Yesterday, I shared the 12 films I’m looking forward to watching at this year’s 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.
Today, I bring you my top 12 documentaries of note. This main slate of docs highlights a bevy of politically, culturally, and socially relevant films from diverse storytellers.
1. Kubrick by Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick’s mark on the legacy of cinema can never be measured. He was a giant in his field, his great works resembling pristine pieces of art, studied by students and masters alike, all searching for answers their maker was notoriously reticent to give. While he’s among the most scrutinized filmmakers that ever lived, the chance to hear Kubrick’s own words was a rarity—until now.
Unspooling exclusive new recordings of detailed interviews with the mythic director spanning 30 years that ruminate on his philosophies, documentarian Gregory Monro weaves a tapestry of archival footage with the rhythm and care of a consummate historian relishing in his discoveries. No stranger to investigating legends of the screen, Monro’s exuberant and lyrical cinematic essay is vital. Taking viewers on a journey beyond Jupiter, Kubrick by Kubrick celebrates the essence of what film means to those who make it—and those who watch.—Landon Zakheim
2. The Kids
It has been 26 years since Larry Clark’s notorious indie cult classic Kids was released to an unsuspecting nation. Shot on the streets of Greenwich Village and starring a cast of real NYC teenagers, the film immediately became a lightning rod for controversy. Labeled as a sex and drug-fueled tale of excess and moral depravity, it still went on to become a bonafide hit that inspired intense debate and scrutiny. Over the decades the film has continued to gather a devoted following and is responsible for birthing the careers of auteur Harmony Korine and actresses Rosario Dawson and Chloe Sevigny. But what happened to the rest of the kids?
Director Eddie Martin answers the question in this riveting documentary, revisiting the lives and circumstances of the original cast, some of whose stars burned dangerously bright while others were cast into darkness. Martin examines the excitement, confusion, and promise of early stardom, and digs into the questions of cultural appropriation and the predatory accusations that still surround the film to this day. With a pre-gentrification Manhattan as its backdrop, The Kids gives us an unforgettable and unflinching look back at one of the most iconic films of the 90s. —Loren Hammonds
3. A-ha the Movie
The music of Queen and the Velvet Underground instilled a sense of destiny in three teenagers living in a small town in 1970s Norway. That dream led to A-ha: the synth-pop trio featuring keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, vocalist Morten Harket, and guitarist Pål Waktaar-Savoy. No Norwegian act had broken through internationally quite like they did when they burst onto the international scene with 1985’s “Take on Me,” buoyed by an iconic sketch-animation video by Steve Barron. The band became global sensations and heartthrobs overnight, but it remained to be seen how they would adapt to their newfound fame. How would they follow their original dream: to make music?
Featuring new interviews with the band and previously unreleased behind-the-scenes footage, Thomas Robsahm’s A-ha: The Movie delves into this very question. By following the band’s ups and downs—sojourns to post-punk-era England, their James Bond theme song for The Living Daylights, and slow-simmering interpersonal rifts—Robsahm captures a band that constantly strove to challenge itself, never content to simply repeat earlier successes. The result is a moving story of creative intuition and invention, all set to a massive back catalog of catchy synth hooks. —Cara Cusumano
4. Bernstein’s Wall
In this enlightening look at one of the greatest classical music figures of the 20th century, director Douglas Tirola mines a rich trove of interviews, television appearances, home movie footage, photos, letters to craft a comprehensive look at Leonard Bernstein, whose passion and drive took him well beyond the marvelous music he wrote and conducted.
Spanning the breadth of a life interwoven with key historic moments outside the concert hall, Bernstein’s Wall follows the son of a Russian Jewish immigrant who arrives in New York from his Boston hometown to eventually become Conductor of the New York Philharmonic and becomes a household name thanks to his numerous TV appearances, educating the public on all things symphonic, West Side Story, being seen with celebrities and politicians, and his crossing-the-line activism, from protesting the Vietnam War to (controversially) supporting the Black Panthers. Tirola incorporates Bernstein’s personal life—his fraught relationship with his father, his marriage, his family life, his struggles to be at peace with his sexuality—to paint a complex portrait of a complex, driven individual who produced some of the most memorable music of his time as a product of those times. —Brian Gordon
5. Stockholm Syndrome
Harlem-bred Rakim Mayers rode a rocket to stardom as multi-platinum rapper A$AP Rocky, on the strength of his energetic performances, cutting edge fashion, and irreverent attitude. All of this came crashing to a halt in 2019 when he was thrown in a Stockholm prison following a violent altercation with a pair of local provocateurs. Stockholm Syndrome chronicles the meteoric rise of this contemporary trendsetter, capturing the exuberance of youth and urgency of hip-hop in equal parts, before taking a detour into darkness.
With amazing access, the film reveals Rocky’s experience with the inequities of the Swedish judicial system and the dangers of stardom and scapegoating through a series of twists and turns, ultimately paralleling the need for prison reform in our own backyard. Directed by The Architects, the film blends archival footage with contemporary interviews, animation, and electrifying live concert footage to tell the astonishing story of how one of rap’s biggest superstars became embroiled in an international incident, leading to an unexpected political awakening. —Loren Hammonds
6. I Promise
I Promise tells the story of LeBron James’ efforts to close the achievement gap in his hometown of Akron, Ohio through the eyes of the inspiring students who are resetting expectations of their futures. The documentary will explore the day-to-day trials, triumphs, and life-changing impact of the school staff, students and families working together in a unique, family-first educational environment that embraces the trauma and challenges many face in Akron.
7. Last Out
Aroldis Chapman and Yasuel Puig’s major league debuts garnered plenty of ink and hype. But often overlooked are the particular challenges talented and eager—yet unknowledgeable—Cuban baseball players face, including multi-step immigration issues, learning English, the shady motives of agents and handlers, and false promises. Sami Khan and Michael Gassert follow slugger Happy Oliveros and hurlers Carlos Gonzalez and Victor Ernesto Baro, three players from the island with American mainland dreams. Under the wing of Cuban-American sports agent Gus Dominguez—once jailed for smuggling players but back in the business—they establish residency in Costa Rica, tiringly practice, and eventually audition for scouts. As they catch on to the reality of their situation and Dominguez realizes he doesn’t have another Chapman or Puig, the three face difficult choices about their next steps and choose radically different paths.
The Last Out is an affecting story of raw talent, passion, and naivete, following three vulnerable men who see baseball as the path to success, but instead must choose the best way to survive.—Brian Gordon
8. Television Event
If you’re over 50 there’s a good chance that on November 20, 1983, you were one of the over 100 million people who tuned in to the ABC-TV broadcast of The Day After, a made-for-TV fictional account the effects of a nuclear war on the U.S., shot in and centering on the midwestern town of Lawrence, Kansas before, during, and after the bombing. You also might’ve also watched the post-airing discussion with a panel that included Henry Kissinger and Carl Sagan. The timing was perfect. Increasing nuclear buildup through President Ronald Reagan’s “peace through strength” philosophy generated what-ifs, fear, and protests.
With great detail, Jeff Daniels combines interviews with the film’s director Nicholas Meyer, screenwriter Edward Hume, ABC-TV executives, residents of Lawrence where the film was shot, and many others with production footage, news footage covering the hype, and clips from the film, to trace a story of statement-making versus network censorship. The film chronicles disagreements on the set, the White House’s concern, the long-lasting effect on the townspeople of Lawrence, and the determination of the producers to get the film aired. This truly was a “television event” that generated controversy before its airing, riveted audiences, and left an impact in an unstable time.—Brian Gordon
9. This is Paris
Paris Hilton was the original influencer and first celebrity to be adored simply for being famous. This Is Paris takes you into the complex reality of her life. Much more than a global brand or a reality star, Hilton is anxious, at times lonely, and tough as nails. Surviving childhood abuse, violent relationships, and extraordinary exposure in the media, Hilton projects a character of herself to the world to protect what is left of her youthful innocence. Haunted by the past and driven by an exceptional work ethic, Hilton is determined to make her own fortune and chart her own path.
Alexandra Dean returns to Tribeca with a film that digs into the challenges of growing up in the storied Hilton family, including dormant family secrets and the pressure of being a modern business mogul. Featuring Kathy and Nicky Hilton, Kim Kardashian West, and Kyle Richards, this tender portrait peeks through the looking glass of an iconic woman. Here, for the first time, Paris speaks her own truth.—Jessica Fairbanks
10. All the Streets are Silent
In the late 80s and early 90s, the streets of downtown Manhattan were the site of a collision between two vibrant subcultures: skateboarding and hip hop. Narrated by Zoo York co-founder Eli Gesner with an original score by legendary hip-hop producer Large Professor (Nas, A Tribe Called Quest), All the Streets Are Silent brings to life the magic of the time period and the convergence that created a style and visual language that would have an outsized and enduring cultural effect. From the DJ booths and dance floors of the Mars nightclub to the founding of brands like Supreme, this convergence would lay the foundation for modern street style. Paris Is Burning meets Larry Clark’s KIDS, All the Streets Are Silent is a love letter to New York—examining race, society, fashion, and street culture. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage from the era and interviews with celebrated characters from both worlds and figures from the downtown scene including Rosario Dawson, Harold Hunter, Justin Pierce, Keith Hufnagel, Darryl McDaniels (Run-D.M.C.), Jefferson Pang, Bobbito Garcia, Stretch Armstrong, Kool Keith, Leo Fitzpatrick, Mike Hernandez, DJ Clark Kent, Kid Capri, Mike Carroll, Moby, Fab 5 Freddy, Peter Bici, Yuki Watanabe, Clayton Patterson, Beatrice Domond, Tyshawn Jones, and more.
11. Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It
Said by Obama to be the embodiment of the American Dream, this profile piece chronicles the storied career of Hollywood legend Rita Moreno. Against the backdrop of a racist and sexist movie industry, the multi-talented Puerto Rican actress challenged stifling stereotypes, going on to become a role model for women and Latinx people in the industry. From bucking the ‘spicy Latina’ trope in the 50s to protesting with Martin Luther King, Jr. to championing women’s rights in the #metoo era, Rita Moreno has consistently used her platform to stand for what’s right. Interviews with Morgan Freeman, Eva Longoria, Gloria Estefan, Whoopi Goldberg and others are combined with rich archival footage of everything from West Side Story to The Electric Company to create a fascinating portrait of this iconic actress.
In this dynamic biopic, Director Mariem Pérez Riera lets the feisty 87 year old tell her own story, delighting the audience with anecdotes, wisdom and a smidge of kiss-and-tell from her illustrious seven-decade career. Told with refreshing candor, this documentary is at once enlightening, emotionally impactful, and entertaining. Executive produced by Norman Lear and Lin Manuel Miranda, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It gives the indomitable trailblazer her due. —Karen McMullen
12. Dear Mr. Brody
In January 1970, Michael Brody, Jr., a 21-year-old hippie-millionaire and heir to a margarine fortune, sent the world into a fit when he publicly announced that he would be giving $25 million away to anyone who needed it. This extraordinary gesture sparked a frenzy, with mobs of people camping out on his lawn, phoning him, and writing letters requesting his help. 50 years later, 12 boxes of these letters are discovered in a storage unit—all unopened. What happened with these letters written by strangers whose hopes, dreams, and desperation were laid bare on the page? Whatever became of Brody, the eccentric would-be philanthropist who claimed he wanted to cure the problems of the world through peace and love? His 15 minutes of fame was dotted with drugs, mental illness, and outrageous claims, leaving many wondering, “is he for real?” And within the boxes of unopened letters written to him half a century ago are thousands of deeply personal stories from people whose voices are just now being heard for the first time.—Andrea Passafiume
