February’s films are linked by the theme of perspectives – whether it’s a New Yorker photographing what he sees every day, a bird’s-eye view of Brazil, or an Australian career behind the camera in Hollywood.
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This month’s selection includes:
Tomorrow
Actor Melanie Laurent joins writer and director Cyril Dion to create a positive film about environmental catastrophe. Visiting 10 countries, Laurent and Dion find examples of solutions to social and ecological challenges and constructive approaches to problems facing humanity.
Brazil From Above
This six-part TV series explores the chaos and tranquility of South America’s largest country from the air. Gliding over the favelas of Sao Paulo to the upmarket apartments of Rio de Janeiro to the lush Amazon basin, Brazil From Above is what HDTV was made for.
Crossing The Line
In 1962, Amercian soldier James J. Dresnok abandoned his US military station in South Korea and defected north. One of six servicemen to defect after the Korean War, Dresnok’s story of troubled soldier turned star of Kim Jong-il’s propaganda films provides a rare, and surprisingly humorous, glimpse into the lives of North Koreans.
Show Me The Magic: The Adventures of Don McAlpine
Australian cinematographer Don McAlpine has shot dozens of films in a career that stretches back beyond 1972's The Adventures of Barry McKenzie. Cathy Henkel’s portrait of the Oscar nominee's life includes videos from his personal archive and footage from the set of X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Bill Cunningham New York
Bill Cunningham is best known for his fashion photography columns in the New York Times, but, as Richard Press’s documentary shows, he is far more interested in capturing street life and the people who stand out. Here, the bicycle-riding, spartan-living octogenarian shares his voluminous collection of photographs of everyone from rich fashionistas to downtown eccentrics.
