This collection of short films represents a hint of the tectonic shift in the underground film world in connection with the punk rock “movement.” Restored from original negatives, it showcases the reasonably well-known alongside the extremely rare, from music shorts to impressionistic documentary.
Billy HawkSelfReid PaleySelfSusan PedrickSelfSouthern indie rockers Lucero hit the road in this documentary, which shows the Memphis, Tennessee band on tour and in the studio. In addition to candid interviews with band members Ben Nichols, Roy Berry, John Stubblefield and Brian Venable, the video features footage of the band on tour with The North Mississippi All-Stars, in the studio for the recording of "Tennessee" and performing live at the Memphis in May Music Festival.
Prominent Columbia University English and Comparative Literature professor Edward Said was well known in the United States for his tireless efforts to convey the plight of the Palestinian people, and in this film shot less than a year before his death resulting from incurable leukemia, the author of such books as {-Orientalism}, {-Culture and Imperialism}, and {-Power, Politics, and Culture} discusses with filmmakers his illness, his life, his education, and the continuing turmoil in Palestine. Diagnosed with the disease in 1991, Said struggled with his leukemia throughout the 1990s before refraining from interviews due to his increasingly fragile physical state. This interview was the one sole exception to his staunch "no interview" policy, and provides fascinating insight into the mind of the man who became Western society's most prominent spokesman for the Palestinian cause.
Tim Landers, a prolific songwriter and founding member of the emo/pop-punk band TRANSIT, struggled. He fought battles, often privately, with substance misuse and his own mental health needs. "Don’t Forget To Leave" paints a poignant portrait of Landers, from his early success up until the posthumous release of Weathervane by his band Cold Collective. His story is chronicled through archival footage and interviews with members of A Loss For Words, The Story So Far, Frank Turner, Man Overboard, Transit and Cold Collective, family members and mental health professionals.
Directed by Hugo Conim and Miguel Newton, "Enterrado na Loucura – Punk em Portugal 78-88 - A 2ª Vaga" (“Buried in Insanity – Punk in Portugal 78-88 – The second wave”), continues a history that started to be told in “A Um passo da Loucura - A 1ª Vaga" (“One Step from Insanity – The first wave”) a documentary first screened in 2015. The two documentaries are a faithful and realistic portrait of the first decade of Punk in Portugal. This second documentary starts in 1982 with the birth of a second wave – more combative and involved with the punk scene - of Portuguese punk bands like ‘Crise Total’, ‘Grito Final’, ‘Kú-de-Judas’, Mata-Ratos or Peste & Sida and ends around 1988. The history is told not only by the musicians but also by anonymous punk’s or even concerned parents. It’s an interesting narration that evolves around music but also around aesthetical, political, educational, legal and ethical dimensions of Punk.
STARMANIA is a cyberpunk rock opera that premiered on stage in 1979. In the near future, most developed countries have merged. Zéro Janvier, CEO of the biggest corporation in "The Occident" (as the new Western state is known) is campaigning to become President on a platform vowing to eliminate the terrorist group The Black Stars and their leader Johnny Rockfort. He has convinced the Stars' information broker Sadia to secretly work for him, while also courting the retiring film star Stella Spotlight. Meanwhile, Johnny Rockfort plans to kidnap television sweetheart Cristal, but he falls in love with her instead. Overlooking all this is Marie-Jeanne, a waitress in the café where the Black Stars meet, and her friend Ziggy, an obsessive David Bowie fan whose dearest wish is to appear on Cristal's music program STARMANIA. The show recounts these entwined love stories set in parallel, touching also on themes of terrorism, totalitarianism, and an individual's right to decide his own destiny.
Fedoras, mom's underpants, and puppy love all make Jim Norton's s**t list in 'Mouthful of Shame'.
The cast of the 1988 film, Bad Dreams, talk about their experiences making a film with heavy themes of suicide, guilt, depression, and mass death.
The ultimate companion to John Carpenter’s "The Thing", digging deep into the proverbial iceberg to enhance your viewing experience with new insights, stories, and revelations.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded live at Fuji Rock Festival 2006. Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata, Japan July 29, 2006.
This documentary treats movie fans to a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Max Keeble's Big Move, about a young boy who uses his imminent move to another town as his big chance for revenge on everyone who's tormented him, only to have his plan backfire. Included are interviews with the cast and crew who talk about the experience of making the film, as well as all of the effort that went into it.
Straight-forward production stories from the Hollywood players who made the movie happen.
Cast and crew, as well as some famous fans, recall the insanity that was the making of the ultimate experience of grueling terror that is The Evil Dead.
Mia and Roman is a 1968 23-minute documentary film which was shot during the making of Rosemary's Baby.
Clive Barker gives viewers a brief insight into his work and what he thinks about the attitudes of the time.
"Green Day: The Early Years" chronicles the rise of the world's most influential punk band, from their origins playing shows at Berkley's notorious Gilman Street venue in the late 80s, through the release of the platinum-selling Dookie in 1994.
Appearing in unexpected places and at unexpected moments, the Seppuku Pistols are a taiko music group that carry on the traditions of Japan's Edo era. In this in this road movie documentary, the guerrilla-style group perform throughout Japan and make it all the way to New York City.
In November 1981, and with “Under Pressure” topping the charts in the UK, Queen performed a blistering set of hits – including "We Will Rock You" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" – in front of an 18,000-strong crowd at Montreal's Forum, in this stunning concert film.
What if this next generation could transcend racism? One year, 12 teens, on a remarkable journey to face racism and white privilege, have the conversations most of us are too afraid to have. Once they push through naivete, guilt and tears, what they learn may change us all.