At the beginning of a new year, DocPlay invites you to turn your attention away from the minutiae of life, and reflect on the earth. From the lives of those living in remote Canada, to the ecosystems of the Galápagos Islands, the contested lands of Europe in World War One, vying visions for the future of New York City and the importance of place in the aftermath of a trauma, this month’s films offer a journey around the world with some fascinating stories.
16 Acres
The story of the decade-long bid to develop the land once home to New York City’s World Trade Centre is simultaneously amusing and heartbreaking. Director Richard Hankin’s account of developers, architects, mayors, relatives of those who died in the terrorist attacks and the city’s citizens themselves becomes one that is a comedy of errors and a tragic example of fervent capitalism.
Marwencol
In the wake of a brutal attack that left him in a coma, Mark Hogancamp found recovery in the meticulous creation of a 1/6th scale World War II-era town complete with richly detailed characters. When photographs of this private world appear in an art gallery, Hogancamp is forced to engage with the outside world.
Galapagos with David Attenborough
David Attenborough’s journey into one of the world’s most remote and biologically unique places is a stunning example of nature documentary at its finest. Both looking back to the archipelago’s role in the rewriting of human history, and forward to the knowledge still yet to be learned, Galapagos is a stunning combination of intimacy and awe.
Striking Balance
Think of Canada and you may well think of empty land, vast skies and remote towns. Zach Melnick’s eight-episode series takes you into these landscapes to find the people who call them home while exploring the balance of environmentalism and economics that makes their lives so unique. Shot in 4K, Striking Balance showcases personal stories with universal themes and dazzling settings.
The Man Who Shot The Great War
When George Hackney, a soldier from Belfast, chose to take his camera with him when he set off to fight in World War I, his photographs of France and Belgium and on the Western Front made little impact. Over a century later, his photos were rediscovered and with them unprecedented insights into the Great War and unexpected repercussions for director Brian Henry Martin.
