Docs opening in Canada this week

The first and only Indigenous doc musical ever comes from the brilliant mind of Marie Clements, who tells the story of the Native Brotherhood in this years-in-the-making feat that uses songs and interviews to tell an unsung chapter of history. The Road Forward, a highlight from both of this year’s DOXA and Hot Docs film festivals, is a notable feat for Indigenous self-representation in Canadian film and it’s one of the most uplifting and harmonious movies you’ll see this year. The music is particularly buoyant—and fun—as a chorus of Indigenous singers gives power to the Native voice with inspired songs and storytelling. Read more about Marie Clements’ journey with The Road Forward in the feature ‘DOXA Pushes the Boundaries.’

Another festival highlight now making waves in theatres is Mermaids by Ali Weinstein, who offers her feature directorial debut with the doc. Mermaids invites audiences to dive into a new school of fish as Weinstein looks at communities of people who find comfort or make careers out of being mermaids. The film interacts with various subjects as they don their best fins to find their true skin. Buoyed by beautifully shot underwater interludes, Mermaids is a moving and relatable film about finding yourself when one feels like a fish out of water. Read more about Mermaids in the feature ‘The Freshmen’.

Opening this Week:

The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman’s Photography
Dir. Errol Morris | USA | 75 min.
-Montreal, QC: Cinema du Parc – Fri, July 14 – Thurs, July 20

Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary
Dir. John Scheinfeld | USA | 99 min.
-Montreal, QC: Cinema du Parc – Fri, July 14 – Thurs, July 20

The Gardener
Dir. Sébastien Chabot | Canada | 88 min.
-Toronto, ON: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema – Fri, July 14; Sun, July 16; Wed, July 19

In the Name of All Canadians
Dir. Ariel Nasr & Aisha Jamal; Patrick Reed & Andréa Schmidt; Karen Chapman; Khoa Le; Jérémie Wookey, Annick Marion; Vivian Belik | Canada | 88 min.
-Toronto, ON: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema – Sat, July 15; Tues, July 18

Integral Man
Dir. Joseph Clement | Canada | 62 min.
-Toronto, ON: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema – Sat, July 15 – Sun, July 16; Wed, July 19

Kedi
Dir. Ceyda Torun | Turkey/USA | 79 min.
-Montreal, QC: Cinema Beaubien – Fri, July 14 – Thurs, July 20
-Montreal, QC: Cinema du Parc – Fri, July 14 – Thurs, July 20
-Ottawa, ON: ByTowne Cinema – Sun, July 16 – Tues, July 18

Manifesto
Dir. Julian Rosefeldt | Australia/Germany | 95 min.
-Kingston, ON: The Screening Room – Mon, July 17
-Montreal, QC: Cinema du Parc – Fri, July 14 – Thurs, July 20
-Regina, SK: Regina Public Library Theatre – Fri, July 14 – Sun, July 16
-Toronto, ON: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema – Fri, July 14; Mon, July 17 – Tues, July 18
-Vancouver, BC: Rio Theatre – Sun, July 16

Mermaids
Dir. Ali Weinstein | Canada | 80 min.
-Guelph, ON: Bookshelf Cinema – Wed, July 19 – Thurs, July 20
-Toronto, ON: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema – Fri, July 14 – Thurs, July 20
—>Director Ali Weinstein and producer Caitlin Durlak will be in attendance for post-screening Q&As on July 14 (6:30 p.m.) and July 15 (4:00 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.)
-Vancouver, BC: Rio Theatre – Tues, July 18

The Road Forward
Dir. Marie Clements | Canada | 101 min.
-Vancouver, BC: Vancity Theatre – Fri, July 14 – Sun, July 16; Wed, July 19 – Thurs, July 20
—>Filmmaker Q&A on Friday, July 14, with additional guests.

Retro Screenings:

The Last Waltz
Dir. Martin Scorsese | USA | 1978 | 118 min.
-Victoria, BC: Cinecenta – Tues, July 18

Monterey Pop
Dir. D.A. Pennebaker | USA | 1968 | 78 min.
-Cobourg, ON: Cobourg Loft – Sat, July 15
-Vancouver, BC: Rio Theatre – Wed, July 19

Stop Making Sense
Dir. Jonathan Demme | USA | 1984 | 88 min.
-Cobourg, ON: Cobourg Loft – Wed, July 19

Via: POV Magazine