1. The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam
Long Tack Sam was an internationally renowned Chinese acrobat and magician. He overcame isolation, poverty, cultural and linguistic barriers, extreme racism and world wars to become one of the most successful vaudeville acts of his time. His showmanship was unrivalled, yet he refused to appear in movies because of the way Chinese were portrayed at the time. A celebration of the spirit of Long Tack Sam's magic and art, this richly textured first person road movie is an exhilarating testament to his legacy and a prismatic tour through the 20th Century. It all begins in a small village in China...</p><p> https://www.nfb.ca/film/the_magical_life_of_long_tack_sam/
2. ¡Yo soy Boricua, pa' que tú lo sepas!
Actress Rosie Perez makes a stunning directorial debut in this heartfelt tribute to Puerto Rican pride. She takes an in-depth look at the complex and often controversial history of Puerto Rican-U.S. relations. By turns shocking and celebratory, this wide-ranging documentary examines such rich themes of the Puerto Rican experience as family, language, and racism, all with careful consideration of historical context.
It has an average vote of 10 on TMDB.
3. Manos a la Obra: The Story of Operation Bootstrap (Manos a la Obra: The Story of Operation Bootstrap)
This documentary analyzes the origins of the Puerto Rican economic development plan of the 1960’s, better known as Manos a la Obra . The film examines this economic plan within the framework of Puerto Rican society, with special emphasis on the mass migration of Puerto Ricans to the mainland.
4. The Man Behind the Microphone
An amazing story of love and family, celebrity and music. A portrait of Hedi Jouini, the godfather of Tunisian music.
5. Now We Live on Clifton
Now We Live on Clifton follows 10 year old Pam Taylor and her 12 year old brother Scott around their multiracial West Lincoln Park neighborhood. The kids worry that they'll be forced out of the neighborhood they grew up in by the gentrification following the expansion of DePaul University.
6. Ne me quitte pas (Ne me quitte pas)
The film tells the story of two friends who want to disappear from life. While their country Belgium is falling apart, two lost souls cling to each other.
It has an average vote of 5.7 on TMDB.
7. Emoticons
For a lot of young girls, the Internet is a safe haven where they can be themselves without fear. The computer is their ‘daily food’. They submerge themselves in a virtual world that became more important than the ordinary one. For most of them the virtual word ís their real world. Emoticons shows a group of ‘lost souls’ who are all in search for contact, consolation, help, friendship and love. Soulmates by the Internet.
8. Under Snow (Unter Schnee)
In Echigo in Japan the snow often lies several feet deep well into May covering landscape and villages. Over the centuries the inhabitants have organised their lives accordingly. In order to record their very distinctive forms of everyday life, their festivals and religious rituals Ulrike Ottinger journeyed to the mythical snow country – accompanied by two Kabuki performers. Taking the parts of the students Takeo and Mako they follow in the footsteps of Bokushi Suzuki who in the mid-19th century wrote his remarkable book “Snow Country Tales”.
It has an average vote of 4.2 on TMDB.
9. Born Naked (MLB) (Born Naked (MLB))
Andrea and Paula, homosexuals of 23 and 25 years, will show us, through their personal experience, the reality of young lesbians of their generation in Madrid, London and Berlin. Traveling through these three cities, we will meet different organized groups who will describe their proposals and attitudes towards their sexual orientation. With a riveting and edgy style, Born Naked introduces us to individuals who refuse to be labeled by society. A generation who fights for their right to reinvent themselves.
It has an average vote of 1.8 on TMDB.
10. La otra educación (La otra educación)
La otra educación is about the class action suit Rosa Lydia Velez vs the Department of Education, and serves as the storyline to document 30 years of struggles that the families of disabled children in Puerto Rico have suffered. Their only request is the right to an education for their sons and daughters with special needs.
11. James Tissot: L'étoffe d'un peintre (James Tissot: L'étoffe d'un peintre)
A movie about James Tissot , a French painter and portraitist
12. Storie di Altromare (Storie di Altromare)
(Storie di Altromare)
It has an average vote of 10 on TMDB.
13. People on Paper
Americans are preoccupied with the news, but need an escape from many of the events reported in the news. These escapes in the past have included dime store novels. The most accessible of these escapes is what are known as the funny papers, the set of serialized comic strips that are included within many newspapers. They appeal to all socio-economic classes, and all ages. Some of the earliest known from the late 19th century include the Yellow Kid, Little Nemo, Happy Hooligan, the Katzenjammer Kids, Mutt & Jeff, and Bringing Up Father. Many cartoonists are seen in action. Some originated their characters, while others have taken over following the passing of the originator. The joy of many comic strips are the absurd and the fantastical, which are limited only by the imagination of the cartoonist. Others are grounded in reality, which add to their poignancy within the public mindset.
It has an average vote of 6 on TMDB.
14. Along the Coast (Du côté de la côte)
Tongue-in-cheek look at the French Riviera, especially in summer when it overflows with tourists. Reviews its history and famous visitors; displays its faux-exotic buildings, its crowded beaches, its trees and monuments; and, pokes fun at the colors women wear and the vagaries of fashion. The film celebrates the use of "Eden" as a place name, suggesting that paradise comes to the coast after all are gone, perhaps only on a remote island beach.
It has an average vote of 7.509 on TMDB.
15. Bob Ross: The Happy Painter
A behind-the-scenes look at the beloved public television personality's journey from humble beginnings to an American pop-culture icon. "The Happy Painter" reveals the public and private sides of Bob Ross through loving accounts from close friends and family, childhood photographs and rare archival footage. Interviewees recount his gentle, mild-mannered demeanor and unwavering dedication to wildlife, and disclose little-known facts about his hair, his fascination with fast cars and more. Film clips feature Bob Ross with mentor William Alexander and the rough-cut of the first "Joy of Painting" episode from 1982. Famous Bob Ross enthusiasts, including talk-show pioneer Phil Donahue, film stars Jane Seymour and Terrence Howard, chef Duff Goldman and country music favorites Brad Paisley and Jerrod Niemann, provide fascinating insights into the man, the artist and his legacy.
It has an average vote of 7.2 on TMDB.
16. Immigrants' Memories (Mémoires d'immigrés, l'héritage maghrébin)
A three part story of the North African immigration to France.
It has an average vote of 9.5 on TMDB.
17. Where is Rocky II?
Pierre Bismuth hires a private detective and a duo of screenwriters to investigate on an enigmatic artwork.
It has an average vote of 5 on TMDB.
18. Making Montgomery Clift
Classic film star and queer icon Montgomery Clift’s legacy has long been a story of tragedy and self-destruction. But when his nephew dives into the family archives, a much more complicated picture emerges.
It has an average vote of 7.667 on TMDB.
19. Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis
In this entrancing documentary on performance artist, photographer and underground filmmaker Jack Smith, photographs and rare clips of Smith's performances and films punctuate interviews with artists, critics, friends and foes to create an engaging portrait of the artist. Widely known for his banned queer erotica film Flaming Creatures, Smith was an innovator and firebrand who influenced artists such as Andy Warhol and John Waters.
It has an average vote of 6.6 on TMDB.
20. Nadar, le premier des photographes (Nadar, le premier des photographes)
A documentary about the French photographer Nadar aka Gaspard-Félix Tournachon
It has an average vote of 7.5 on TMDB.