Doc/Fest Blog
November Documentary Cinema Releases
By Ben Taylor 29 October, 2012
November will see a splurge in documentary films being released into the wilds of cinemas nationwide, some of which featured in this year’s Doc/Fest.
Here’s a little preview round-up of the ones you should definitely catch if they come to a cinema near you.
Call Me Kuchu
A film which bagged itself a special mention for Doc/Fest’s prestigious ‘Special Jury Award’ this harrowing film is set in in Uganda, where a new bill threatens to make homosexuality punishable by death. Through the wonderfully inspiring character of David Kato - Uganda's first openly gay man – and alongside his fellow activists, this documentary plays like a thriller, fighting against the clock to defeat this shocking legislation. Beautiful, harrowing and alarming, ‘Call Me Kuchu’ shows audiences a war on homosexuality from both sides.
Hit So Hard: The Life and Near Death of Patty Schemel
Next on 16th November hitting the big screens you’ll find ‘Hit So Hard: The Life & Near Death Story of Patty Schemel’ shown at Doc/Fest in 2011. In the early 1990’s came the era of grunge and with it the legends of Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love and her drummer Patty Schemel. This documentary captures the private and hellish decline of Schemel from sell-out world tours to extraordinary scenes of destitute heroin addiction. Interwoven with fast-paced and entertaining interviews, this documentary brings audiences into the perils of life in the fast lane. Also catch it at The Showroom in Sheffield on Nov 15th. You can buy ticketshere
Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet
Becker was diagnosed with motor-neurone disease and given just a few years to live, yet, as the title exclaims- he has defied all the odds against him. The film reveals the rifts of Becker’s dramatic story, how even when immobilsed he has managed to write songs using eye movements and despite his immobility- his vibrant personality in this fascinating documentary on an astonishingly talented guitarist.
The House I Live In
Lastly on 23rd November you can find ‘The House I Live In’- a documentary in which Eugene Jarecki unpicks America’s war on drugs, asking whether its public spend of $1 trillion and resultant 45 million arrests has been worth it. Jarecki speaks to people from all walks of life; families plagued by generations of entanglement with drug wars, the overcrowding of prisons and the tragic criminalization of drug addicts. Jarecki forces us to see enraging circumstances, shattering illusions and determines a needed re-think of a failing policy.
All in all November sees a profound mix of documentary releases well worth postponing your winter hibernation for.