Werner Herzog showing the Kuwaiti oil fields in flames. (The Criterion Channel)

Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1997) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog about a U.S. Naval pilot and his experience being held in and escaping from a prison camp during the Vietnam War. (The Criterion Channel)

Long Line of Ladies (2022) – A short documentary about a Karuk coming-of-age ceremony. (The Criterion Channel)

Lucky Dog: Down Under Season 1, Episode 5: “Biscuit and Buster” – A docuseries in the Lucky Dog franchise starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he works in Australia. (CBS)

Lucky Dog: Reunions Season 3, Episode 5: “Gunner Reunion” – A docuseries starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he revisits past clients. (CBS)

Malni: Towards the Ocean, Towards the Shore (2020) – A documentary feature about the death myth from the Chinookan people. (The Criterion Channel)

The Many Miracles of Household Saints, Martina Savoca-Guay (2024) – A medium-length documentary on the making of the film Household Saints. (The Criterion Channel)

Miss Navajo (2007) – A medium-length documentary following the Miss Navajo Nation competition. (The Criterion Channel)

My Best Fiend (1999) – A feature documentary by Werner Herzog on his love/hate relationship with actor Klaus Kinski. (The Criterion Channel)

Navajo Talking Picture (1985) – A short documentary by Navajo filmmaker Arlene Bowman about her grandmother. (The Criterion Channel)

On Location: Where Eagles Dare (1968) – A short documentary on the making of the film Where Eagles Dare. (TCM)

One Hand Don’t Clap (1991) – A classic calypso- and soca-focused music documentary about Lord Kitchener and Calypso Rose. Read our review of One Hand Don’t Clap. (Kino Film Collection)

Prairie Fire (1977) – A short documentary, the first part of the Prairie Trilogy, about a veteran North Dakota poet and socialist organizer. (The Criterion Channel)

Rebel Earth (1980) – A short documentary, the second part of the Prairie Trilogy, about a veteran North Dakota poet and socialist organizer. (The Criterion Channel)

Rev. S.S. Jones Home Movies (1924-1928) – A collection of silent films documenting life in all-Black towns in Oklahoma in the 1920s. (The Criterion Channel)

Survivor (1980) – A short documentary, the third part of the Prairie Trilogy, about a veteran North Dakota poet and socialist organizer. (The Criterion Channel)

Taxi (2015) – A hybrid docufiction film by Jafar Panahi in which he poses as a taxi driver in Tehran. (The Criterion Channel)

This is Not a Film (2011) – A documentary feature by Jafar Panahi chronicling a day in his life during his house arrest as he awaits trial. (The Criterion Channel)

Tiger (2025) – A short documentary about the Indigenous family behind the Tiger t-shirt brand. (The Criterion Channel)

We Were the Scenery (2025) – A short documentary about Vietnamese refugees in the Philippines who became extras in the film Apocalypse Now. (The Criterion Channel)

Wheel of Time (2003) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog depicting the largest Buddhist ritual in Bodh Gaya, India. (The Criterion Channel)

White Shamans and Plastic Medicine Men (1996) – A short documentary about the commercialization of Native American spiritual traditions. (The Criterion Channel)

Zora Neale Hurston Fieldwork Footage (1928) – A compilation of silent films documenting Black life in the South in the late 1920s. (The Criterion Channel)

Sunday, November 2, 2025

BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions (2025) – A documentary based on the video art installation of the same name about the Black experience. (In Theaters)

The Fabulous Fraud (1948) – A nonfiction short film about Dr. Anton Mesmer, who discovered hypnotism. (TCM)

From Darkness to Light (2024) – A feature documentary about the unreleased Jerry Lewis movie The Day the Clown Cried. (TCM)

In the Eye of the Storm Season 3, Episode 1: “Tornado Torrent” – The return of this docuseries about natural disasters. (Discovery Channel)

The Magic Alphabet (1942) – A short nonfiction film dramatizing the work of Dutch physician Christiaan Eijkman, who discovered vitamins. (TCM)

Monday, November 3, 2025

After Action Season 3, Episode 5: “Veteran Growth” – The latest installment of a docuseries spotlighting U.S. military veterans. (PBS)

Ancient Aliens: Origins Season 2, Episode 5: “Extraterrestrial Deluge” – The latest installment of this docuseries in the Ancient Aliens franchise that looks back at the original show’s greatest mysteries involves global flood myths. (History)

I Am Curious Johnny (2025) – A documentary feature by Julien Temple about photographer, art collector, and fashion designer Johnny Pigozzi. (HBO Max)

In Waves and War (2024) – A documentary feature about U.S. Navy SEALs with PTSD. (Netflix)

Life After (2025) – A Sundance-winning documentary by Reid Davenport (I Didn’t See You There) about a disabled woman who sought “the right to die.” Presented as an episode of Independent Lens. Read our review of Life After. (PBS)

Torn: The Israel-Palestine Poster War on NYC Streets (2024) – A documentary about a clash between pro-Israel activists and pro-Palestine activists involving posters around New York City. Presented in an abridged 56-minute television version. Read our review of Torn: The Israel-Palestine Poster War on NYC Streets. (PBS/WNET)

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Bullets and Blueberries (2025) – A documentary feature about the direct perpetrators involved in the Holocaust. (DVD)

The Campaign (2013) – A medium-length documentary on marriage equality and the campaign to defend California’s law permitting same-sex marriage. (OVID)

Cat’s in the Cradle: The Song That Changed Our Lives (2025) – A documentary feature about the titular tune by Harry Chapin. (DVD)

Cheech and Chong’s Last Movie (2024) – A documentary about the legacy of the titular comedy duo. (Blu-ray)

Folktales (2025) – A Critics Choice-nominated documentary by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp) about a folk high school in Arctic Norway. Read our review of Folktales. (VOD)

History of a Movement (2023) – A documentary feature about a student-led movement in Mexico that sparked political protests among the country’s youth. (OVID)

Ice Road Rescue Season 7, Episode 2 – The latest installment of a docuseries about rescue workers in Norway. (National Geographic)

Men of War (2024) – A documentary feature about a U.S. Green Beret who failed in his task to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. (DVD)

Northwoods Survival Season 2, Episode 2: “Breaking New Ground” – The latest installment of a docuseries following young Canadians living in remote landscapes. (National Geographic)

The Rising Girls of K-Pop Confidential (2025) – A documentary about K-pop. (VOD)

Who Hired the Hitman? Season 1, Episode 1: “Home on the Range” – The first episode of this new six-part true-crime docuseries about murder-for-hire-plots involves the death of a farmer. (ID: Investigation Discovery)

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

About Face Season 1, Episode 2: “Marked at Birth”- The latest episode of this series that follows surgeons specializing in facial reconstruction. (TLC)

Expedition Files Season 3, Episode 1 – The return of this docuseries that presents historical stories. (Discovery Channel)

Expedition Unknown Season 16, Episode 1: “Shipwreck Triangle of Greece” – The return of this docuseries that follows an archaeologist looking for lost artifacts. (Discovery Channel)

Fugitives Caught on Tape Season 2, Episodes 9 & 10 – The latest installments of a docuseries following law enforcement in their pursuit of fugitives. (A&E)

Ghost Adventures Season 30, Episode 2: “Mountain of Madness Part 2” – The latest installment of a docuseries following paranormal investigators. (Discovery Channel)

The Mayor (2013) – A short documentary about a Republican mayor in Georgia and his connection to the local Latino immigrant community. (OVID)

Nature Season 44, Episode 3: “The Pigeon Hustle” – The latest installment of this long-running docuseries focuses on pigeons in New York City and London. (PBS)

Power Struggle (2016) – A documentary feature about the effort to shut down a nuclear power plant in Vermont. (OVID)

Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (2025) – A documentary feature following a Palestinian woman in Gaza as she shares her life under bombardment. (In Theaters)

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Alex vs. A-Rod (2025) – A three-part docuseries about baseball icon Alex Rodriguez. (HBO Max)

Love+War (2025) – A documentary feature directed by Oscar winners Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (Free Solo) about Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Lynsey Addario. Read our review of Love+War. (National Geographic)

Sarkozy – Gaddafi: the Scandal of Scandals (2025) – A documentary feature investigating the case that Muammar Gaddafi’s Libyan government financed Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign in France. (OVID)

The Toys That Built America Season 2 – The complete second season of this historical docuseries about toys. (Hulu)

Share Nonfics


Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon

11/7 – Pistachio Wars – An investigative documentary about a farming empire in California. (VOD)

11/10 – Saving Superman – A Critics Choice-nominated short documentary about a beloved man with autism spectrum disorder who dresses as Superman. (Switchboard)

11/11 – Surviving Mormonism with Heather Gay – A three-part docuseries exploring secrets of the Mormon Church. (Bravo)

11/14 – Quiet Voices in a Noisy World – A documentary feature about Black volunteers in Jasper, Texas, working to advance social justice. (In Theaters)

11/21 – Zodiac Killer Project – A meta-textual true-crime documentary about an abandoned documentary on the Zodiac Killer. Read our review of Zodiac Killer Project. (In Theaters)

11/26 – The Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder (2025) – A three-part true-crime docuseries about the killing of a mortician in Colorado. Watch the new trailer for the series here. (ID: Investigation Discovery)

11/28 – The Tale of Silyan – A documentary feature by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tamara Kotevska (Honeyland) that follows a struggling North Macedonian farmer. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

12/3 – Peaches Goes Bananas – A documentary feature following the musician known as Peaches over 17 years. (In Theaters)

12/5 – Endless Cookie – An animated documentary feature by Canadian half-brothers, one white and one Indigenous, about their family. The film was just acquired by the new distributor Obscured Releasing. (In Theaters)

12/7 – Monsta X: Connect X in Cinemas – A concert film starring the titular Korean boy band. (In Theaters)

2/25 – Man on the Run – A documentary feature by Morgan Neville (Piece by Piece) about Paul McCartney post-Beatles as he formed Wings. (Prime Video)

Nonfics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Uncategorized Comments are off
30 October 2025

This Week In Documentary

Written by Paul Moon

Happy Halloween and the beginning of November, and congratulations to us for exceeding 1,000 subscribers last week! First, I want to remind readers that no scary movie you watch this Friday will give you nightmares worse than any documentaries about mass murderers, nuclear weapons, or other real terrors. Second, because it’s the start of a new month, there are a lot of documentaries to feature and highlight this week, so I need to make this introduction short.

Before we get to all that, though, I want to share a link to Alexei Aigui’s Critics Choice-nominated score for Orwell 2+2=5, which is now available to stream or purchase. I also want to share the amazing footage of Jim Morrison becoming the first person to ski the North Face of Mount Everest, a feat that will be the subject of a new documentary (tentatively titled Everest North) directed by Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin for National Geographic.

Now, without further ado, below are this week’s documentary highlights, including capsule reviews of new nonfiction films and series. They are followed by daily listings for all notable releases and a brief look at what’s coming soon for doc fans. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future, and to give me more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have a doc in need of coverage or a mention in our listings, you can reach me at christopherbartoncampbell (at) gmail.

Nonfics Pick Of The Week: Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk (2025)

I’m not the biggest fan of Sepideh Farsi’s latest feature, but as I concluded my review of Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, it’s worth watching for the sake of its subject if not the film. The documentary follows a year in the life of Palestinian photojournalist and poet Fatma Hassouna as she shares her life in Gaza amidst the bombing, and she deserves to have her story heard and her work seen. Plus, as you’ll see in the awards highlights below, it’s a popular contender and will probably be in the conversation for the Oscar. Films that I don’t like but many others do will always be something to recommend.

Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk opens in theaters on Wednesday, November 5.


Other Documentary Highlights

Johnny Pigozzi and Johnny Pigozzi in I Am Curious Johnny

Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives Of Q Lazzarus (2025)

If you want to have the song “Goodbye Horses” stuck in your head for days and also learn about the woman who sang that song (best known for its use in the film The Silence of the Lambs), then you’ll want to watch at least a bit of this documentary. You can be forgiven for skimming through it, though, as it’s too long even for a subject with so many chapters, as the title suggests. Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus credits four editors, but it just needed one with the sense to pace the story with more regard for the viewer. As is stressed throughout, Diane “Q” Luckey always deserved better, this film included.

Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus begins streaming exclusively on The Criterion Channel on Saturday, November 1.

I Am Curious Johnny (2025)

When it comes to vanity projects, there’s never been anything like I Am Curious Johnny. The film’s subject, uber-wealthy photographer and art collector Johnny Pigozzi, isn’t even listed as a producer, but it comes across as his project more than that of director Julian Temple (The Filth and the Fury). I can’t imagine anyone even asking for a documentary about him other than him. The feature-length profile celebrates him for having a supposedly interesting life while showing off his island, multiple mansions, famous friends, and past lovers. One person compares him to the protagonist of Zelig; Pigozzi seems obsessed instead with comparing his life to that of Citizen Kane. If only he were as compelling a figure as either one.

The documentary makes some creative choices in the ways that it gets Pigozzi’s story out of him. Many of his interviewers are celebrities he knows, mostly via Zoom calls. He also interviews himself, as the film sometimes features two of him on screen in conversation with one another. He is also interviewed by his late father and talks to himself as a boy, F for Fake era Orson Welles, and others, using AI tools. And he is even interviewed by a partially animated cartoon character he claims at the time is his chauffeur. The problem is that he’s not an interesting subject, just a rich and privileged one. The film’s eccentrics fit his character, but especially at the end, the audience is made to (or should) dislike him, undercutting his alleged charm that made him who he is (I have to believe it was more the money than the personality). I am mad that I got to know him, though I enjoyed some of how I got to know him.

I Am Curious Johnny debuts on HBO Max on Monday, November 3.

Indigenous-American Documentaries

Beginning November 1, timed to Native American Heritage Month, The Criterion Channel is spotlighting documentaries by and about Indigenous Americans with a curation called Native Nonfiction. Many of these films, of various lengths, are not available anywhere else ahead of their being exclusively programmed on the streaming service. They include the feature Itam Hakim, Hopiit, and the shorts Navajo Talking Picture, Hooghan, F1ghting Looks Different 2 Me Now, and Tiger, the last of which just won a directing award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Lee Grant Documentaries

Actress and filmmaker Lee Grant turns 100 years old on October 31, and we recommend watching some of her documentaries for the occasion of her centenary. Last week, we highlighted her Oscar-winning film Down and Out in America as part of an early celebration. You can watch that and the following titles on Kanopy: The Willmar 8, When Women Kill, What Sex Am I?, and Battered. Her American Masters installment, Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light, is streaming on HBO Max.

The White House Effect (2024)

Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen are back to the topic of climate change with one of two documentaries they have hitting Netflix this week (the other is In Waves and War). Previously, he directed and she produced The Island President, which dealt with the issue as it could impact the Maldives. They later co-directed An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power. This time, they’ve brought on Pedro Kos, who edited The Island President, as a third director for the fully archival feature The White House Effect.

I’m a sucker for these kinds of films, but its chronicling of the George H.W. Bush administration’s handling of the problem plays like a light gathering of historical material as merely a look back at why we are where we are today on the issue. It’s the rare archival documentary where I wish there were some talking heads or at least some voiceover from fresh interviews discussing more than the obvious connections. The only effect that it may have on viewers is to anger them about a past that can’t be changed. It doesn’t need to be more than that, though some blindly see it as a more important and necessary documentary than it is, simply because it concerns the issue.

The White House Effect begins streaming on Netflix on Friday, October 31.

Werner Herzog Documentaries

Another one of The Criterion Channel’s November programming highlights is a celebration of Werner Herzog’s filmography, including both fiction and nonfiction shorts and features. Many of the titles being added to the streaming service on November 1 are documentaries that haven’t been there already. Most have been available through other outlets, with Tubi being a common place to find his lesser-known works, but now The Criterion Channel will be at least temporarily a hub for anyone to catch up with Herzog’s prolific career as a director. Also, if you want to know which to watch first, we ranked Werner Herzog’s documentaries years ago, and it hasn’t been updated since and so it’s not exhaustive, but 38 of them are on that list.


Awards Highlights

Cinema Eye Honors Nominees

The first batch of nominees for the 19th Annual Cinema Eye Honors was revealed last week, as were this year’s “Unforgettables” honorees. Only eight names were selected for the latter recognition of documentary subjects. They are Noam Shuster-Eliassi from Coexistence, My Ass! (now in theaters), Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley from Come See Me in the Good Light (premiering on Apple TV on 11/14), Seymour Hersh from Cover-Up (in theaters on 12/5), Sara Shahverdi from Cutting Through Rocks (in theaters on 11/21), Pasha Talankin from Mr. Nobody Against Putin (coming soon), Jacinda Ardern from Prime Minister (now on HBO Max), and Fatma Hassouna from Put Your Soul On Your Hand and Walk (opening theatrically this week). Two of these honorees have died since appearing in their respective films.

All of those films, save for Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, are also up for the Audience Choice Prize. They’re joined by Apocalypse in the Tropics (Netflix), Deaf President Now! (Apple TV), The Eyes of Ghana (coming soon), Folktales (arriving on VOD on 11/4), It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley (now on VOD), The Librarians (in theaters), Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (PBS), Orwell 2+2=5 (in theaters), and The Tale of Silyan (in theaters on 11/28). Deaf President Now! is the only one of those fan favorites to be relegated to the Broadcast Film Nominees section of the Cinema Eye Honors, which also recognizes such hits as My Mom Jayne (HBO Max), Pee-wee as Himself (HBO Max), and the series Social Studies (Hulu). The short documentary shortlist was also announced, with contenders including The Devil is Busy (HBO Max), Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud (HBO Max), and We Were the Scenery (debuting on The Criterion Channel on 11/1).

The Gotham Film Award Nominees

Last week, the Gotham Film & Media Institute announced its nominees for the 35th Annual Gotham Film Awards, including those in the Best Documentary Feature category. The five contenders include 2000 Meters to Andriivka (coming soon to PBS), BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions (opening theatrically this week), My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow (currently unavailable), The Perfect Neighbor (now on Netflix), and Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (opening theatrically this week).

Subscribe now


Documentary Release Calendar 10/31/25 – 11/6/25

John H. Sununu and George H.W. Bush in The White House Effect

Friday, October 31, 2025

East Harbor Heroes Season 1, Episode 2: “Heavy Lifting” – The second installment of a docuseries following various maritime workers in St. John’s, Newfoundland. (Discovery Channel)

Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman Season 1, Episode 3: “The Beefy King” – The latest installment of a travel food series following the titular pro wrestler as he attempts to eat every item on restaurant menus. This episode brings him to Orlando, Florida. (USA Network)

I’m Not Everything I Want to Be (2024) – An archival documentary about Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková. (In Theaters)

Murder at the Motel Season 2, Episode 1: “Surf Motel” – The latest episode of this true-crime docuseries involves a murder in Sacramento. (A&E)

Murder on Trial Season 1, Episode 1: “Deadly Betrayal” – The first episode of this new true-crime series involves the death of a celebrity hairdresser. (A&E)

The State of BBQ: A Texas Monthly Special (2025) – A documentary special on Texas barbecue joints. (PBS)

Walk With Me (2024) – A documentary feature by casting director Heidi Levitt about her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. (In Theaters)

What Do You Think? (Number Three) (1938) – A short film about communication with the dead. (TCM)

The White House Effect (2024) – A documentary feature by Bonni Cohen, Pedro Kos, and Jon Shenk about the U.S. government’s failure with climate change. (Netflix)

Who’s Superstitious? (1943) – A short documentary examining various superstitions. (TCM)

A Witch Story (2022) – A documentary feature about the ancestor of one of the Salem witch trial victims. (OVID)

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Austin City Limits Season 51, Episode 5: “Samara Joy” – The latest installment of this music docuseries features a performance by Samara Joy. (PBS)

Ballad of the Little Soldier (1984) – A medium-length documentary by Werner Herzog about the use of child soldiers in Nicaragua. (The Criterion Channel)

The Black and the Green (1983) – A medium-length documentary about African-American civil rights activists who traveled to Belfast during the time of the Troubles in solidarity with the Northern Irish seeking liberation. (The Criterion Channel)

Blue Baby (2024) – A documentary feature following incarcerated youth at a prison alternative called Boys Town. (Tubi)

CNBC Sport: On the Record Season 2, Episode 3: “The Investors”- The latest installment of this sports news and documentary series focuses on the money people. (CNBC)

Commandment Keeper Church, Beaufort South Carolina, May 1940 (1940) – A short filmed record of religious services in a Gullah community. (The Criterion Channel)

The Dark Glow of the Mountain (1984) – A short documentary by Werner Herzog following mountaineers attempting to climb the Karakoram peaks Gasherbrum I and Gasherbrum II. (The Criterion Channel)

Echoes from a Somber Empire (1990) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog about Bokassa’s rule in the Central African Republic. (The Criterion Channel)

F1ghting Looks Different 2 Me Now (2022) – A nonfiction short film by Fox Maxy about her move home. (The Criterion Channel)

Faces, Displays, and Other Imaginary Things (2020) – A nonfiction short film about Indigenous labor in the Pacific Northwest. (The Criterion Channel)

Fata Morgana (1971) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog consisting of footage shot in the Algerian Sahara Desert. (The Criterion Channel)

God’s Angry Man (1981) – A short documentary by Werner Herzog about televangelist Gene Scott and his fights with the FCC. (The Criterion Channel)

Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus (2025) – A documentary feature about the singer Diane Luckey, who performed as Q Lazzarus. (The Criterion Channel)

The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner (1974) – A short documentary by Werner Herzog about a carpenter who is also a champion ski jumper. (The Criterion Channel)

Grizzly Man (2005) – Feature documentary from Werner Herzog on the lives and deaths of grizzly bear activists Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard. Read our review of Grizzly Man. (The Criterion Channel)

Heart of Glass (1976) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog about the foreman of a village glassworks. (The Criterion Channel)

Herdsmen of the Sun (1989) – A medium-length documentary by Werner Herzog about the Wodaabe people of the Sahara/Sahel region. (The Criterion Channel)

Hooghan (2018) – A short documentary in which a Navajo couple tell their family’s story while a traditional Hogan dwelling is being built. (The Criterion Channel)

How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck… (1976) – A short documentary by Werner Herzog about a competition for cattle auctioneers. (The Criterion Channel)

Huie’s Sermon (1981) – A documentary record by Werner Herzog of a sermon delivered by Reverend Huie L. Rogers. (The Criterion Channel)

Itam Hakim, Hopiit (1984) – A medium-length documentary about the Hopi nation. (The Criterion Channel)

Land of Silence and Darkness (1971) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog following a deaf and blind woman who works on behalf of others who are deaf and blind. (The Criterion Channel)

Lessons of Darkness (1992) – A medium-length feature by Werner Herzog showing the Kuwaiti oil fields in flames. (The Criterion Channel)

Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1997) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog about a U.S. Naval pilot and his experience being held in and escaping from a prison camp during the Vietnam War. (The Criterion Channel)

Long Line of Ladies (2022) – A short documentary about a Karuk coming-of-age ceremony. (The Criterion Channel)

Lucky Dog: Down Under Season 1, Episode 5: “Biscuit and Buster” – A docuseries in the Lucky Dog franchise starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he works in Australia. (CBS)

Lucky Dog: Reunions Season 3, Episode 5: “Gunner Reunion” – A docuseries starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he revisits past clients. (CBS)

Malni: Towards the Ocean, Towards the Shore (2020) – A documentary feature about the death myth from the Chinookan people. (The Criterion Channel)

The Many Miracles of Household Saints, Martina Savoca-Guay (2024) – A medium-length documentary on the making of the film Household Saints. (The Criterion Channel)

Miss Navajo (2007) – A medium-length documentary following the Miss Navajo Nation competition. (The Criterion Channel)

My Best Fiend (1999) – A feature documentary by Werner Herzog on his love/hate relationship with actor Klaus Kinski. (The Criterion Channel)

Navajo Talking Picture (1985) – A short documentary by Navajo filmmaker Arlene Bowman about her grandmother. (The Criterion Channel)

On Location: Where Eagles Dare (1968) – A short documentary on the making of the film Where Eagles Dare. (TCM)

One Hand Don’t Clap (1991) – A classic calypso- and soca-focused music documentary about Lord Kitchener and Calypso Rose. Read our review of One Hand Don’t Clap. (Kino Film Collection)

Prairie Fire (1977) – A short documentary, the first part of the Prairie Trilogy, about a veteran North Dakota poet and socialist organizer. (The Criterion Channel)

Rebel Earth (1980) – A short documentary, the second part of the Prairie Trilogy, about a veteran North Dakota poet and socialist organizer. (The Criterion Channel)

Rev. S.S. Jones Home Movies (1924-1928) – A collection of silent films documenting life in all-Black towns in Oklahoma in the 1920s. (The Criterion Channel)

Survivor (1980) – A short documentary, the third part of the Prairie Trilogy, about a veteran North Dakota poet and socialist organizer. (The Criterion Channel)

Taxi (2015) – A hybrid docufiction film by Jafar Panahi in which he poses as a taxi driver in Tehran. (The Criterion Channel)

This is Not a Film (2011) – A documentary feature by Jafar Panahi chronicling a day in his life during his house arrest as he awaits trial. (The Criterion Channel)

Tiger (2025) – A short documentary about the Indigenous family behind the Tiger t-shirt brand. (The Criterion Channel)

We Were the Scenery (2025) – A short documentary about Vietnamese refugees in the Philippines who became extras in the film Apocalypse Now. (The Criterion Channel)

Wheel of Time (2003) – A documentary feature by Werner Herzog depicting the largest Buddhist ritual in Bodh Gaya, India. (The Criterion Channel)

White Shamans and Plastic Medicine Men (1996) – A short documentary about the commercialization of Native American spiritual traditions. (The Criterion Channel)

Zora Neale Hurston Fieldwork Footage (1928) – A compilation of silent films documenting Black life in the South in the late 1920s. (The Criterion Channel)

Sunday, November 2, 2025

BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions (2025) – A documentary based on the video art installation of the same name about the Black experience. (In Theaters)

The Fabulous Fraud (1948) – A nonfiction short film about Dr. Anton Mesmer, who discovered hypnotism. (TCM)

From Darkness to Light (2024) – A feature documentary about the unreleased Jerry Lewis movie The Day the Clown Cried. (TCM)

In the Eye of the Storm Season 3, Episode 1: “Tornado Torrent” – The return of this docuseries about natural disasters. (Discovery Channel)

The Magic Alphabet (1942) – A short nonfiction film dramatizing the work of Dutch physician Christiaan Eijkman, who discovered vitamins. (TCM)

Monday, November 3, 2025

After Action Season 3, Episode 5: “Veteran Growth” – The latest installment of a docuseries spotlighting U.S. military veterans. (PBS)

Ancient Aliens: Origins Season 2, Episode 5: “Extraterrestrial Deluge” – The latest installment of this docuseries in the Ancient Aliens franchise that looks back at the original show’s greatest mysteries involves global flood myths. (History)

I Am Curious Johnny (2025) – A documentary feature by Julien Temple about photographer, art collector, and fashion designer Johnny Pigozzi. (HBO Max)

In Waves and War (2024) – A documentary feature about U.S. Navy SEALs with PTSD. (Netflix)

Life After (2025) – A Sundance-winning documentary by Reid Davenport (I Didn’t See You There) about a disabled woman who sought “the right to die.” Presented as an episode of Independent Lens. Read our review of Life After. (PBS)

Torn: The Israel-Palestine Poster War on NYC Streets (2024) – A documentary about a clash between pro-Israel activists and pro-Palestine activists involving posters around New York City. Presented in an abridged 56-minute television version. Read our review of Torn: The Israel-Palestine Poster War on NYC Streets. (PBS/WNET)

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Bullets and Blueberries (2025) – A documentary feature about the direct perpetrators involved in the Holocaust. (DVD)

The Campaign (2013) – A medium-length documentary on marriage equality and the campaign to defend California’s law permitting same-sex marriage. (OVID)

Cat’s in the Cradle: The Song That Changed Our Lives (2025) – A documentary feature about the titular tune by Harry Chapin. (DVD)

Cheech and Chong’s Last Movie (2024) – A documentary about the legacy of the titular comedy duo. (Blu-ray)

Folktales (2025) – A Critics Choice-nominated documentary by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp) about a folk high school in Arctic Norway. Read our review of Folktales. (VOD)

History of a Movement (2023) – A documentary feature about a student-led movement in Mexico that sparked political protests among the country’s youth. (OVID)

Ice Road Rescue Season 7, Episode 2 – The latest installment of a docuseries about rescue workers in Norway. (National Geographic)

Men of War (2024) – A documentary feature about a U.S. Green Beret who failed in his task to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. (DVD)

Northwoods Survival Season 2, Episode 2: “Breaking New Ground” – The latest installment of a docuseries following young Canadians living in remote landscapes. (National Geographic)

The Rising Girls of K-Pop Confidential (2025) – A documentary about K-pop. (VOD)

Who Hired the Hitman? Season 1, Episode 1: “Home on the Range” – The first episode of this new six-part true-crime docuseries about murder-for-hire-plots involves the death of a farmer. (ID: Investigation Discovery)

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

About Face Season 1, Episode 2: “Marked at Birth”- The latest episode of this series that follows surgeons specializing in facial reconstruction. (TLC)

Expedition Files Season 3, Episode 1 – The return of this docuseries that presents historical stories. (Discovery Channel)

Expedition Unknown Season 16, Episode 1: “Shipwreck Triangle of Greece” – The return of this docuseries that follows an archaeologist looking for lost artifacts. (Discovery Channel)

Fugitives Caught on Tape Season 2, Episodes 9 & 10 – The latest installments of a docuseries following law enforcement in their pursuit of fugitives. (A&E)

Ghost Adventures Season 30, Episode 2: “Mountain of Madness Part 2” – The latest installment of a docuseries following paranormal investigators. (Discovery Channel)

The Mayor (2013) – A short documentary about a Republican mayor in Georgia and his connection to the local Latino immigrant community. (OVID)

Nature Season 44, Episode 3: “The Pigeon Hustle” – The latest installment of this long-running docuseries focuses on pigeons in New York City and London. (PBS)

Power Struggle (2016) – A documentary feature about the effort to shut down a nuclear power plant in Vermont. (OVID)

Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (2025) – A documentary feature following a Palestinian woman in Gaza as she shares her life under bombardment. (In Theaters)

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Alex vs. A-Rod (2025) – A three-part docuseries about baseball icon Alex Rodriguez. (HBO Max)

Love+War (2025) – A documentary feature directed by Oscar winners Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (Free Solo) about Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Lynsey Addario. Read our review of Love+War. (National Geographic)

Sarkozy – Gaddafi: the Scandal of Scandals (2025) – A documentary feature investigating the case that Muammar Gaddafi’s Libyan government financed Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign in France. (OVID)

The Toys That Built America Season 2 – The complete second season of this historical docuseries about toys. (Hulu)

Share Nonfics


Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon

11/7 – Pistachio Wars – An investigative documentary about a farming empire in California. (VOD)

11/10 – Saving Superman – A Critics Choice-nominated short documentary about a beloved man with autism spectrum disorder who dresses as Superman. (Switchboard)

11/11 – Surviving Mormonism with Heather Gay – A three-part docuseries exploring secrets of the Mormon Church. (Bravo)

11/14 – Quiet Voices in a Noisy World – A documentary feature about Black volunteers in Jasper, Texas, working to advance social justice. (In Theaters)

11/21 – Zodiac Killer Project – A meta-textual true-crime documentary about an abandoned documentary on the Zodiac Killer. Read our review of Zodiac Killer Project. (In Theaters)

11/26 – The Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder (2025) – A three-part true-crime docuseries about the killing of a mortician in Colorado. Watch the new trailer for the series here. (ID: Investigation Discovery)

11/28 – The Tale of Silyan – A documentary feature by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tamara Kotevska (Honeyland) that follows a struggling North Macedonian farmer. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

12/3 – Peaches Goes Bananas – A documentary feature following the musician known as Peaches over 17 years. (In Theaters)

12/5 – Endless Cookie – An animated documentary feature by Canadian half-brothers, one white and one Indigenous, about their family. The film was just acquired by the new distributor Obscured Releasing. (In Theaters)

12/7 – Monsta X: Connect X in Cinemas – A concert film starring the titular Korean boy band. (In Theaters)

2/25 – Man on the Run – A documentary feature by Morgan Neville (Piece by Piece) about Paul McCartney post-Beatles as he formed Wings. (Prime Video)

Nonfics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Uncategorized Comments are off
29 October 2025

IDA Statement Opposing A Merger Involving Warner Bros. Discovery

Written by Paul Moon

IDA Statement Opposing A Merger Involving Warner Bros. Discovery
ida-admin
Wed, 10/29/2025 – 07:24

Uncategorized Comments are off
29 October 2025

IDA Statement Opposing A Merger Involving Warner Bros. Discovery

Written by Paul Moon

IDA Statement Opposing A Merger Involving Warner Bros. Discovery
ida-admin
Wed, 10/29/2025 – 07:24

Uncategorized Comments are off
29 October 2025

‘Wayumi,’ DOC NYC World Premiere About Indigenous Amazon Rainforest Family, Gets Digital Release from Grasshopper Film

Written by Paul Moon

wayumi-2.jpg?w=650

Exclusive: The directorial debut of Andrew Balcof premieres at DOC NYC in the U.S. Competition on November 15.

Uncategorized Comments are off
28 October 2025

Nikon ZR Review and Mini-Doc with DZOFILM Vespid 2 Lenses – “Born Cinematic” or Maybe Not?

Written by Paul Moon

The Nikon ZR is gaining momentum and is now shipping. In our coverage, this little camera is following right along. Much has already been said about it, but we wanted to see whether it lives up to the hype or falls short of its shiny marketing promises. In this Nikon ZR review, I’ll go over “picture quality” based on my observations working with RED’s R3D files, as well as general usability, which is no less important when working in the field.

Before I start off: As part of our Nikon ZR review coverage, Gunther, our colleague, already conducted the Nikon ZR lab test here, and last but not least, we approached Nikon with some questions we had regarding the implementation of the R3D files, and got some answers to share with you guys!

The Nikon ZR camera received our Best of Show award for IBC 2025, and so did the DZOFILM Vespid 2 lenses, so the logical thing for us was to bring them together and see how they perform. This is why I dedicated a paragraph to these lenses, as I used them to film the above mini-doc as part of this Nikon ZR review.

So, a lot of work ahead – let’s dive right in.

Ready for work. Nikon ZR, SmallRig cage, DZOFILM Vespid 2, Kinefinity Eagle EVF, part of the Nikon ZR review articleReady for work. Nikon ZR, SmallRig cage, DZOFILM Vespid 2, Kinefinity Eagle EVF. Credit: CineD

Nikon ZR review: the basics

As of September 2025, with the introduction of the Nikon ZR, the company proudly presents the Z CINEMA series. This new full-frame 6K camera is the result of a synergy between RED and Nikon. As a quick reminder, back in March 2024, RED was acquired by Nikon, and the rest is history.

The pinnacle: implementation of RED’s R3D NE RAW codec, part of the Nikon ZR review articleThe pinnacle: implementation of RED’s R3D NE RAW codec. Credit: CineD

The pinnacle of this new release is the implementation of RED’s R3D RAW codec (NE version), alongside Nikon’s own N-RAW and Apple’s ProRes RAW. Without going into which RAW codec is implemented best in this camera, for the video above, I used R3D NE RAW recording, as I was very curious to see the results.

Three types of RAW recoding. Soon we will know which one is the best to use, part of the Nikon ZR review articleThree types of RAW recording. Soon we will know which one is the best to use. Credit: CineD

Beyond the impressive number of RAW video recording options (three, to be exact), the ZR prides itself on being the first camera to feature 32-bit float internal audio recording, a fanless cooling system to manage heat, and a 4″ LCD screen for monitoring. All are great to have, but please read on.

OK, we get it. The Nikon ZR is a CINEMA camera producing CINEMATIC images, part of the Nikon ZR review articleOK, we get it. The Nikon ZR is a CINEMA camera producing CINEMATIC images…
Source: https://www.nikonusa.com/press-room/zr

Having reviewed cameras for years, I get super agitated when I see companies letting their marketing departments control the agenda of product releases. In this particular case, it seems as if Nikon repackaged the (already capable) Z6 III, removed the EVF, added a new RED RAW codec – claiming it to be massively different from the already established Nikon N-RAW – and, as mentioned above, built a large LCD screen next to implementing internal 32-bit float audio recording. On top of that, Nikon is promising 15+ stops of dynamic range alongside “cinema quality” (taken from the official publication: “designed for cinema, high-end productions, and creators”). We will touch on dynamic range, latitude, and rolling shutter results later this month in our lab test, but for now, seeing that in their official product web page the word “cinema” plays a major role (“Z CINEMA series”, “Cinema camera”, “Cinematic”, “Cinematic mode”), it seems Nikon is emphasizing the ZR’s capabilities tailored for cinematic video production. So let me ask: what is a “cinema camera,” anyway?

Z CINEMA by Nikon with the help of RED, part of the Nikon ZR review articleZ CINEMA by Nikon with the help of RED. Credit: CineD

“Born Cinematic” – defining what a cinema camera is

I guess the easiest way to define a cinema camera is by seeing if professionals have adopted it for high-end cinema productions that end up on the big screen. Since this camera is completely new, we’ll have to wait and see if that happens. As I’m neither shooting for cinema nor aiming for it, let me already say that there is nothing “CINEMA” in this camera that distinguishes it from other offerings on the market, so don’t expect to pick it up and become a great DP, as there are no shortcuts. Storytelling, lighting, lenses, filters, and camera movements will all help you achieve a certain look, and a camera (any camera) is just another tool in helping to do so. Some will do better than others, but I would appreciate it if Nikon could explain the “born Cinematic” slogan more clearly. After all, when talking about a “cinema camera,” some basic features like true 24p, open-gate, support for anamorphic lenses, full-size HDMI, and false colors (to name a few) are missing from it and will surely be appreciated by professionals.

Moving forward, trying to touch the essence of this camera, I’ll focus on three categories that are important to me when working with any tool in the field: picture quality, connectivity, and flexibility. In this Nikon ZR review, let’s see how the camera scores here, keeping in mind that this is a personal observation.

Working with Adobe Premiere Pro Beta, part of the Nikon ZR review articleWorking with Adobe Premiere Pro Beta. Credit: CineD

Nikon ZR review: Picture Quality

In my opinion, the picture quality coming out of this camera is gorgeous. Looking at the images I captured with this camera on the ASUS ProArt 6K Display PA32QCV (review here) makes me feel as if I did a good job in filming and treating the footage afterward… Saying this, there is a minor issue I noticed with motion cadence that is hard for me to explain, but even when filming in 25p (and keeping shutter angle at 180°), the footage still looks “too smooth.” When I showed the footage to my colleagues at the office, I seemed to be the only one concerned. Whether it’s just my impression or not, we’ll likely hear more once the camera is in wider circulation.

Slow-motion at 4K/119.88p in DX crop mode is possible even when recording in RAW, part of the Nikon ZR review articleSlow-motion at 4K/119.88p in DX crop mode is possible even when recording in RAW. Credit: CineD

Filming at high frame rates yielded good results: 4K at 119.88p, in DX cropped mode, upscaled to 6K on a 25p timeline looked very nice. It’s also worth mentioning that the camera offers a shutter angle option, which is a preferred method for avoiding the need to adjust shutter speed when changing frame rates constantly.

The SmallRig handgrip solution, part of the Nikon ZR reviewThe SmallRig handgrip solution. Credit: CineD

The dual base ISO option (800 and 6,400) ensures cleaner images and less noise when filming in changing light conditions.

To summarize, looking at Imatest charts is one thing, but seeing the actual image is another. For now, I like what I see and hope our lab tests will support this observation.

Thin and not easy to hold. The camera grip, part of the Nikon ZR reviewThin and not easy to hold. The camera grip. Credit: CineD

Nikon ZR review: Connectivity

The Nikon ZR scores relatively poorly in this category, mostly because the company decided to include a micro HDMI connector, which is certainly limiting.

Micro HDMI connector, part of the Nikon ZR reviewMicro HDMI connector. Credit: CineD

On top of that, there are no camera-body attachment points à la Sony FX3, FX30, FX2, or Canon EOS C50. The ultimate solution is to have the camera attached to a cage. This also solves the fundamental issue of the camera grip being too thin and not easy to hold. Luckily, I had the new SmallRig/Nikon ZR cage with me (some design improvements needed, but otherwise a fantastic cage), and my conclusion is: if you are a video shooter, once you have a cage attached to this camera, you will never take it off.

The SmallRig cage for the Nikon ZR. The lock for the Micro HDMI is very helpful. Be careful not to lose the screw, part of the Nikon ZR reviewThe SmallRig cage for the Nikon ZR. The lock for the Micro HDMI is very helpful. Be careful not to lose the screw. Credit: CineD

Speaking of which, as a traditional shooter who needs an EVF for framing correctly and setting up proper exposure, the cage proved fundamental in helping to secure and attach an external EVF (Kinefinity Eagle HDMI) to the camera. More on this below.

Nikon Z has the most flexible camera mount solution out there, part of the Nikon ZR reviewNikon Z has the most flexible camera mount solution out there. Credit: CineD

Nikon ZR review: Flexibility

“Camera flexibility” might be hard to describe, but what I’m aiming for is to see “who works for whom,” me for the camera, or the camera for me. In this regard, the Nikon ZR offers decent flexibility for a field camera, though it’s not without limits. Its compact design makes it easy to handle for run-and-gun shooting, gimbal work, or handheld setups. (The camera’s IBIS is rather weak, and as I mentioned above, a cage is needed to balance it better.) The menu system is intuitive, and customizable buttons, although limited in number, allow quick access to frequently used settings.

Limited in number - Physical buttons for fast settings access, part of the Nikon ZR reviewLimited in number – physical buttons for fast settings access. Credit: CineD

Lens compatibility is also strong thanks to the Z-mount, and while using native lenses provides excellent optical performance, Sony shooters (for example) will find it easy to migrate if wanted, as “E” (lenses) to “Z” (camera bodies) adapters are widely available. In my case, I used the NiSI “PL” to “Z” adapter so that I could use the DZOFILM Vespid 2 lenses without a hiccup.

The Zoom rocker was a "lifesaver" when working with manual focus lenses, part of the Nikon ZR reviewThe Zoom rocker was a “lifesaver” when working with manual focus lenses. Credit: CineD

A feature in this camera that’s extremely helpful is the zoom rocker situated on the top right-hand side. This really speeds things up when I’m checking focus while working with a PL lens.

Turning on instantly, part of the Nikon ZR reviewTurning on instantly. Credit: CineD

I also like that the camera switches on instantly with the touch of a button. I’m glad to see it did not inherit the RED cameras’ boot-up time…

Also worth mentioning are the recording codecs for this camera. You can choose between three RAW flavors, ProRes HQ, H.265 8-bit/10-bit, and H.264 in 8-bit… Those H.265 compressed recording formats are all 4:2:0 and not 4:2:2 as one might expect. In our lab test, we found out that Noise Reduction is working really hard when using H.265, so we are really questioning the value of using it. Bottom line, what is clearly missing is a good “midrange” codec for casual use, or, in other words, proper implementation of H.265. This alone makes the camera less flexible to work with. On a positive note, the “auto recording” of MP4 1080p proxy files when filming in RAW is very helpful for fast editing or sharing your footage almost instantly.

Overall, the camera handles a variety of shooting scenarios well. While it may not cover every professional cinema use case, it’s flexible enough for independent projects, documentary work, and personal productions.

4” LCD Screen and 32-bit float audio

The 4” LCD screen and 32-bit float internal audio recording deserve their own paragraph.

4” LCD screen: This screen is an extremely welcome development as it offers an easy “overall” view of footage and menu options. Some will argue that they can save the cost of an external monitor by using it. For me, being a traditional middle-aged cameraman, it did not suffice. On a bright day, make sure to have the REC709 LUT option turned “on,” as otherwise, judging focus will still be challenging. Also, note that connecting an external microphone or headphones restricts LCD tilting.

32-bit float internal audio recording, part of the Nikon ZR review32-bit float internal audio recording. Credit: CineD

32-bit float internal audio recording: Nikon did very well by being the first camera manufacturer to implement such an option in a mirrorless camera. Some will argue that Panasonic had already done it, but that required an optional removable XLR handgrip. This solution serves as a valuable safety net when filming with audio in mind, especially for a one-man band run-and-gun situation. However, while wireless audio can record 32-bit float into the transmitters themselves, in most cases, it cannot transmit to the receiver in 32-bit float. The only exception I’m aware of is the Hollyland LARX MAX 2 that can also send 32-bit audio to the receiver connected to the camera. However, the best solution remains recording in 32-bit float on the transmitter to maintain a proper backup recording and avoid potential audio dropouts. Hopefully, future audio devices will better support this camera feature.

Editing .R3D NE files and our questions answered by Nikon

In many ways, the Nikon ZR is selling an “illusion.” Implementing the R3D NE RAW codec may make people believe their footage will look amazing “out of the box.” Reality is different, but let’s go with the flow. For those wanting to explore RED RAW files without buying RED cameras, this camera is a good entry point. If this is your first time working with R3D files, ensure your computer is updated, download REDCINE-X Pro (now with R3D NE support for Mac and Windows), and the free-of-charge RED creative LUT set from here. Have the latest DaVinci Resolve installed, or use the Adobe Premiere Beta version (currently required for .R3D NE files). When using Premiere, there is a small learning curve, such as the need to import the entire Nikon folder via the “media browser” rather than individual clips, but playback on my laptop has been smooth.

Our questions answered by Nikon:

We approached Nikon to ask if N-RAW is identical to RED NE as Adobe Premiere Pro (Beta) associate N-RAW files (.NEV) color space as REDWideGamutRGB and the color curve as Log 3G10, and their answer is as follows:

“We are aware that when opening N-RAW (.NEV files) with Adobe Premiere Pro (Beta), the files are interpreted using the RED color space. To address this, Nikon will provide a “log to log LUT” to convert from RED color space Log3G10 to N-log for N-RAW files. This LUT is planned to be available by the end of October 2025″.

Adobe Premiere (Beta) identifying .R3D files as “NIKON RAW”. Credit: CineD

We also asked Nikon why FFmpeg is identifying .R3D files as “NIKON RAW” and here is Nikon’s answer:

“As RED has stated, R3D NE files are processed with the IPP2 pipeline, just like the RED Cinema Camera. Even if the ISO values appear similar, R3D NE files use advanced RAW image processing based on RED’s approach. For more details, please see: https://support.red.com/hc/en-us/articles/45719402183059-R3D-NE-and-the-Expansion-of-REDCODE-RAW

Please also note that “NIKON RAW” listed in the metadata of video files is a general term for RAW files provided by the Nikon Group.

FFmpeg Identifying .R3D files as Nikon RAW

Nikon ZR review – conclusion

At $2,197, this camera is a great buy. I really like the footage coming out of it when using the R3D NE RAW files. Looking ahead, I can assume that many users may be fine paying for a firmware update to add 24p and open-gate or anamorphic functionality. Future camera versions would benefit from a body better suited for run-and-gun work. Lastly, if you own a Nikon Z6 III, there is little reason to switch to a ZR. For users coming from other brands, it is a valid and attractive option at this price.

I just wish Nikon marketing would take a step back and be more “down to earth” in describing the camera. Mentioning the word “CINEMA/CINEMATIC” 30 times in a short press release does not do the product any justice. At the end of the day, it is a good camera, but nothing out of the ordinary.

DZOFILM Vespid 2 Prime lenses set of six, part of the Nikon ZR reviewDZOFILM Vespid 2 Prime lenses set of six. Credit: CineD

Nikon ZR Lab Test

In case you missed our entire Nikon ZR Lab Test article (which should be considered part of our comprehensive Nikon ZR review), check it out here, and watch the video below to gain more insights:

DZOFILM Vespid 2 lenses – hands-on review

The DZOFILM Vespid Prime 2 series is a full-frame cine prime lens set that consists of the following focal lengths: 18 mm, 24 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 85 mm, and 105 mm. Optical construction and close-focus distances vary by focal length, ranging from 0.25 m on the 18 mm lens to 0.9 m on the 105 mm lens. Each lens includes manual iris control with approximately 65–68° rotation, a focus throw of about 300°, a 0.8 mod gear pitch, and an M77 front filter thread. All lenses feature a constant T1.9 aperture.

Here at the office, when pointing the lenses at a resolution chart, we can easily see that the optical design contributes to high resolution, well-controlled chromatic aberration, and consistent color performance across focal lengths. The natural bokeh and zero focus breathing are also worth mentioning, but perhaps the thing that impresses me most is the overall edge-to-edge sharpness. In fact, these are the best lenses that we have tested in this price range for a very long time. As an example, here are some slides from the Vespid 2 35mm lens.

DZOFILM Vespid 2, 35mm fully open at T1.9.DZOFILM Vespid 2, 35mm fully open at T1.9. Credit: CineD

DZOFILM Vespid 2, 35mm at T4.0DZOFILM Vespid 2, 35mm at T4.0 Credit: CineD

DZOFILM Vespid 2, 35mm, very clean from chromatic aberrationDZOFILM Vespid 2, 35mm, very clean from chromatic aberration. Credit: CineD

Listing the things that truly impressed me, let me start by saying how compact yet robust these lenses feel. Then, on the project shot above, the minimum focus distance was liberating. I have to admit that a thought crossed my mind to film Johannes, the guitar builder, with anamorphic lenses, but knowing how limiting those can be when short-distance close-up shots are needed, I opted for working with spherical lenses.

Cooke /i real-time communication protocol and 5-pin LEMO interfaceCooke /i real-time communication protocol and 5-pin LEMO interface. Credit: CineD

Two things that I did not test are the Cooke /i real-time communication protocol and the built-in 5-pin LEMO interface that those lenses have. In a nutshell, with Cooke /i, communication via the PL mount transmitting metadata such as focal length, T-stop, and focus distance directly to compatible cameras is possible. Higher-end productions or VFX artists will surely appreciate working with such lenses. Regarding the built-in 5-pin LEMO interface, it enables connectivity with wireless follow-focus systems and other professional cine accessories. As a one-man band filming the above production, I did not use any of those features.

The NiSi PL-Z mount adapterThe NiSi PL-Z mount adapter. Credit: CineD

It’s worth noting that I used a NiSi PL-to-Z mount adapter to attach the Vespid 2 lenses to the Nikon ZR, and it worked very well.

The not-so-common 80mm front filter thread.The not-so-common 80mm front filter thread. Credit: CineD

What could be improved?

It is a bit unfortunate that DZOFILM chose 80mm as a front filter size. This “non-standard” dimension made me spend a lot of time looking through the entire collection of Variable ND filters that we have at the office. Seriously speaking, yes, we are talking about a compact PL series of lenses, and I guess that constructing those lenses with a 77mm front diameter was not possible. Yet, it would have been appreciated to either have a solution from DZOFILM included in the lens kit, or to use a more common diameter like 82mm. Anyway, this is something to remember if and when you decide to work with these lenses.

The "risk" of filming at a workshopThe “risk” of filming at a workshop. Credit: CineD

Vespid 2 conclusion

These lenses are extremely sharp and clean, to the point that some users might not like them, as they exhibit no “characteristics,” much like the NiSi Athena (review here), but at a slightly lower price point. Personally, I very much liked what I saw, but if I were to work on a real project, I would have definitely used a 1/8 Black Promist filter (at least). All in all, these are a great, robust, and easy-to-use modern set of lenses, priced at $1,199 for each focal length or $6,289 for the six-lens kit.

Before closing this long Nikon ZR review article, I would like to thank Johannes Auly and his team for hosting me at his workshop. It was truly inspiring to see how an instrument that I like so much comes to life and is built. More about his work can be found here.

Nikon ZR, SmallRig cage, Kinefinity HDMI EVF, and DZOFILM Vespid 2 50mm lensNikon ZR with a DZOFILM Vespid 2 50mm lens attached. Credit: CineD

What do you think about the new Nikon ZR camera and our Nikon ZR review? Have you had it in your hands yet? If so, please be kind enough to share your impressions with us in the comment section below. Also, have you had a chance to work with or test the DZOFILM Vespid 2 lenses? I’m eager to hear your impressions.

Uncategorized Comments are off
27 October 2025

‘Man on the Run’ Teaser: Paul McCartney Wonders How He Could ‘Ever Do Anything Near as Good as The Beatles’ in Morgan Neville’s Rock Doc

Written by Paul Moon

Copyright-Paul-McCartney-under-exclusive

Exclusive: IndieWire shares the first look at Paul McCartney’s Wings years after The Beatles disbanded and chats with Morgan Neville about how McCartney learned to grow up.

Uncategorized Comments are off
26 October 2025

Just Sing Review: A Cappella Doc Belts an Irresistible Tune

Written by Paul Moon

Just Sing

(UK, 93 min.)

Dir. Abraham Troen, Angelique Molina

Prod. Sarah Thomson, John Battsek

 

The lyrics of Bob Dylan’s political ballad “The Times They Are A-Changin’” hold as much power now as they did when the song was released in 1964. However, audiences likely haven’t heard them performed with the level of heartfelt emotion with which they appear in Just Sing. As the members of the SoCal VoCals belts out Dylan’s song A Cappella with earnest theatrical panache and heartfelt sincerity, the students from the University of Southern California’s A Cappella group lend potent contemporary resonance to the song.

Just Sing from directors Abraham Troen and Angelique Molina observes the teammates of the SoCal VoCals as they set their eyes on first place in the International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCAC). The singers insist that the SoCal VoCals aren’t a glee club and that there’s far more to the art of A Cappella than the movie Pitch Perfect suggests. There’s a lot that Pitch Perfect seems to get right, though, as the team rehearses with painstaking dedication for the competition that Anna Kendrick and company performed in the hit comedy. Many of the singers acknowledge an indebtedness to Pitch Perfect, too. Thankfully, though, nobody in Just Sing performs “The Cup Song,” so they’re all winners in my book.

This immediately enjoyable film asks if it’s possible to make a competition documentary by cutting out the competition. Just Sing bucks the tried-and-tested formula of the competition film. Instead of following a handful of teams vying for the top-prize and following the route of sure-fire crowd-pleasers like Whistle and Speak! as contenders are whittled down to finalists and a nail-biter announcement, Just Sing hones in on one company. It’s refreshing to see a documentary avoid cliché and predictability by forgoing the easy route. The stakes both dramatic and emotional play differently, in part thanks to A Capella’s whimsical charm and its ability to tug at heartstrings with an unabashed serving of heartfelt cheese. How can you not love a documentary that includes a bunch of pure raw voices belting out “The Edge of Glory” by Lady Gaga?

The film follows the group as they practice their numbers for different stages of the ICCAC. (Spoiler alert: they advance.) The singers feel considerable pressure meeting the bar set by previous generations of the esteemed SoCal VoCals. They won’t settle for second place. To them, being runner-up means the highest note was so close yet still beyond reach. SoCal VoCal alumni cheer them on, though, as previous classes join their parties and pick up a tune now and then. The current teammates hope that victory will lead to exciting paths, as previous SoCal VoCals have gone on to enjoy careers as performers, in some cases earning wins and nominations at the Grammys.

The stakes are high, too, because the A Cappella competition holds significance in the teammates’ futures. They’re all betting big on a career in musical performance, but so too are the competitors on rival teams. As several students (and their parents) note, there are no back-up plans for someone studying musical performance.

Just Sing zooms in on select members of the SoCal Vocals to capture the hearts that fuel their songs. Tiffany Galaviz, the group’s unofficial lead vocalist, shares what it means to juggle multiple jobs and musical genres. She plays mariachi to pay the bills and dedicates herself to A Cappella with hopes of being the next Adele. Sam Avila, meanwhile, opens up about having a father who was away for much of his childhood after enlisting in Afghanistan. Sam and his parents get emotional recalling how his dad’s PTSD, which led to a suicide attempt, shaped a future for a budding performer who found a natural outlet through song.

The catharsis is real here for many of Sam’s teammates. For example, Dylan Beck reflects on growing up as the only gay teen in a small town, and then struggled to click with the queer scene once he came to California. While Just Sing focuses on the origin stories of select few members of the SoCal Vocals, other singers, like Yohanna Bauerdorf and Mateo Gonzales, serve as the eyes through which audiences see the choreography, rehearsals, and workshopping process.

A Cappella lends an intimate cinematic quality to the performances, interviews, and behind the scenes views. Whether through confessional interview or song, each member of the company gets their chance to open their hearts to the audience.

This intimacy proves particularly compelling in the group’s rendition of “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” The singers reflect upon the significance of Dylan’s ballad for a group with many LGBTQ+ members or singers with friends and family members implicated in the alarming rollback of queer and trans rights. They interpret the song as it speaks to them in 2023—as young people whose futures are being determined by out-of-touch authority figures. Here’s where the magic of A Cappella works wonders. The SoCal VoCals strips the song to its essentials, yet build it up with a theatrical framework that opens the hearts of audiences to engage with the message.

Just Sing then finds considerable tension as the SoCal VoCals ambitiously rehearse their song for the next stage of the competition. They want to outperform expectations by going with Beyoncé’s “Cuff It.” The sexy R&B number hardly lends itself to the emotional punctuation marks that make the Dylan cover an obvious winner. And instead of passion the mic to different singers to lead, “Cuff It” makes one singer shoulder an enormously difficult task. But the rehearsals, bumpy as they are, show off the technical complexity of both the song and A Cappella as the singers transform the seductive bass lines into vocalised accompaniment.

While the SoCal VoCals easily wow a viewer, though, Just Sing doesn’t give a frame of reference to show how they stack up against the competition. This framing makes Just Sing more of a profile film in lieu of a standard competition documentary. And if the film ever feels lacking, it’s in the absence of glimpses of other groups challenging the singers for the title.

The film provides a fly-on-the-wall view for judges’ deliberations, but audience won’t have any idea what they’re discussing. The absence of competitors undercuts the tension in climactic moments simply because one doesn’t know how the SoCal VoCals stack up to the names being announced. Either way, though, Just Sing aims for the heart and doesn’t miss. One can’t help but root for the SoCal VoCals even if they’re the only voices on display.

Just Sing was reviewed at the 2025 Windsor International Film Festival. It screens again on Oct. 29.

The post Just Sing Review: A Cappella Doc Belts an Irresistible Tune appeared first on POV Magazine.

Uncategorized Comments are off
25 October 2025

Min Sook Lee Seeks Her Mother’s Story

Written by Paul Moon

For decades, Min Sook Lee has been on a quest to uncover truth through her art. Her award-winning films including Hogtown: The Politics of Policing (2005), Tiger Spirit (2008) and Migrant Dreams (2016) focus on justice, drawing on her passionate political and activist work. After taking a different tack in her career and entering academia, first in 2011 as an instructor at TMU (then Ryerson University) and then, in 2015, as associate professor at OCAD U, Lee’s film work began to change. The COVID lockdown forced Lee to confront her own family’s story, looking inward to a tragedy that is both deeply personal and universal in its impact.

Her new work, There Are No Words, is a challenging film that follows a daughter’s quest to get answers from one parent about another who died by suicide. The doc traces the filmmaker’s complex relationship with an ailing father while diving deeply into her mother’s experiences as a shopkeeper in Toronto and her life back in Korea. This multi-country, multi-generational, multi-cultural journey plays out in surprising ways, driven by the epistemological tenacity of a filmmaker intent on confronting the hidden truths of her own upbringing, bringing the tools of her craft to bear on a highly personal narrative.

POV spoke to Min Sook Lee prior to the film’s premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.

Young Minsook pictured with her father in a black and white photoMin Sook Lee and her father, Chung Beum Lee | Lee family photo

POV: Jason Gorber

MSL: Min Sook Lee

The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.

 

POV: You’ve included yourself in other films before, but by focusing on your family, this makes it even more of a personal story. How challenging did you find the process of looking inward to be?

MSL: I wanted to tell this story for a very long time, but I just wasn’t ready. Frankly, I didn’t know how I would do it. It took time to build a space where people felt comfortable talking about difficult parts of their lives. I respect the immense trust that’s essential in the filmmaker/participant relationship. At a certain point I stopped to think about the ethics, the accountability and the challenges of documentary filmmaking. I pulled away from filmmaking and pivoted into teaching.

POV: So how did you break through? What was the hook that allowed you to see how you could navigate it?

MSL: When COVID hit, it threw a wrench into everything and made me realize the scarcity of time I had to access the key storyteller in my life, my father, if I wanted to understand my mother’s story. But he’s never been the most straightforward storyteller. There is always a plurality of truths coming from my father.

POV: There’s something remarkable in being a documentarian whose father was an intelligence officer. How do you navigate somebody whose job it was to lie and get them to actually tell some truths?

MSL: It’s a slippery task. It was about trying to find stable ground in terms of the story of this film. I had to accept that there are certain truths that will never fully be understood or known. I know that I can’t trust what he says. And, yet, I have the compulsion to be able to say that something really did happen.

POV: The daughter of a fabulist growing up to become a documentarian is a fascinating narrative in and of itself.

MSL: One of the draws for me about documentary is that even though oppressors and abusers and perpetrators will deny that certain things happened, I can provide proof. I’m not paranoid, but there is a certain deep skepticism I have when I hear someone’s explanations or stories. I have my own need to know, to find secondary sources to verify statements. Part of this comes from knowing that my mother never got to tell her story. There are so many people like my mother whose stories have been erased or re-narrated. As much as I recognize that the truth is complicated and there’s no real truth with a capital T, there are truths. There are things that did happen, and it matters that there are people who know that. I’m the most satisfied when countering so many of the fictive qualities that my father exhibited throughout my life and the damage that brought.

Min Sook Lee is a Korean woman in her 50s. She is pictured sitting on a couch, looking at her father who is in his 80s. He is in the foreground of the picture and has his back to the camera while looking in his daughter's direction.Min Sook Lee and her father | Photo by Elana Emer

POV: How do you make sure that you craft this film with nuance when you are so close to the story?

MSL: I guess because I’ve made mistakes in earlier films. You ask yourself what you would have done differently. It’s never just a creative process for me, it’s also political. I’m interested in the social impact of the work that I make, and in the relationship between the filmmaker and the participants.When I was making the film, I thought a lot about what my mother’s choices were. Why would she be drawn to this guy? I would never want to imagine her heart being broken, her being betrayed. I would always prefer the idea that maybe she was playing him somehow.

POV: She did convince your father to leave where he had political standing and economic pull, to go to run a convenience store in Toronto and one day have a daughter that would tell her story.

MSL: There’s a sense of control, but of her own loss.

POV: You are tackling the tough subject of suicide, which is handled very differently in the Japanese and Korean cultures that shaped your mother.

MSL: Koreans have the highest suicide rate in the world. I was 12 when my mother died. I’m 55 now. I’ve gone through many different takes. At first I did simply see her as a victim. I’m at this point now where I understand there was a choice that was made. My mother’s act was a refusal, and it was her choice. But then there are many people who are devastated by suicide, who recognize it as a mental health disorder. I know many women who were my mother’s age who were abused throughout their marriage. Now the men are old and feeble, and the women take care of them.

POV: Not dissimilar, it must be said, to you caring for your father.

MSL: Yeah. But I do it in an emotionally detached way. I don’t have to be obedient or have to be the dutiful daughter. But he is a human being, and I cannot just abandon him like a dog on the road.

A photo of Jesa offerings placed before a golden backdrop/altar with Korean writing. At the centre of the offerings is a black and white photograph of a Korean woman.Jesa offerings | Photo by Elana Emer

POV: How do you anticipate feeling as audiences take on your family history and make their own judgments about your story?

MSL: It’s very anxiety-provoking. I feel deeply exposed, and in some ways, I feel a little bit ashamed. I wish I had a happy family story to tell. I’ve constantly asked myself, “Why did I make this film?” I wanted to make sure that my mother’s story was told that she wasn’t erased from history. I wanted other people who had experienced similar things to feel seen. This is a familiar story not only for many diasporic Koreans, but also to many intergenerational traumatized people whose parents were in militarist societies. Militarism creates deep violence in the most intimate spaces of our lives. Whatever side of the conflict that you are locating yourself in, the families of people who engage in militarism are deeply traumatized and that violence does not end when the person comes back through the front door. In fact, in some ways the most terrifying moments occur in the kitchen or in the bedroom of people’s homes. I know this isn’t something that’s singular to me.

There Are No Words premieres at TIFF 2025.

Get more coverage from this year’s festival here.

It plays at additional festivals, including Windsor and Reel Asian.as of press time.

The post Min Sook Lee Seeks Her Mother’s Story appeared first on POV Magazine.

Uncategorized Comments are off
← Older posts
Newer posts →

B&H Search Engine Banner


B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio














© Copyright 2022 by Zen Violence Films LLC, all rights reserved. To read the site privacy policy and ethics statement, click here.