Documentary of the Week

Every week, WNYC tells you about the best documentaries as they become available on screens of any size. Our hosts are Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen, co-founders of the Pure Nonfiction podcast and the DOC NYC festival, the largest non-fiction film festival in the U.S.

  • 1 minute 47 seconds
    Exploring the legacy of Loïe Fuller in 'Obsessed with Light'

    'Obsessed with Light' explores the history and legacy of the trail-blazing the American performer Loïe Fuller who took Europe by storm in the 1890s with her Serpentine Dance. Filmmakers Sabine Krayenbühl and Zeva Oelbaum evoke Fuller’s work through archival footage and interviews with contemporary artists she influenced.

     

    6 December 2024, 2:35 pm
  • 1 minute 40 seconds
    'Space Cowboy' profiles an aerial stunt artist

    'Space Cowboy' profiles the sky diving cinematographer Joe Jennings as he attempts to pull off the most difficult stunt of his career. It's among over 200 films playing this week at the DOC NYC festival in Manhattan theaters and online.

     

    13 November 2024, 1:22 am
  • 1 minute 53 seconds
    'Soundtrack to a Coup D'Etat' blends music and history

    'Soundtrack to a Coup D'Etat' is an eclectic film essay exploring the U.S. influence in Congo in the 1960s that ranged from jazz concerts to political subversion. Filmmaker Johan Grimonprez creates a heady swirl of history that beckons us to look and listen more closely.

     

    8 November 2024, 12:00 am
  • 1 minute 58 seconds
    'No Other Land' focuses on the West Bank

    'No Other Land' is directed by a collective of two Palestinians and two Israelis to document a village in the occupied West Bank. Documentary of the Week host Thom Powers spoke to two of the directors, Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham.

     

    1 November 2024, 5:12 am
  • 1 minute 56 seconds
    Japan's #MeToo moment in 'Black Box Diaries'

    In 'Black Box Diaries,' Japanese journalist Shiori Ito goes public accusing a high profile figure of rape and starting a national conversation. She faces pushback from police and resorts to secretly taping their conversations to break the silence.

     

    25 October 2024, 12:00 am
  • 1 minute 36 seconds
    'Union' follows the labor movement at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island

    'Union' follows the grassroots effort to organize workers at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island. Filmmakers Stephen Maing and Brett Story observe leader Chris Smalls and others through a contentious battle of labor activism.

    18 October 2024, 12:00 am
  • 1 minute 59 seconds
    'Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid' profiles the maverick political consultant

    'Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid' profiles the political consultant who became a dissident in the Democratic party for saying that Joe Biden was a weak candidate in 2024. Director Matt Tyrnauer explores Carville's past and present, including his marriage to his political opposite, Mary Matalin.

    11 October 2024, 4:22 pm
  • 1 minute 54 seconds
    'Patrice: The Movie' is a romantic comedy about disability rights

    'Patrice: The Movie' follows a couple with disabilities as they face a U.S. legal conundrum that they risk losing their government benefits if they get married. Despite the dire situation, the film exudes a joy and optimism in confronting adversity.

     

    3 October 2024, 10:13 pm
  • 1 minute 57 seconds
    Certifying elections in 'Denial'

    'Denial' profiles an election official named Bill Gates in Arizona's Maricopa County who faces pressure from conspiracy theorists over the voter count in 2020 and 2022. Filmmakers Paul Moakley and Daniel Lombroso present a cautionary tale for this November, now streaming for free from The New Yorker.

     

    27 September 2024, 12:34 pm
  • 1 minute 48 seconds
    Will Ferrell and Harper Steele take a road trip

    In 'Will & Harper,' comedian Will Ferrell takes a road trip across America with his longtime friend Harper Steele who recently came out as a woman. The two friends blend the serious with the silly on a journey to find acceptance.

     

    20 September 2024, 4:00 am
  • 1 minute 39 seconds
    Pursuing a surfing record in 'Maya and the Wave'

    'Maya and the Wave' profiles Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira as she strives to set a world record on the monster waves in the Portugese town of Nazaré. Filmmaker Stephanie Johnes follows Gabeira for ten years as she battles sexism along with the forces of nature.

     

    13 September 2024, 3:49 pm
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