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July-August 2016

VOL. 31 THE VIDEO REVIEW MAGAZINE FOR LIBRARIES NO. 4

IN THIS ISSUE Marguerite | Meet the Hitlers | Normal Is Over | The Sex Trade | Murder of a President | Jackie Robinson | War & Peace scene & he d

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Marguerite HHH tween farce and tragedy, never simply ridicul- Cohen, 129 min., ing the needy, childishly ebullient baroness or in French w/English turning her into a totally pathetic figure. Part subtitles, R, DVD: of this success is due to Frot’s ability to make $29.99, Blu-: $34.99, Publisher/Editor: Randy Pitman her character touchingly infantile. Visually, Aug. 2 Marguerite’s sheen is a treat for the Associate Editor: Jazza Williams-Wood Florence Foster eye, while the score is quite lovely—apart from Copy Editor: Kathleen L. Florio Jenkins, a real-life the baroness’s deliberately painful shrieks. 20th-century op- Music lovers in particular should find it quite Editorial Assistant: Christopher Pitman era-loving socialite engaging. Recommended. (F. Swietek) Graphic Designer: Carol Kaufman who insisted on giv- ing recitals despite a manifest lack of talent, Marketing Director: Anne Williams is clearly the inspiration behind filmmaker Ten days after Mar- Xavier Giannoli’s biting yet also strangely guerite debuts on home Contributing Writers affectionate period piece. Marguerite Du- video, Florence Foster mont (Catherine Frot) is a wealthy French Jenkins—filmmaker Carson Block, formerly with baroness who holds private concerts in order ’s (The Poudre River Public Library District to raise funds for worthy causes, appearing Queen, Philomena) lat- Kathleen C. Fennessy, Reviewer, herself—following performances by gifted est bio-pic—will open The Stranger musicians—in near-regal splendor to sing in theaters (Aug. 12). Susan Granger, SSG Syndicate demanding coloratura pieces, blissfully un- Based on the life of the woman who aware of the screeches emanating from her inspired Marguerite, the film stars Meryl Donald Liebenson, Reviewer, , .com throat. Marguerite’s industrialist husband Streep in the title role as the (André Marcon), a genteel philanderer, is heiress who dabbles in amateur opera, Stephen Rees, Librarian, formerly with embarrassed by his wife’s avocation, but despite being a terrible singer. Hugh Bucks Co. Free Library, Levittown, PA she is protected from derision by her loyal Grant costars as Jenkins’s husband and Frank Swietek, Associate Professor butler (Denis Mpunga). When a gate-crash- manager St. Clair Bayfield, with Simon of History, University of Dallas, TX ing reporter (Sylvain Dieuaide) wryly extols Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) playing the truthfulness of Marguerite’s voice, this Cosmé McMoon, Jenkins’s newly em- backhanded compliment persuades her to ployed accompanist on piano. Additional Contributors: not only plan a recital in the opera house, but also hire an over-the-hill tenor (Michel Cover photo: Catherine Frot in Marguerite. Sean Axmaker Fau) in desperate need of money as her vocal Courtesy of Cohen Media Group. Charles Cassady coach. Although there are some struggling subplots—including a romance between the Note: Video Librarian editor Randy Pitman Ted Fry journalist and a young soprano—Marguerite is on vacation. His “Final Frame” column will Phil Hall for the most part deftly walks a fine line be- return in the next issue. Tom Keogh Lisa Martincik TABLE OF CONTENTS Phil Morehart Michael Sandlin Video Newsbriefs 4 Health & Fitness 56 Books Into Movies 6 Food & Spirits 56 Video Librarian (ISSN: 0887-6851) is pub- Mixed Media 8 Business & Economics 57 lished bi-monthly by Video Librarian, 3435 NE Nine Boulder Dr., Poulsbo, WA 98370. Video Movies 16 The Arts 58 Subscriptions: $64 for one year in the Unit- ed States; $69 (US) in (includes TV on Video 42 History & Current Events 59 GST); $86 elsewhere. Address all correspon- dence to Video Librarian, 3435 NE Nine Key to Star Ratings 46 Travel & Geography 61 Boulder Dr., Poulsbo, WA 98370. Period- icals Postage Paid at Poulsbo, WA and at Video Reviews 46 Biography 62 additional mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Video Librarian, Children’s 46 Series Update 64 3435 NE Nine Boulder Dr., Poulsbo, WA 98370. Copyright © 2016 by Randy Pitman. Religion & Philosophy 48 Japanese 65 All rights reserved. Telephone/Fax/E-mail Social & Political Issues 49 Music/Dance 67 Subscriptions: (800) 692-2270 Teen Issues 52 Distributor Addresses 70 Editorial: (360) 626-1259 Advertising: (800) 265-7965 Education 53 Title Index 72 Fax: (360) 626-1260 E-mail: [email protected] Language Arts 53 Advertiser Directory 72 Web: www.videolibrarian.com Nature, Math & Science 54

JULY/AUGUST 2016 3 VIDEO LIBRARIAN DVD PICKS Video Newsbriefs Sponsored by BayView Entertainment Altman, Richardson, and Bay Entertainment. Adapted from the Welles Headline Criterion’s classic 1980 West August Slate End and Broadway play by Ronald ’s impressive Harwood (previ- August slate kicks off August 9 with ously made into ’s brilliant 1971 decon- an award-winning structed McCabe & Mrs. Miller 1983 film starring (DVD: 2 discs, $29.95; Blu-ray: $39.95), and starring as an enterprising ), gambler and as a bordello this wickedly funny and deeply moving madam—both newcomers to a raw Pa- story of friendship and loyalty also stars cific Northwest mining town. Coming Academy Award-nominee August 16 is director Stig Björkman’s 2015 and . One fateful night in Swedish documentary : In a small English regional theatre during Her Own Words (DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: World War II, a troupe of touring INDEPENDENCE FITNESS: $39.95), a revealing new tribute to the stage a production of Shakespeare’s King STRETCHING FOR SENIORS legendary actress, featuring letters and Lear. Bombs are falling, sirens are wailing, diary entries (read by ), and the curtain is going up in one hour, BAY2186 $14.99 photos, and archival footage. Arriving Stretching is a key component to independence. It but the /manager known as Sir (Hop- is an essential aspect to warming up and cooling August 23 is ’s 1961 kins)—who is playing Lear—is nowhere down your muscles before and after each workout benchmark A Taste to be found, leaving his dresser Norman and is also a stand-alone physical activity. This of Honey (DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $39.95), (McKellen) scrambling. Sir will ultimately Stretching DVD is a light program meant to loosen starring as a disaf- reflect on his lifelong accomplishments up the body and reintroduce exercise in an fected teenager finding her way amidst and seek to reconcile his turbulent friend- achievable way. Independence Fitness is the most the economic desperation of industrial ships with those in his employ before the comprehensive whole body exercise program Manchester. Also slated for August 23 final curtain. focused on strength, balance and exibility for are new DVD and Blu-ray editions of those over 50 determined to live the life they want. Hiroshi Teshigahara’s radical 1964 art- house sensation Woman in the Dunes Clarence Thomas Bio-Pic (DVD: 2 discs, $29.95; Blu-ray: $39.95), “Confirmation” Coming featuring Eiji Okada as an amateur en- tomologist who misses his bus back to August 2 from HBO Home civilization and is persuaded to spend Entertainment the night with a young widow (Kyoko Kishida) in her hut at the bottom of a On August 2, HBO Home Entertain- sand dune. Coming August 30 is Orson ment will release the critically acclaimed Welles’s 1966 Shakespeare nod Chimes at Confirmation (DVD: $19.98, Blu-ray: Midnight (DVD: 2 discs, $29.95; Blu-ray: $24.98), detailing the explosive Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination $39.95)—for decades one of the world’s hearings that brought the country to a most sought-after films (presented standstill and forever changed the way here in a gorgeous new restoration)— we think about sexual harassment. In which focuses on the Bard’s ultimate July 1991, President George H.W. Bush rapscallion, Sir John Falstaff (played by nominated Judge Clarence Thomas to fill Welles with looming, lumbering grace). Justice Thurgood Marshall’s seat on the Also bowing on August 30 is Welles’s first U.S. Supreme Court. In October, during color film and final completed fictional the final days of Thomas’s confirmation 30 MINUTES TO FITNESS: feature, 1968’s The Immortal Story (DVD: hearings before the Senate Judiciary STRENGTH & STAMINA 2 discs, $29.95; Blu-ray: $39.95), a moving Committee, both and NPR BAY2170 $19.99 and wistful adaptation of a tale by Isak “Strength & Stamina” includes two workouts that are broke the story that one of Thomas’s for- Dinesen starring Welles as a wealthy mer employees, law professor Anita Hill, designed in a new and energizing format. The only merchant in 19th-century Macao, and equipment needed for both full-body workouts are had accused him of sexually harassing dumbbells and a kettlebell (a dumbbell can also be costarring . her 10 years earlier. These revelations used as a substitute for a kettlebell, if needed). These triggered a maelstrom of events, with one-of-a-kind workouts will increase your strength “The Dresser” with Anthony both Hill and Thomas testifying about with dumbbells, slim down your waistline with the allegations before a stunned and kettlebell swings, and take you to a more advanced Hopkins and Ian McKellen riveted television audience. Starring tness level with its non-stop ow of various back-to-back exercises. Slated for July 12 Release as Thomas and as Hill, costars include Greg from Anchor Bay Kinnear, , and Jennifer Academy Award-nominee Ian McK- Hudson. Bonus features include a discus- ellen and Academy Award-winner An- sion with Pierce and Washington on the Order from your distributor or thony Hopkins star in The Dresser (DVD: historical impact of the hearings, and a call BayView at 201-488-6110 $24.98), coming July 12 from Anchor “Character Spot” . WWW. BAYVIEWENTERTAINMENT. COM

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 4 JULY/AUGUST 2016 CHILDREN’S AWARD-WINNING TITLES LOVED BY KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS! Finding Winnie Before Winnie-the-Pooh, there was a real bear named Winnie. And she was a girl! ISBN 9781520014531 $38.99 Trombone Shorty The award-winning autobiography of jazz artist Trombone Shorty comes to life in this vibrant video. ISBN 9781520014578 $38.99 Voice of Freedom Stirring poems and stunning illustrations combine in this Children’s titles acclaimed biography of Fannie include Public Lou Hamer. Performance Rights ISBN 9781520016788 $38.99 and Read-Along Subtitles

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The following films based on books are Into the Forest (July slated to open during July and August. 22) is based on Jean Movie release dates are subject to change. Hegland’s 1997 dysto- pian feminist novel. Di- Coming in July rected by Patricia Roze- ma, the sci-fi drama stars The BFG (July 1) is an Ellen Page, Evan Rachel adaptation of prolific au- Wood, Max Minghel- thor Roald Dahl’s 1982 la, and Callum Keith children’s book. Directed Rennie. by , the fantasy-adventure film Nerve (July 27) is features , based on Jeanne Ryan’s Ruby Barnhill, Penelope 2012 YA thriller. Co-di- Wilton, and Bill Hader. rected by and Ariel Schulman, the The Legend of Tar- film stars , zan (July 1) is based on Franco, Juliette the classic character cre- Lewis, , ated in 1912 by Edgar and Emily Meade. Rice Burroughs. Direct- ed by David Yates, the (July 29) action-adventure film is based on the 2008 stars Margot Robbie, and novel set at Alexander Skarsgård as an Ohio college during Tarzan. the Korean War. Direct- ed by , Our Kind of Traitor the film stars Logan Ler- (July 1) is adapted from man, , and the 2010 novel by John le . Carré. Directed by Susan- na White, this spy thriller Coming in August stars Ewan McGregor, , Stellan The Little Skarsgård, and Damian (Aug. 5) is adapted from Lewis. French aristocrat An- toine de Saint-Exupéry’s Cell (July 8) is based classic 1943 novella. Di- on ’s 2006 rected by Mark Osborne, apocalyptic horror nov- this stop-motion/com- el. Directed by Tod Wil- puter-animated adapta- liams, the sci-fi film stars tion features the voices John Cusack, Samuel L. of Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, Benicio Jackson, Isabelle Fuhr- del Toro, and . man, and Stacy Keach. Ben-Hur (Aug. 19) is The Infiltrator (July based on Lew Wallace’s 13) is based on Robert 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Mazur’s 2009 autobiog- Tale of the Christ. Direct- raphy, subtitled “My Se- ed by Timur Bekmambe- cret Life Inside the Dirty tov, this historical epic Banks Behind Pablo Es- stars , cobar’s Medellín Cartel.” Toby Kebbell, Nazanin Directed by Brad Furman, Boniadi, Rodrigo Santoro, and Jack the DEA crime drama Huston as Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur. stars . War Dogs (Aug. 19) Tulip Fever (July 15) is is based on Guy Law- an adaptation of Deborah son’s 2011 Rolling Stone Moggach’s 1999 period article and subsequent novel. Directed by Justin 2015 book Arms and the Chadwick, this Neth- Dudes. Directed by Todd erlands-set drama stars Phillips, this arms dealer Alicia Vikander, Dane drama stars Miles Teller, DeHaan, and Christoph Jonah Hill, and Bradley Waltz. .

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 6 JULY/AUGUST 2016

Mixed Media

Mixed Media features new release July 24—July 30 August 28—September 3 information on upcoming video games and TV series on DVD/Blu-ray, : Return to Assetto Corsa (505 Games, PS4/XOne: as well as notable older titles that are (Warner, PS4/ $59.99, Rated: E). This racing simulation re-priced or new to DVD/Blu-ray. XOne: $49.99, Rated: T). game features over 100 cars and 20-plus Two of the most critically tracks with a focus on pure physics realism acclaimed third-person for meticulous car handling. Video Games action titles of the last Note: Entertainment Software Ratings generation—Bat man: Attack on Titan (Koei Board (ESRB) ratings for video games are: E Arkham Asylum and Bat- Tecmo, PS4/XOne: $59.99, (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), man: Arkham City—are presented here in Rated: M). This third-per- M (Mature), and RP (Rating Pending). fully remastered editions. son action-adventure Some titles are not rated until just prior to game based on the pop- release date. Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force ular anime series pits (Idea Factory, PS4: $59.99, Rated: T). In players against multiple July 3—July 9 this remastered and expanded edition enemies in various scenes of the third-person fantasy role-playing from the series. Rocket League (505 game Fairy Fencer F, players are offered Games, PS4/XOne: three new story paths, facing off against God Eater 2: Rage Burst (Bandai Namco, $29.99, Rated: E). Soccer members of an evil organization in turn- PS4: $59.99, Rated: RP). Three years after meets driving in this based battles. the events of the original action-adven- futuristic sports-action ture game, players are sent to investigate game in which players Super Dungeon Bros (Wired Produc- a mysterious red rain that sparks the fatal are equipped with boost- tions, PS4/XOne: $19.99, Rated: E10+). pandemic called the Black Plague in this -rigged vehicles that In this rock ‘n’ roll-themed third-person third-person action-RPG. can be transformed into balls for incred- dungeon brawler, a band of mighty rock ible goals or epic saves in multiple arenas. bros navigate a hellish fantasy realm, fight Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X (, hordes of the undead, and gain epic loot PS4: $49.99, Rated: T). In this rhythm game Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII while uncovering the legends of lost rock starring digital singer Hatsune Miku, play- (Koei Tecmo, PS4: $59.99, Rated: E10+). In stars. ers perform 30 tracks in a narrative that this long-running, turn-based, tactical centers on Miku and her , who take role-playing simulation strategy game August 7—August 13 various requests as they explore the five clouds that make up their world. inspired by the Chinese historical novel, No Man’s Sky (Sony, PS4: $59.99, Rated: players engage in epic battles in a quest T). This highly-anticipated third-person to unify 2nd-century China. adventure game lets players explore an TV on DVD/Blu-ray July 10—July 16 infinite universe, where they will discover unique planets and lifeforms, and make Available choices whether to fight, trade or explore— (Activision, PS4/XOne: decisions that will have consequences. The Hollow Crown: $49.99, Rated: E10+). In this third-person The Wars of the Roses action game set after the events of the 2016 August 21—August 27 (Universal, DVD: 3 discs, feature film, players suit up as ghostbusters, $44.98; Blu-ray: 2 discs, exploring Manhattan while blasting Deus Ex: Mankind $49.98). This 2016 three- and trapping runaway ghouls. Divided (Square Enix, part includes PS4/XOne: $59.99, Rat- adaptations of Shake- Resident Evil 5 ed: M). In this sequel to speare’s history plays (Capcom, PS4/XOne: the popular third-person Henry VI, Part I and Part II, and Richard III, $19.99, Rated: M). In action-adventure game, featuring , Tom Sturridge, this high-definition players once again step Michael Gambon, Benedict Cumberbatch, remastered edition of into the role of Adam Jensen, now in the and . the third-person surviv- year 2029, as humankind is divided and al-horror franchise entry, augmented humans are treated as outcasts. How to Get Away with Murder: The players control protago- Complete Second Season (Buena Vista, nist Chris Redfield, who is sent to The King of Fighters XIV (Atlus, PS4: DVD: 4 discs, $39.99). The mystery swirls to investigate a deadly new menace. $59.99, Rated: T). This latest entry in the around the culprit who shot criminal popular tournament fighting game fran- defense attorney Annalise Keating (Viola Song of the Deep (Insomniac, chise features a total of 50 fighters facing Davis in an Emmy-winning role) in this PS4/XOne: $14.99, Rated: RP). In this off in a variety of settings. 2015-16 sophomore season featuring Alfred third-person underwater action-ad- Enoch and Charlie Weber. venture game—an exclusive Gamestop Madden NFL 17 (EA, PS3/PS4/X360/ (www.gamestop.com) release—young XOne: $59.99, Rated: RP). The most pop- Power: The Complete Second Season Merryn pilots a submarine and explores ular football franchise is back with new (Anchor Bay, DVD: 3 discs, $49.98; Blu- in a diving suit while searching for her mechanics and a fresh authentic defensive ray: 3 discs, $59.99). Aired on , this missing father. artificial intelligence system. 2015 sophomore season of the Manhattan

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 8 JULY/AUGUST 2016

nightclub drama from executive producer G. Marshall and Robert Reed as father and Person of Interest: The Fifth and Final Curtis “” Jackson stars Omari Hard- son defense attorneys, this 1961-62 first sea- Season (Warner, DVD: 3 discs, $39.98; wick, Naturi Naughton, La La Anthony, and son of the courtroom drama features guest Blu-ray: 3discs, $44.98). The Cold War is . appearances by , Richard finished but the team must still gear up Thomas, and . for a final battle in this 2016 fifth and Underground: Season One (Sony, DVD: final season of the drama series starring 3 discs, $45.99). Slaves plan their departure iZombie: The Com- Jim Caviezel, Michael Emerson, and Sarah from a plantation in this 2016 de- plete Second Season Shahi. but season of the WGN America-aired his- (Warner, DVD: 4 discs, torical series starring Jurnee Smollett-Bell, $39.99). Seattle coro- Royal Pains: Season Eight (Universal, Aldis Hodge, and Christopher Meloni. ner’s office worker Olivia DVD: 2 discs, $26.98). A concierge doctor Moore (Rose McIver) uses and his team bring things to a close in this Vinyl: The Complete her newfound zombie 2016 eighth and final season of the USA First Season (HBO, DVD: skills to solve crime in Network medical dramedy starring Mark 4 discs, $49.98; Blu-ray: this 2015-16 sophomore season of the Feuerstein, Paulo Costanzo, and Brooke 4 discs, $59.98). Aired horror dramedy show loosely based on the D’Orsay. on HBO and executive titular comic book series. produced by Mick Jagger Sisters: Season Five and , this Slasher: Season One (Shout! Factory, (Shout! Factory, DVD: 6 2016 first season of the DVD: 2 discs, $19.99; Blu-ray: 2 discs, discs, $39.95). Siblings 1970s-set series profiling a New York mu- $27.99). The first original series from the (, Sela sic executive stars , Max Chiller channel, this debut 2016 season of Ward, Patricia Kalember, Casella, Olivia Wilde, and Juno Temple. the horror anthology series centering on and Julianne Phillips) a woman’s quest to solve the murders of experience trials and tri- July 5 her parents stars Katie McGrath, Brandon umphs in this 1994-95 Jay McLaren, Patricia Garrow and Wendy penultimate fifth season of the dramedy Death in Paradise: Season Four (BBC, Crewson. series. DVD: 2 discs, $34.98). Two fresh recruits join DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Mar- July 19 August 2 shall) and his Caribbean crime-solving team in this 2015 fourth season of the BBC The 100: The Complete Third Season The Blacklist: The Complete Third series. (Warner, DVD: 4 discs, $39.98). Based on Season (Sony, DVD: 5 discs, $65.99; Blu-ray: the YA sci-fi trilogy by Kass Morgan, this 5 discs, $75.99). This 2015-16 third season House of Cards: The 2016 third season following teen nuclear of the action thriller finds former criminal Complete Fourth Sea- apocalypse survivors stars Eliza Taylor, Bob turned FBI helper Red Reddington (James son (Sony, DVD: 4 discs, Morley, Paige Turco, Christopher Larkin, Spader in a Golden Globe-nominated role) $55.99; Blu-ray: 4 discs, and Devon Bostick. on the lam, and also stars Megan Boone $65.99). Kevin Spacey is and Diego Klattenhoff. back in his Screen Actors Bitten: The Final Season (Entertain- Guild and Golden Globe ment One, DVD: 3 discs, $39.98). Protago- Blindspot: The Com- award-winning role as the nist werewolf Elena discovers a secret fam- plete First Season (War- newly-elected President in this 2016 fourth ily and goes up against a vicious Russian ner, DVD: 5 discs, $49.99; season of the drama series that also pack in this 2016 third and final season of Blu-ray: 4 discs, $54.98). features and Neve Campbell. the Canadian fantasy drama series based A heavily-tattooed am- on the Women of the Otherworld books by nesiac “Jane Doe” found Saving Hope: The Complete Second Kelley Armstrong. in Manhattan’s Times Season (Entertainment One, DVD: 5 discs, Square is at the center $39.99). The spirit of a surgeon in a coma The Magicians: Sea- of this 2015-16 first season of the crime watches over his fiancée and hospital son One (Universal, drama starring Sullivan Stapleton, Jaimie co-workers in this 2013-14 sophomore DVD: 4 discs, $39.98; Blu- Alexander, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. season of the Gemini Award-winning med- ray: 3 discs, $44.98). Aired ical drama series starring Erica Durance, on Syfy, this 2015-16 first Key and Peele: The Complete Series Michael Shanks, and Daniel Gillies. season of the fantasy se- (Paramount, DVD: 10 discs, $64.99). Sketch ries based on the 2009 comedy duo Keegan-Michael Key and Jor- July 12 novel by Lev Grossman dan Peele are showcased in this collection is set at a magical college and stars Jason from the 2012-15 Comedy Central series Colony: Season One (Universal, DVD: 3 Ralph, Stella Maeve, Olivia Taylor Dudley, that re-releases the first three seasons and discs, $39.98). Extraterrestrials occupying and Arjun Gupta. includes season four (currently not avail- L.A. in the near future serve as the back- able separately). drop for this 2016 debut season of the sci-fi Orphan Black: Season Four (BBC, DVD: USA Network drama starring Josh Holloway 3 discs, $29.98; Blu-ray: 2 discs, $34.98). The Knick: The Complete Second and Sarah Wayne Callies. The past and present meet as a new clone Season (HBO, DVD: 4 discs, $24.98; is introduced in this 2016 fourth season of Blu-ray: 4 discs, $34.95). The lives and The Defenders: Season One (Shout! the Canadian sci-fi thriller starring Tatiana careers of medical staff at New York’s Factory, DVD: 8 discs, $44.99). Starring E. Maslany in multiple roles. Knickerbocker Hospital are the focus of

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 10 JULY/AUGUST 2016

this 2015 sophomore season of the HBO- Maude: The Complete Final Season Once Upon a Time: The Complete aired early-20th-century period drama (Shout! Factory, DVD: 3 discs, $26.99). Fifth Season (Buena Vista, DVD: 5 discs, starring , André Holland, and Bea Arthur takes a curtain call in her Em- $45.99; Blu-ray: 5 discs, $79.99). King Juliet Rylance. my-winning role as outspoken feminist Arthur (Liam Garrigan) joins forces with Maude in this 1977-78 sixth and final sea- villains in this 2015-16 fifth season of the : son of the Norman Lear , featuring fantasy drama series starring Ginnifer Season 9 (Acorn, DVD: guest appearances by Roscoe Lee Browne Goodwin, Josh Dallas, and Robert Carlyle. 5 discs, $59.99; Blu-ray: and Mary Louise Wilson. 4 discs, $59.99). The tit- The Vampire Diaries: The Complete ular detective (Yannick NCIS: New Orleans—The Second Sea- Seventh Season (Warner, DVD: 5 discs, Bisson) and his doctor son (Universal, DVD: 6 discs, $55.98). Scott $49.99; Blu-ray: 3 discs, $54.98). Based wife, Helene Joy, work on Bakula, CCH Pounder, and Lucas Black on the books by L. J. Smith, this 2015- their dream home while star in this 2015-16 second season of the 16 seventh season of the supernatural solving 19th-century crimes in military crime procedural spin-off set in series follows the vampire dealings of the this 2015-16 ninth season of the Canadian the Big Easy. Salvatore brothers (Paul Wesley and Ian period police procedural. Somerhalder). Supergirl: The Com- Silent Witness: The Complete Season plete First Season (War- August 23 Three (BBC, DVD: 2 discs, $34.98). Foren- ner, DVD: 5 discs, $49.99; sic pathologist Sam Ryan () Blu-ray: 3 discs, $54.98). Ash vs. Evil Dead: is back in this 1998 third season set of epi- The cousin of , The Complete First Sea- sodes from the British crime drama series. young Kara Zor-El (Me- son (Starz, DVD: 2 discs, lissa Benoist), hones her $39.98; Blu-ray: 2 discs, Thirteen (BBC, DVD: $29.98). Exploring heroic powers in this $49.99). Set three decades the aftermath when an abducted woman 2015-16 first season of the action series, after the first Evil Dead escapes from more than a decade of cap- also starring , Chyler Leigh, movie trilogy, this 2015- tivity, this five-part 2016 BBC miniseries and . 16 debut season of the stars Jodie Comer, Aneurin Barnard, and Starz-aired comedy horror Natasha Little. The Tunnel: The Complete First Season series finds reprising his (PBS, DVD: 3 discs, $49.99; Blu-ray: 3 discs, longtime role as a zombie hunter—with a August 9 $59.99). Detectives from both the U.K. chainsaw for a hand. and join forces when a politician 11.22.63 ( Warner, is murdered at the border in this 2013 first Nine-Nine: Season Three DVD: 2 discs, $29.98; season of the PBS-aired crime-drama series (Universal, DVD: 3 discs, $39.98). De- Blu-ray: 2 discs, $39.99). starring Stephen Dillane, Clémence Poésy, tective Jake Peralta ( in a Based on the novel by Ste- and Cédric Vierira. Golden Globe-winning role) and the rest phen King and executive of the team are back in this 2015-16 third produced by J.J. Abrams, August 16 season of the comedy series, featuring this 2016 miniseries cen- guest appearances by Bill Hader, Katey tering on a time travel The Affair: Season Sagal, and . plot to stop JFK’s assassination stars James Two (Paramount, DVD: Franco, Chris Cooper, and Sarah Gadon. 5 discs, $39.98). A murder : The Complete Eighth and and a betrayal are at the Final Season (Buena Vista, DVD: 5 discs, Code Black: Season 1 (Paramount, center of this 2015 sec- $45.99). Author (Nathan DVD: 5 discs, $59.98). First-year residents ond season of the Golden Fillion) becomes a private investigator navigate a busy L.A. emergency room in Globe-winning drama while his wife () this 2015-16 first season of the medical series starring Dominic becomes captain in this 2015-16 eighth drama starring , Bon- West, , Mau- and final season of the crime dramedy nie Somerville, Luis Guzmán, and Boris ra Tierney, and Joshua Jackson. series. Kodjoe. Gotham: The Complete Second Season DC’s Legends of To- Halt and Catch Fire: The Complete (Warner, DVD: 6 discs, $49.99; Blu-ray: 4 morrow: The Complete Second Season (Anchor Bay, DVD: 3 discs, discs, $54.98). This 2015-16 second season First Season (Warner, $49.98). Set in 1985 in ’s “Silicon of prequel chronicling the DVD: 4 discs, $39.99; Blu- Prairie,” this 2015 second season of the “Rise of the Villains” stars Ben McKenzie, ray: 2 discs, $44.98). DC AMC-aired tech drama series stars Lee Donal Logue, and Erin Richards. Comics characters unite Pace, Scoot McNairy, and Mackenzie Davis. against a new threat in : The Complete Second Sea- this 2016 debut season Line of Duty: Series 3 (Acorn, DVD: son (Shout! Factory, DVD: 5 discs, $39.98). of the action-adventure series featuring 3 discs, $39.99). Members of the AC-12 The titular newspaper city editor () Victor Garber, Arthur Darvill, Brandon anti-corruption unit examine the behav- works on controversial assignments in this Routh, and Ciara Renée. ior of an armed response sergeant in this Peabody Award-winning drama series’ 2016 third season featuring Keeley Hawes, 1978-79 second season, featuring guest ap- Endeavour: The Complete Third Sea- Vicky McClure, Martin Compston, and pearances by Russell Johnson, G.W. Bailey, son (PBS, DVD: 2 discs, $39.99; Blu-ray: Daniel Mays. and Charles Robinson. 2 discs, $49.99). Conceived as a prequel

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 12 JULY/AUGUST 2016

to , this 2016 third season sixth season of the wildly popular AMC of Longmire and Ripper Street, the fifth of the Masterpiece Mystery! series follows series starring , Norman season of 2 Broke Girls, the sixth season Constable Morse (Shaun Evans) in epi- Reedus, and Lauren Cohan. of Newhart, the ninth season of The sodes including “Ride,” “,” “Prey,” Big Bang Theory, and the 11th season and “Coda.” August 30 of Supernatural. Slated for October are the first and second seasons of Prey, the : Series 8 (PBS, DVD: 19-2: Season 2 (Acorn, sophomore season of Death Valley Days, 2 discs, $29.99, Blu-ray: 2 discs, $34.99). DVD: 3 discs, $49.99). This and the third season of The Musketeers. This eighth season of the Inspector Morse English-language version spin-off series starring Kevin Whately and of the French-Canadian includes the 2015 episodes series about cops working Re-priced or New to DVD/Blu-ray “One for Sorrow,” “Magnum Opus,” and in a rough neighborhood “What Lies .” of stars Adrian Brown Bread (Alive Mind, DVD: Holmes and Jared Keeso. $29.95). Newly re-priced for home video, Lucifer: The Complete First Season filmmaker Sarah Gross’s documentary (Warner, DVD: 3 discs, $39.99). Based Arrow: The Complete Fourth Season (VL-11/15 HHH1/2) explores the inter- on a comic book character co-created by (Warner, DVD: 5 discs, $49.99; Blu-ray: racial family dynamics born out of a , this 2016 first season of the 4 discs, $54.98). Wealthy Oliver Queen decision by her white parents in the fantasy police procedural finds biblical (Stephen Amell) attempts to leave behind 1970s to adopt four children of color fallen angel Lucifer (Tom Ellis) offering his past as superhero Green Arrow in this who were younger than Sarah and her consulting services to the LAPD. 2015-16 fourth season of the DC Comics brother—culminating with a sibling universe action series, costarring Katie at the Gross’s 50th wedding NYPD Blue: Season 10 (Shout! Factory, Cassidy. anniversary. DVD: 5 discs, $34.95). The 2002-03 10th season of Steven Bochco’s crime drama The Bureau (Kino Lorber, DVD: 3 discs, The series features guest appearances by Katt $49.95). Taken from real-life stories by for- Collection (Eagle Rock Williams and Joyce Van Patten. mer French spies, this 10-episode foreign Entertainment, DVD: language drama stars $9.98 each). Reviewed (Lionsgate, and Zineb Triki. in (VL-5/11 HHH1/2), DVD: 3 discs, $26.98; crooner Frank Sinatra Blu-ray: 3 discs, $29.99). Fire: Season Four (Universal, is spotlighted in a series Produced by the History DVD: 6 discs, $44.98). Set in Chi-town, this of specials: A Man and channel, this 2016 re- 2015-16 fourth season of the firefighting His Music / A Man And His Music Part make of the acclaimed, series stars Jesse Spencer, Taylor Kinney, and II, A Man and His Music + Ella + Jobim groundbreaking 1977 Monica Raymund. Also newly available is / Frank Albert Sinatra Does His Thing / miniseries based on Alex the Dick Wolf spin-off : Sea- Sinatra, and Sinatra and Friends / The Man Haley’s legendary family saga stars Mala- son One (DVD: 5 discs, $44.99), featuring and His Music. Also newly available is chi Kirby, Forest Whitaker, , Oliver Platt. Concert for the Americas with Rich , and Jonathan Rhys (VL-1/11 HHH1/2). Meyers. Grey’s Anatomy: Complete Twelfth Season (Buena Vista, DVD: 6 discs, $45.99). Gabo: The Creation of Gabriel : The Complete Fifth Season This 2015-16 12th season of the drama set at García Márquez (Icarus, DVD: $29.98). (Buena Vista, DVD: 5 discs, $45.99). Kerry Seattle’s Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital stars Filmmaker Justin Webster’s profile (VL- Washington is back as DC fixer Olivia as Chief of General Surgery 3/16 HHH) of the late revered writer Pope in this 2015-16 fifth season of the and features guest appearances by Patrick Gabriel García Márquez—winner of the Peabody Award-winning political thriller Fabian and Nicole Sullivan. Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982—in- series from showrunner , terviews stars of the South American costarring . : The Com- literary firmament Plinio Apuleyo Men- plete Sixth Season (War- doza and Juan Gabriel Vásquez, as well : Season One (Universal, ner, DVD: 3 discs, $29.98; as former President . Bonus DVD: 2 discs, $29.98). The escapades of Blu-ray: 2 discs, $39.9). features include deleted scenes. employees at St. Louis big-box store Cloud The South Side Chicago 9 are highlighted in this 2015-16 debut Gallagher family continue Just Gender (Alive season of the workplace comedy series their dysfunctional lives Mind, DVD: $29.95). starring America Ferrera, Ben Feldman, in this 2016 sixth season Narrated by Bebe Neu- Lauren Ash, and Mark McKinney. starring William H. Macy, , wirth, director George Jeremy Allen White, Ethan Cutkoskey, and Zuber’s documentary The Walking Dead: Shanola Hampton. (VL-3/14 HHH) takes a The Complete Sixth serious look at the pain Season (Anchor Bay, Looking Ahead and paradoxes suffered DVD: 5 discs, $69.98; Blu- by transgendered individuals in con- ray: 5 discs, $79.99). Sur- Slated for September are the debut seasons temporary society. Bonus features in- vivors face attacks from of The Catch and Quantico, the second sea- clude extended interviews. Also newly scavengers and zombie son of The Flash, the third seasons of The available at the same price is Invitation walkers in this 2015-16 Originals and Reign, the fourth seasons to Dance (VL-5/15 HHH).

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 14 JULY/AUGUST 2016 VL_Ad_0716_VisionVideo 5/20/16 10:42 AM Page 1

The Stranger Knox The Stranger is a 40-minute documentary film Renegade. Reformer. Revolutionary. Five Military Chaplains produced by Emmy-award winning producer centuries after his birth, the influence of Military chaplains found themselves facing the Linda Midgett. It profiles three immigrant John Knox can still be felt across his native gruesome reality of modern warfare. Serving stories and includes interviews with local and Scotland and throughout the world. side by side with soldiers in the trenches, national leaders. By highlighting compelling Presented by Scottish actor Phillip Todd, chaplains became essential to the spiritual and stories of immigrants and addressing some Knox takes look at the life and psychological needs of those under their care. common economic and political miscon- legacy of one of Christianity’s great This four-part series takes you inside the lives of ceptions, The Stranger seeks to mobilize us to reformers. Incorporating dramatic military chaplains who served during the Great respond to immigrants and to immigration and interviews with leading War. Dramatic reenactments and interviews policy in ways that are consistent with moral experts, the story of John Knox is brought to with key experts shed new light on an often principles. Documentary, 40 minutes. you as you’ve never seen it before. overlooked but important role. Documentary, Documentary, 77 minutes. #501679D, $14.99, UPC 7 27985 01679 5 100 minutes. #501677D, $19.99, UPC 7 27985 01677 1 #501664D, $19.99, UPC 7 27985 01664 1

Reformation Dramas 5-DVD Pack Classic Family Movies This set includes five classic dramas on key leaders of the Reformation The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Collection — includes Bells of San (over seven hours total): Angelo, Bells of Rosarita, The Cowboy’s Prayer, and an episode from The John Wycliffe: The Morningstar — the 14th century scholar and cleric Roy Rogers Show. Nearly 3 hours total. who translated the Bible into English for the first time. #501690D, $14.99, UPC 7 27985 01690 0 God’s Outlaw: The Story of William Tyndale — a wanted man for the The Shirley Temple Collection — includes The Little Princess, Dora’s “crime” of translating the Bible for the common people. Dunking Donuts, Merrily Yours, and Pardon My Pups. Over 2.5 hours total. Martin Luther — the fiery monk whose 95 Theses sparked the Reformation. B&W #501691D, $14.99, UPC 7 27985 01691 7 The Radicals — Michael and Margaretha Sattler joined the Anabaptists The Jackie Cooper Collection — includes The Streets of New York (also and challenged the control of the Church by the State. known as The Abe Lincoln of 9th Avenue), Peck’s Bad Boy, and School’s John Hus — this scholar who lived 100 years before Martin Luther Out. Over 2.5 hours total. spoke out against the corruption of the Church. #501692D, $14.99, UPC 7 27985 01692 4 #501689D, $29.99, UPC 7 27985 01689 4

Vision Video PO Box 540 OUR UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE: Worcester, PA 19490 If, for any reason, a product does not meet your expectations, 1-800-523-0226 • 610-584-3500 return it to us, and we will exchange it or give you a refund. Fax: 610-584-6643 All DVDs are guaranteed against any defects. Available from E-mail: [email protected] Baker and Taylor, Midwest Tape, or directly from Vision Video. Web: www.VisionVideo.com Video Movies

“Bravo!,” well suits Radu little moments that occur on the sides of the This section features reviews of current and Jude’s extraordinary film, a main conflict: a meal between co-workers at classic studio, independent, and foreign feature sort of Romanian Western Ali’s restaurant, or Ali sitting with an air of films. Each review includes pricing information, set in Wallachia, circa 1835, resignation inside a camper. A strong optional which was then dominated purchase. (T. Keogh) as well as running time, rating, subtitling infor- by Ottoman and Russian mation, and street dates for yet-to-be-released overlords. Costandin (Te- The Boss HH titles. Most titles reviewed here are widely odor Corban) is an aging Universal, 99 min., R, DVD: available through most distributors. constable charged by a nobleman with track- $29.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: ing down runaway gypsy slave Carfin (Cuz- $34.98, July 26 HHHH= Excellent in Toma), who seduced his master’s wife. Melissa McCarthy stars Alternately rowdy and morose, world-weary as brash Michelle Darnell, HHH= Good Costandin is accompanied by his teenage a self-made financial gu- HH= Fair son Ionita (Mihai Comaniou), a soft-heart- ru—“the 47th wealthiest ed lad who is learning about the realities woman in America”—who is arrested and H= Poor of the world. Aferim! plays like an episodic convicted for insider trading. When she’s picaresque tale, following father and son released from prison, Michelle is so broke that as they cross paths with various characters she’s forced to bunk with her former assistant, whose observations—such as the diatribe Claire (), a hard-working single Current Films of a viciously racist priest—often carry an mom who lives in a cramped second-floor undercurrent of dark humor. But the film’s apartment with her ‘tween daughter, Rachel 10 Cloverfield Lane essence lies in its portrait of the cruelty that (Ella Anderson). When Michelle takes Rachel HHH marked Romania’s past, where gypsy slavery to her Dandelion (think Girl Scout) troop wasn’t completely outlawed until the 1850s. Paramount, 103 min., PG-13, meeting, she winds up tangling with another DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray/DVD Not only do the lawmen here treat all gypsies mother and, subsequently, concocts a plan to Combo: $39.99 with casual contempt, but when Carfin is have the girls sell Claire’s delicious “family Fans of producer J.J. eventually caught and returned to his lord, recipe” brownies instead of cookies—and Abrams’s 2008 Cloverfield, he is punished savagely despite Costandin’s take home some real profit. Territorial in- a found footage hit about pleas for mercy. In Costandin’s ruminations tegrity prompts a violent street brawl (shot monsters invading Man- about how he might be judged by future in slow-motion) between the Dandelions hattan, have been eagerly awaiting a sequel. generations, the filmmaker also asks viewers and Michelle’s recruits, Darnell’s Darlings, This isn’t it. While 10 Cloverfield Lane is in the to think about the lingering effects of past and the film also features a romantic sub- same sci-fi genre, Abrams purposely did not injustice. Beautifully shot in luminous wide- plot involving a rival entrepreneur (Peter title it Cloverfield 2 (and he has ditched the screen black-and-white, Aferim! presents the Dinklage). Raised in a Catholic orphanage found footage gimmick), instead calling this Romania of the early 19th century in all its after being rejected from a series of foster psychological thriller a “spiritual successor.” coarseness and bigotry, but with occasional homes, self-reliant Michelle firmly believes Fleeing from a romantic break-up in New glimmers of honor, while reminding viewers that human relationships—aka family—are Orleans, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) of the scars that remain from the acts of an unwanted burden, as is a sense of compas- is knocked unconscious in a horrific car crash ancestors. Highly recommended. (F. Swietek) sion. Co-scripted by McCarthy, and directed on a winding country road somewhere in by her husband, Ben Falcone, The Boss is an rural Louisiana. When she awakens, she finds Ambrosia HH1/2 uneven episodic comedy that serves up a herself shackled to a wall in an Movement, 79 min., in vulgar, zany riff on female empowerment. English & Persian w/English Optional. (S. Granger) bunker belonging to an intimidating, con- subtitles, not rated, DVD: spiracy-theory-obsessed survivalist named $24.95 H Howard (), who claims that Leila (Sahar Biniaz, a for- The Brothers Grimsby he pulled her from the wreckage and saved Sony, 83 min., R, DVD: $26.99, mer Canada) Blu-ray: $30.99 her life. Paranoid Howard tells her that the is a beautiful fashionista —or maybe the Martians—dropped and, well, the wife of a pizza After Borat and Bruno, the proverbial bomb, making the Earth’s maker named Ali (Camyar Chai). A clash is filmmaker Sacha Baron Co- surface radioactive, contaminated, and unin- inevitable, and it arrives when Leila is offered hen pushes vulgarity to a habitable for at least a year. Scared, confused, a plum job as a dress designer at one of the new level in this British spy and skeptical, Michelle is actually not the top houses. Ali has been trying to grow his spoof, revolving around two only captive. Creepy, enigmatic Emmett business for a decade but is watching it head vastly different brothers, who were born in (John Gallagher Jr.) is a local lad who sought toward bankruptcy, while Leila—whose the Northern seaport of Grimsby refuge in the subterranean shelter but now education in design Ali financially and emo- and then separated for 28 years after their seems to want to escape as much as Michelle tionally supported—is on the ascendance. parents’ death. Dimwitted Nobby (Cohen) is does. A character-driven, tension-filled tale Leila does still hustle over to the pizza joint a heavily-tattooed, working-class bloke/soccer of terror, directed by Abrams’s protégé Dan to help out every day after work, but the dis- fanatic with a libidinous wife (Rebel Wilson) Trachtenberg, the palpable dread here is am- tance between them is clearly growing, and and 11 foul-mouthed kids. When Nobby plified by Jeff Cutter’s cinematography and it is complicated by sexual attention toward discovers that his long-lost younger brother composer Bear McCreary’s foreboding score. Leila from her boss (Heather Doerksen). Sebastian (Mark Strong) is a suave MI6 agent, Recommended. (S. Granger) Writer-director Baharak Saeid Monir has the siblings team up to combat a global crime delivered an interesting but also often tepid syndicate, journeying to South Africa to Aferim! HHH1/2 and synthetic-feeling film about the way that apprehend Rhonda George (Penelope Cruz), Big World, 105 min., in Romanian w/English partners can be pulled apart by wildly differ- who is planning a lethal terrorist attack at the subtitles, not rated, DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $34.95 ent visions, agendas, and temptations. Oddly, World Cup final in Chile. At one point while The title, a Turkish exclamation meaning the most interesting material here involves being chased by , the brothers hide

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 16 JULY/AUGUST 2016 New Releases From OSCILLOSCOPE LABORATORIES

2016 Academy Award® Nominee

“A physchedelic road trip by canoe.” -VICE

EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT centers on Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman and the last survivor of his people, and the two scientists who, over the course of 40 years, build a friendship with him.

CAT # OSC-068 CAT # BD-OSC-068 UPC- 857490005233 UPC- 857490005240 AVAILABLE NOW SRP: $34.9 9 SRP: $39.99 L’ATTESA

With Sicily as his backdrop, Messina navigates the story of the strange relationship between two women from different generations. Academy Award®-winner stars as Anna, who is meeting her son This not-quite- Giuseppe’s French documentary takes girlfriend, Jeanne, in the place far away and lead up to Easter out of sight, on the festivities. margins and off the CAT # OSC-069 grid of American UPC- 857490005264 CAT # OSC-073 society. SRP: $34.99 UPC- 857490005226 SRP: $34.99 STREET: JULY 12TH STREET: JULY 26TH www.oscilloscope.net inside an elephant’s vagina—and a male ele- bond with Itt (Banlop Lomnoi), one of the called the Libertines, Pe- phant arrives on the scene; in another coarse narcoleptics. The pair go out occasionally ter Doherty might have bit, a computer-generated when Itt is awake, and Jenjira is visited seemed the perfect choice accidentally contracts HIV. The one comedic by a couple of goddesses, who inform her to play Octave, a dissolute scene that registers is when a beautiful British that the hospital sits atop an ancient cem- young Frenchman who spy (Tasmin Egerton) tries—in vain—to se- etery and that those buried there might be falls for an attractive wid- duce Nobby. Unfortunately, Cohen’s real-life feeding on the patients’ spirits. A medium ow in Sylvie Verheyde’s wife—talented comedienne Isla Fisher—ap- also arrives who claims to be able to con- film adaptation of Alfred pears only briefly, as Sebastian’s MI6 Money- verse with the comatose men; she acts as a de Musset’s 1836 novel. penny-like contact. Similarly, the talents of conduit between Jenjira and Itt while he’s Unfortunately, his acting ability seems Barkhad Abdi and are wasted asleep. But these threads never coalesce into limited to looking forlorn, fidgeting, and as a heroin dealer and portly chambermaid, anything like a conventional narrative, nor playing with his fashionable hat. Even en- respectively. Episodically directed by Louis is the relationship between Jenjira and Itt an gaging actress —who Leterrier, the film is a grab-bag of scattershot incipient romance—she has an American plays Brigitte, the attractive older woman jokes about excrement, pedophilia, crack boyfriend. Weerasethakul’s primary interest who rekindles Octave’s emotional fire after addiction, and HIV-AIDS. Gross? Yes. Funny? is in building a dreamlike mood, marked by he’s been cheated on by a former fiancée No. Not recommended. (S. Granger) long, static shots in which lighting changes (a betrayal that culminates in a duel with color, or totally inexplicable moments such as her seducer)—is unable to rouse him; their By the Sea H a brief scene in which an amoeba is superim- scenes together simply fizzle. To be fair, the Universal, 123 min., R, DVD: posed over a cloudy sky. Fans of the director fault isn’t entirely Doherty’s: Verheyde’s $22.98, Blu-ray: $26.98, July 5 and art house films in general will likely be adaptation is flat, depending overmuch on When and enchanted, although others will find their insipid English dialogue and pedestrian got married, they patience tested. Recommended. (F. Swietek) staging in which even the sequences de- spent their honeymoon picting Octave’s debauchery come across making this humorless van- The Club HHH1/2 as ridiculously timid. The bland visuals— ity project, fully aware that Music Box, 97 min., in Spanish including some ill-advised handheld cin- Brangelina publicity would guarantee its w/English subtitles, not rated, ematography—and a tinkling music score eventual release. Set in the 1970s, the story DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $34.95 only add to the general malaise, while the begins as blond-mustached Roland Bertrand Four disgraced priests and dreadful pop song over the closing credits (Pitt) and his vain wife Vanessa (billed as Jolie one defrocked nun live in ends things on a particularly low note. A Pitt) are driving through the French country- exile in a small house in a pallid, tedious film, this is not a necessary side in a vintage Citroën convertible. After quiet beach town in this purchase. (F. Swietek) arriving at a picturesque seaside resort, they drama from Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín. unload a stack of Louis Vuitton luggage, filled The residents are ostensibly serving penance Crush the Skull HH1/2 with her diaphanous couture clothes, indicat- for their sins through a life of prayer and Breaking Glass, 80 min., not ing a lengthy stay. Roland is planning to work ritual, but have been basically pushed out rated, DVD: $24.99 on a novel as they try to resolve some trau- of sight by the Catholic Church. They live Not funny enough to be matic marital issues. He boozes and she gulps in denial and so does the church, until the a parody or scary enough to pills, so there’s not much progress—until they arrival of a fifth priest upsets the balance, after be an actual horror movie, become voyeurs, spying through a peephole one of his victims outs him as a pedophile. Crush the Skull lies in genre on honeymooners (Melanie Laurent, Melvil Larraín, who has consistently confronted the limbo, but is somewhat re- Poupaud) in a neighboring suite, and vicari- legacy of Chile’s past under Pinochet in his deemed by strong performances and the occa- ously sharing their sexual encounters. Trying films, shifts the focus here to the Catholic sional exchange of quirky dialogue. Co-writer for a triple play as writer, director, and star, Church, although this isn’t Chile’s answer and director Viet Nguyen crafts a story that Jolie Pitt flounders here, after adroitly direct- to Spotlight (there is no catharsis from justice seems to be generic torture-porn fodder: four ing the Louis Zamperini bio-pic Unbroken being served). Rather, the story explores thieves break into a house only to discover (2014). Tepid and pretentious, By the Sea is a the psychology of denial and self-delusion, that it belongs to a killer—with hidden film that sinks in slow-paced self-indulgence. which has simmered into a state of self-righ- walls and rooms for committing atrocities Not recommended. (S. Granger) teous martyrdom. The characters are often on his victims. This discovery comes too confined to the drab, claustrophobic house, late, however, as the robbers end up being Cemetery of Splendor where a counselor sent by the church inter- separated and picked off one at a time. What HHH views the five members of the household. lightens the dire subject matter is that the An unsettling act of violence in the third Strand, 122 min., in Thai w/ criminals are a bunch of lunkheads who have English subtitles, not rated, act puts Larraín’s theme of the destructive stumbled their way into this failed break-in DVD: $27.99, Blu-ray: $32.99 effects of burying and denying corruption for a lot of wrong reasons. Riley (Tim Chiou) Thai director Apichat- and crime in stark terms. The Club has a hint angered his girlfriend, so he wants to make pong Weerasethakul has at- of gallows humor, but it’s a demanding film up for it by buying her the breast implants tracted a small but enthusi- that confronts difficult and controversial she wants. Connor (Chris Riedell) is a poor astic following for his enigmatic, lyrical films subject matter. Winner of the Grand Jury leader but needs to prove he can organize a (including Blissfully Yours and Uncle Boonmee Prize in Berlin and a Golden Globe nominee, big score. And his sister, Blair (Katie Savoy), Who Can Recall His Past Lives). Cemetery of this is highly recommended. (S. Axmaker) is trying to watch out for Connor while also Splendor focuses on a rural hospital where a giving her boyfriend, Ollie (Chris Dinh), a group of soldiers are being treated—all are Confession of a Child of the Century chance to redeem himself after a botched victims of a mysterious coma from which HH job. Added to the are one of the mon- they sporadically awake before relapsing. Cohen, 120 min., not rated, DVD: $24.99, Blu-ray: ster’s still-living victims (Lauren Reeder) and, Among the volunteers is kindly but disabled $34.99 inevitably, a doomed cop (Lincoln Hoppe). A Jenjira (Jenjira Pongpas), who develops a As the real-life lead singer in a group strong optional purchase. (T. Keogh)

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 18 JULY/AUGUST 2016 After a coup d’état, a dictator fl ees to In the 19th century, a young man fl ees A waiter (Daniel Brühl) hits jackpot when safety with his grandson, disguised as a the famine, poverty and despotism of his he fi nds a manuscript and claims it as his street musician, and is forced to confront German village for a new life in Brazil and own work, but complications arise when the many people tortured by his regime. the freedom of the South American jungle. the real author (Henry Hübchen) appears.

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FM3_JulyAUG_VidLIBr.indd 1 6/14/16 11:26 AM A Dog Named Gucci challenges of adult mysteries and her own Kenya, where several people on their most HHH precociousness, as well as the dynamics of wanted list have convened, including a rad- Music Video Distributors, 84 a one-room school where half the kids are icalized British woman with an Al-Shabaab min., not rated, DVD: $19.95 angry motherless siblings, and a friendless girl militant. The titular “eye” is an American For animal lovers, this hovers around her. Despite a script that seems drone, piloted by Steve Watts () informative documentary to cycle back repeatedly to conversations with from a Nevada bunker, while Colonel Kath- is both painful and a joy to Dolly about life lessons, filmmaker Stephen erine Powell (Mirren) commands a local watch. Essentially offering a Herek’s bio-pic has an appealing, nicely-tex- Kenyan team, ready to capture the woman history of the evolution of animal-abuse laws tured Waltons-like quality, and Nettles is and her conspirators. But when an on-site in the Southern U.S. over the last 20 or so particularly good as the Partons’ matriarch. operative (Barkhad Abdi) flies a tiny drone years, A Dog Named Gucci focuses on several A strong optional purchase. (T. Keogh) into the target’s house, pictures are fed back dogs whose suffering rallied activists to get of the terrorists’ preparations for an immi- behind protective legislation. The first case Elvis & Nixon HHH nent suicide attack. “This changes things,” involves Gucci, a Chow-mix puppy who was Sony, 86 min., R, DVD: $25.99, Powell notes, recommending that a Hellfire hanged from a tree, beaten like a piñata, and Blu-ray: $26.99, July 19 missile be immediately launched to destroy set ablaze. The team of goodhearted people Based on an amusing his- the building and its occupants. Problem is: who saved Gucci despite his severe injuries torical anecdote, director the politicians are wary of endorsing a bomb- inspired activists throughout to give Liza Johnson’s droll film ing, particularly since there is a child selling prosecutors more legal ammunition to pursue centers on a meeting be- fresh-baked bread nearby. One after another, abusers. But the path was not straightforward: tween Elvis Presley (Michael they refer up to Britain’s Foreign Minister, the opposition arose from interests who were con- Shannon) and President U.S. Secretary of State, etc. Tautly directed cerned that protecting animals (Kevin Spacey). In late 1970, by , this powerfully restrained such as dogs and cats was a slippery slope while watching the news at Graceland, Pres- examination of the ethics and moral quan- that would lead to banning hunting. (There ley becomes infuriated by the growing drug daries involved in remote-controlled warfare was also a hysterical legislator who insisted problem and moral decline in the United is recommended. (S. Granger) on the right to shoot a BB gun at his neigh- States and he decides to become an undercov- bor’s dog for urinating on his lawn.) Similar er federal agent. But he needs a badge from J. Fidelio: Alice’s Odyssey stories in other states follow, and while such Edgar Hoover’s Bureau of Narcotics, and the HHH horrendous crimes are hard to hear in detail, only way to get one is from the president. So First , 97 min., in French the silver lining is that in each situation the Presley’s longtime confidante Jerry Schilling w/English subtitles, not rated, surviving dog helped to spur the criminal- (Alex Pettyfer) and Memphis crony Sonny DVD: $24.95 ization of abuse. The good news is that all West (Johnny Knoxville) deliver a rambling, French actress turned 50 states currently have relevant laws on handwritten letter to the White House, which filmmaker Lucie Borleteau the books, and the FBI now pursues certain convinces Nixon aides Egil “Bud” Krogh (Col- turns the maritime “girl in cases as federal crimes. Filmmaker Gorman in Hanks) and Dwight Chapin (Evan Peters) every port” adage on its head in this contem- Bechard’s documentary actually goes beyond to arrange an appointment. While Nixon has porary portrait of an attractive young female animal rights to illustrate how new criminal no interest in meeting the pop singer, his sailor, 2nd engineer Alice (Ariane Labed). laws are shepherded through the legislative daughter Julie wants an autographed photo. Accepted as “one of the boys” by landless process (it’s not easy, but it’s democracy at Once they do meet, however, protocol is crewmates aboard the aging merchant-ship work). Recommended. (T. Keogh) discarded as the King and POTUS chat infor- Fidelio, Alice is still a wild card among the mally—with Presley gulping the President’s male mini-society. Replacing a first engineer Dolly Parton’s Coat of Dr. Pepper and munching his M&Ms. Shan- who mysteriously died on duty, Alice antic- Many Colors HH1/2 non digs deep beneath the glitz and swagger ipates a long separation from a worshipful Warner, 85 min., not rated, to reveal Presley as a seriously delusional Norwegian cartoonist-boyfriend, but her DVD: $19.98 yet down-to-earth Southerner who believes sense of commitment fades in the presence This wholesome TV he can secretly infiltrate disruptive groups, of the ship’s (married) captain, an old lover movie is based on an emo- such as the Black Panthers, and bring them (moreover, she has an affair with a young tionally-charged period in to justice. And Spacey embodies hunched- Romanian sailor). Journals left behind by the the life of 9-year-old Dolly over Nixon’s chronic insecurity and social dead man offer Alice some insight into her Parton in mid- Tennessee, as little ineptitude with remarkable mimicry, never own tendency to drift rudderless through re- Dolly (Alyvia Alyn Lind) develops a sense succumbing to caricature. Incidentally, the lationships. A sexually frank character study, of herself as a future star while also growing most requested photo in the National Archive this is recommended. (C. Cassady) more sophisticated in her understanding of is of Presley and Nixon shaking hands at the her sometimes-flawed parents. With a large conclusion of their meeting on December 21, The Fool HHH brood of kids, Dolly’s mother Avie (country 1970. Recommended. (S. Granger) Olive, 121 min., in Russian w/ star Jennifer Nettles) and father Robert (Ricky English subtitles, not rated, Schroder), are heads of what appears to be a Eye in the Sky HHH DVD: $24.95, Blu-ray: $29.95 happy musical family despite regional pov- Universal, 102 min., R, DVD: It’s rather astonishing erty (Robert raises tobacco, which can be a $29.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: that the Russian Ministry of hit-or-miss crop). When the incredibly fecund $34.98 Culture has subsidized films Avie is pregnant again and then loses the Starring that are quite critical of gov- child, she is plunged into despair and Robert and the late , ernment corruption and social desperation in keeps his distance. Avie’s father, community this timely, nail-biting Brit- the Putin era, including Yury Bykov’s gritty preacher Rev. Jake (Gerald McRaney), tries ish thriller about drone war- drama The Fool, centering on Dima (Artzom to help, but Robert’s stubborn refusal to fare begins in with Lt. Gen. Frank Bystrov), a simple plumber who tries to enable attend church creates even more barriers. Benson (Rickman) and several officials hav- the evacuation of residents from a dilapidated Meanwhile, Dolly is left to navigate the ing ascertained the exact location in Nairobi, apartment building that is on the verge of

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 20 JULY/AUGUST 2016 NEW DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

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Director Richard Kane follows Jon Imber as he remains determined to continue his work as an artist, despite the debilitating effects of ALS. Thanks to the support of his partner, Jill Hoy, Imber learns to paint with his left hand, and then with both of his hands as his condition worsens. During a prolifi c DVD only: $24.95 / PPR: $200 • DRL: $499 / PPR + DRL: $599 four-month span, his heroic resolve leads to the creation of more than 100 portraits, providing a Documentary, Art, Art Therapy, Disability, Death & Dying, Jewish celebration of life and community amidst adversity. UPC: 857692005680

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JULY_AUG_VidLIBR.indd 1 6/14/16 10:54 AM collapse. City officials—led by the mayor (Na- from Anchorage to Nome), Henry Gamble’s Birthday talya Surkova)—debate how to deal with the Greg Kohs’s documentary HHH is a hybrid of sports-endur- Party crisis, while pocketing funds that might have Wolfe, 86 min., not rated, been used to upgrade the structure. There’s ance drama and a gothic DVD: $24.95 tale of family dysfunction, a modified feel to the set-up, in A swimming pool birth- divorce, hardship, and ad- which the powerful contemptuously (and day party for teenage Henry diction in very cold places. heavy-handedly) dismiss the ordinary folk (Cole Doman) turns into a Lance Mackey is the son they exploit, but the building residents don’t crucible, where religious hy- of famed 1970s Iditarod escape criticism either, portrayed here for the pocrisy, homophobia, confessions, and sexual champ/pioneer Dick Mackey, described here most part as violent, alcoholic thugs. And hysteria lead to the beginning of young adult as a distant, uninterested father who knew even Dima’s mother berates him for bucking autonomy in this well-acted and insightful more about what was going on with his dogs the corrupt system instead of taking a cut. But drama from writer-director Stephen Cone. than his sons. Lance went through periods things do not go in a Capra-esque direction, Palpable tensions float through Henry’s sub- of extensive boozing and drugging, worked and Dima comes across as a modern version urban home as he awakens on his birthday. the famously dangerous (but lucrative) Arctic of Prince Myshkin, the saintly figure at the Hints of a stifling, fundamentalist Christian fishing boat circuit, survived a cancer ordeal, center of Dostoevsky’s The Idiot—a good man atmosphere set a tone that will be challenged and rather surprisingly (considering all of destroyed by the endemic evil of the society during the ensuing hours when Henry’s the emotional baggage) took up the Iditarod surrounding him. Another solid dark tale of friends from school and church come over challenge himself. Somewhat symbolically, the realities of life in post-Soviet , this for a swim and celebration. Right away, the Lance assembled a sled team of true under- is recommended. (F. Swietek) exposure of young bodies splashing doesn’t dogs—unwanted mushers of no pedigree that sit well with a few of the more judgmental he claims to have found roaming the streets. Glassland HHH adults, although that is the least of the group’s Even after a dramatic Iditarod victory, the Film Movement, 93 min., not problems. Henry’s parents, Bob (Pat Healy) rated, DVD: $24.95 younger Mackey says he still had to prove and Kat (Elizabeth Laidlaw), are clearly in himself as more than a fluke, ultimately deliv- A low-key yet moving the middle of unspoken marital strife; his drama from Ireland, writ- ering a stunning streak of consecutive wins. Lance eventually echoes his father, noting college-age sister (Nina Ganet) is in a major er-director Gerard Barrett’s panic over her first sexual experience some Glassland serves up an un- that he’s more at home with his cherished canines than with human relationships. An months ago; a fed-up church elder (Francis usual story of selfless if also Guinan) is drinking wine and starting to desperate love. stars as John, a intriguing profile, this is highly recommend- ed. (C. Cassady) call things as he sees them; the suicidal son young taxi driver barely making ends meet (Patrick Andrews) of Bob’s late mentor is being while living in public housing. John is also HH ignored by the men who should be helping trying to manage a losing battle with his Green Room 1/2 him; and a long-suffering gay boy (Daniel Lionsgate, 94 min., R, DVD: live-in mother, Jean (), over Kryi), who shares a mutual attraction with her chronic drinking. Drifting through the $19.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $24.99, July 12 Henry, is unsure where he stands with every- odd moment with best friend Shane (Will one. Before the night is through, truths will Poulter), John mostly maintains an ascetic Jeremy Saulnier’s fol- low-up to 2013’s Blue Ruin be told. Cone finds fresh energy in a standard existence of cleaning house and getting trope—a party that reveals all—while creat- through his days. When we finally meet centers on a failing punk band comprised of singer ing an array of unique characters on the cusp Jean, we understand why John’s youth is of major changes. Recommended. (T. Keogh) disintegrating through repressed emotions Tiger (Callum Turner), guitarist Sam (Alia and boredom: she suffers from a raging ad- Shawkat), bassist Pat (Anton Yelchin), and diction and is dying from liver disease. Part drummer Reece (Joe Cole). In the midst of I Know a Woman Like of the cycle of their relationship is that John a road trip that has left them stranded and That HHH periodically purges their home of booze, but short on cash for gas, an apparent lifeline is Virgil, 88 min., not rated, DVD: he knows she will find her way to another offered in the form of a paying gig at an out- $19.99 bottle tomorrow. Despite everything, John of-the-way roadhouse in the Oregon woods. Emmy Award-winning has an almost saintly disposition, visiting The place turns out to be a neo-Nazi watering filmmaker Elaine Mad- his younger brother (Harry Nagle)—who hole, and after stumbling upon the murder sen teams up with her has Down syndrome and is the reason Jean’s of a groupie in the dressing room the band Oscar-nominated actress husband the family, leading to members become the target of the place’s daughter for this pleasant her self-destructiveness—and arranging for coolly malevolent owner, Darcy (Patrick Stew- celebration of 16 women who remain active, Shane to visit the young son he rarely gets art), who aims to frame them for the crime. healthy, and vibrant in their senior years. to see. Offered a chance to place his mother That sets in motion an extended cat-and- Rather than grow old in inert retirement, into expensive rehabilitation (her last shot at mouse game in which the terrified quartet, the women featured here continue to pursue survival), John agrees to take on shady tasks joined by the dead girl’s friend, try to escape their careers and creative passions with a for his boss in exchange for cash. Towards while Darcy and his thugs aim to eliminate vibrancy and spirit that makes the younger , Glassland goes off the rails a bit, but them by any means available (including generation seem downright enervated in is a memorable acting showcase for Reynor vicious fight dogs). Saulnier is effective in comparison. Not surprisingly, the most ani- and Collette, the latter never in better form. setting up tense confrontations among the mated interview subjects are those who have Recommended. (T. Keogh) antagonists, and the level of gore is restrained lived most of their lives in the public eye: by today’s very liberal standards. But as the feminist icon Gloria Steinem, writer Maxine The Great Alone HHH1/2 body count rises inexorably, Green Room is Hong Kingston, and performers , FilmRise, 82 min., not rated, DVD: $24.95, Blu- revealed to basically be a proficient genre Lauren Hutton, and Eartha Kitt (in one of ray: $29.95 piece—albeit one featuring an intriguing her final interviews) are all sparkling in their Although centered on the Iditarod dog- change of pace for Stewart. A strong optional observations on the challenges of growing old sled race (1,000 grueling miles in Alaska purchase. (F. Swietek) (without feeling old). Equally entertaining are

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 22 JULY/AUGUST 2016 Award-Winning Cinema Since 2002

PRODUCED BY BONG JOON-HO (SNOWPIERCER, THE HOST) “MOVING, THRILLING, UNPREDICTABLE, MORALLY COMPLEX, AND JUST PLAIN ENTERTAINING” –Phil Brown, Collider “A picture of truly epic dimensions… making South Korean cinema still feel fresh and vital” –Nikola Grozdanovic, The Playlist

INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS. Upon learning that his fi shing trawler, the Junjin, is about to be sold, Captain Kang looks to make one fi nal score by smuggling illegal immigrants from China to South Korea. After arriving at the agreed pickup point, a violent storm forces the Junjin to stall in open waters. As tension and unrest spread, Kang and his crew fi nd themselves pitted against their desperate passengers – all while an ominous fog envelops the ship and everyone onboard.

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2016 U.S. THEATRICAL RELEASE “Pitch perfect... a rare fi lm” –Variety “An unconventional love story that also crosses boundaries into a family drama, psychological thriller, mystery and morality play” –Ain’t It Cool News Davis Green (Joseph Cross) just found out he has a cousin, Alexis (Adelaide Clemens), he never knew existed. While wrestling with a taboo attraction, the two try to uncover the grudge that tore their family apart. The second fi lm from Emmy and Gotham-awarding winning director Justin Lerner, THE AUTOMATIC HATE also DVD only: $150 / PPR: $350 DRL: $499 / PPR + DRL: $599 stars , American Independent • UPC: 857692005727 and Ricky Jay.

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JULY_AUG_VidLIBR_Ad2.indd 1 6/14/16 11:25 AM visits with lesser-known subjects including plenty of activity built around a simple plot times by the Bishop Boys, who are led by vil- yoga expert Tao Porchon-Lynch, artist Marg that stitches together familiar martial arts lainous John (Ewan McGregor). And Bill says Starbuck, and Mexican-American civil rights movie clichés involving a corrupt British that they are coming to wreak revenge. After activist Lupe Anguiano. I Know a Woman commander, a rival Wing Chun teacher (Jin depositing their daughter with a neighbor, Like That rarely plumbs the significant Zhang) who is alternately an ally and an Jane enlists help from her brooding ex-fiancé: concerns that would impact the majority of enemy, and a fatal illness. Ip’s wife died from gunslinger Dan Frost (), who older American women today—most nota- cancer in real life but the rest of the film is stayed away too long fighting in the Civil bly financial issues and healthcare—but it pure dramatic invention designed to set up War, but now dwells nearby. Together, they nonetheless offers a positive reminder that spectacular fight scenes, which range from fortify the Hammond homestead, preparing age is a number, not a defining boundary. impressive collisions of gangs, to Ip taking for the Bishops’ siege. Muddled flashbacks Recommended. (P. Hall) on a brigade of thugs singlehandedly, to a reveal that seven years earlier Jane left private showdown with the rival master. Yen Missouri with her young daughter in tow, Identicals HH remains the main attraction here as the ag- and joined a wagon train, only to be kid- Sony, 100 min., R, DVD: ing Ip, investing his character with modesty napped and forced into prostitution—until $25.99 and integrity while also bringing grace and Bill saved her. Heavy-handedly directed by Documentarian Simon precision to the fight scenes. Recommended. Gavin O’Connor at a snail’s pace, Jane Got Pummell’s debut fiction (S. Axmaker) a Gun was plagued by production problems, film wants to say something including the departures of original director profound about person- , stars Michael al identity, but despite a HHH and , and cinematographer Darius stylish surface, this cerebral sci-fi movie is Arc, 102 min., PG, DVD: Khondji. Whether the film would have been both confused and confusing. The central $19.99 better with the original crew is uncertain, but character is Slater (Lachlan Nieboer), whose This absorbing, touching, this version is a disappointment. Optional. romantic night with his beautiful girlfriend sometimes comic domestic (S. Granger) Nadia (Nora-Jane Noone) is interrupted by a story finds Jack (AnnaSo- gang of masked thugs. They abduct Nadia, phia Robb), an overgrown Kung Fu Panda 3 HHH but one of the kidnappers is killed in the street urchin on the lam from her parole Fox, 95 min., PG, DVD: process, and the corpse proves to be literally officer, undergoing a complete makeover in $29.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: a dead ringer for Nadia. Slater is determined order to impersonate a qualified caretaker $36.99 to track down his girlfriend, embarking on a for an autistic girl. Jack lands a job with As Kung Fu Panda 2 end- search that leads him to a secret organization a frazzled, fractious family whose young ed, Po’s long-lost biological called Brand New U, which offers people the daughter, Glory (a wonderfully convincing father Li realized, “My son is opportunity to switch places with happier performance by Taylor Richardson), is a alive.” In this third install- doppelgangers—purportedly explaining the wild child violently rejecting all structure, ment of the animated series centering on a weird home invasion by Nadia’s duplicate. exhausting her mother, Kay (), rambunctious panda named Po (voiced by Believing that becoming a client himself and father, Mark (Scott Cohen). Financial Jack Black), our hero reunites with his long- will give him the best chance of infiltrating strain is making everything worse, limiting lost biological father Li (Bryan Cranston) and the firm and finding Nadia, Slater undergoes the options for Glory’s older brother, Robert discovers his roots in their ancestral village, elaborate treatment and receives a new iden- ( Broussard), to seek higher education. while also coping with villainous Kai (J.K. tity, but then refuses to give up his former Jack shows up as “Donna” and is hired to Simmons), a self-righteous, power-hungry life, earning the wrath of the , after spirit who has risen from the dead to lead which Slater is eventually confronted by not watch over Glory at home and school. Know- zombie-like warriors. Po’s wise mentor, the only his own double but also another Nadia. ing nothing about , Jack is initially red panda Shifu (), tells Po Identicals does manage to instill a general overwhelmed but eventually learns enough to become a martial arts master by coaching feeling of unease, but that is partially due to give Glory a fighting chance at communi- to the fact that even an attentive viewer will cating and fitting in. Director is the Furious Five (Angelina Jolie, , have a hard time figuring out precisely what very good at balancing multiple story threads: , , and David Cross), is happening and why. Ambitious but fatally Jack’s desire to reunite with a younger sister saying, “If you only do what you can do, flawed, this is not a necessary purchase. in foster care; Robert’s frustrations and you will never be more than you are now.” (F. Swietek) attraction to Jack; Mark and Kay’s eroding Naturally, there is a rivalry between Li and marriage; and Glory’s deepening affection Po’s adoptive father, the goose named Mr. HHH for her minder. Of course, the viewer knows Ping (James Hong), and a love interest for Ip Man 3 that sooner or later the boom will be lowered Po, the ribbon-dancing Mei Mei (Kate Hud- Well Go USA, 105 min., in Cantonese w/English subtitles, on Jack, but the film doesn’t cop out or resort son). Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and PG-13, DVD: $24.98, Blu-ray: to magical thinking, instead delivering some Alessandro Carloni, this sweetly scripted $29.98 well-earned hope and a spark of redemption. sequel—the first American animated feature Donnie Yen returns here Recommended. (T. Keogh) to be co-produced by a Chinese studio—is as the titular real-life mar- recommended. (S. Granger) tial arts master who kept the Jane Got a Gun HH art of Wing Chun alive during the Japanese Anchor Bay, 98 min., R, DVD: HHH occupation in World War II and then went $29.98, Blu-ray: $34.99 Lionsgate, 89 min., R, DVD: on to mentor a generation of students, in- stars $19.98, Blu-ray: $24.99, Aug. 2 cluding Bruce Lee. Directed by Wilson Yip, Ip as Jane Hammond, a pis- This film, set in Man 3 is set in late-1950s Hong Kong, where tol-packin’ frontierswoman the near future in an alter- Master Ip—who runs a celebrated martial in the New Territo- nate universe, serves up an arts school—finds himself pitted against ry. The story begins in 1871, existential allegory about a ruthless gangster (boxer Mike Tyson). A when Jane’s husband, Bill (), the determination within handsome production, the busy film sports comes home after having been shot several every culture to pair people off. Whether

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ACTRESS BUNDLE LOVE STORIES BUNDLE CRIME STORIES BUNDLE ON MY WAY | IN THE COURTYARD | 3 HEARTS | DELICACY | CHINESE PUZZLE | THE PREY | TWO MEN IN TOWN (1973) | IN THE NAME OF MY DAUGHTER PERFECT UNDERSTANDING | COLLECTION SWERVE | COLOR OF LIES SRP: $99.98 - AVAILABLE NOW SRP: $124.98 - AVAILABLE NOW SRP: $109.98 - AVAILABLE NOW heterosexual or homosexual, conforming Manson’s Lost Girls H1/2 of time and place, and he resists the tempta- means being part of a duo. So when his wife Lionsgate, 90 min., not rated, tion to turn the main characters into saintly leaves him for another man, David (Colin DVD: $14.98 figures, instead portraying them as flawed Farrell) has only 45 days to find another The simple fact that the men whose desperation—and sense of digni- partner or he will face “transformation” into Lifetime cable channel, best ty—can lead them to act in ways that prove the animal of his choice. Most people want known for its benignly an- detrimental to their ultimate aspirations. A to be a dog, which is why there are so many. tiseptic TV movies, would tough, compelling portrait-in-microcosm of But in the event of failure David has chosen take on a heavy subject like the ongoing European immigration crisis, to be re-embodied as a lobster. To facilitate the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders might war- this is recommended. (F. Swietek) finding a prospective mate, David checks into rant an “A” for ambition. But this retelling a spa-like hotel, where the manager (Olivia of the grisly crimes committed by Charles Misconduct H Colman) sternly explains the regimented Manson and his followers unfortunately Lionsgate, 106 min., R, DVD: schedule to newcomers—including one who never truly plumbs the emotional horror of $19.98, Blu-ray: $24.99 lisps (John C. Reilly), another who limps (Ben that infamous crime. The story is told from Why would a neo-noir le- Whishaw), one prone to nosebleeds (Jessica the perspective of Linda Kasabian (Mackenzie gal thriller starring Anthony Barden), and one who is heartless (Angeliki Mauzy), a pregnant runaway teenager who Hopkins and go Papoulia). Not surprisingly, the guests grow joins Manson’s cult and discovers a new directly to video? Because increasingly desperate under pressure to find family within the swirl of drugs and free love. it’s inexcusably awful! Set a compatible companion. When a match is But Manson eventually turns to violent rants in New Orleans, Misconduct’s plot revolves made, a party ensues with a honeymoon of as his dreams of a music career around Ben Cahill (), an ambi- sorts. And if couples subsequently disagree, disintegrate, and Kasabian, who functioned as tious young lawyer working on a class-action children are pressed upon them. With his a driver and witness to the gruesome murder suit involving Arthur Denning (Hopkins), a crustacean reincarnation looming, David spree, would eventually leave the Manson smugly corrupt Big Pharma kingpin. Ben’s flees into the forest, joining a resistance group orbit and testify against him and his follow- wife Charlotte (Alice Eve) is a registered nurse whose militant leader (Léa Seydoux) enforces ers. The main weakness in Manson’s Lost Girls who has become a workaholic to cloak her her own set of Kafkaesque , forbidding lies in its inability to recreate the genuine depression following a recent miscarriage. any relationships. Then David meets his real madness that drove Manson’s devoted female Suddenly, Ben’s seductive ex-girlfriend Em- soulmate ()—but is it too late? followers to commit unspeakable acts—not ily (Malin Akerman) contacts him, saying Greek writer-director ’s first she has incriminating files that will indict English-language film is a strange, surreal, to mention the necessarily toned down sex and hideous brutality. Actor Jeff Ward fails Denning, who also just happens to be her audacious, and absurdist work of satire. Rec- current lover. But when ethically-challenged ommended. (S. Granger) to embody the kinetic energy and restless psychosis that fueled Manson’s madness, and Ben takes the evidence to his firm’s senior partner, Charles Abrams (Al Pacino), Emily HHH outside of Eden Brolin’s eerie Susan Atkins, Magical Girl no one else in the cast truly registers. Not is mysteriously kidnapped. There’s also First Run, 122 min., in Spanish recommended. (P. Hall) Denning’s forthright security specialist (Julia w/English subtitles, not rated, Stiles) and a terminally ill South Korean hit- DVD: $24.95 Mediterranea HHH man (Byung-hun Lee), careening around on A mesmerizing cinematic a motorbike. Unfortunately, director Shintaro sleight of hand, filmmaker MPI, 110 min., in French, Italian, English & w/ Shimosawa’s film is mostly incoherent, dis- Carlos Vermut’s Magical Girl English subtitles, not rated, carding any logical progression or reasonable begins with a scene in which DVD: $24.99 sense of pacing in favor of curious camera a young schoolgirl makes a note—which her ’s film angles. While Duhamel does his best with the teacher is demanding to see—disappear from dramatizes the desperate story’s misbegotten, melodramatic absurdity, her palm. The film then follows the efforts of plight of African refugees it’s obvious that both Hopkins and Pacino unemployed Luis (Luis Bermejo) to raise cash who are trying to make their simply cashed their paychecks and moved to buy an expensive costume—the dress that way across the Mediterranean to a new life— on. Not recommended. (S. Granger) is worn by the heroine of the titular anime and hopefully greater opportunity—in . series—for his daughter, a devotee of the HH show who is dying of leukemia. Luis’s mission A work of fiction set against actual events Mr. Right and shot in gritty neorealist style, Mediterra- Universal, 96 min., R, DVD: brings him into contact with the grown-up $19.98, Blu-ray: $26.98 former schoolgirl, Barbara (Barbara Lennie), nea focuses on two friends, Ayiva (Koudous who is now a psychologically troubled house- Seihon) and Abas (Alassane Sy), who travel Writer Max Landis, direc- wife in thrall to her therapist husband. Luis from West Africa through the desert to the tor Paco Cabezas, and stars sleeps with Barbara, records their encounter, Libyan coast, where they embark for and Anna and then blackmails her—threatening to in a dangerously overcrowded craft, only to Kendrick work much too turn over the evidence of her infidelity to her have it capsize in a storm. Rescued at sea, the hard here trying to persuade spouse. When Barbara’s attempt to raise the pair are deposited in , where they viewers that Mr. Right is a clever and cute cash by prostituting herself to an evil abuser settle in a camp outside the town of Rosarno movie, but this attempt to meld a romantic fails, she asks her erstwhile teacher—who and become laborers in the region’s citrus comedy with an action thriller ultimately has been recently released from prison—to groves. Much of their story centers on trying fails. Kendrick plays Martha, who goes into make the crisis go away. Plausibility is in short to survive in the face of hostility from the an emotional tailspin when she discovers that supply in Magical Girl, which is thematically local population while attempting to secure her boyfriend is cheating on her. She bumps about the conflict between reason and pas- permanent residence status before their tem- into Francis (Rockwell), a wild and crazy sion in the Spanish soul. But while the film porary work permits expire. Ultimately, the guy who also happens to be a super-skilled makes little literal sense, its hallucinatory narrative places Ayiva and Abas in the midst hitman. After a sort of epiphany, Francis has quality grows increasingly compelling, and of riots by mistreated African immigrants taken to killing the people who hire him will hold viewers captive. Recommended. that actually occurred at Rosarno in 2010. rather than the intended victims. Of course, (F. Swietek) Carpignano succeeds in creating a real sense the two fall madly for one another, and just

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www.musicboxfi lms.com @musicboxfi lms as predictably the course of love does not es, go-go cultural moment. Except, in this Providence H run smooth, because Francis’s old partner case, the youth are younger—teenagers—and Mainstreet Productions (avail. (), posing as an FBI agent, is out to the film’s anti-hero is barely even that. Thir- from www.christiancinema. terminate him (as are scads of other baddies). teen-year-old Oliver (Spencer List) attends a com), 79 min., not rated, DVD: All of this is intended to be quirkily charm- buttoned-down prep school where he and his $14.99 ing, but the chemistry between Rockwell mates are brushed off by the principal, despite The idea of a contempo- and Kendrick is nil, and the big joke—she is being holy terrors. At home, things are just rary silent movie set to a shocked by Francis’s occupation, but quickly as lax: living with his divorced mother, Luna music score is not necessar- proves to be as adept as Francis—falls flat. (Pilar López de Ayala), Oliver sees her more ily bad—it worked pretty Regardless, Kendrick must still play the tired as a confidante, one who sets no rules about well a few years ago for the Oscar-winning role of damsel-in-distress as the plot lurches anything, whether it’s tobacco, his sexual The Artist—but Providence is a far cheesier towards the end in a succession of poorly activity with a girlfriend, or inappropriate effort, a story of missed love connections choreographed confrontations. Not recom- conversations. It’s little wonder that Oliver that is complemented by a teeth-grinding mended. (F. Swietek) is so powerfully drawn to 65-year-old Aida soundtrack of barely tolerable torch songs, (Adriana Barraza), a housekeeper who gives anthems, swaths of jazz and rock, and tin- Mustang HHH1/2 him unconditional love, along with some kling piano. In telling the tale of lost oppor- Cohen, 94 min., in Turkish w/ expectations and clear messages about right tunities for romance between shy humdrum English subtitles, PG-13, DVD: and wrong behavior. Written and directed photographer Rachel (Stacey Bradshaw as $24.99, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: by Steve Clark, the film finds Oliver—right the teen version, Juli Tapken as the adult) $39.99 on the cusp between childhood and ado- and overly selfless minister Mitchell (Josh A compelling feral ener- lescence—desperate for Aida’s approval and Allen and Rich Swingle), writer-director gy partly defines the close maternal gravity, which she freely gives with Sharon Wilharm eschews dialogue and bond between five young, a hint of deep concern about Oliver’s need for other sounds, relying instead on expres- orphaned sisters in this fa- guidance. But things change when Aida has sive performances from the actors and ble-like Oscar-nominated Turkish film that a stroke and is hospitalized, leaving Oliver music. Unfortunately, no one here seems to is set in a village by the sea. The girls—who with no moral anchor. Being a film about know what it means to deliver a wordless all attend the same school and live with their kids engaged in decadent behavior, Night Has performance that actually communicates protective grandmother (Nihal Koldas) and Fallen certainly has uncomfortable moments, clear emotions, and the music doesn’t so cruel Uncle Erol (Ayberk Pekcan)—exhibit but as a story about a boy trying to gain his much evoke mood or tone as at the explosive resistance as a group whenever one bearings before destroying himself, it is often audience what they should be feeling. An of them is threatened, and the sheer wildness poignant. Recommended. (T. Keogh) awkward film about two people with which they collectively strike out looks who take half their lives to get together, this a lot like pack survival. So it’s no wonder A Place in Heaven is not recommended. (T. Keogh) that their relationship with the world seems HHH equally primeval: plucking apples from a The Sex Temple HHH forbidden garden, or innocently sitting on SISU, 113 min., in Hebrew w/ English subtitles, not rated, Dreamscape, 80 min., in the shoulders of boys while splashing and DVD: $24.99 Swedish w/English subtitles, frolicking at the beach. It’s the latter that PG-13, DVD: $19.99 brings the sisters’ naïve paradise to an abrupt This Israeli film opens with a young man searching Filmmaker Johan end, after a neighbor rats them out, and an Palmgren’s seriocomic enraged Erol lowers the boom. Lale (Günes for a rabbi who had served in the military with his war-hero father documentary chronicles Nezihe Sensoy), Nur (Doga Zeynep Doguslu), an eventful year for the Ece (Elit Iscan), Selma (Tugba Sunguroglu), decades prior. The father, nicknamed Bambi and now an old man, is facing death, and Arbis, a historic but finan- and Sonay (Ilayda Akdogan)—become pris- cially troubled old theater/opera house in the rabbi is in possession of his soul, which oners at home, locked behind high walls and Norrköping, . Transgendered propri- will prevent Bambi from entering heaven. barred windows, sans computers or phones, etor and makeup/wig artist Robin Karlsson The circumstances behind the acquisition— as Erol turns the place into a “wife factory,” (the film does not note his prominence long ago, the cocksure, secular Bambi (Alon pushing out the oldest girls first in arranged as a Swedish radio personality) partners marriages before they can be further “sullied.” Aboutboul) traded his soul to the rabbi, who with a heterosexual entrepreneur behind a With this inexorable fate awaiting them, the was then a military cook, for a month’s supply “swingers” club called Adam & Eva to repur- younger ones—especially the indomitable of freshly-prepared spicy omelets—and the pose the Arbis. The new venue showcases Lale—begin to seek a way out. In her feature winding events that shape Bambi’s life up to pansexual burlesque shows and events (one debut, co-writer and director Deniz Gamze his last days drive director Yosi Madmoni’s recreates the baroque orgy from Stanley Ergüven presents a visually-charged blend of drama, but they are more than simple plot Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut) in the mainstage fairy tale and stark drama about the terrible devices. A Place in Heaven uses Bambi’s experi- area, while the basement is redone as an oppression of girls and women, serving up a ences to serve up an allegorical tale about the S&M dungeon and sex grotto. Local media powerful story about the fight for freedom Jewish/Israeli experience, from biblical days coverage is unrelentingly negative, even as and identity. Highly recommended. (T. Keogh) up through the country’s wartime conflicts some in the community find fulfillment and into the present, while also commenting with the troupe. English-speaking viewers Night Has Settled HHH on the nature of faith and belief, the rigors of accustomed to the stereotype of Scandina- Film Movement, 90 min., not parenthood, and the family dynamic—espe- via as a free-love haven may be surprised rated, DVD: $24.95 cially when a father and son find themselves by the prudish social conservatism here; Set in , at odds on religion. Nominated for 10 Israeli others may wonder how all the nudity and circa 1983, Night Has Set- Academy Awards including best screenplay, swearing received a PG-13 pass. Although tled features an unmistak- best actress, and best cinematography (cap- fact-based, The Sex Temple has the feel able Less Than Zero-vibe of turing vast countryside vistas that are partic- (and plot arc) of a bittersweet indie com- youthful self-destruction set ularly breathtaking), this is recommended. edy in the LGBT genre. Recommended. against a seemingly limitless, no-consequenc- (P. Morehart) (C. Cassady)

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 28 JULY/AUGUST 2016 Stand Clear of the ability to convey the fractured world as Ricky make an uneasy alliance in order to reach HHH sees and hears it. Recommended. (T. Keogh) safety. Filmed in various Jordanian locales, Closing Doors including (where shot Kino Lorber, 99 min., in English & Spanish w/English subtitles, Theeb HHH1/2 Lawrence of Arabia), Theeb is a visually spectac- not rated, DVD: $24.95 Film Movement, 100 min., in ular production that might take place in an Filmmaker Sam Arabic w/English subtitles, not unfamiliar setting but touches on universal Fleischner’s drama concerns rated, DVD: $24.95, Blu-ray: themes. A fascinating and moving fi lm, this $34.95 a 13-year-old boy named is highly recommended. (F. Swietek) Ricky (Jesus Sanchez-Velez), who has mid- Jordanian writer-director range autism and daily presents complex Naji Abu Nowar’s outstand- Troublemakers: The problems for his mother, Mariana (Andrea ing debut mixes a coming- Story of Land Art HHH Suarez Paz). An illegal Mexican immigrant of-age story with a boys’ First Run, 72 min., not rated, working as a housekeeper in Queens, Mariana adventure tale, an interesting era, and an DVD: $24.95 is afraid to ask for too many services for her exotic locale. In this Oscar-nominee set in Filmmaker James Crump son, relying instead on Ricky’s understaffed western Arabia during World War I, the title repeatedly invokes Stone- school to help him, and Ricky’s frustrated character (Jacir Eid) is a young boy henge as evidence that sister to watch him at home. With the status living with two older brothers, learning monumental “land art” quo unraveling, a crisis arrives when Ricky the family business of being pilgrim guides has been a mode of human expression for is drawn into a subway station and ends up through the desert, and being taught the thousands of years, but his documentary lost for days, riding one subway train after skills of manhood by the middle brother, focuses on much more recent examples—the another. While Mariana searches for him at Hussein (Hussein Salameh). One night, a work of American artists who, beginning in some of his favorite places, including a beach, British soldier (Jack Fox) and his Arab guide the 1960s, went into virgin areas of the con- she also initially refrains from notifying the (Marji Audeh) arrive, asking Hussein to tinent and used the landscape itself for their police for fear of arrest. Meanwhile, Ricky is guide them along an old pilgrim route in medium. Troublemakers explores the work lost in a literal and sensory labyrinth, drawn a dangerous area that is rife with Bedouin of several members of this semi-organized to physical patterns and rhythmic sounds bandits, Arab rebels, and Turkish mercenar- movement, including Charles Ross, who talks while aimlessly riding the train, alone and ies. While Theeb follows on his donkey, the about how he chose—in the early ‘70s—the hungry (Fleischner blurs the fact/fi ction line, Englishman’s mission is gradually revealed: location for his earthwork sculpture Star Axis so the viewer is never sure which events on blowing up the Ottoman rail line. When (still in progress), and it discusses the moti- the subway are real and which are scripted). an ambush leaves all but Theeb and one of vations for these artists (which range from The real power of the fi lm lies in Fleischner’s the attackers dead, the two survivors must theoretical questions about what constitutes

★ Broadcast on Armed Forces Network TV Filmed over 7 years, BRATS: ★ Featured on CNN’s This Week at War Our Journey Home is a unique and powerful award- ★ Featured on NPR’s All Things Considered winning documentary about the legacies of growing up in an American military family. “A powerful glimpse of life ‘inside the fortress’... It is a must see...” Written and directed by Army - Mike Brown, School Library Journal brat Donna Musil, BRATS is narrated and features songs by the legendary singer/ songwriter Kris Kristofferson, “Your film moved me a great son of an Air Force general. deal... It will be a great help to military brats growing up today.” Based on over 500 poignant - Pat Conroy, The Great Santini, and provocative interviews The Prince of Tides with adult military “brats” of all ages, races, ranks, and branches of service, including the late General “No other documentary better depicts Norman Schwarzkopf and the social and psychological impact Mary Edwards Wertsch. on children and adolescents at the intersection of two powerful social A timeless and powerful tool institutions - the military and the for debate and reflection family.” on the positive and painful - Dr. Morten Ender, Sociology Prof. impact of war, international US Military Academy, West Point mobility, and the pressures of patriotism on a child’s heart, soul, and mind.

Subject Areas: Children, Youth & Families; Psychology; Social Work; Sociology; Military Family Studies; US History; Mental Health; Ethnic Studies; Education; PTSD Length: 90 minutes Institutional & public performance rights $19.95 SRP / UPC #094922556004 available. Also available at Midwest Tape, Baker & Taylor & wherever fine films sold.

JULY/AUGUST 2016 29 VIDEO LIBRARIAN art and a concern for the environment, lie Andrews, Christopher Whiskey Tango Foxtrot to more self-serving ploys to grab the Plummer, and the beloved HHH attention of the art world). In addition to Rodgers & Hammerstein Paramount, 111 min., R, DVD: Ross, the primary focus here is on Robert songs, in a film that is more $29.99, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: Smithson, Walter De Maria, Michael Heizer, Hallmark Channel than $39.99 and Nancy Holt—along with important Broadway. Based on Agathe This is a fictionalized ver- patron Virginia Dwan—and their works, von Trapp’s 2010 memoir, sion of former Chicago Tri- including Smithson’s Spiral Jetty on the Memories Before and After bune reporter Kim Barker’s Great Salt Lake, Heizer’s Double Negative (a The Sound of Music, director insightful 2011 memoir The Taliban Shuffle, huge trench in Nevada that cuts through Ben Verbong’s adaptation focuses not on which chronicled her stint in Afghanistan a canyon), De Maria’s The Lightning Field Maria but on Agathe (Eliza Bennett), the and from 2004 to 2009. As portrayed (involving hundreds of steel arranged eldest daughter of the von Trapps (named by , Barker is a New York broadcast on the New Mexico plain) and Holt’s Sun Liesl in the musical version), who struggles journalist who is dispatched to Kabul because Tunnels (with tubes aligned to sunrises and with her place in the family following the she’s single and ready to shake up her hum- sunsets on the horizon). Along the way, death of her mother. Agathe is resentful drum life. Upon her arrival (toting a bright Crumb emphasizes the practical difficul- when new nanny Maria (Yvonne Catterfeld) backpack), Barker is immediately ties involved in molding the terrain to the usurps her own role as family caregiver. upbraided by chauvinistic Gen. Hollanek artists’ visionary ambitions. Of course, one How do you solve a problem like Maria? (), who is none too thrilled can debate the artistic value of these pieces, In Agathe’s case, you act like a real pill. about her being embedded with his Marines. but Troublemakers certainly makes a strong Agathe’s story—the least interesting aspect Barker is befriended by her shy Afghan trans- case for their significance. Recommended. of the von Trapp saga—is told in flashback lator (Christopher Abbott), whom she quite (F. Swietek) to her similarly resentful runaway niece often endangers by taking thoughtless risks. by the elderly Agathe (), Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, Up the Wrong Tree although you would think that her niece Whiskey Tango Foxtrot takes a jab at the longest must have seen The Sound of Music and HH1/2 military campaign in our nation’s history by SISU, 91 min., in Hebrew w/ would presumably know the family story. pointing out that—at least in one case—our English subtitles, not rated, One can hardly wait to get to the end credits “help” is actually detrimental to the well-be- DVD: $24.95 to say so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, ing of the women in a local village. Margot The lengths that people goodbye. Optional, at best. (D. Liebenson) Robbie plays Barker’s hard-partying frene- will go to in order to win my, while Martin Freeman is the Scottish back a past love have been A War HHH1/2 photographer who winds up in Barker’s bed, explored ad nauseum in cinema (remember Magnolia, 115 min., in Danish much to the chagrin of Alfred Molina as Ali John Cusack lofting that Peter Gabriel-blaring w/English subtitles, R, DVD: Massoud Sadiq, a high-ranking government boom box above his head to woo his ex in Say $26.98, Blu-ray: $29.98 official who is determined to seduce her. As Anything?). This odd Israeli film opens with a The human impact of this character study evolves, tart-talking co- grizzled young man named Nitz (Gal Toren) the conflict in Afghanistan medienne Fey is triumphant from beginning attempting to enter his ex-girlfriend’s apart- is powerfully conveyed to end, proving that she is equally adept at ment, ostensibly to visit an elderly dog that in Tobias Lindholm’s Os- revealing her vulnerability in a drama. Rec- the pair raised while a couple. Nitz is unable car-nominated A War, which is divided into ommended. (S. Granger) to gain entrance, but he discovers that a des- two sections: the first set on the battlefield, olate park nearby offers a perfect view of her and the second in a courtroom. Claus (Pilou place, particularly when someone is perched Asbæk) commands a squad serving in the Classic Films high up in its lone tree. The problem is that a international force fighting the Taliban, while his wife Maria (Tuva Novotny) tries to group of environmental activists have taken Antonia’s Line HHH1/2 control of the park to save it from being de- maintain a normal life for their three young Film Movement, 103 min., in stroyed by a developer. Nitz joins the group children back in Denmark. When Claus and Dutch w/English subtitles, R, as an interloping antagonizer, spending his his men come under attack while on patrol, DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $39.95 days and nights getting drunk and high while he calls in an airstrike against what he be- ’s 1995 Os- unsuccessfully trying to woo back his ex. As lieves is of enemy artillery fire, but car winner for Best Foreign the gritty and ultimately tragic details of their civilians die as a result and he’s summoned Film serves up a multi-gen- failed relationship are revealed, Nitz finds a home to stand trial for violating the rules of erational tale about a matri- strange sense of purpose with the activists’ engagement in a moment of panic. Lindholm archal extended family formed as an alterna- cause that almost provides redemption. Up does an expert job of depicting the fog of tive to the aggressive, competitive patriarchy the Wrong Tree is the odd romantic drama that combat that prompted Claus’s decision, but that pushed Europe into two world wars. doesn’t seem to want its protagonist to win proves no less skillful in showing the chasm Antonia’s Line stars Willeke van Ammelrooy the girl, and—unfortunately—Nitz is a sad, of misunderstanding between the command- as Antonia, who returns to her little rural lost screw-up who cannot quite hold viewer er (and men who believe he saved their lives) village in the Netherlands after World War II empathy. That said, director Gur Bentwich’s and the stern, self-righteous prosecutor, who to bury her mother and then decides that she Up the Wrong Tree is handsomely filmed effectively represents all civilians willing to will live on her own terms with her daughter. and was nominated for five Israeli Academy judge split-second choices made in the heat When a local widower (Jan Decleir) asks her Awards, making it a strong optional purchase. of battle. A War raises fundamental questions to marry, Antonia replies, “You can’t have (P. Morehart) about the differences in perspective between my hand but you can have the rest”—and the soldiers who are fighting in wars and the pair become friends and lovers, which The Von Trapp Family: A Life of Music those who retrospectively scrutinize their he accepts and learns to embrace. Antonia’s HH actions from the safety of home—providing daughter (Els Dottermans) feels she doesn’t Lionsgate, 98 min., not rated, DVD: $19.98 no easy answers. Highly recommended. need a husband to have a child and she Imagine The Sound of Music without Ju- (F. Swietek) auditions for a suitable father. The narrative

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 30 JULY/AUGUST 2016 covers 50 years in the life of Antonia and New Wave of the 1980s and by Scottish author James Kennaway (as well the community that forms around her like 1990s, internationally ac- as his own subsequent stage-play adaptation a family—a simple life of farming, church, claimed for his , which “Country Dance”), this star-powered film and communal meals shared with all. Femi- won the Best Director prize is not nearly as notable as The Ruling Class, nist director Gorris, whose previous features at Cannes in 2000. Yet it’s but should be considered a strong optional explored sexual politics and relations with a his fourth feature, A Brighter purchase. (C. Cassady) critical eye, here trades rhetoric for whimsy, Summer Day, that is widely warmth, and fantasy (at the funeral, Antonia’s considered to be his master- Candy HH mother sits up to enjoy the celebration, a piece. Set in 1960 , the Kino Lorber, 124 min., R, DVD: moment that recalls Latin American magical film is a sprawling, personal drama about the $19.95, Blu-ray: $29.95 realism). Antonia’s Line is not all light and joy, generation of kids born to the refugees who Terry Southern’s 1958 but the bad is taken along with the good in fled Communist China for , centering novel Candy (co-written this generous, loving film. Extras include an specifically on Xiao Si’r (), an with Mason Hoffenberg) archival interview with Gorris, and a booklet angry, alienated teenager who is searching reworked Voltaire’s clas- with an essay by film critic Thelma Adams. for an identity in a culture that isn’t strictly sic satire Candide into a Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker) Chinese. Like their rebellious American coun- pre-counterculture comedy. Scripted by terparts, these teens turn to gangs and rock Buck Henry and directed by French ac- HHH ‘n’ roll. By the end, this nearly-four-hour epic tor-turned-director Christian Marquand, this Criterion, 101 min., PG-13, tale has turned into a crime drama based on 1968 adaptation is less of a sly satire than a DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $39.95 a real-life murder that shocked Taiwan, but clumsy, intermittently witty romp through a American independent the focus remains on the characters and their European idea of American decadence. Ewa filmmaker ’s culture under an authoritarian government Aulin, a diminutive, curvy beauty and former second film expands on the that is little better than the one the parents Miss Teen Sweden, plays the titular innocent promise of his smart and fled. Unlike his contemporaries Hou Hsiao- Candide figure here, resembling a wide-eyed witty debut, Metropolitan. Hsien and Tsai Ming-liang, ’s films were kewpie doll of a naïve American high school Set in the early 1980s (“the last decade of rarely seen in the U.S. outside of film festival girl (with an unshakable Swedish accent) who the Cold War,” as the prologue explains), showings; in fact, this 1991 film wasn’t even is coaxed out of her mini-dress and into the Barcelona stars as Ted, an released in the U.S. until 2011. Making its sack by a succession of dirty old men. The American salesman in the Barcelona office American home video debut on DVD and all-star cast of seducers includes Ringo Starr of a motor company, and as Blu-ray with a 4K digital restoration, extras as an embarrassing stereotype of a Mexican his cousin Fred, an abrasive naval officer sent include by critic Tony gardener, John Astin as Candy’s lecherous to Spain to arrange public relations for the Rayns, a feature-length documentary on the uncle, as a drunken sex-mad visiting U.S. fleet. Ted is an uptight business New Taiwan Cinema, a new interview with Welsh poet, as a crazy gener- professional in a sexually liberated society, actor Chang Chen, and a video recording of al, and Marlon Brando as a phony horny guru. while Fred is self-absorbed and oblivious to a 1992 play by Yang. An overlooked master- Also featuring , James Coburn, the effects of his unfiltered comments in a piece of world cinema marked by compelling Anita Pallenberg, and Sugar Ray Robinson, culture that is hostile to the presence of the character drama and rich period detail, this is the acting here is big and broad, played as American military. Both are immature (yet highly recommended. (S. Axmaker) lampoon rather than satire, and the direction also quite engaging) Americans abroad who is scattershot, while the comedy is all over begin dating local Spanish beauties (played by Brotherly Love HH1/2 the map. Originally rated “X, ” the film is a Tushka Bergen and ). Inspired by Warner, 112 min., R, DVD: bewildering curiosity that hasn’t aged well, Stillman’s own experiences, this locale-driven $21.99 but it does stand out as the most star-stud- character piece is as much indebted to liter- Peter O’Toole fans are ded sex farce ever made. Extras include new ary novels and European cinema as it is to quite familiar with the ac- interviews with Henry and film American independent film. Stillman’s wry tor’s zany turn as an in- critic Kim Morgan. Not a necessary purchase. dialogue would likely seem self-conscious in sane English aristocrat in (S. Axmaker) other hands but is an utterly entertaining Peter Medak’s madcap dark form of salon conversation here, while the comedy The Ruling Class (1972). Fewer have Dead Pigeon on laidback plot favors personal insights and seen this 1970 production, directed by J. Lee Beethoven Street HH1/2 minor breakthroughs over major revelations. Thompson, set in much the same milieu Olive, 127 min., not rated, Newly restored for both DVD and Blu-ray, ex- but played straight. O’Toole is again all glib DVD: $24.95, Blu-ray: $29.95 tras include a 2002 audio commentary (with brio and charmingly blithe dissipation as One of the most obscure Whitman, Nichols, and Eigeman), a video Sir Charles “Pink” Pinkerton Ferguson, a films by Samuel Fuller—an essay on Whitman’s work by film critic Far- dissolute noble satisfied with his school-age idiosyncratic American au- ran Smith Nehme, a “making-of” featurette, diagnosis of “low moral fiber” as he plays at teur famous for melding archival interviews, and deleted scenes (in- being a gentleman farmer on a Scottish estate. pulp stories and flamboyant filmmaking cluding an alternate ending). Recommended. Meanwhile he drinks, hunts, drives recklessly, with provocative themes—1972’s Dead Pigeon [Note: this is also available in a new boxed set and carouses. His slightly more sensible sister on Beethoven Street is a spoof of the detective that also features Stillman’s Metropolitan and Hilary () also had a wild youth. yarns that Hollywood pumped out in the The Last Days of .] (S. Axmaker) When she flees her domineering husband and ‘50s. Made for German television, (Michael Craig), Sir Charles eagerly welcomes the film started as an episode of the long-run- HHH1/2 her back under the same roof. But his antics ning German crime series Tatort, but Fuller Criterion, 236 min., in Mandarin & Taiwanese w/ prove too much even for Hilary. Suggestions expanded it to feature length and sidelined English subtitles, not rated, DVD: 3 discs, $29.95; of incest between the pair are kept mildly gen- the show’s main character to focus on Sandy Blu-ray: 2 discs, $39.95 teel in this high-decibel thespian showcase (Glenn Corbett), an American private eye Edward Yang (1947-2007) was one of the of florid speeches and upper-crust neuroses. hired by a congressman being blackmailed great young filmmakers of the Taiwanese Based on the 1961 novel Household Ghosts by an international extortion ring. Posing as

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 32 JULY/AUGUST 2016 a blackmailer himself, Sandy tracks down Father of the Bride Devillers, cast and crew interviews, and de- the ring’s top operative (Christa Lang, HHHH leted scenes. An excellent first volume in a Fuller’s wife) in order to get to the high- Warner, 93 min., not rated, Blu- series celebrating the work of a major figure tech head honcho villain (Anton Diffring), ray: $21.99 in late-20th-century French cinema, this is all the while searching for the mysterious A wonderful classic com- highly recommended. Editor’s Choice. (F. Charlie Umlaut, the man who killed San- edy centering on a daughter Swietek) dy’s partner. It’s a B-movie lampoon—big, and father struggling with broad, and at times seemingly improvised. the massive preparations—both actual and Forbidden Hollywood: Fuller sets the tone in the opening credits psychological—that go into a wedding, di- Volume 10 HH1/2 (presenting cast and crew in silly costumes), rector ’s 1950 Father of the Warner, 5 discs, 358 min., not shooting the film in a loose, shaggy style Bride stars Spencer Tracy in a dynamite perfor- rated, DVD: $40.99 that is alternately bouncy and plodding. mance as Stanley T. Banks, the irascible daddy Five more Depression-era Even Fuller fans are split on this one, which with a heart of gold, whose eyes seem to grow films that flaunt sex while by any measure is a minor work by a major in size in direct proportion to the amount of also celebrating amoral con- filmmaker. Debuting on home video in money that daughter Kay () nivers and bad behavior are a new restoration (the German language seems to require for a proper wedding. Joan collected in this 10th volume of the Forbidden sequences are not subtitled or translated, Bennett costars as wife and mother in this Hollywood series, which spotlights films made as per the filmmaker’s intentions), extras dead-on satire of American life at the close during the brief period between the coming include a feature-length retrospective docu- of the 1940s. Nabbing Oscar nominations of sound and the imposition of the Produc- mentary, and a booklet with essays. A strong for Best Picture, Actor, and Screenplay, Father tion Code in 1934. Lionel Barrymore stars in optional purchase. (S. Axmaker) of the Bride bows on Blu-ray with extras in- Guilty Hands (1931) as a successful defense cluding short newsreels on Taylor’s marriage attorney for crooks and cads who plots the Death Walks Twice to Conrad Hilton, Jr., and the cast meeting “perfect murder” when his hedonistic client HHH President Truman. A beloved film with a tries to marry his daughter. It’s talky and Arrow, 4 discs, 208 min., in powerhouse star pairing of Tracy and Taylor, stage-bound, but Barrymore is very entertain- Italian w/English subtitles, not this is highly recommended. Editor’s Choice. ing. Warren William was the era’s silver fox, a rated, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: (R. Pitman) sly, elegant, mature leading man who played $69.95 tycoons and ruthless businessmen with an This double feature of- The Films of Maurice appetite for young women, and he stars here fers Death Walks on High in two snappy films. InThe Mouthpiece (1932), Heels (1971) and Death Walks at Midnight Pialat, Volume 1 HHHH William is a lawyer who represents under- (1972), both directed by Luciano Ercoli and world crooks but has a crisis of conscience Cohen, 3 discs, 277 min., in starring Spanish actress when an innocent man is accused of his cli- (under the screen name Susan Scott) and French w/English subtitles, DVD: $39.98, Blu-ray: $49.98 ent’s crime, and he dominates The Match King leading man Simón Andreu. Both are Italian Sometimes called the (1932) as a crooked schemer who transforms —i.e., horror films featuring beautiful a Swedish match factory into a worldwide women, masked killers, bloody and often French Cassavetes, (1925-2003) helmed 10 feature films empire built on betrayal, blackmail, and a sadistic murders, and stylish direction. In Ponzi scheme of credit. The last two entries the first, Navarro plays a celebrity in between 1968 and 1995. This three-film first volume from the Cohen Film Collection are Secrets of the French Police (1932), a crime Paris who is stalked by a knife-wielding kill- thriller involving a kidnapped flower girl, a er, and Andreu is her hot-blooded, violent kicks off with 1974’s The Mouth Agape, about a philandering husband (Hubert Deschamps) pickpocket, and a Russian aristocrat plotting boyfriend, who becomes the prime suspect to steal the Romanov fortune, and Ever in My when she’s murdered. The film jumps from who, along with his son and daughter-in-law, must deal with his wife’s (Monique Mélinand) Heart (1933) starring as the Paris to England and features a sardonic American wife of a German immigrant in inspector, a twisty plot, some nudity, terminal cancer. Next up is 1978’s , an ensemble piece focusing on a group U.S. who is demonized during World War I. lots of voyeurism, plenty of killings, and These films aren’t as strong as those found in no shortage of suspects. The second film, of students in a provincial town who bicker with disapproving parents and one another earlier volumes, but fans of the racy movies which is not actually a sequel, takes a more and often ethically-challenged protagonists stylistically flamboyant approach. A model while facing an uncertain future. Finally, 1980’s Loulou serves up a portrait of a woman of the Pre-Code era will likely find them to (Navarro) on a psychedelic drug trip thinks be interesting and entertaining. A strong she sees a violent murder in the apartment () who leaves her husband optional purchase. (S. Axmaker) across the street, which was the site of a to take up with a devil-may-care guy (Gérard killing six months before. The police don’t Depardieu) living on the fringes of society. believe her and an opportunistic reporter Considering his penchant for long, static The Gong Show Movie (Andreu) thinks it’s a flashback induced compositions, Pialat’s style is often termed HH1/2 by the drugs, so she turns detective and realist, but it might better be called natural- Shout! Factory, 89 min., R, Blu- discovers an insidious conspiracy. The film ist: drawing on his own difficult childhood, ray: $24.99 moves quickly through creative set pieces, Pialat emphasizes the simmering unhappi- Damned by critics and wild plot twists, and a cast of quirky and ness in the lives of ordinary people, which 1970s cultural tastemakers erratic characters (even for a giallo). Both periodically breaks out in heated exchanges as a TV broadcasting nadir, are considered classics of the genre, and and bursts of violence. These are edgy dra- prolific producer (and author) Chuck Barris’s will be of interest to horror fans. The set mas that exhibit gritty truthfulness while deliberately tacky talent-search series The features separate Blu-ray and DVD copies of avoiding melodramatic flourishes, and are Gong Show looks somewhat prophetic in each film, along with extras including an often painful to watch but carry remarkable our Warholean era of reality-TV and “idol” audio commentary by film critic Tim Lucas, power. The copious extras include the superb programs. The Gong Show Movie, Barris’s own behind-the-scenes , interviews, 2007 documentary profile of Pialat Love 1980 feature-film spin-off, was a box-office and a booklet. Recommended. (S. Axmaker) Exists by Anne-Marie Faux and Jean-Pierre flop for Universal, co-scripted by Barris’s

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 34 JULY/AUGUST 2016 friend, subversive auteur Robert Downey, Sr. A Married Woman to ground. Adding to the tensions is a new (who was set to direct until Barris himself HHH (Richard Barthelmess) who is snubbed took the helm). The essentially one-joke Cohen, 95 min., in French w/ by everyone for a past cowardice that got premise finds Barris playing himself as the English subtitles, not rated, a colleague killed, and his glamorous wife harried host-impresario, nagged by a rat- DVD: $29.98, Blu-ray: $39.98 ( in her first major role), who ings-obsessed producer, his concerned live-in Jean-Luc Godard’s 1964 has history with Geoff. Movies are built on girlfriend (Robin Altman, the real-life Mrs. modern portrait of love and such small world coincidences, but the magic Barris for a time) and, mainly, by obnoxious sex in the media-saturated of Hawks is his ability to mask contrivance fans and would-be performers, who assail ‘60s serves up a collage of the life of a young and turn plot twists into tests of character. him with impromptu auditions in an esca- wife who is having an affair. Macha Méril The screenplay is pure poetry and adven- lating variety of inappropriate situations, stars as Charlotte (a role that was clearly ture-story-mythologizing, full of banter and sending the schlub hero into a meltdown. meant for Godard’s wife and longtime muse metaphors, and it’s shot almost entirely in The seeming intent here was to serve up a Anna Karina, but they were separated at the Hollywood, where a fantasy of an American too-hot-for-TV Gong Show, with more in- time), a married woman who is not so much outpost in the South American jungle is nuendo and profanity than the Unknown an individual as she is a product of her cul- created on the backlot. It’s the quintessential Comic and Jaye P. Morgan were able to get ture, defined by the bra ads that literally loom Hawks movie of male bonding and tough past censors. If one accepts that limited scope, over her as she walks the streets. Married to love, where life is lived minute to minute, then this seldom-seen cult item makes for an older intellectual who has a condescend- and the highest compliment one can receive a guilty-pleasure curio. Noteworthy in bit ing attitude, this superficial beauty seeks is being called “professional.” Newly restored parts and cameos are such troupers as Tony release in an affair with a handsome actor for DVD and Blu-ray, this handsome Criterion Randall, Lembeck, Vincent Schiavelli, but refuses to choose one man over the oth- release has extras including audio excerpts Mabel King, and Phil Hartman. Bowing on er. A Married Woman opens on a montage in from a 1972 conversation between Hawks Blu-ray with an amusing audio commentary which Charlotte is reduced to parts—legs, and filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich, a new by pop culture historian Russell Dyball, this arms, back, lips, midriff (isolated glimpses interview with film critic David Thomson, a is a strong optional purchase. (C. Cassady) suggesting those erogenous zones that could featurette on Hawks, a 1939 not be photographed in a mainstream feature adaptation of the film, and an essay by critic Losing Ground HHH1/2 film)—caressed by her unidentified lover. Michael Sragow. Highly recommended. (S. Milestone/Oscilloscope, 2 discs, Shot in creamy cool black-and-white by long- Axmaker) 86 min., not rated, DVD: time cinematographer Raoul Coutard with a $34.95, Blu-ray: $39.95 strikingly handsome formality that is both Outlaw Gangster VIP: The only feature film by erotic and removed—suggesting a physical The Complete Collection playwright and filmmaker intimacy and an emotional disconnection HHH Kathleen Collins and one even in the most intimate scenes of love- Arrow, 6 discs, 500 min., in of the first to be directed making and pillow talk—the film was a cause Japanese w/English subtitles, by an African-American woman, the 1982 célèbre in France after the censorship board not rated, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: drama Losing Ground is an independent initially banned it, going on to become one of $79.95 drama that explores a different side of black the most financially successful films of God- This release collects six groundbreaking life in America. Sara Rogers (Seret Scott) is a ’s career (although overshadowed by his Yakuza movies directed by Toshio Masuda professor of philosophy at a New York City more overtly political and more stylistically and filmed in quick succession by the legend- college, and her husband Victor (Bill Gunn) daring films). Today, it stands out as one of his ary Japanese film studio Nikkatsu between is a painter looking for a new direction. When most emotionally sympathetic movies, with 1968-69. Gangster VIP, which introduces he decides to rent a summer home outside Godard’s feeling for the lost married woman anti-hero Goro (a brooding Tetsuya Watari), of the city she has no say in the matter, a coming across as quite genuine. Bowing on begins with a stylish black-and-white pro- sign that things are not hunky dory in their DVD and Blu-ray in newly restored editions, logue recounting Goro’s happy childhood marriage. Sara lives a life revolving around extras include interviews with Méril, fashion before he turns into a fearsome gang member ideas and scholarship while Victor is all about designer and Agnès B., and who is adept with a deadly dagger and irre- aesthetics and expression. As Sara studies Godard scholar Antoine de Baecque. Recom- sistible to the women he is always ready to the origins of ecstasy in religion and art, she mended. (S. Axmaker) save from the threats of macho ruffians. The realizes that she has very little of it in her remaining entries in the series—Gangster VIP own life and impulsively agrees to act in a 2, Heartless, Goro the Assassin, Black Dagger, student film, where she explores another side HHH1/2 and Kill!—all fall into a predictable pattern. of herself. A powerful portrait of committed Criterion, 121 min., not rated, Although constantly trying to leave the mob professionals facing the limits of defining DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $39.95 life, Goro is always inexorably pulled back in themselves through what they do instead of was one (friends routinely die, requiring Goro to take who they are, Losing Ground is a film about of the great American direc- vengeance on their killers), and machinations relationships and self-knowledge, with a tors and 1939’s Only Angels within the gangs frequently leave Goro badly sense of sexual politics that is as sophisti- Have Wings is one of his injured, to be nursed by his faithful girlfriend cated as its personal odysseys. Collins, who masterpieces. Cary Grant stars as Geoff Car- (Chieko Matsubara). All of the films feature was an intelligent, insightful, and nuanced ter, charismatic leader of a fledgling air mail exquisitely choreographed fight scenes, along filmmaker, died in 1988 at the age of 46, and service in South America, and Jean Arthur is with bloody finales that invariably find the her film never received any real distribution Bonnie, a spunky showgirl who is swept into wounded Goro stumbling off into the sunset. until Milestone Films restored and revived it. Carter’s community of American expatriates Although formulaic, all six of the Gangster Bowing on home video in DVD and Blu-ray as soon as she steps off the ship. Hawks’s ad- VIP movies boast exciting moments, and editions, extras include audio commentary, ventures often featured a bromance angle, so Watari exudes dark charisma as a man fated new and archival interviews, and Collins’s Bonnie’s affable rival for Geoff’s affections is to continually—if also reluctantly—pull out shorter 1980 drama The Crux Brothers and Miss the latter’s best friend, Kid (Thomas Mitchell), his dagger one more time. Presented here in Malloy. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker) an aging flier with bad eyes who Geoff has a dual-format collection with both DVD and

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 36 JULY/AUGUST 2016 Blu-ray editions, extras include audio com- Schygulla and (the latter in emphasized, are not for ev- mentary on Gangster VIP by Jasper Sharp, a her fi rst screen role). Kings of the Road (1976) erybody. Situated on the visual essay on the series, photo galleries, and is Wenders’s fi rst masterpiece, a road movie extreme of the horror a booklet. Recommended. (F. Swietek) epic centering on a movie projector repair- genre, they traffic in sub- man (Volger) working near the East German jects and imagery that most The Road Trilogy border and the aimless child psychologist viewers will fi nd offensive, HHH1/2 (Hanns Zischler) who becomes his traveling even repulsive (of course, Criterion, 393 min., in German companion. This three-hour fi lm exhibits Buttgereit argues that his w/English subtitles, not rated, a gentle serenity and contemplative tone work is intended not to glorify violence but to DVD: 4 discs, $99.95; Blu-ray: as it chronicles the dramas of people the show its awfulness). This comprehensive set 3 discs, $99.95 pair meet along the way. All three fi lms are contains four of Buttgereit’s fi lms, remastered Three defi ning early fea- united by the overriding theme of searching in HD: Nekromantik (1987), about a man who tures by German fi lmmaker for identity in 1970s (where the indulges in necrophilia and eventually kills —all starring Rüdiger Volger on culturally suppressed legacy of the Nazi past himself; Der Todesking (1989), an anthology journeys across Germany—are collected in echoes throughout), as well as the road movie of seven shorts dealing with suicide and this boxed set. Alice in the Cities (1974), with structure, and Volger’s casting in the lead, murder (reviewed in VL-9/15); Nekromantik Volger playing a photojournalist returning and they established Wenders as a major 2 (1991), a sequel in which the erstwhile to Germany from a trip across America and fi lmmaker of the New German Cinema. All girlfriend of the dead necrophilia afi cionado young Yella Rottlander as a girl left in his three films have been newly restored and exhumes his corpse (for, ahem, obvious rea- care by her single mother (Lisa Kreuzer), is feature a new English subtitle translation by sons) before moving on to a second guy, with Wenders’s international breakthrough and Wenders, along with extras including audio bloody results; and Schramm (1993), which one of his most beloved fi lms. Shooting in commentaries, interviews with cast and crew, uses wild camera moves to explore the mind lovely black and white, Robby Müller (cin- a featurette on the restoration work, two early and actions of a serial killer. All were made ematographer for all three films) visually short fi lms by Wenders, and a 50-page book on shoestring budgets, and the relentless matches the easy, meandering pace and with essays and photos. Highly recommend- gore and nudity on display are somewhat observational style that defi nes the entire ed. (S. Axmaker) mitigated by the gritty images, although trilogy. Wrong Move (1975), inspired by a some would argue that the unsettling effect Goethe novel and starring Volger as an Sex Murder Art HHH of the films is actually enhanced by the alienated, self-involved would-be writer, is Cult Epics, 6 discs, 319 min., in German w/English technical crudeness. Cult Epics has certainly the most overtly literary of the three and subtitles, not rated, DVD: $99.95 done Buttgereit proud, loading Sex Murder Art the most downbeat, and also features Hanna The films of Jörg Buttgereit, it must be with extras, including audio commentaries,

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brief intros for each film, a Q&A with the is only after her money. Later, she discovers edition features the film on both DVD and filmmaker, “making-of” featurettes, short that he’s lied about almost everything and Blu-ray, with extras including audio com- films by Buttgereit, outtakes, a music video, is content to spend her wealth gambling mentary by historian Alan K. Rode, photo galleries, and—most notably—the on horses and long-shot investments. Nigel featurettes on the film and restoration, and hour-shy documentary Corpse Fucking Art on Bruce (who played Watson in the classic a booklet with an essay by noir expert Brian Buttgereit’s first three films. Also included Sherlock Holmes films with Basil Rathbone) Light. Recommended. (S. Axmaker) are two CDs with film soundtracks, and an is Grant’s old chum Beaky, who dies under illustrated booklet. Given the subject matter, mysterious circumstances, after which Lina Who’s Afraid of Virginia this set cannot be recommended for general starts to believe that her husband is out to Woolf? HHHH audiences, but Buttgereit does have a unique murder her for her fortune. Working from a Warner, 131 min., not rated, voice, and this could appeal to hardcore fans thin screenplay, Hitchcock creates Blu-ray: $21.99 of what might be called alternative horror. out of simple sequences through the use of Warner Bros. employed Recommended, with the noted reservations. ominous angles and lighting. In one memora- considerable clout to bring (F. Swietek) ble scene, Johnnie carries a glass of milk that ’s scathing may contain poison up a staircase to Lina’s satirical play to the big screen in 1966 with The Sicilian HH room—and appears to grow darker its off-color verbiage virtually intact. Richard Shout! Factory, 146 min., not while the milk literally glows (thanks to a Burton and Elizabeth Taylor play George and rated, Blu-ray: $26.99 small bulb placed in the liquid). Hitchcock’s Martha, a middle-aged married couple who Despite an illustrious lit- early American movie was also his first of have just returned home from a party at erary pedigree—The Sicilian four films with Grant, who here displays the late hour of 2 a.m. Martha immediately is based on the 1984 titular more menacing shades than the actor had begins to rake George over the coals—and Godfather tie-in bestseller previously exhibited. Hitchcock’s original we quickly learn the nature of their rela- by , with a script by novelist ending was too dark for the studio, which tionship: George is a history professor who Steve Shagan—Michael Cimino’s 1987 epic imposed a happy finish that is both abrupt will never be head of the department, while was a box-office bomb, partially due to the and unconvincing, although audiences Martha is none other than the dean’s daugh- distributor’s brutal post-production editing embraced the film and made it a hit. But the ter. The pair have invited another couple that cut 30 minutes of the story. Christo- weak conclusion aside, Suspicion is elegant, over for drinks that night (morning?), Nick pher Lambert stars as Salvatore Giuliano, a suspenseful, and very entertaining. Bowing () and Honey (). remarkable real-life 1940s bandit and Sicilian on Blu-ray, extras include a retrospective fea- Over the course of the next few hours, dirty separatist who styled himself as a modern turette. Recommended. (S. Axmaker) little secrets will be exposed with shameful Robin Hood, working to uplift the peasants regularity, as everyone engages in a vicious from Italian-landowner domination. But—at Too Late for Tears one-upmanship that ultimately has no real least here—the well-educated but politically HHH winners. Throughout, the mysterious subject naïve firebrand fails to see how much he is Flicker Alley, 102 min., not of George and Martha’s “son” hangs over the being used as a tool by Palermo Mafiosi, until rated, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: conversation like a loaded gun, and—in true his fate is sealed. Some subplots—Giuliano’s $39.95 dramatic fashion—explodes in the final act. gentleman-highwayman crashing of a posh In this 1949 thriller, Liz- Director ’s debut feature film dinner of aristocrats, and making the cover abeth Scott stars as Jane scored 13 Oscar nominations, and walked of Life magazine—are historical fact. But Palmer—one of the most away with five statues, including Best Actress even with the missing half-hour of material ruthless heroines in film noir—a status-con- (for Taylor, who bravely played the role with restored for this Blu-ray release, the saga scious middle-class wife who will do anything a few extra pounds, messy hair, and truly still features confusing transitions, uneven to keep her hands on a suitcase of cash that tacky clothes) and Best Supporting Actress acting, and schizoid shifts in tone, although lands in her lap by accident. Arthur Kenne- for Dennis. Bowing on Blu-ray, extras in- one can glimpse a superior, David Lean-like dy is her husband, Alan, who wants to take clude two audio commentaries (one by Nich- epic lurking beneath this sprawling mess, and the money to the police, and Dan Duryea is ols and filmmaker ; the Cimino’s eye for the Sicilian mountainscape Danny Fuller, a mercenary crook who comes other by cinematographer Haskell Wexler), is often breathtaking. Notable also is the looking for the cash (payment in a blackmail a 1966 interview with Nichols, retrospective international cast, including , scheme) and ends up becoming Jane’s wary featurettes, the 1975 documentary Elizabeth Aldo Ray, , and an especially partner. Scott, a limited actress who has been Taylor: An Intimate Portrait, and Dennis’s impressive boss-of-bosses turn by Joss Ack- called the poor man’s , played screen tests. Highly recommended. Editor’s land. But ultimately this is an interesting her share of heroines and villains but here her Choice. (R. Pitman) misfire, of primary interest to film students eyes convincingly burn with greed and her studying Cimino’s checkered career. Option- avarice drives her to murder. Duryea is also al. (C. Cassady) in fine form as a weasel of an opportunist, O sneering his dialogue as Scott slowly takes nline Suspicion HHH control of the partnership, and Don DeFore Visit Video Librarian Online (www. Warner, 99 min., not rated, costars as the old “army buddy” who hides videolibrarian.com) during July and Au- Blu-ray: $21.99 his own secrets as he goes searching for Alan gust for DVD/Blu-ray-specific comments Cary Grant plays against when the latter suddenly goes “missing.” added to the video movies reviewed type as charming but shady It’s one of the most savage noirs in which here, as well as new reviews, including: playboy Johnnie, while Joan greed reveals the rotten core of an otherwise Anesthesia, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn Fontaine won an Academy law-abiding citizen who is then driven to of Justice, Born to Be Blue, Boy & the World, Award as prim wallflower commit terrible acts of violence. In a genre Bride of Re-Animator, Criminal, Demoli- heiress Lina, who is swept off her feet in Al- defined by corrupt, ruthless, and conniving tion, The Divergent Series: Allegiant, I fred Hitchcock’s 1941 romantic thriller. The characters, filmmaker Byron Haskin’s Too the Light, Mother’s Day, My Big Fat Greek sheltered young woman elopes even after Late for Tears features one of the most repre- Wedding 2, and much more! she’s been warned that ne’er-do-well Johnnie hensible and cold-blooded. This dual-format

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 40 JULY/AUGUST 2016 MUST-HAVES FROM THE CRITERION COLLECTION

THE IN-LAWS CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT CARNIVAL OF SOULS THE NEW WORLD DVD EDITION • SRP: $29.95 DVD EDITION • SRP: $29.95 DVD EDITION • SRP: $29.95 DVD EDITION • SRP: $39.95 ISBN: 978-1-68143-175-8 ISBN: 978-1-68143-191-8 ISBN: 978-1-68143-177-2 ISBN: 978-1-68143-185-7 BLU-RAY EDITION • SRP: $39.95 BLU-RAY EDITION • SRP: $39.95 BLU-RAY EDITION • SRP: $39.95 BLU-RAY EDITION • SRP: $49.95 ISBN: 978-1-68143-174-1 ISBN: 978-1-68143-190-1 ISBN: 978-1-68143-176-5 ISBN: 978-1-68143-184-0

THE IMMORTAL STORY MCCABE & MRS. MILLER A TASTE OF HONEY INGRID BERGMAN: DVD EDITION • SRP: $29.95 DVD EDITION • SRP: $29.95 DVD EDITION • SRP: $29.95 IN HER OWN WORDS ISBN: 978-1-68143-193-2 ISBN: 978-1-68143-187-1 ISBN: 978-1-68143-195-6 DVD EDITION • SRP: $29.95 BLU-RAY EDITION • SRP: $39.95 BLU-RAY EDITION • SRP: $39.95 BLU-RAY EDITION • SRP: $39.95 ISBN: 978-1-68143-189-5 ISBN: 978-1-68143-192-5 ISBN: 978-1-68143-186-4 ISBN: 978-1-68143-194-9 BLU-RAY EDITION • SRP: $39.95 ISBN: 978-1-68143-188-8

A TOUCH OF ZEN MURIEL, OR THE TIME WOMAN IN THE NIGHT AND FOG DVD EDITION • SRP: $29.95 OF RETURN DUNES DVD EDITION • SRP: $29.95 ISBN: 978-1-68143-183-3 DVD EDITION • SRP: $29.95 DVD EDITION • SRP: $29.95 ISBN: 978-1-68143-179-6 BLU-RAY EDITION • SRP: $39.95 ISBN: 978-1-68143-181-9 ISBN: 978-1-68143-197-0 BLU-RAY EDITION • SRP: $39.95 ISBN: 978-1-68143-182-6 BLU-RAY EDITION • SRP: $39.95 BLU-RAY EDITION • SRP: $39.95 ISBN: 978-1-68143-178-9 ISBN: 978-1-68143-180-2 ISBN: 978-1-68143-196-3

AVAILABLE AT WWW.CRITERION.COM Visit www.baker-taylor.com/criterioncollection for the complete Criterion Collection. TV on Video : The (and there are simply no responsible adults vaudeville to Broadway, ra- Complete First Season back at the office). Christian Slater guest stars dio, TV, movies, and even in a recurring role as CIA agent Slater (“not comic books, Hope was the HHH Mr. Slater, just Slater”), their long-suffering original king of all media. Warner, 2 discs, 220 min., not agency contact, and the two-part season But his tireless service en- rated, DVD: $24.99 finale shrinks them to microscopic size and tertaining the troops is one Angie Tribeca, created for sends them into the bloodstream of a dying of his most lasting legacies. TBS by Steve and Nancy scientist in a parody of the sci-fi This compilation collects Carell, is the 21st-century Fantastic Voyage. Still marked by extremely three Bob Hope Christmas answer to Police Squad and Sledge Hammer!, raunchy humor—although not as funny as specials. The earliest, a black-and-white kine- serving up a parody of modern police pro- the early seasons—this set compiles all 13 scope, dates back to 1951 and the Korean War. cedurals. Rashida Jones is Angie Tribeca, a episodes from the 2015 sixth season, with Filmed live aboard the USS Boxer, the program hard-case lone wolf LAPD cop who is assigned extras including bonus animated shorts. A features tap-dancing prodigies the Nicholas a new partner named Jay Geils (Hayes MacAr- strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker) Brothers, and singer Connie Moore. “Around thur). The pair spend the season dancing the World with the USO,” from 1970, follows around their mutual attraction while taking Hope and company from a dress rehearsal on high-profile cases involving blackmail, : The Official First Season before President Nixon through a 16-day art theft, and illegal pet ferrets smuggled itinerary that includes Italy, Germany, Guam, into . They also go undercover HHH Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam. on an airliner where Angie’s competitive Paramount, 5 discs, 921 min., Guests include Neil Armstrong and Connie sister is a stewardess, and infiltrate a prison not rated, DVD: $29.98 Stevens. The third show, “Around the Globe where a gang of British thieves have almost Come and listen to my with the USO,” broadcast the following year, impenetrable accents. The character names story about a man named joins Hope, Lola Falana, , and are a hodge-podge collection of pop culture Jed. Actually, viewers will Hall of Famer Johnny Bench visiting Alaska, references—in addition to “Jay Geils” (think: have to wait until the second episode to hear England, Germany, Thailand, and Vietnam. J. Geils Band), fellow officer DJ Tanner (Dean one of the most beloved TV theme songs. The humor throughout is topical and has not Cole) is named after a character, the The Beverly Hillbillies, which was anything aged well, although Hope’s impeccable timing coroner is Dr. Scholls (Andrée Vermeulen), but a critics darling, was the top-rated show and delivery elevates some groan-worthy and their flinty boss is Chet Atkins (Jere during its first two seasons, the first of which Burns), who barks out every line, no matter earned Emmy nominations for in double-entendres, as when screen goddess the situation. This kind of comedy demands her iconic role as and for the show’s Andress asks Hope which of her films he’s creative lunacy, deadpan delivery, and a rap- writing and directing. More than a half seen and he responds, “There isn’t a thing of id-fire barrage of gags to succeed andAngie century later, these inaugural episodes have yours I haven’t seen.” Viewers who grew up Tribeca delivers, from its crazed sight gags to aged as well as Granny’s possum stew (that’s watching the then-top-rated specials may its nonsensical non sequiturs. The series also a compliment). If you know the theme song, get a nostalgic kick from these stirring cel- features an impressive lineup of guest stars, you know the premise: Jed Clampett (Buddy ebrations of American servicemen. A strong including , , James Ebsen) is a poor mountaineer who finds oil optional purchase. (D. Liebenson) Franco, Jeff Dunham, and . The (black gold) on his property and becomes season ends on a cliffhanger that spoofs the an instant multimillionaire. He loads up the The Bold Ones—The whole idea of season-ending cliffhangers, truck with Granny, daughter Elly May (Don- New Doctors: The complete with romantic confessions in the na Douglas), and his cousin Pearl’s son Jethro Complete Series HHH midst of defusing a bomb. Compiling all 10 (Max Baer, Jr.), and heads West. This is a fish- Shout! Factory, 9 discs, 1,980 episodes from the 2016 debut season, extras out-of-water comedy and the gentle, never min., not rated, DVD: $59.99 include behind-the-scenes featurettes. Rec- mean-spirited humor comes from watching The New Doctors was the ommended. (S. Axmaker) the Clampetts struggle to navigate their new most popular installment world. “We commence plowing tomorrow,” of NBC’s wheel series The : The Complete Jed proclaims upon the family’s arrival to Bold Ones, running in alternate sequence Season 6 HH1/2 their new palatial home. “But this is Beverly with The Lawyers and The Senator (and, Fox, 2 discs, 272 min., not Hills,” his banker, Mr. Drysdale (Raymond briefly, The Protectors) from 1969 to 1973. rated, DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: Bailey) protests. “Dirt is dirt,” Jed shrugs. The This medical-action drama takes place at a $39.99 Beverly Hillbillies was more grounded than the research hospital/clinic run by the brilliant, This FX-aired animated goofierGreen Acres, but it wasn’t above its own boundary-breaking neurosurgeon Dr. David comedy centering on a pri- bizarre grace notes, such as the character Je- Craig (E. G. Marshall), with assistance from vate American intelligence thrine (Max Baer, Jr. in drag). Other collateral Dr. Ted Stuart (John Saxon), and Dr. Paul agency and its dysfunctional office politics pleasures are Emmy nominee Nancy Kulp Hunter (David Hartman). (Saxon was replaced has grown from cult show to hit series. After as Drysdale’s indispensable secretary, and a by Robert Walden as Dr. Martin Cohen in the team left the business to try their hand pre- Bea Benaderet as Pearl. season four.) The elite team at the Craig Insti- at running a drug cartel in season five, they Presenting all 36 episodes from the 1962-63 tute faces a multitude of vexing diseases and are now back, teaming with the CIA—as long debut season, extras include an extended diagnostic issues tied to organ transplants, as they can prove themselves capable of han- pilot episode and sponsor commercials. Rec- exotic viruses, tragic accidents, mental illness, dling an assignment without completely bun- ommended. (D. Liebenson) and malpractice, along with attendant moral gling it. Complicating matters is the fact that and ethical dilemmas in its bleeding-edge the team’s top agents—Sterling Archer (voiced Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops setting. A precursor to shows like St. Elsewhere, by H. Jon Benjamin), who has mad skills but a HH1/2 ER and House, The New Doctors embraces the serious deficit of brain cells, and Lana (Aisha Music Video Distributors, 90 min., not rated, changing social circumstances and mores of Tyler), the only clear thinking member of the DVD: $19.99 the early ‘70s as it explores ego clashes and agency—are the parents of an infant girl who If John Wayne was America’s cowboy, other personal dynamics between doctors they must leave behind during each mission Bob Hope was America’s comedian. From and patients. The core cast is solid through-

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 42 JULY/AUGUST 2016 out, joined by a who’s who of guest stars, man) joins forces with his nemesis Missy (Mi- The Expanse: Season including , , Lou chelle Gomez) to save him. and One HHH Gossett, Jr., Donna Mills, Richard Dreyfus, Clara travel through time and space for ad- Universal, 427 min., not rated, Della Reese, Stefanie Powers, William Shatner, ventures that take place under the sea, in old DVD: 3 discs, $39.98; Blu-ray: and Milton Berle, among others. Compiling England, in a battle against alien invaders in 2 discs, $49.98 all 43 original episodes, plus a crossover epi- the time of the Vikings, and in a hidden “trap The most ambitious orig- sode of Ironsides, this is recommended. (T. Fr y) street” in London where alien refugees find inal sci-fi series created by new life in human form. And the pair stop a the Syfy network since their Casual: Season One plot involving millions of shapeshifting Zy- award-winning Battlestar Galactica reboot, HHH1/2 gons peacefully living amongst the humans. The Expanse delivers a dense mix of space op- Lionsgate, 2 discs, 262 min., As fans know, this is the final season for Clara, era, political conspiracy, and galactic mystery not rated, DVD: $29.98 which ends with the Doctor in a showdown based on the bestselling novels by James S. A. The title of this delicious with the Time Lords on their hidden home Corey (the pen name of authors Daniel Abra- original comedy from world, Gallifrey. This set also includes the ham and Ty Franck). The debut season, which refers to various attitudes 2014 Christmas “Last Christmas,” essentially adapts Leviathan Wakes (the 2011 about modern life and mo- with guest star Nick Frost as Santa Claus, and first novel in the series), reaches from Earth res. Sex is the most obvious—and ripest for the 2015 Christmas special “The Husbands to Mars to the asteroid belt, covering a fron- observation—but the devotion to a casual of River Song,” a colorful interstellar caper tier society of space stations, mining ships, way of living for the quirky family unit at with River Song (Alex Kingston) meeting and independent-minded settlers (known the show’s heart is spot-on in its combination the Peter Capaldi incarnation of the Doctor as Belters) under the jurisdiction of Earth’s of honest comedy and sentimental drama. for the first time (timelines are complicated government. In the opening episode, an ice Alex (Tommy Dewey) is a thirtysomething when you can jump from one era to another). mining ship survives an attack by a powerful bachelor who takes in his older Compiling all 14 episodes from 2015, extras weapon, and the crew goes into hiding as they sister Valerie () and teenage include episode commentaries, behind-the- become a target. Other stories follow a Belter niece Laura (Tara Lynne Barr) in the wake scenes featurettes, interviews, and deleted cop (Thomas Jane) gone in order to find of Valerie’s unpleasant divorce. The three scenes. Recommended. (S. Axmaker) a runaway girl who has joined the resistance, roommates embark on a casual series of and a U.N. diplomat () encounters with lovers, friends, co-workers, Episodes: The Fourth who suspects a Mars conspiracy but discovers and extended family, while underscoring Season HHH1/2 a more insidious plot. The Expanse serves up some of the absurdities of contemporary Paramount, 2 discs, 256 min., a complicated story with an expansive scope. life. One of the show’s creators is filmmaker not rated, DVD: $29.98 Along the way, the series creates a rich social , who brings an imprimatur The skewering of showbiz and political culture, with the frontier society of American indie film authenticity and cre- reality is a favorite TV theme, of the Belters resembling that of the original ative insight. Casual is not farce, but rather and the Showtime series Epi- American colonies, a culture of independents well-observed commentary on what it’s like sodes skillfully mines the rich and individualists fomenting revolution to be part of a culture that treats the politics veins of vanity, venality, and the despicable against long distance rule by a rich mother of partner-hopping, generational differences, behaviors of Hollywood creative types in char- country that treats them as second class and family dynamics as the minefield of acters who are probably closer to the genuine citizens. Compiling all 10 episodes from the misunderstanding that it really is. Alex is a article than most people would believe. Season 2015-16 debut season, extras include deleted tech entrepreneur who created a dating app four continues exploring the exploits of an scenes. Recommended. (S. Axmaker) to advance his own sexual exploits. He and actor named Matt LeBlanc (played by Matt Valerie both support each other to the nth LeBlanc) and various hangers-on to his insipid Grace and Frankie: degree in their respective romantic aspira- NBC sitcom, Pucks. Of course, this isn’t the real Season One HHH tions, but both also become embroiled in the Matt, nor is it how the TV industry really op- Lionsgate, 3 discs, 377 min., insanity of a teen girl’s life as Laura asserts her erates—or is it? The dishonesty, back-stabbery, not rated, DVD: $29.98 own considerable personality. Presenting all and antic selfishness that drives the enter- and Lily Tom- 10 episodes from the 2015 first season, extras tainment industry on display here feels like lin are frenemies in this include a “making-of” featurette. A stellar such accurate farce that the show becomes a Netflix original sitcom from comedy with a genuine heart, this is highly can’t-look-away train wreck. Even more jaded the creators of Friends and recommended. (T. Fr y) after four years in the Hollywood cesspool, Home Improvement. Retired businesswoman British TV expats Beverly (Tamsin Greig) and Grace (Fonda) is tightly wound and status : The Sean (Stephen Mangan)—whose hit Brit series conscious, while Frankie (Tomlin) is an artist Complete Ninth Series was transformed into the shallow Pucks—still and socially-conscious free spirit. They only HHH grapple with the pull of fame and fortune ver- socialize because their husbands, Robert BBC, 700 min., not rated, sus their very souls as the sell-out producers. () and Sol (Sam Waterston), are DVD: 5 discs, $74.98; Blu-ray: And Matt discovers that he’s been robbed partners in a legal practice. Then the men 4 discs, $89.98 blind by his late manager and falls deeper into drop a bombshell: both are gay and are com- Under the guidance of the pit of self-loathing self-absorption. Little ing out of the closet to marry one another. showrunner Steven Moffat, new ground is broken in the story arc, but the Grace and Frankie, opposites who don’t even Doctor Who has morphed into a more cos- business of showbiz as hateful and mean is really like each another, end up sharing a mic show, with epic storylines weaving plot still convincingly portrayed. Along with Le- beach house and reluctantly becoming a threads throughout entire seasons. The ninth Blanc, Greig, and Mangan, the ensemble mutual support system while going through opens with a visit to the planet of the Daleks includes Mircea Monroe, John Pankow, and their respective divorces (the shake-up also to honor the dying wish of the creator of the Kathleen Rose Perkins. Presenting all nine reverberates through the lives of their grown Dalek race, a mission of mercy that lands the episodes from the 2015 fourth season, this children). Fonda and Tomlin are superb as Doctor (Peter Capaldi) in an elaborate trap, caustic comedy is highly recommended. the oil-and-water duo whose initial antipathy after which his companion Clara (Jenna Col- (T. Fr y) eases to friendly sparring (they even help one

JULY/AUGUST 2016 43 VIDEO LIBRARIAN another break out a little, especially as Grace and eventually lost its following, cancelled or original to say about unethical acts in an begins dating), while Sheen and Waterston after four seasons. Heroes Reborn is a mini- amoral business culture. Compiling all 12 are more low key as they explore their new life series set years later, after the existence of episodes from the 2015 fourth season, this is together. The writing is witty and sometimes gifted humans throughout society has been an optional purchase. (S. Axmaker) profane (which can be entertaining coming revealed. It opens with a terrorist attack by a from this cast) but the show is mostly built notorious activist Evo (as the super-powered Lou Grant: The Complete on the affection shared by the characters, humans are called)—or so everyone believes. HHH who remain close and caring despite the First Season 1/2 The resulting climate of fear drives Evos into Shout! Factory, 5 discs, 1,110 divorces—embracing healing and new op- hiding, while human strike forces hunt them min., not rated, DVD: $39.99 portunities rather than rancor. Presenting for revenge. Only a few of the characters from The beloved sitcom The all 13 episodes from the 2015 debut season, the original series return, most prominently extras include episode commentaries, a Show ended Noah Bennet (), who uncovers a in the spring of 1977 with behind-the-scenes featurette, and a gag reel. conspiracy masterminded by the power-hun- Recommended. (S. Axmaker) the newsroom staff being gry Erica (Rya Kihlstedt), a human framing fired by new management. That fall, Ed Asner the Evos for the explosion. An impending was back in character as the titular acerbic, Grantchester: The solar flare could destroy all life on Earth un- irascible veteran in the newspaper drama Complete Second less the Evos intervene, but Erika has a plan to Lou Grant. Lou interviews for a job on the Season HHH1/2 create a new civilization in the future and she (fictional) Los Angeles Tribune with his old PBS, 2 discs, 360 min., not kidnaps Evos in order to execute it. An epic friend Charlie Hume (Mason Adams) and rated, DVD: $39.99, Blu-ray: story of cosmic dimensions with a vast cast of is hired as the new city editor. Lou Grant is $49.99 new characters—human and Evo both—the an old-school newspaper series that uses the The second season of this show is reasonably interesting but failed to investigative format to take on dramatic issues British crime drama—based connect with audiences and did not revive (from neo-Nazis to political muckraking) on the novels by James Runcie about a young the series. Presenting all 13 episodes from while also exploring journalistic ethics. And vicar who helps a veteran police detective 2015-16, extras include behind-the-scenes it feels surprisingly relevant today, in an age solve murders in a rural town in the early featurettes, and deleted scenes. Likely to still when newspapers are being supplanted by 1950s—gets a little more personal. The be of interest to fans of the original, this is a more reckless forms of web journalism. The first episode begins with Reverend Sidney strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker) great cast of supporting characters include Chambers (James Norton) being accused of Robert Walden as reporter Joe Rossi, a serious, seducing a teenage girl who has gone missing House of Lies: The Fourth streetwise character who isn’t quite as good or and is later found dead. That case reverberates Season HH as savvy as he thinks he is, and Linda Kelsey throughout the season as Sidney defends Paramount, 2 discs, 332 min., as Billie Newman, who joins the show in the the young man actually guilty of killing the not rated, DVD: $29.99 fourth episode. The pair provide energy as girl (by accident, Sidney believes), which This Showtime-aired sat- investigative journalists with a friendly ri- sets Sidney against both his parish and his ire of American corporate valry, while Hume and the paper’s blue-blood friend Geordie Keating (Robson Green), an culture and business consul- publisher Mrs. Pynchon () old school cop who isn’t above knocking tants stars as represent a more conservative approach to suspects around. As tensions build between Marty Kaan, the proudly unscrupulous head journalism. Lou is often in the middle, push- them, Geordie is accused of killing a suspect ing the young reporters to get past their own and even Sidney questions whether he’s of a management consultant company (Mar- ty opened his own firm in the third season) assumptions and urging the editors to take guilty before uncovering the truth. On a on more controversial stories. Compiling all lighter note, Geordie and his wife attempt to and Kristen Bell as Jeannie van der Hooven, Marty’s partner, and—as this fourth season 22 episodes from the 1977-78 debut season, play matchmaker and Sidney ends up dating extras include a new interview with Asner. a flirtatious and funny receptionist at the begins—former lover. Marty is struggling to Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker) station (Seline Hizli), but he’s still in love with rebuild his brand after serving prison time Amanda (Morven Christie), who remains in a and Jeannie is pregnant with his child, but he miserable marriage to an abusive, neglectful can’t forgive her betrayal (she inadvertently The Odd Couple: Season husband. The series continues to explore ma- put the Feds on his trail), so he’s forcing her One HH1/2 ture themes with intelligence while develop- out. Meanwhile, one member of his team Paramount, 2 discs, 257 min., ing a rich cast of characters whose own stories (Josh Lawson) battles an unstable, vindictive not rated, DVD: $39.99 take on greater importance over the course of bride (Jenny Slate) who blackmailed him This latest rehash of Neil the season. Presenting all six episodes from into marriage, and another (Ben Schwartz) Simon’s landmark 1965 play 2016, extras include behind-the-scenes fea- struggles with the return of an absent father is an innocuous and mildly turettes. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker) (Fred Melamed)—a kvetching, judgmental amusing diversion with jerk who plays the cancer card for sympathy. charms based primarily on casting and Heroes Reborn: Event These are not nice people, which is why the can’t-miss sitcom setup. they are so good at their jobs as highly-paid Series HH1/2 and Thomas Lennon take over the roles of Universal, 555 min., not rated, specialists who fix failing companies, rehabil- Oscar Madison and Felix Unger, a pair of DVD: 4 discs, $44.98; Blu-ray: itate reputations and brand names, and raise middle-aged pals who decide to share an 3 discs, $49.98 investment capital by any means necessary. apartment after their respective divorces. The The original Heroes of- This season they gamble their future on an question of whether they can do so “without fered a high-concept take egotistical and similarly underhanded young driving each other crazy,” as the intro to the on the comic book super- electric car mogul (Demetri Martin). Marty smash 1970’s Jack Klugman/ hero genre, putting ordinary people with narrates and periodically freezes the action series asked, is still the premise—and the immense, inexplicable powers in a real-world to explain his philosophy and schemes, but answer is still, no. Sports podcaster Oscar is setting. It was a pop culture sensation that while it can be entertaining when it comes a slob and photographer Felix is a neat freak, failed to sustain the creative energy and to bad (or at least reckless and self-centered) and the emotional resonance of their oppo- compelling storytelling of its initial season behavior, House of Lies has nothing insightful sites-attract relationship is at the center of

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 44 JULY/AUGUST 2016 the action. Unfortunately, the writing never America, a line begins that leads from this government action that is presented with rises to the level of earlier iterations, and the most shameful chapter in U.S. history to the an often nasty sense of humor and snappy Perry/Lennon wrangling can’t quite measure 20th-century author Alex Haley, a descen- wit. Diedrich Bader and are up to the classic Klugman/Randall squab- dant of Kinte. Haley’s acclaimed 1976 book guest stars for this season, which ends on a bles—let alone the original Walter Matthau/ Roots was adapted into this six-volume 1977 cliffhanger. Compiling all 10 episodes from Broadway and 1968 movie television miniseries, which was watched by the multi-Emmy-winning 2015 fourth season, pairing. Also featuring Wendell Pierce, Yvette an estimated 140 million viewers (more than extras include deleted scenes. Recommended. Nicole Brown, Geoff Stults, and Dave Foley as half of the U.S. population). The series covers (S. Axmaker) friends and coworkers, The Odd Couple is far several generations in the antebellum South, from hall of fame material but it does serve winding towards a close with the story of War & Peace: The up a decent amount of TV laughs. Presenting “Chicken” George, a freed slave played by Ben Complete Miniseries all 12 episodes from the 2015 debut season, Vereen, whose family experiences the agony HHH extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes, of entrenched racism and learns to fight back. 1/2 Between the lives of Kunta and George, a Anchor Bay, 2 discs, 357 min., deleted scenes, and a gag reel. A strong op- TV-14, DVD: $39.99, Blu-ray: tional purchase. (T. Fr y) number of other memorable characters are $49.99 introduced—black and white—in this series “War is a terrible thing,” that directly dealt with the physical and : says high society matron emotional torments of slavery, from beatings HHH Anna Pavlovna (a rather stiff Gillian Ander- Season Three and rapes, to the forced separation of spouses Lionsgate, 783 min., not rated, son) in this international production offering and families. Mainstream America had never DVD: 4 discs, $34.98; Blu-ray: a mostly faithful adaptation of ’s before been confronted with anything like 3 discs, $34.98 epic 1869 novel, in which the struggles on the Roots before, and the extent to which the Jenji Kohan’s critically-ac- battlefield of the human heart also loom large. country was nudged a degree or two toward claimed and popular Netflix Scripted by Andrew Davies ( enlightenment became instantly obvious. Pride and Preju- women-in-prison series— dice) and directed by Tom Harper, the six-hour Today, Roots still has that ability to open based on the bestselling memoir by Piper Ker- —opening with rumors of war in eyes while engaging viewers in a sweeping, War & Peace man—returns for a third season as convicted 1805 and continuing up through the disas- memorable drama. Making its Blu-ray debut drug mule ’s () trous invasion of Russia by Napoleon’s army in a 40th anniversary edition, extras include story continues, along with those of the other in 1812—focuses on three major characters: archival behind-the-scenes featurettes and colorful ladies of Litchfield Penitentiary (as Natasha Rostov (Lily James), a high-spirited Burton’s screen test, as well as a pair of new well as assorted guards and administrators). girl looking for romance; military hero Prince featurettes with original cast members and Andrej Bolkonsky (James Norton), a some- While Chapman (based on Kerman) contin- commentators including , what rigid fellow who falls in love with Nata- ues to be the ostensible focal point, Orange’s Blair Underwood, and . Highly sha; and bastard-son-turned-rich-aristocratic narrative (which includes compelling indi- recommended. Editor’s Choice. (T. Keogh) vidual character backstories in each episode) count Pierre Bezukhov (), a friend takes in the whole dysfunctional ensemble. of Prince Andrej who muses philosophically Here, Piper’s on-again, off-again lover Alex : The Complete about human nature and is unhappily mar- () returns; promoted-to-warden Fourth Season HHH ried to the beautiful and unfaithful (Andrews Caputo () tries to soften adminis- HBO, 2 discs, 281 min., TV- makes explicit what Tolstoy strongly suggests) trative policies while also butting heads with MA, DVD: $26.95, Blu-ray: Helene Kuragin (Tuppence Middleton). Along $34.98 the prison’s new owners—private company the way, the series interweaves myriad events MMR; the birth of Daya’s () Vice President Selina in the lives of the Rostovs and Bolkonskys, as baby approaches; Red () returns Meyer (Julia Louis-Drey- well as others, such as battle-avoiding Russian to the kitchen; and Piper launches a new fus) is deep in the primary general Kutuzov (Brian Cox). A handsomely business venture: selling soiled panties to campaign—running for her party’s nomi- mounted production, this version (like oth- pervs on the outside. With a common en- nation—when the President resigns over a ers) suffers from the necessary telescoping of scandal and she is instantly elevated to the emy to face—bottom-line-oriented owners Tolstoy’s massive tome—most notably here Oval Office in the fourth season of this HBO MMR—tensions ease somewhat between the in the abrupt whirlwind romance between comedy centering on political dysfunction perennially warring black and Latino inmate Natasha and Helene’s villainous brother—but and cynical bureaucratic calculation in the populations. Compiling all 13 episodes from overall this is equal to the 2007 miniseries White House. Of course, her staff competes 2015, extras include episode commentaries, (VL-11/13), and compares favorably with for prime positions, leading to the same both the 1972 miniseries starring Anthony behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a gag reel. kind of mistakes and embarrassments that Although the laughs are fewer in this season Hopkins (VL-1/08), and Sergei ’s have plagued her B-team collection of func- Oscar-winning 1969 classic (which today (like Kohan’s previous hit Weeds, Orange is tionaries throughout the series. This time, a starting to become darker), this is still one suffers from its overuse of distracting late few are even sacrificed when gaffs become ‘60s cinematic tropes such as kaleidoscopic of the better shows currently running (with scandals and Amy () and Dan multiple Emmy wins and Golden Globe images). Extras include behind-the-scenes () end up parlaying their political featurettes. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman) nominations). Recommended. (R. Pitman) contacts into lobbyist jobs. Hugh Laurie joins the show as Selina’s running mate, a veteran Roots HHHH politician and born campaigner whose easy Warner, 3 discs, 587 min., not manner with both the public and the media rated, Blu-ray: $44.98 makes her almost pathologically jealous. Veep Visit Video Librarian Online (www.vid- From the moment the is a snarky show that is the polar opposite of eolibrarian.com) for more reviews during young Kunta Kinte (LeVar ’s more serious series such as July and August, including: And Then Burton) is stolen from his and The Newsroom, serving There Were None, Cop Rock: The Compete ancestral home in 18th-cen- up a comedy of petty personalities, political Series, Dominion Creek, Major Crimes: The tury Africa and brought under inhumane waste, ineffectual leadership, and public Complete Fourth Season, and much more! conditions to be auctioned as a slave in relations opportunism triumphing over

JULY/AUGUST 2016 45 VIDEO LIBRARIAN Video Reviews

cannot return that particular library book Presenting the complicated electoral process Ordering information for the titles reviewed in because a wild bear ate—and really liked— in accessible and age-appropriate terms, this the tome (“once a bear has a taste of letters, is highly recommended. Aud: E, I, P. (T. Keogh) this section can be found in the “Distributor his love of books grows much the more”). Addresses” listings at the back of the magazine. Ordered by the abbot to rewrite the book for I’m a Big Girl HH1/2 penance, Brother Hugo gleans the materials (2015) 12 min. DVD: $38.99. Dreamscape Media. HHHH= Excellent necessary to replace the original from helpful PPR. Closed captioned. ISBN: 978-1-68141-617-5. Carthusian monks at the Grande Chartreuse, HHH= Good Narrated by author Greg Pope, this icono- but is dismayed to hear the snufflings and graphic-animated adaptation of the 2014 pic- HH= Fair grumblings of the bear, who is pleased by ture book featuring illustrations by Lea Wells the poems, sermons, and moral tales that is subtitled “A Story for Dads and Daughters.” H= Poor Hugo throws out as bait in order to protect I’m a Big Girl follows a little girl from baby- PPR = Public Performance Rights the new manuscript. Bonus features include hood as she grows into a real talker with a love a historical segment on Middle Ages mon- of life. Although customarily whisked off to DRA = Digital Rights Available asteries and gold-illuminated manuscripts. bed by her father, one night the girl “filled Although it features an engaging premise, Aud = Audience Daddy’s heart with fear” by announcing that this odd (and wordy) tale may be somewhat she was a big girl who could head up to bed by K = Preschool-Kindergarten lost on younger viewers. Optional. Aud: K, E, herself. Worried about being left behind, the P. ( J. Williams-Wood) E = Elementary (grades 1-3) father instantly begins to imagine her teenage years—and even her wedding—as the child I = Intermediate (grades 4-6) How to Become the President of the mounts the stairs, but is soon brought back United States HHH1/2 to earth when she reminds him that she still J = Jr. High (grades 7-8) (2016) 15 min. DVD: $49. Mazzarella Media. PPR. needs help being tucked in. Backed by a sweet H = High School (grades 9-12) The arcane mechanics of a presidential piano soundtrack and also featuring two bonus songs by Nashville singer/songwriter C = Colleges & Universities election are confusing for adults let alone kids, but this primer goes a long way to- Pope (giving this a bit of a vanity project feel), P = Public Libraries wards helping elementary school students this simple tale is a strong optional purchase. get a grasp on the process. The program Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams-Wood) begins with a capsule history of America’s 18th-century war for independence, which Kate & Mim-Mim: Flight of the Flowers CHILDREN’S was followed by the creation of the Constitu- HH1/2 tion and formation of the various branches of (2013) 65 min. DVD: $12.99. Public Media government. The historical haggling in deter- Distribution (avail. from most distributors). ISBN: mining just how to elect a president (popular 978-1-62789-564-4. Albert: Up, Up and Away! HH vote versus state vote, etc.) led to the still This candy-colored Canadian children’s (2015) 81 min. DVD: $14.98. Shout! Factory controversial compromise decision to form animated series follows 5-year-old pig-tailed (avail. from most distributors). SDH captioned. the Electoral College (the 2000 election that youngster Kate and her purple stuffed ani- Based on Danish author Ole Lund Kirke- resulted in Al Gore receiving a greater pop- mal rabbit friend Mim-Mim, who comes to gaard’s 1968 children’s story, this English-lan- ular vote than George W. Bush is cited as an tall anthropomorphic life when the duo are guage film features surprisingly realistic look- example of how the system can sometimes go (without preamble) spun away to the whim- ing nature scenes but cartoonish characters awry). Viewers learn about the campaign sea- sical land of Mimiloo (Kate usually faces a and animals. Red-haired and mischievous son, during which candidates are winnowed mild predicament, starts swinging Mim-Mim ‘tween Albert has a bit of trouble in his past: via state caucuses and primaries, followed by around, and then—wham—winds up in her as a toddler, Albert caused some damage in party conventions, the selection of a nominee, fantasy world). “Flight of the Flowers” finds the village of Kellytown, which resulted in the and the ensuing presidential race that leads the pair joining up with other pals to become destruction of the beloved statue of an air bal- up to Election Day, followed by the transition pilots for taking giant flowers to friend Lily’s loon captain. Tasked with replacing the statue of power or establishment of a second term. seasonal party. “The Need for Seed” parallels when he’s older, Albert decides to leave town and come back with an air balloon himself. Along the way, Albert has run-ins with an Latke, the Lucky Dog HHH1/2 older-looking greaser bully, kidnaps his best (2015) 7 min. DVD: $38.99. Dreamscape Media. PPR. Closed captioned. friend Egon to accompany him, meets and ISBN: 978-1-68141-611-3. goes into cahoots with bumbling pickpockets This iconographic-animated adaptation of author Ellen Fischer who are after a precious jewel, and makes a and illustrator Tiphanie Beeke’s delightful 2015 picture book is new gypsy friend at a carnival. A scattershot narrated by Kirby Heyborne. Kids Zoe and Zach—along with family film, this is not a necessary purchase. their parents—pick out a medium-sized puppy from the animal Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood) shelter as a Hanukkah present. They name him “Latke,” a moniker inspired by his coat, which is “golden brown like a fried latke.” Brother Hugo and the Bear HH The pup often voices the refrain “I am one lucky dog!” as the (2015) 14 min. DVD: $38.99. Dreamscape Media. story—told from his point-of-view—finds Latke jumping on the PPR. Closed captioned. ISBN: 978-1-68141-620-5. table to scarf down the sufganiyot dessert (“I’m the new guy, so they must be for me!”), Narrated by Gildart Jackson, this icono- chewing on Zoe’s dreidel, destroying the chocolate gelt used as prizes, and even ruining graphic-animated adaptation of author Katy the candles for the menorah. After Dad notes that “maybe we picked the wrong dog,” Beebe and illustrator S.D. Schindler’s 2014 Latke is frantic to learn the rules, and the accommodating family patiently helps their picture book is inspired by a 12th-century newest member acclimate. A sweet and amusing tale that also touches on cultural manuscript compiling real-life letters by celebration, this is highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams-Wood) Saint Augustine. Here, monk Brother Hugo

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 46 JULY/AUGUST 2016

ligious scholars disagree on the point—but she comes to the same conclusion as Shaila, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir HHH1/2 and stops wearing it. Since she wore a hijab (2015) 154 min. DVD: $14.98. Shout! Factory (avail. from most distributors). SDH captioned. for four years, those who know her express surprise, but she assures them that her beliefs Aired stateside on , this cheeky, action-packed haven’t changed. Her friend, Sara, has her English-language version of a French anime-style series is a mother’s support for wearing a hijab, but her fresh, sparkling, and most welcome addition to the superhero secular father criticizes , calling genre. Awkward Parisian teen Marinette solves problems as super- it a relic from an earlier era. By allowing her hero Ladybug, morphing with the help of her powerful talking subjects to speak for themselves, Yokoma of- “Kwami” object Tikki. Marinette’s school crush Adrien (who fers viewers who are interested in religion and doesn’t know Ladybug’s true identity) is also often alerted for gender studies much food for thought in this duty by his Kwami, which turns him into the heroic Cat Noir. documentary that is sure to provoke discus- Ladybug and Cat Noir go up against Hawk Moth, an evildoer who preys on upset or sion. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy) lonely people, sending out his moths to turn them into villains to do his bidding. Highlight episodes among the seven compiled here include the time-travel doppel- ganger rollerblade escapade “Timebreaker” (a hilariously over-the-top Hawk Moth The Stranger: Immigrants, Scripture and chortles “Do I see double-vision in my future? Or should I say, double villain!”) and the American Dream HHH the technologically savvy “Lady Wifi.” Co-produced by Toei , and full of (2014) 40 min. DVD: $14.99. National light banter, acrobatic fight scenes, and high-energy music, this captivating popular Immigration Forum (dist. by Vision Video). series set against a backdrop that includes the Eiffel Tower and boulangeries is highly Commissioned by the Evangelical Immi- recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood) gration Table and produced by Emmy-award winner Linda Midgett, this fine documentary makes the argument that treating U.S. immi- grants well is not only moral and practical but Kate’s real-life gardening with her mom and scroll art. Some episodes actually hit emotive also the duty of Christians. Featuring several an imaginary quest for finding the right notes, such as when the Kakurangers must evangelical pastors and an inclusive Baptist growing conditions for pal Gobble’s coveted destroy a childlike Youkai who is actually a church, The Stranger makes its case that the “surprise sapling seed.” Also including “But- nice guy…but then it’s back to the bizarre, way we treat legal and illegal immigrants terfly Flowers,” “Small Wonders,” “Bunch like the episode about a centipede monster reflects on both our character and biblical O’Boomers,” and “Babysitting Squoosh,” this who corrupts Santa’s workshop. Arguably understanding. Viewers hear from a couple series about encouraging friends and working more entertaining than the westernized of immigrants with very hard-luck stories towards problem-solving is a strong optional Power Rangers (after one acclimates to the related to American deportation policies purchase. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood) goony vibe), this set featuring all 53 episodes that separate families and cause enormous (presented in Japanese with English subtitles) hardship. About halfway through, the theme Super Sentai—Ninja Sentai is recommended. Aud: P. (C. Cassady) opens up to underscore the logic of hiring Kakuranger: The Complete Series immigrants to join the U.S. labor force and HHH RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY contribute to the homegrown economy and (1992) 10 discs. 996 min. In Japanese w/English taxes (especially in jobs that many Americans subtitles. DVD: $59.98. Shout! Factory (avail. from don’t want). One telling sequence concerns most distributors). the plight of a South African family who went Shout! Factory has been busy doing hu- Between Allah and Me (and Everyone through a protracted hell after being deported manity the questionable service of releasing Else) HHH from the U.S. and becoming stateless (despite unedited versions of the ultra-bizarre Japa- (2015) 60 min. DVD: $89: public libraries & the fact that the husband/father did defense nese TV fantasy-action Sentai shows, which high schools; $299: colleges & universities. DRA. contract work here). Ultimately, The Stranger featured extensive fight scenes that would be ConnectedEarth. PPR. delivers a strong, faith-based plea for a log- recycled by U.S. producers Haim Saban and Toronto filmmaker Kyoko Yokoma inter- ical and compassionate immigration policy. Shuki Levy into the English-rewritten and views four women who wear the hijab in Recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh) re-shot Power Rangers. This 1994-95 original this non-judgmental documentary. Farida, series boasts a consciously goofy, campy who is of Turkish descent, grew up in Russia What Is Buddhism? HHH quality akin to American TV’s Batman. Four at a time when the state discouraged religious (2016) 26 min. DVD: $44.95. DRA. TMW Media centuries ago, ninjas quashed the Youkai, a expression, so she’s been trying to make up Group. PPR. race of goblin monsters, who then had to for lost time. She studies the Qur’an and prays Part of the series Oh My God—which ex- hide incognito among humans. Now the five times a day, although her mother doesn’t plores the belief systems of the world’s major Youkai have regained their mojo, and five see the point of the hijab. Farida also trades religions—What Is Buddhism? is an often teen descendants of those ninjas (including in her short-sleeved tops and above-the-knee lighthearted introduction to Buddhist prac- one Japanese-American who in early episodes skirts for more modest apparel. When she tices. Host Tevya Heller serves as jovial guide, sports cowboy togs and speaks occasional En- attended Islamic school as a child, Shaila presenting himself as the newbie outsider in a glish) receive weapons, costumes, and “super felt like a sinner until her mother bought head-on collision with the unique tenets and ninja beast gods” to fight the Youkai—whose her a hijab. After wearing it for 20 years, she rituals of various faiths. Here, accompanied initial leader, a living skeleton, takes the form has now entered politics, and decides that it by a young temple leader, Heller is introduced of a heavy-metal rocker. Later, a rather con- doesn’t feel right anymore, so she only wears to a female monk who is the master of a U.S.- ceited “Ninjaman”—rescued from a bottle— the hijab for special occasions. As she puts it, based congregation. Heller presents a mix of joins the squad. Guilty-pleasure ingredients “I feel that Allah can read my heart, and that’s wondrous attitude and self-deprecating jokes abound, from endearing low-tech special what Islam is to me.” At the beginning of the to the master as he learns that monks are cut effects to onscreen emceeing by an impish film, Naima, a student, believes that wearing off from their families (for the most part) from bespectacled storyteller who emphasizes the hijab is the right thing to do—although a tender age, the better to focus on everyone Youkai antecedents in Shinto mythology and she isn’t sure that it’s mandatory, since re- in a community. Heller also discovers why

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 48 JULY/AUGUST 2016 BP and local, state, and federal government claims that the cleanup was successful and Kids and Prayer HHH the crisis eliminated. To further drive home (2016) 39 min. DVD: $49.99. Paraclete Press (avail. from most the message, images of water, shorelines, distributors). PPR. ISBN: 978-1-61261-795-4. and wildlife destroyed by the thick black oil In this upbeat title, author, speaker and pastor Rachel G. sludge and a community slowly falling apart Hackenberg hosts a kid’s-eye view of Christian prayer. Divided are juxtaposed with notably sparse scenes of into four segments—addressing the questions “What Is Prayer?”, vacationing beachgoers after the island has “Why Do We Pray?”, “How Do We Pray?”, and “Where Do We supposedly received a clean bill of health. Pray?”—the program features interviews with kids and experts, Ecocide successfully illustrates how willful backed by effective animation. Starting by bridging modern com- ignorance continues the damage begun by munication methods (such as texting and e-mail) with the ancient the oil spill. Extras include a featurette on ef- (such as face-to-face teaching and scrolls), the first segment also forts to make ecocide an international crime. acts as a mini-course on how simple prayer can be—even just saying “Hey God!” As the Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Morehart) lessons continue, prayer is described as a way to deepen a person’s relationship with the Almighty (prayer also doesn’t have to happen in a particular place, such as in church). Along the way, viewers are offered thoughtful parallels (including how lighthouses Feminism Inshallah: A History of Arab are used for communication) as well as illustrative biblical stories. In addition, the Feminism HHH program examines various types of worship, ranging from saying grace before meals (2014) 52 min. In Arabic & French w/English subtitles. DVD: $89: public libraries, $350: colleges to the Lord’s Prayer. A solid discussion starter, this is recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block) & universities. Women Make Movies. PPR. While women in the West have made sig- nificant gains since the 1900s, Arab women monks shave their heads, but soon delves is then stored in large tanks to be disseminated have had a much harder time. Feriel Ben into matters of greater consequence, such through an irrigation system, is also inge- Mahmoud’s documentary examines the as the proper techniques of meditation and nious, as are methods of recycling household history of feminism in the region, beginning chanting. Heller also talks to a group of teen water into small underground tanks that is with a look at reformers in the 1930s who Buddhists, who encourage him to breathe then spread through topsoil via valves. Smart- believed that Arab countries could only keep and be calm, and he gets into the spirit of er practices that encourage symbiotic connec- up with the wider world by abandoning things during a madcap “money grab” and tions between animal life, insects, microbes, outdated practices. In Tunisia, author Tahar “food grab” that disperses coins and edibles and plants may seem like a no-brainer, but Haddad spoke out against polygamy and left for dead souls who have not yet been this is not the norm in modern farming and the veil as traditions that kept women from reincarnated. Viewers are not actually going big agriculture. In our era of increasing prob- fully participating in society, but religious to learn a lot about Buddhist teachings here, lems due to climate change, Demers makes a conservatives interpreted the former theol- but it is certainly interesting to witness how persuasive case for permaculture becoming ogy student’s views as anti-Muslim. Chérifa one community puts their faith into prac- the standard for using water wisely. Highly Saadaoui, a member of the Union of Women, tice. Other titles in the series include What recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh) recalls that her disciples also fought against Is Catholicism?, What is Judaism?, What is French colonialism. In 1956, when Tunisia Pentecostalism?, and What Is Rastafari? Rec- Ecocide HHH1/2 became independent, women made further ommended. [Note: this is also available on (2014) 58 min. DVD: $49.99 ($125 w/PPR): public strides. Huda Sha’arawi, the first prominent home video for $19.99 from www.amazon. libraries; $295 w/PPR: colleges & universities. DRA. Arab feminist, stopped wearing the veil and com.] Aud: J, H, C, P. (T. Keogh) Collective Eye. Closed captioned. formed the Egyptian Feminist Union. Al- In April 2010 an explosion on the Deepwa- gerian women also advanced in the 1950s, ter Horizon—a Transocean-owned, BP-leased but not as much as in Tunisia. According to SOCIAL & POLITICAL ISSUES oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico—killed 11 work- Lebanese political historian Ghassan Salamé, ers and subsequently led to the equivalent of “’67 is not the defeat of Arabs [by Israel], but an estimated 4.2 million barrels of oil being of modernity.” Although oil-rich Saudi Arabia Abundance on a Dry Land HHH1/2 dumped into the Gulf. It is considered to be made moves towards modernity in the 1970s, (2015) 52 min. DVD: $49: public libraries; $89: the manmade environmental disaster the changes were mostly superficial, since high schools; $225: colleges & universities. DRA. in U.S. history. Grand Isle, the last inhabited women still can’t drive or participate in other Green Planet Films. PPR. barrier island off the coast of Louisiana, sits activities that would decrease their reliance There isn’t a lot that Western states in the 100 miles from the Deepwater Horizon site, on men. The situation worsened over the next U.S. can do about ending devastating drought and its inhabitants are entirely dependent on two decades, due in part to the conservative conditions these days, but much can still be the surrounding water for their livelihood. clerics who appeared regularly on television. done related to conserving and using water Once the Deepwater oil made its way to Grand But the film ends with signs of hope: inspired more effectively. Filmmaker Jocelyn Demers’s Isle, it decimated everything it touched—and by a group in Malaysia, Muslim feminism has documentary explores various permaculture that was just the beginning. Filmmaker Ju- found a foothold in Morocco, and the rise of practices that, among other things, eschew liet Brown’s powerful documentary Ecocide social networking has also made it easier for chemicals and restore relationships within chronicles the short- and long-term effects women, like Lebanon’s Yalda Younes, to share natural systems to create healthy, water-ab- of the Deepwater spill on Grand Isle’s people information and provide encouragement to sorbent topsoil and microbe-rich subsoil for and environment: wildlife dying or suffer- other Muslim feminists. Recommended. Aud: growing plant life. Permaculture also involves ing from mutations from the oil and the C, P. (K. Fennessy) the reshaping of barren lands in order to chemical dispersant used during cleanup; move rainwater where it needs to go for ir- commerce disrupted due to trawlers being In the Shadows HHH rigating orchards and crops—as opposed to unable to fish sullied water; tourist dollars (2013) 48 min. DVD: $20 ($150 w/PPR). watching thousands of gallons run off over lost; and a population slowly succumbing Broadbandaid Films. PPR. poorly-maintained, non-absorbent ground. to health conditions related to the spill. The Filmmaker Dan Glynn is willing to ac- The capturing of water from rooftops, which film ironically balances these sad facts with knowledge that laws are being broken by the

JULY/AUGUST 2016 49 VIDEO LIBRARIAN presence of illegal immigrants in America, bios of Janis and Myers. A strong optional sadly not surprising. Highly recommended. and while the undocumented individuals purchase. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek) Aud: C, P. (P. Morehart) in question here are presented as decent and honorable individuals, Glynn is also fair in Land Grabbing HHH1/2 Love Is a Verb HHH offering the same level of respect to those (2015) 91 min. In English, German & Romanian (2016) 57 min. DVD: $19.98, Blu-ray: $24.98. MPI who are seeking to enforce immigration w/English subtitles. DVD: $300. DRA. Film Home Video (avail. from most distributors). laws. The central focus of In the Shadows is Platform (avail. from www.filmplatform.net). PPR. At a time when Islam is perceived by many Jairo, a Mexican man who works on a U.S. Farmland is a precious commodity, espe- in the West as a threat, Terry Spencer Hesser’s dairy farm and sends his earnings home to cially as populations rise across the globe, documentary offers a different perspective. his wife and two children. Jairo shares the and more and more land is needed to produce She paints an effusive portrait of Fethullah details of his dangerous journey into the U.S., crops to feed the masses. Also, as the demand Gülen, a Turkish preacher residing in the and talks about his tenuous existence—a clear for a particular crop (or crop byproduct) U.S., who spearheaded the movement called and present danger that becomes painfully grows, the desire increases to plant as much Hizmet, which asks followers—particularly apparent when his cousin Julio (who is also of that crop as possible in order to reap the in the fields of education and medicine—to in the U.S. illegally) is arrested for drunk financial rewards. Not surprisingly, both of serve those in need. The film begins with a driving and is deported. Also featured here these trends offer opportunities for corrup- brief but useful sketch of Anatolian history is Rep. James Sensebrenner, author of legis- tion. Land Grabbing, a powerful documentary from Ottoman times up through the trans- lation seeking to strengthen enforcement by Kurt Langbein, examines what happens formation of the former empire into the along the U.S.-Mexico border, and members when governments and organizations decide secular state of Turkey—a nation plagued of the self-proclaimed “Minutemen” brigades to take land from private citizens to use for by turmoil into modern times. Providing that offer volunteer support for the Border power and profit. A journalist by trade, Lang- surprisingly little detailed data about Gülen’s Patrol’s surveillance of areas where illegal bein traveled the world exposing instances earlier life, Love Is a Verb concentrates on the immigrants have been known to enter the where governments used eminent domain, humanitarian activities of Hizmet, visiting country. Although unlikely to sway opin- often accompanied by violence, to procure charter schools in the United States, clinics in ions, the film takes an intelligent, personal land. In Cambodia, he shows the efforts Somalia, and various other locales in order to look at both sides of a complicated issue that of a local Buddhist monk who records the hear testimonials about the good work being continues to bedevil Americans—all without government’s eviction of hundreds of small done in response to Gülen’s call. Emphasis is grinding the customary ax. Recommended. farmers, taking their land for state agricultur- placed on the moderate character of Gülen’s Aud: C, P. (P. Hall) al use. Uploading his videos to the web for teaching, which encourages the education the world to see, the monk and his temple of girls, the compatibility between Islam Invisible Scars HH1/2 wind up facing retribution while also trying and modern science, the need for interfaith (2015) 86 min. DVD: $24.95. First Run Features to feed and care for the displaced farmers. In dialogue, and the support of multi-party (avail. from most distributors). Eastern Europe and Africa, Langbein exposes democracy—positions that have earned him Johnna Janis’s documentary—co-directed conglomerates and wealthy entrepreneurs the respect of many political and religious by Sergio Myers—chronicles Janis’s personal who use unlimited resources and muscle to leaders in the West, as evidenced in footage struggle to come to terms with longstanding outmaneuver small farmers to obtain land of his meetings with key figures. Hesser adds emotional trauma stemming from being rights. He also details how unsustainable excerpts from Gülen’s talks to followers at his sexually abused by her father. Drawing on farming practices are destroying local ecosys- Pennsylvania estate—scenes that underscore home movies and photos, Janis not only tems, in particular the large-scale harvesting the man’s modesty and quiet sense of author- recounts her horrifying childhood expe- of palm oil, which entails the decimation of ity—and closes with a section on Hizmet’s rience, but also reflects on the subsequent thousands of acres of rainforest. The brazen- often oppressive treatment by the present toll it took on her adult life—until she was ness and disregard for humanity and the en- Turkish regime. Featuring crisp narration by challenged by another victim to face her vironment on display here are shocking, but , Love Is a Verb—the title indicates memories and work to free herself from their debilitating effects. Janis also means to use her story as a springboard to bring about Meet the Hitlers HHH1/2 broader public recognition of the epidemic (2016) 84 min. DVD: $19.99. Virgil Films (avail. from most distributors). of child sexual abuse, and to promote efforts Closed captioned. at prevention and intervention. Towards Morgan Spurlock serves as executive producer for filmmaker that end, Invisible Scars includes interviews Matt Ogens’s oddball documentary, which centers on individ- with clinical experts who share statistical uals who share a name—or identity—with the infamous Adolf data and treatment advice. Janis is also ac- Hitler. Gene Hitler is a well-liked retiree who takes his family on tively involved in efforts to encourage other a pilgrimage back to their Circleville, OH, ancestral home, where survivors to break their silence—excerpts “Hitler” appears on road signs and cemeteries. Heath Campbell is here from group therapy sessions present a Milford, NJ, white supremacist who lost his son to social services moving evidence of the pain that childhood for renaming the blond toddler “Adolf Hitler”; although articulate abuse has caused and the determination about his views, he doubles down defiantly on the Nazi obsession in the media spot- required to keep it from dominating one’s light, coming across as one scary misfit. Hitler Guttierez is an Ecuadoran immigrant life. Unfortunately, the documentary is who was initially unaware of the loaded first name his father gave him. Germany’s somewhat repetitive, while some Romano Lukas Hitler is a melancholy ship’s helmsman who wears his outcast status of Janis’s personal story—such as her devo- as a personal cross; later we get the sense that he is faking being a blood relation to tion to competitive running as a means of the Führer out of guilt pathology. And Last of the Hitlers author David Gardner traces dealing with her trauma—feel protracted. genuine American remnants of the German dictator’s family (not interviewed), and Overall, however, the film succeeds in per- even uncovers a bona fide Hitler diary. A fascinating, funny, and disturbing cinema sonalizing a major societal problem that is vérité disquisition on the cultural baggage associated with the dictator, this is highly too often treated in merely abstract terms. recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady) Extras include extended interviews and text

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 50 JULY/AUGUST 2016 the movement’s concentration on an active life of service—is obviously a work of advoca- HHH cy, but one that is instructive and inspiring. Normal Is Over: The Movie 1/2 (2015) 120 min. DVD: $95: public libraries & high schools, $249: colleges Extras include a 2012 interview with Gülen. & universities. Telekan (avail. from www.normalisoverthemovie.com). Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek) PPR. Four years in the making and largely self-funded by longtime Men with Beards HHH documentary filmmaker Renée Scheltema,Normal Is Over: The (2013) 80 min. DVD: $24.99 ($199.99 w/PPR). Movie initially appears to be a catalog of environmentalist griev- Dreamscape Media. Closed captioned. ances. But very quickly Scheltema establishes a tone of intellectual This documentary in the tonsorial genre is curiosity, drawing clear and accessible connections between glob- a wryly low-key film that features interviews al issues that are more typically approached as unique problems, with a number of, well, men with prominent including income inequality, climate change, species extinction, beards. Unidentified by name, the subjects in- the depletion of natural resources, corporate control of food production, and more. clude a performance artist, a biker/mechanic, Scheltema begins with the premise that during her youth in Holland, she was profoundly an academic, a musician, a fellow who likes to affected by an international coalition of scientists who wrote a report maintaining that dress up as a garden gnome—and the son of a sustained economic growth on the planet was not possible, and further predicted that barber, who just stopped shaving one day. The the entire system would come crashing down in another half-century—about where men (and their supportive women) talk about we are right now. The filmmaker interviews several of the original scientists on the the importance of beards to their self-image, report, as well as a small army of experts in sustainability, environmental devastation, as well as the mechanics of extreme-whiskers wealth concentration, and alternative currencies. Along the way, she reveals how a maintenance. From this rather casual prem- for-profit economy based on interest-yielding loans (especially compounded interest) ise, filmmaker Dylan Fries’sMen with Beards rapidly drives up the need to use resources while also concentrating more and more actually covers a lot of issues, exploring the money into fewer hands, leading to both poverty and ecological destruction. She equating of beards with villainy, virility, and presents these big ideas with frightening, real-world examples of poaching in Africa, power (although the last U.S. President with rising oceans, children living in garbage dumps, and dead bodies on the sidewalks of any major facial hair was William Howard New Delhi. Despite the bleakness, however, Normal Is Over maintains an overall sense Taft). One interviewee speaks of the Jesus of hope that communities can ultimately buck the destructive engines of globalization Christ/Charles Manson dichotomy, in which by becoming self-sufficient. A smart, thought-provoking, and timely film, this is highly a beard marks one as either a peacemaker or recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (T. Keogh) a barbarian. Ultimately, the cameras travel to the World Beard and Mustache Champi- onships in Alaska, where viewers will see an the challenges faced by today’s immigrant rebellious women). Other speakers include unforgettable gallery of faces. An enjoyable populations. Recommended. Aud: C, P. Christiane Gruber, a University of Michigan documentary that is a bit deeper than it (P. Hall) professor who talks about the history of initially seems, this is recommended. Aud: Egyptian street art, and Ammar Abo Bakr, an C, P. (C. Cassady) Nefertiti’s Daughters HHH artist who continues to adorn the streets in (2015) 40 min. DVD: $325. Icarus Films. PPR. hopes that Egypt will change for the better. The Multiplicity of Us: Immigrant/First Closed captioned. Shehab maintains faith that it will, but she Generation Women HHH Co-directors Mark Nickolas and Racha thinks it’s more likely to happen during her (2015) 15 min. DVD: free (w/$20 s&h fee; digital Najdi adapted the title of their documentary children’s lifetime. Recommended. Aud: C, download free). DRA. Third World Newsreel. PPR. from a work of Egyptian street art that depicts P. (K. Fennessy) In June 2015, 24 women in New York were Nefertiti wearing a gas mask. Anonymous brought together for a one-day video produc- artist “El Zeft” created this widely-reproduced On the Bride’s Side HHH tion workshop. The attendees varied in age, image in order to recognize the women of (2014) 89 min. DVD: $80: public libraries; but all were either immigrants to the U.S. or the Egyptian Revolution. For 18 days in $400: colleges & universities. DRA. Third World first-generation Americans born to immigrant January 2010, citizens in Cairo protested in Newsreel. PPR. families who had not quite mastered the art an attempt to depose authoritarian leader In this audacious documentary, the di- of assimilation. The Multiplicity of Us com- Hosni Mubarak. While they were successful, rectors—Syrian-Palestinian writer Khaled piles the results of the workshop: three short his replacement—the Supreme Council of the Soliman Al Nassiry, Italian journalist Gabriele films—Coming and Living in America, Borders Armed Forces—proved to be no better. Over Del Grande, and Italian filmmaker Antonio Inside and Out, and Luna’s Story: The Impor- the next 16 months, the police pummeled Augugliaro—meet in an apartment in Milan tance of Accepting Yourself—that detail the protestors with every weapon at their dis- with a group of their friends who have agreed cultural and emotional challenges the wom- posal. The filmmakers interview three street to bring five illegal immigrants from Syria en faced in becoming part of contemporary artists who expressed their views through and Palestine across Europe to take refuge U.S. society. Of course, it is unfair to expect graffiti: Mira Shihadeh, Salma Samy, and in Sweden. But none of the immigrants are first-time students to suddenly embrace the Bahia Shebab, a mother of two. Shebab does carrying proper travel documents, so getting intricacies of film production and churn out most of the talking, although she admits them across multiple borders would seem masterworks on their first go-round, so these that she isn’t creating art anymore. Shebab impossible. Unless, maybe, the four-day shorts are far more sincere than sophisticated. originally became involved as a way to offer journey is set up to look like a cross-conti- Still, the women interviewed on camera are support to her fellow Egyptians—especially nent wedding procession (and who would intelligent, frank, often funny, and more than women—during a time of great violence. As stop that?). Whether this is a brilliant fraud eager to share their experiences. Whether she puts it, “The street is the place where you or a harebrained scheme, the power of On they are dealing with family members who can reach the people directly.” She used sim- the Bride’s Side lies in watching this elaborate are not pleased with how Americanized ple graphic images to present variations on hoax come together and subsequently unfold. they’ve become or are trying to navigate the a theme, such as her series of “no” messages Along the way, the filmmakers spend a fair intricacies and eccentricities of the American (things people shouldn’t have to put up with) amount of time detailing the immigrants’ way of life, the women offer real insights into and her cat series (with the cat representing anxiety and presenting their sympathetic

JULY/AUGUST 2016 51 VIDEO LIBRARIAN stories of escaping war-torn regions. A strange an interesting look at a green concept that The Way We Talk HHH film about the hot-button topic of European could be replicated in other communities, (2016) 80 min. DVD: $49.95 ($125 w/PPR): public immigration, this is recommended. Aud: C, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Block) libraries; $295 w/PPR: colleges & universities. DRA. P. (P. Hall) Collective Eye. Closed captioned. Thule Tuvalu HHH Director Michael Hunter decided to make Power to the Pedals: Wenzday Jane and (2014) 92 min. In English, French, German, a documentary about stuttering after a friend the Culture of Change HHH Italian, Portuguese & Spanish w/English subtitles. asked him what it was like. In his voiceover, (2014) 32 min. DVD: $295. Documentary DVD: $39.99 ($125 w/PPR): public libraries; $295 Hunter explains that he kind of grew up Educational Resources. w/PPR: colleges & universities. DRA. Collective Eye. with the disorder since several relatives all Closed captioned. Wenzday Jones is a “wrench” (a loving stuttered at various times. Hunter starts by Climate change might still be an abstrac- slang term often used when referring to asking his brother Ryan about stuttering, tion for many people, but Matthias von bicycle mechanics). According to Jones, but the latter prefers not to dwell on it (their “bikes represent self-reliance and autono- Gunten’s documentary demonstrates that mother wishes the family had talked about my—and a way to take back our own power the effects are very real for some, includ- it more). Interestingly, home movies show as a community.” One of her specialties is ing the residents living around Qaanaaq Hunter’s grandfather stuttering, while the creating human-powered machines that ex- (formerly Thule) in extreme northwestern young Michael doesn’t appear to have de- cel at transporting cargo—and using those Greenland, and the inhabitants of the tiny veloped the disorder yet. Hunter next meets machines to change her corner of the world Polynesian nation of Tuvalu. In Greenland, with Dr. Dennis Drayna, a researcher at the one bike trip at a time. In Cambridge, MA the camera follows Lars Jeremiassen, a National Institutes of Health, who confirms (as well as nearby Boston), Wenzday—with 65-year-old seal hunter, as he and his neigh- that stuttering is an inherited condition. “This her equally hardworking staff in Metro bors struggle to maintain their traditional mutation is about 12,000 years old,” he states. Pedal Power—has pioneered a service that lifestyle even as the ice on which their live- Hunter also observes a support group for replaces a former function of fossil-fueled lihood depends continues to contract year adults in Japan and a summer camp for youth vehicles, using customized bikes (heavy after year (and the winter hunting season in North Carolina. The campers worry about duty—designed to either carry cargo direct- with it). In Tuvalu—comprised of three their prospects in terms of job interviews and ly or pull cleverly-designed trailers). With small and six atolls in the Pacific professions that involve verbal communica- many trips being relatively short—bearing that together encompass only 10 square tion, but the camaraderie with other stutterers cargo that is not that heavy—bikes have miles—the rising sea level has begun to con- gives them confidence. Hunter follows up by become a viable method of cargo trans- taminate the ground water with salt, killing joining a group in Portland, ME, where he port. Some of the cargo handled by Metro off the local vegetation. Some of the natives meets Ian, who becomes a friend, and Glenn, Pedal Power includes delivery of produce have already fled to New Zealand with their a speech therapist, who describes stuttering to farm-to-table restaurants, as well as families, but those left behind who lack the as “brain-based” rather than psychological. recycling runs (appropriately enough) and resources to emigrate are worried about Some of Hunter’s editing choices don’t make other forms of waste hauling. Filmmaker their children’s future. For both locales, the complete sense, such as a sequence in which Bob Nesson’s inspiring documentary also sense of sadness and loss is palpable and he conducts an interview while getting a looks at the challenges of running a unique deeply poignant. A hauntingly personal haircut, but people who stutter—as well as business in a competitive sector, while portrait of two regions that are immediately family and friends—will find much to relate also thankfully enjoying the support of threatened by global warming, Thule Tuvalu to here. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy) a progressive community. Wenzday has delivers a sobering warning about the fate proven that costs per pickup are less than that could soon befall many other places. trucking—with the added benefit of fewer Presented in its full-length version and an TEEN ISSUES emissions and lower investment in full-size abridged edition, this is recommended. garbage trucks for this purpose. Offering Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek) How to End Unhealthy Relationships HHH (2016) 16 min. DVD: $149.95 (teacher’s guide The Sex Trade HHH included). Human Relations Media. PPR. Closed (2015) 76 min. In English & French w/English subtitles. DVD: $24.95. captioned. ISBN: 978-1-62706-075-2. First Run Features (avail. from most distributors). This short guidance title opens with a Canadian filmmaker Eve Lamont takes a harsh look at the sex definition of healthy relationships, which vice business, mostly in Montreal, in this documentary that is two onscreen hosts describe as relationships markedly deglamorized from the Hollywood fantasies of Pretty involving common goals and interests, featur- Woman and striptease narratives. Montreal is described as the ing characteristics such as trust, respect, and place where more women are “sold” or transacted annually than choice. Unhealthy relationships, by contrast, anywhere else in North America, as johns are often offered cata- are often marked by conflict and double logues of females grouped by race. Author Victor Malarek states standards. Aimed at middle and high school that the Hell’s Angels, the Russian and Albanian mafias, the Chi- students, the program covers both platonic nese Triads, and Japanese Yakuzas all have in the Canadian human-trafficking and romantic relationships, using examples business, which overall is a more lucrative industry than international arms dealing. to illustrate the concepts (occasionally with Ex-prostitutes and former sex slaves here describe the desperation and degrading or- rotoscoping, which gives real images the deals that they suffered, and there is footage of a police raid on the high-rise crib of a heightened, abstract look of animation). flamboyant pimp (an aspiring rapper, we’re told). Even the seemingly more hands-off Miguel recalls that two friends asked him to aspects of sexual exploitation, such as topless dancing or porno photo shoots, usually help them cheat on a test. To keep the peace, lead to worse, the film warns. If the tone is finger-shaking shame-shame at times, there Miguel provided them with answers, and is also ample evidence that it should be. Offering a sobering look at the uglier aspects everybody got in trouble. Tia and Emma talk of the sex trade, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady) about friends who betrayed a confidence or spoke about them disrespectfully. In both

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 52 JULY/AUGUST 2016 cases, the so-called friends attempted to make them look small. In the romantic scenarios, Moving Up to Middle School, Volume 1: Getting a Grip on unnamed students describe bossy or con- HHH trolling behavior. Along the way, experts put Middle School (2016) 16 min. DVD: $79.95. Professor Child. PPR. ISBN: 978-1-61867- the stories into perspective. Social worker and 693-1. program advisor Amy Edelstein describes an unhealthy relationship as one that features A handful of students here talk about transitioning from pri- any kind of bullying, while clinical psychol- mary education to middle school. Chapters include “My Biggest ogist Robert Eckstein divides abuse into three Fear,” which range from difficulty remembering the various categories: emotional, physical, and sexual. classes to worrying about fitting in (and jammed lockers); “What’s Definitions and examples are followed by Different?”, which touches on getting up earlier, facing tougher solutions, which often involve leaving an courses, and receiving more homework; and “Expectations” unhealthy situation. Recommended. Aud: J, good and bad—including more independence, but also increased pressure to get good H, P. (K. Fennessy) grades. Also covered are “New Classes” (with discussion of the short time to navigate between rooms, and the offer of more challenging electives), and “Favorite Things,” which include better lunches, more responsibilities, and the opportunity to be “more What’s Your Beautiful? HHH mature.” A surefire discussion starter with real-life peers who will appreciate being told (2015) 22 min. DVD: $125. Educational Video Center. PPR. ISBN: 1-56139-162-X. that middle school is “not as scary as it seems,” bonus features include a PDF workbook. Recommended. [Note: also available in the series are Surviving the Middle School Social Co-produced by the New York-based Ed- Scene and Problems Solved: Advice from Middle Schoolers. Aud: I, J, P. (J. Williams-Wood) ucational Video Center in conjunction with HBO and the National Endowment for the Arts, this documentary focuses on selfie-lov- direct verbal or written threats—as well as each session, mentor and teacher sit down for ing EVC youth producer teens Samantha steps that can be taken to insure that threats a brief discussion of what has just transpired and Nang. Mainly featuring Samantha, don’t escalate into violence. Four dramati- in the class, reviewing how various elements What’s Your Beautiful? follows the 19-year-old zations here serve up scenarios revolving are designed to nurture the goal of improving self-professed junkie as she applies around emotional, physical, indirect, and writing skills overall. This modest production makeup (“It hides what I don’t want other direct threats, accompanied by illustrations obviously has a narrow target audience, but people to see”) and admits to self-esteem of actions taken to nullify the situations, most should prove to be a useful tool for relevant issues, mainly stemming from put-downs of which entail the involvement of teachers educators, especially in conjunction with from a past relationship. Secondary subject or school administrators. These vignettes are Dorfman and Dougherty’s book. Recom- Nang, a Burmese 18-year-old, frets about her followed by questions to help spur classroom mended. Aud: K, E, I, C. (F. Swietek) weight, and re-enacts her unhealthy behav- discussion. A timely guidance title on a trou- ior of starvation in an unfortunately lame bling topic, this is recommended. Aud: J, H, vignette that detracts from the seriousness C, P. (P. Morehart) of her issues. Professional input comes from Rutgers sociologist Elizabeth Ziff, who looks ENVIRONMENTAL FILMS at the subjects of selfies and self-esteem, and LANGUAGE ARTS DVDs | Streaming Christina Benavides of Girls Incorporated of NYC, who notes the media, social, and cultural pressures facing women around the Getting Into Grammar HHH % Summer globe. A low-budget film with a light but also (2015) 90 min. DVD: $195. Stenhouse Publishers. 50 direct tone and engaging subjects, this is a PPR. ISBN: 978-1-62531-055-2. off surefire discussion-starter. Recommended. Aimed at K-6 writing teachers dedicated Sale Aud: H, C, P. (J. Williams-Wood) to improving their instructional methods, VIDEO LIBRARIAN Getting Into Grammar includes two sets of classroom exercises filmed at the Upper Reviewed Films 2015/2016 EDUCATION Moreland School District in the northern suburbs. In the first section, USE CODE AT CHECKOUT: summer50 Dr. Lynne Dorfman, who has written exten- sively on mentor texts, joins second-grade ««««««« (conflict resolution, dams) School Violence: You Can Help Prevent teacher Maribeth Batcho for sessions with A River Between Us It! HHH her students on prepositional phrases. In the Bluebird Man (citizen science) (2016) 17 min. DVD: $149.95. Mazzarella Media. second, Diane Dougherty, who co-authored The High Cost of Cheap Gas (fracking) PPR. Grammar Matters: Lessons, Tips & Conversa- The ever-increasing rise in school violence tions Using Mentor Texts, K-6 with Dorfman, The Greenhouse of the Future (how-to) across the United States, both student-on-stu- joins fifth-grade teacher Dan Monaghan The Family Farm (family farms in Canada) dent and student-on-teacher, is cause for and his class for discussions about proper Red Ice (climate change) alarm. Regardless, students and teachers often paragraphs. In each case, the methodology don’t take action when warning signs arise, blends interactive conversations with the The Climate Blueprint (climate change) either due to complacency or a dismissal of class as a whole—using projected texts as potential threats as benign or merely sensa- a basis—and periods during which the stu- tionalistic acts of teenage aggression. This dents are given the opportunity to work in- short instructional program looks at how to dependently, as the teachers roam the room www.greenplanetfilms.org recognize warning signs—from less-direct to answer questions and make suggestions (a indicators of possible violence such as a stu- technique that keeps students engaged as a 415-377-5471 dent’s sudden shift in mood and/or obsession group while also allowing the instructors to [email protected] with death, to immediate dangers including attend to individual needs). At the close of

JULY/AUGUST 2016 53 VIDEO LIBRARIAN of massive sharks large enough to devour a viding a haven for rare animals such as the NATURE, MATH & SCIENCE whale). A solid overview of how rocks and tree-climbing raccoon-like coatis, and the minerals sculpted our world—with change tapir, the latter an odd-looking descendant the only constant—this is recommended. of the ancient horse and rhino. It is estimated Life’s Rocky Start HHH Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees) that Iguacu also contains almost 800 species (2016) 60 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.99 w/PPR). PBS of butterflies, although less than 300 have Video. SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-62789-627-6. The Megafalls of Iguacu HHH been identified. Scientists and researchers are on an urgent hunt to map and document Although rocks and minerals are perceived (2016) 60 min. DVD: $24.99. PBS Video. SDH Iguacu’s animals (the Great River Otter may as cold, dead objects, they form the building captioned. ISBN: 978-1-62789-572-9. have already disappeared; an expedition here blocks of life as we know it. Filmmaker Doug Nearly the size of Niagara Falls, yields no sightings), retaining the hope that Hamilton’s PBS-aired NOVA documentary the megafalls at Iguacu—powered by 300 Iguacu’s diversity of life—from tarantulas describes how Earth’s expanding “soup of individual falls draining its nearby forests, to the colorful but “pushy” toucan—can yet chemicals” evolved in an “epic history,” and located along the border of Brazil and be saved. Looking at the effects of climate which began some 4.5 billion years ago when Argentina—is a World Heritage site and one change while offering eye-catching views our molten planet was created from rocks and of nature’s biological hot spots. Formed when of the many attractions of this little-known dust dating back to the creation of the solar flows hardened into basalt, the environ- area, this program will appeal to nature lov- system. (Nothing on Earth survives from that ment around the falls is critically endangered ers and armchair travelers. Recommended. period, although asteroids provide valuable, due to wildlife poaching and deforestation Aud: P. (S. Rees) if also dangerous, reminders of the solar sys- (only seven percent of the rainforest remains). tem’s violent history.) Dr. Robert Hazen has Directed by Christian Baumeister, this PBS- divided Earth’s history into six stages, ranging aired documentary describes the wonders of Moose: Life of a Twig Eater HHH Iguacu, where mist from the thunderous falls (2016) 60 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.99 w/PPR). PBS from the lifeless “black” period, to today’s Video. SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-62789-611-5. “green” stage, which is host to diverse animal gives abundant moisture to the surrounding life forms. The film notes that Charles Darwin forests. One of the region’s most elusive crea- In the wilds of Canada’s Jasper National speculated that life probably began in a warm, tures is the jaguar, now in steep decline due to Park, the moose is a majestic resident, al- shallow pond, but recent evidence suggests the illegal demand for its colorful pelts. Here, though its numbers have seriously declined that deep sea volcanic vents known as hy- researchers place infrared sensors around the in recent years. Much of the moose’s survival drothermals could be equally important. The forest, hoping to catch a glimpse of the jag- depends on the nurturing skills of - camera journeys from Yosemite to Australia uar’s secret life. The scaly river reptile known er as she raises her calf, and only about 30 and Morocco, showing fossils and minerals as the caiman is hunted both for food and percent of moose calves survive their first while also illustrating how life and rocks leather goods, and—like many of Iguacu’s year. Hosted by Hugo Kitching, this PBS-aired Nature documentary by Susan Fleming fol- have been intertwined throughout history. residents—is very sensitive to water pollution lows the fortunes of two pairs of mothers and Oxygen would help supersize animals (the caused by local farms. Fortunately, much of their calves. Moose are plant eaters who must cliffs along the Chesapeake Bay reveal teeth Iguacu remains remote or inaccessible, pro- consume twigs while they can, saving and storing energy for the long barren months when snow covers the vegetation. Expert Journey to Space HHH swimmers, moose can dive deep to consume (2015) 45 min. Blu-ray: $19.99. Shout! Factory (avail. from most the sodium-rich plants they . Calves distributors). SDH captioned. must stay close to their mothers, but many “We are the species that explores,” intones Patrick Stewart, still fall victim to hungry wolves and bears. A part-time narrator of filmmaker Mark Krenzien’s IMAX doc- calf born earlier in the season stands a better umentary, which combines an overview of NASA’s shuttered chance of survival; unfortunately, one of the shuttle program with a look at ongoing preparations for a journey calves here was born too late and being too to Mars. Sharing narration duties is Chris Ferguson (commander small to defend herself is eventually killed of the final shuttle mission) and Serena Aunon (a new astronaut by a wolf pack. The older moose must also who might possibly be part of a future Mars mission). Conceived contend with the effects of climate change, in the 1970s as “winged delivery trucks” to put equipment into orbit, space shuttles which reduces the availability of the plants operated from 1981-2011, and were responsible for helping create the International they eat. Many moose are also doomed by Space Station and MIR. Tragedy struck in 1986 and 2003, with the losses of Chal- a nasty parasite known as the brainworm, lenger and Columbia, respectively, and the global recession of 2008 contributed to which burrows through the moose’s brain, belt-tightening at NASA. The space shuttle history served up here is fairly thumbnail, destroying motor skills and essentially turn- while the space station footage (astronauts playing with food, exercising, and sailing ing them into zombie-like creatures before through narrow corridors in zero gravity) is overly familiar. But the film picks up in they die. If the calf survives the first year or the second half as it looks at the technical challenges involved in a trip to Mars and so, it becomes a victim of the mother’s “tough talks about the basics of colonization (readers of Robinson’s landmark love,” as she shuns and drives it away to sur- Mars trilogy—Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars—will find this material interesting). vive on its own, while preparing for another Mars, which has less than 40% of Earth’s gravity, will pose unique problems, begin- newborn (males seem to play little or no role ning with the simple physical toll on the body during a projected two-and-a-half year in a calf’s life). Offering many rare views of roundtrip to the Red Planet. Viewers will see current work on a wide range of NASA the intimate relationship between mother projects—from redesigning space suits to creating an inflatable habitat that will also and offspring, this nature documentary is feature protection from the potential radiation of solar flares. Like most IMAX films, recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees) Journey to Space is more about sweeping visuals than narrative, but space buffs should enjoy. Extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette, and a photo gallery. Also available Mystery Beneath the Ice HHH in a 4K UHD and 3D Blu-ray edition (which includes a standard Blu-ray disc), this is (2016) 60 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.99 w/PPR). PBS recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman) Video. SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-62789-628-3. Under the south Antarctic ice pack,

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 54 JULY/AUGUST 2016 whales, seals, and penguins are nurtured by a tiny, shrimp-like creature known as krill. Life Story HHH1/2 Antarctic krill sometimes number as many (2015) 2 discs. 312 min. DVD: $24.98; Blu-ray: $29.98. BBC Worldwide Ltd. (avail. from most distributors). SDH captioned. as 500 trillion (a whale can consume one million krill in a single meal), but in recent The inimitable David Attenborough hosts this latest BBC years it is estimated that the krill population Earth series offering another visually eye-popping journey may have declined by as much as 90 per- through the animal kingdom—a project that took four years, cent. Filmmaker David Sington’s PBS-aired spanned six continents, and visited 26 countries. Divided into NOVA documentary joins 50 scientists on an six chapters following various species from birth (“First Steps”) ice-breaking ship bound on an urgent quest to adulthood (“Parenthood”), the show captures a number of to determine why krill numbers are declining, behaviors that have never been filmed before, ranging from and what, if anything, can be done about it. an arctic fox snow-diving for lemmings underground, to a The conditions are forbidding, with wind Japanese pufferfish creating an incredibly complex crop-circle-like design on the chill sometimes exceeding 50 degrees below seabed that is used to attract a mate. Each episode covers a handful of animal spe- zero. The project will involve cutting a hole in cies—cutting back and forth between locales to tell dramatic stories—starting with the sea ice, and hopefully locating the krill’s an incredible sequence in which Barnacle goslings born on a rocky tower must fall massive red clouds near the surface, where some 300 feet to the ground below in order to begin their lives. Naturally, not all of they feed on algae and microscopic life-forms the chicks will make it, and this brings up a fair criticism of Life Story: namely, its known as phytoplankton. The health of the continuous (and predictable) scenes of animals in danger, always accompanied by krill depends on adequate ice coverage, which ominous music while Attenborough’s voice drops into a lower register—sequences is needed to breed as well as feed. However, that are manipulatively edited for maximum emotional impact, featuring writing due to climate change, the ice is freezing later that is (in a word) cheesy. But the stunning cinematography, with intrepid film- and melting earlier. After the divers descend makers following a bonobo troop deep into the Congolese forest, or the long-eared they find that, far from being a desolate world, jerboa in the Gobi Desert, or meerkats fighting a scorpion in South Africa, easily the sea teems with life. One diver calls it an trumps the boilerplate writing and nature-red-in-tooth-and-claw ratings-boosting “out of body” (almost psychedelic) experi- segments. Extras include a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how camera crews ence, and the cameras capture stunning, were able to get their jaw-dropping footage, an interview with Attenborough, and multi-colored views of this cathedral of ice. a short sequence of Attenborough’s very close-up encounter with meerkats. Highly Apparently, the underside of the ice provides recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman) a “phytoplankton popsicle” for the hungry krill. Scientists struggle to remain optimistic,

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Narrated by Patrick Stewart. Experience the most incredible Winner of Best Film Narrated by Ewan McGregor. Spectacular visuals take the migration on Earth… and one man’s and Best Cinematography “Stunning shots that are both intimate (Giant Screen Cinema Association) viewers into the wonders of space. search to unravel its mystery. and intense.” – The Boston Globe A steam train journey through UPC: 8-26663-16680-4 “A must see” – The Seattle Times UPC: 8-26663-16676-7 the breathtaking vistas of SRP: $19.99 UPC: 8-26663-16832-7 the Canadian Rockies. SRP: $19.99 SRP: $19.99 UPC: 8-26663-16836-5 SRP: $19.99 shoutfactory.com Journey To Space © Copyright MMXV by Journey to Space L.L.C. All Rights Reserved.; Flight Of The Butterflies ©MMXII SK Films Inc.; Rocky Mountain Express © 2011 Age of Steam Film Company. All Rights Reserved.; Humpback Whales Copyright 2015 MacGillivray Freeman Films and Pacific Life Insurance Company.

JULY/AUGUST 2016 55 VIDEO LIBRARIAN es—Autism in America concentrates on those who are autistic and their caregivers (mostly Why Help? The Story of the Babblers HHH1/2 mothers and fathers), with the latter given (2015) 27 min. In Hebrew w/English subtitles. DVD: $49: public the opportunity here to talk about their own libraries & high schools; $99: colleges & universities. DRA. Green Planet Films. PPR. Closed captioned. experiences and offer advice to others who might find themselves in similar situations. It’s always tempting to ascribe human qualities to members Moving but never maudlin, the film empha- of the animal kingdom. Filmmaker Arnon Dattner’s Why sizes that while dealing with autism is defi- Help? The Story of the Babblers certainly suggests that Arabian nitely not an easy task, it is still one that can babblers—birds filmed here in an Israeli desert—are models of be undertaken with enthusiasm and hope. altruism. After all, they are extremely close and collaborative, Although many matters are discussed—diet, literally stumbling over one another in an earnest effort to stay for instance—particular stress is put on the huddled for warmth. Individuals fight hard for food (usually special demands that autistic children place grubs) but then give it to another adult or feed it to some other babbler’s offspring. on the public educational system (the Brown Male babblers volunteer to keep watch from the tallest trees, guarding against pred- Center for Autism in Nashville—the city ator attacks while other babblers forage. It appears that babblers represent an ideal where the documentary’s production com- within nature of selflessness. But is that really the case? Why Help? examines the pany is located—is repeatedly mentioned as deeper motives within this avian society, drawing on the work of longtime researcher a site where innovative teaching techniques Professor Amotz Zahevi, who explains that altruism among babblers is an effective have been developed). While Autism in way to maintain hierarchy in lieu of fighting, since fighting would not be in the col- America is occasionally repetitive, it ulti- lective interest. When we observe one babbler give his grub to another male babbler, mately provides a profoundly personal and what’s really going on is that the giver happens to be ranked above the recipient practical introduction to the subject, while and is underscoring his superiority through sharing rather than defending his place (the lower-ranked bird would never offer food to one above him, as this would be also refusing to wade into the confusing tantamount to rebellion). Similarly, the babbler who sits in a tree and keeps watch and divisive question of what has caused the for danger is maintaining his position over the rest; if a higher-ranked bird wants the contemporary explosion in cases of autism. job instead, the original guard will move on. The amazing camerawork here crawls Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek) into tight spaces to witness nest activity, captures fights between rival groups, and observes babblers ganging up on a snake. A fascinating and insightful documentary FOOD & SPIRITS that will make viewers think twice about how to interpret animal behavior, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (T. Keogh)

The Farmer and the Chef HHH1/2 but climate change is a long-term problem which she adjusted well to, but still needed to (2015) 65 min. DVD: $199. DRA. Filmakers and since krill are not likely to change their learn socialization skills with other dolphins Library (dist. by Alexander Street Press). PPR. breeding and feeding habits, the question (returning her to the wild was not an option). Cynthia Sandberg, a lawyer in Northern now is whether humankind can change (no- Eventually, Winter’s fame spread, after which California, opted to give up her career to tably by lessening our addiction to fossil fuels) people came to see and sometimes swim with become a stay-at-home mother. She tended in time to save the krill and the web of life it her. At this point in the film, however, the a vegetable garden at home as a hobby, but sustains. An informative documentary that focus becomes rather disjointed, shifting to her talent in growing succulent heirloom carries an urgent environmental message, humans rather than the dolphin, and un- tomatoes reached Michelin-starred chef Da- this is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees) necessarily repeating the stories of visitors, vid Kinch of the ritzy Manresa restaurant in including wounded military veterans who Los Gatos, CA. Initially, she was hesitant to found their lives changed by Winter. A more allow Kinch to sample her tomatoes—would Winter: The Dolphin That Can HH1/2 concise approach would have served the someone with such a discriminating palate (2015) 95 min. DVD: $9.95. Clearwater Marine Aquarium (dist. by The AV Cafe). subject better. A strong optional purchase. be impressed with the tomatoes from an am- Aud: P. (S. Rees) ateur garden? The answer, to both Sandberg In 2005, a baby dolphin became entangled and Kinch’s surprise, was affirmative. Under in a crab line near Cape Canaveral, , Kinch’s encouragement, Sandberg expanded damaging its mouth and tail. The dolphin, HEALTH & FITNESS her agricultural output by launching Love later named Winter, was rushed to the Apple Farms, an 80-acre operation that would Clearwater Marine Aquarium on Florida’s eventually produce over 300 products—with west coast, where she was nurtured by “crab HHH Kinch’s restaurant becoming one of her chief walking” her around the pool, and nursing Autism in America (2015) 87 min. DVD: $39: public libraries; $129: customers. Mike Whalen’s documentary her from a bottle. Unfortunately, she even- high schools; $250: colleges & universities. DRA. works on many different levels: as an intel- tually lost most of her tail. Filmmaker David Green Planet Films. PPR. Closed captioned. ligent study of contemporary agriculture, Yates’s documentary profile, produced by the Autism among American children has with a focus on the value of local-grown aquarium and hosted by teenager Cozi Zuels- increased dramatically in recent decades, produce; as a life-changing celebration of dorff (who starred in the inspirational feature exponentially widening the number of fam- Sandberg’s unlikely career odyssey and her A Dolphin’s Tale, which was based on the true ilies impacted. Zac Adams’s documentary ability to adapt to highly unusual challenges; account of Winter’s rescue), looks at the facts primarily focuses on how more and more as a celebration of Kinch’s pursuit of culinary behind the story, as well as the inspiring effect parents find themselves trying to meet the excellence via his insistence on obtaining she had on humans who were also suffering challenges posed by this new reality. While the very best local goods for his gourmet cre- from disabilities. Some suggested that Winter not lacking in data—viewers will learn that ations; and as an intelligent study of two very could swim with an artificial prosthetic tail the term “autism” was first coined in 1943 different people working together in a mar- (having no tail, Winter had to swim with a by a child psychologist, and is still defined velous agricultural and business partnership. side to side movement, instead of the usual in very different ways due to the diverse An invigorating and entertaining film, this up and down motion common to dolphins), range of behaviors the condition encompass- is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 56 JULY/AUGUST 2016 is its style: while Jones provides plenty of BUSINESS & ECONOMICS thought-provoking material, he serves it up with the same mixture of puppetry, goofy animation, and satirical songs that he brought Boom Bust Boom HHH1/2 to Monty Python. Highly recommended. (2015) 74 min. DVD or Blu-ray: $200: public Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek) libraries & high schools; $350: colleges & universities. DRA. Tugg. PPR. Strange & Familiar: Architecture on The worldwide financial meltdown of Fogo Island HHH 2007-08 might seem an unlikely subject for a (2014) 54 min. DVD: $24.95. First Run Features Monty Python treatment, but Terry Jones—a (avail. from most distributors). founding member of the famed British A tiny island off the coast of Newfoundland troupe—here delivers a wittily instructive might sound like an unusual locale for mod- primer that situates the disaster snugly within ern architectural marvels, but that unlikely the framework of the boom-and-bust cycles scenario is the subject of Marcia Connolly and characteristic of a capitalist economy. The Katherine Knight’s engaging documentary. basic argument is that capitalism encourages The economy of Fogo Island, with a popu- episodes of irrational euphoria about profiting lation of fewer than 3,000, was threatened from a particular type of investment—leading by the collapse of the fishing industry. Enter to “bubbles” that prevent people from recog- Zita Cobb, a native who had retired after she nizing the risks…until the market collapses, earned millions in fiber optics. Cobb had the which causes a crisis. The bursting of the idea of building an inn and turning the place housing bubble in 2008 was, Jones points out, into an exotic tourist destination. She enlisted just the latest example—mirroring such earli- Todd Saunders, a Newfoundlander with a er events as the tulip mania in 1630s Amster- successful architectural firm in , to dam and the South Sea scam during the early design the inn in a way that would blend 18th century in which Sir Isaac Newton lost the traditional style of the island’s structures a bundle. Jones includes numerous excerpts with a modern minimalist twist. Perched on from interviews with economists such as stilts on the rugged coast, the new four-story New York Times columnist Paul Krugman—as building has—along with a group of artists’ well as the archival words of John Kenneth studios designed along similarly striking Galbraith—to help make the overall point lines—transformed Fogo Island into a trav- (singling out the “forgotten” Hyman Minsky elers’ mecca, with the five-star inn featuring for his dictum that apparent stability breeds a library, movie theatre, and gourmet restau- instability), but he also indicts the discipline rant. The film offers beautiful footage of the of economics itself for failing to predict such inn, studios, and entire island, combined with catastrophes due to a preference for ideolog- interviews of Cobb, Saunders, and some of ically-based models over real-world analyses the locals who have contributed their skills to (ruefully identifying Alan Greenspan as a furnishing the buildings (and thereby reviv- prime culprit). What sets Boom Bust Boom ing the economy in the process). The project apart from similar documentaries, however, on Fogo Island has attracted the attention of

Resumes, Cover Letters & Portfolios for Ex-Offenders HHH1/2 (2016) 31 min. DVD: $108 (downloadable instructor’s guide included). LINX Educational Publishing. PPR. How does an ex-offender find work in the job market? This brief guidance program offers a crash course covering the most essential steps for released to take in trying to land a job. No one here suggests that this will be a walk in the park for the formerly incarcerated, but the advice is clear and direct, including the importance of having a stellar resume, an atten- tion-grabbing cover letter, a fine-tuned social media presence, and an updated portfolio. The range of experts interviewed is broad—from career coun- selors who have helped place ex-offenders, to former prisoners who have successfully made the transition into a new career. Interestingly, the program encourages ex-of- fenders to omit mention of jail time on their resume (“your resume is yours to shine with”). If invited to participate in latter steps in the hiring process, that information will then be required as part of the application process (ex-offenders are encouraged to list experience gained as part of any jobs performed during incarceration—but not framed from the perspective of a prisoner). Although squarely aimed at a particular audience, the advice given here could easily benefit anyone with problems entering the job market. Highly recommended. [Note: also newly available is the more general title Resumes, Cover Letters & Portfolios.] Aud: P. (C. Block)

JULY/AUGUST 2016 57 VIDEO LIBRARIAN many architectural publications, as well as popular media outlets such as Newsweek and : Four Films HHH the New York Times. A charming look at how (2016) 5 discs. 419 min. DVD: $49.98 ($498 w/PPR from www. an infusion of imaginative entrepreneurial- icarusfilms.com). Icarus Films Home Video (available from most ism helped foster an economic revival, this is distributors). recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek) This set serves as a fitting tribute to the memory of idiosyn- cratic but influential Belgian-born filmmaker Chantal Akerman (1950-2015). Akerman is best known for Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai THE ARTS du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, her minutely observed 1975 study of the daily routine of a single mother and sex worker, but in addition to her fiction films she also made numerous docu- Art House HHH mentaries, four of which are collected here. From the East (1993) (2016) 87 min. DVD: $12.95. First Run Features records a journey that Akerman took into post-Communist Eastern Europe and Russia, (avail. from most distributors). while South (1999) focuses on Jasper, TX, where a black man named James Byrd was The intersection between creative work killed in a particularly gruesome fashion, and From the Other Side (2002) contrasts the and living space is explored by filmmaker attitudes of Mexicans trying to cross the Arizona border with those of locals who are Don Freeman in this ruminative tour of 11 determined to stop them. All share features that are typical of Akerman’s style: a lack homes of American artists—designed by the of narration, a penchant for long tracking shots from the windows of cars (traveling artists themselves and used as working stu- along streets, or the route over which Byrd was dragged to his death, or near dios that reflected their stylistic approaches the Mexican-American border), and interviews in which speakers are isolated in static in a deeply personal way. The sites range in single shots. The fourth film, Down There (2006), is markedly different, mostly consist- location from rustic New England to wide- ing of footage taken from the windows of an apartment that Akerman rented during a open Arizona, from architect Paolo Soleri’s stay in (although there are occasional scenes on a nearby beach), to which are unorthodox desert structures and tile-maker added her own musings on her life and beliefs. All of Akerman’s films demand patience Henry Chapman Mercer’s old-fashioned and attention; these four are no exception, but while often painstakingly slow, they Pennsylvania castle to the Hudson River also can exert an almost hypnotic pull. Extras include Chantal Akerman, From Here, estate of Frederic Church, which is laid out a 2010 interview with the director by Gustavo Beck and Leonardo Luiz Ferreira, and to resemble his characteristic landscapes, a booklet. A fine introduction to the documentary work of an important alternative and industrial designer Russel Wright’s elab- filmmaker, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek) orate gardens. An idiosyncratic but equally revealing chapter centers on Byrdcliffe, the arts-and-crafts colony founded in 1902 near 7th century and then proceeding on to the tion. Among the several dance styles captured Woodstock, NY. Each segment includes an great ecclesiastical edifices of the High Mid- here is a tribute to Buddhist deity Guanyin, a introductory thumbnail biographical sketch dle Ages—cathedrals at Durham, Ely, York, bodhisattva of compassion who sports many before presenting footage of the locale’s and Canterbury—as well as the ruins of the arms. A troupe of deaf dancers here invoke exterior and interior in slow tracking shots Cistercian abbey at Fountains. Interviewed Guanyin through movement, with a dozen that are occasionally supplemented by obser- experts provide detailed historical infor- or so women waving their arms in perfect vations from the artists’ relatives and friends, mation, while graphs and building plans synchronicity behind the main dancer to as well as comments by scholars. The idea that are employed to help clarify their remarks. create a magical and dazzling effect. The a person’s living space will reflect his individ- The latter part of the episode turns to the long-sleeve dance—with its lyrical, floating ual tastes is hardly one that applies only to castles of the later Middle Ages and the style movements of sleeves—is an integral aspect painters, sculptors, and architects, of course, of building that was representative of the of Chinese opera. The Dai people practice but Freeman persuasively suggests that in Tudor-Stuart period, with special attention many rituals involving water and rivers, the these cases, the houses that artists made for given to post-Reformation sites such as the fluidity of which has a mesmerizing influence themselves are as much an expression of King’s Chapel at Cambridge and the Burghley on local dance (the Dai’s “Peacock Dance” is their unique vision as their other works, and House in Lincolnshire, wrapping up with a an elegant solo piece that conjures the mys- for that reason are worthy of appreciation look at the work of famed architects including teries of the titular bird). Along with Aini, (and preservation). Extras include a photo Inigo Jones and Christopher Wren. Each stop inner Mongolian, and Han, Tibetan dance gallery and text bios of the artists and Free- offers only a thumbnail sketch, and even is also represented, the latter coming across man. Offering a satisfying glimpse of one the more extended profiles—for instance, as both earthy and spiritual, recalling the way in which art and life are inextricably York and Burghley House—are quite short. hardships of a culture that has been oppressed intertwined, this is recommended. Aud: C, But together they testify to the wealth of by many for centuries. Recommended. Aud: P. (F. Swietek) extraordinary sites for travelers in England C, P. (T. Keogh) to visit. The second episode, “The Age of Building England HHH Architects,” covers the subsequent 200 years The Merchant of Venice HHH1/2 (2015) 120 min. DVD: $24.95. Globe Trekker of British architectural history. Sure to appeal (1973) 128 min. DVD: $19.98. Shout! Factory (www.globetrekkerstore.com). PPR. ISBN: 1-937103- to Anglophiles and armchair travelers, this is (avail. from most distributors). 38-5. recommended. Aud: P. (F. Swietek) Jonathan Miller’s 1970 National Theatre Part of the long-running Globe Trekker se- staging of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Ven- ries’ 16th season, this lovingly photographed The Heritage of Chinese Culture and ice—considered a highly controversial work two-parter offers a survey of English archi- Dance HHH in the aftermath of the Holocaust due to its tecture, starting from the early Middle Ages. (2016) 67 min. DVD: $44.95. DRA. TMW Media arguable anti-Semitism—was filmed for tele- Hosted by the energetic Judith Jones, the Group. PPR. vision in 1973, and while the visual quality first episode, “Before There Were Architects,” Offering a fascinating tour of distinctive here is hardly outstanding, the performance generally moves from North to South, begin- dance styles tied to groups and cultures living still shines. With staging that updates the ac- ning with the remains of the Irish monastery in (or occupied by) China, The Heritage of tion to the late 19th century, this production founded on the island of Lindisfarne in the Chinese Culture and Dance is a colorful produc- stars Sir as the Jewish mon-

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 58 JULY/AUGUST 2016 eylender Shylock, a class-conscious fi nancier acutely aware of the indignities he suffers as a result of his religion. When approached by Bassanio (Jeremy Brett) for a loan to enable the latter to court the lovely Portia (), Shylock accepts the famous bond STREAMING VIDEO FOR ALL LIBRARIES of a pound of fl esh proffered by the young man’s friend Antonio (Anthony Nicholls)— and will ultimately demand payment of it, only to have the tables turned against him in court by Portia, who appears in the guise New, State-of-the-Art of a legal expert. Olivier is simply brilliant, producing an unforgettable howl of anguish after his fi nal departure from the stage, and while Plowright seems a trifl e matronly, her Video Platform! delivery is impeccable. Miller cuts some text and also makes some unusual choices— mostly successful (portraying Antonio as a world-weary older man) but occasionally not (turning Stephen Greif’s Moroccan prince See why into a caricature). Still, Miller’s sure balanc- ing of fi delity and imagination is impressive, 13 million while the contribution of Olivier—perhaps the greatest British actor of the last centu- users love ry—makes this an indispensable addition to any serious drama collection. Highly recom- Films On mended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek) Demand! HISTORY & CURRENT EVENTS

About Executing Eichmann HHH1/2 (2014) 60 min. DVD: $390. Icarus Films. PPR. Closed captioned. In 1961, former Nazi SS offi cer Adolf Eich- mann was sentenced to death by an Israeli court for his role in the mass killing of Jews during the early 1940s. Eichmann was even- tually hanged, but his execution raised moral questions among the Jewish intelligentsia of the time, and that debate has continued into “Films proved itself as the most comprehensive the present. There was no serious doubt that collection, with an amazing user-friendly platform…con- Eichmann, as one of the chief Nazi fi gures responsible for the implementation of the tinuous addition of new titles, superb playlist options, Final Solution, deserved to die. But some citation capability and much more…the highest quality raised questions about both the trial process and the effect that his execution would have video for a superb viewing experience…The individualized on Israel’s identity and perceived role in the playlists available through Films On Demand are incredible! world (wondering whether his death would I strongly recommend Films On Demand as your primary seem a matter of justice or revenge). Florence Jammot’s remarkable documentary assembles streaming source. You won't be disappointed!” a wide array of archival material that helps to place the overall discussion within the con- –John P. DeCaro, B.A., M.Ed., MLS, Library Services, text of the day—taking cognizance of Israel’s St. Clair College of Applied Arts & Technology economic problems and the political realities that faced the nation’s leaders, including Da- vid Ben-Gurion, but ultimately concentrating on the positions adopted by intellectuals such FREE Trial: www.Infobase.com/TrialAD16 as Martin Buber, Gershom Scholem, Yehuda Bacon, and Hannah Arendt. Many of them pleaded unsuccessfully for a commutation of Eichmann’s sentence, some arguing that Israel’s representation of an ethical ideal Facts On File | Chelsea House | Bloom’s | Ferguson’s | The World Almanac® | Films Media Group | Learn360 was even more important than statehood. Along the way, present-day philosophers and (800) 322-8755 • [email protected] historians revisit the debate, noting—and

JULY/AUGUST 2016 VL_JulyAug16_FOD_final.indd 1 59 VIDEO LIBRAR6/2/16IAN 3:02 PM pendence—are presented against images HHH of Abkhazia. But Gvinjia offers his replies Heroes: Saving Jewish Lives from the Nazis 1/2 on the soundtrack due to restrictions on (2016) 70 min. DVD: $19.99. Visual Productions (dist. by Vision Video). Abkhazia’s access to the international postal From Anne Frank’s famous diary to the chilling opening seg- system—mail can be delivered to this loca- ment of Quentin Tarentino’s , the subject of tion via Georgia, but no country aside from Jews being hidden from the Nazis during World War II has been the few that recognize Abkhazia will accept a recurrent theme over the past half-century-plus. This docu- incoming mail from its postal service. The mentary tells the story of how one village in France—the farmer presentation technique is initially awkward, community of remote Plateau du Vivarais—hid and protected Jews but the questions and answers are often in defiance of both the Nazi occupation and their own French invigorating and surprising, raising intrigu- police collaborators. Combining interviews, archival footage, ing notions regarding sovereignty, identity, and dramatic re-enactments, Heroes notes that the memory of and the challenge of being an unlikely the village’s actions remains very much alive today; even kids interviewed at the local pariah among the community of nations. skateboard park have some sense of what happened in the past. In one segment, a Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall) teacher directs a cast of teenagers in a play depicting historic events, encouraging the students to dig deeply into what people were feeling when they were apprehended and HHH sent off—first to holding facilities, and ultimately to concentration camps. In another Netanyahu at War (2016) 120 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.99 w/PPR). section, the background behind a letter written by unidentified schoolchildren to PBS Video. SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-62789- French police is explored—a letter in which the children clearly stated their disdain 610-8. for Nazi policy towards Jews and vowed to do everything they could to protect them. The relationship between the American Poignantly, survivors who were hidden in the area are also interviewed here, revisiting government and Israel has been tense the land and homes where they were kept safe during the most notorious act of genocide during the Obama administration. Obama of the last century. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (C. Block) has been committed to expanding dialogue with the Muslim world, while Netanyahu has adopted a wary, fortress-like view of sometimes regretting—the centrality of the showed in the immediate aftermath, even Israel’s neighbors, reluctant to negotiate or event to Israel’s sense of mission, while also as staff worked tirelessly to produce the compromise when he feels that his coun- emphasizing its importance in keeping alive next issue for its regular publication day (it try’s survival is being threatened. This PBS- the memory of the Holocaust. The film has immediately sold out). But they also note aired Frontline documentary, directed by a few technical flaws—at one point an En- ruefully that within days of the shooting Michael Kirk, examines the career of Ben- glish interview with Arendt is overlaid with an article appeared in a rival publication jamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, who spent much a French voiceover—but as a whole this is that accused them—and especially two of of his early life in suburban Philadelphia, an important contribution to a fuller under- the dead, editor-in-chief Stéphane “Charb” where he was raised by his college professor standing of a key historical incident. Highly Charbonnier and cartoonist Jean “Cabu” father, a man who felt exiled from Israel recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek) Cabut (shown here in a haunting earlier in- due to his conservative views. Netanyahu, terview)—of having incited the assault. The who has always believed that Israel faces a Je Suis Charlie (L’humor a mort) film—which gives no publicity to the assail- hostile world, left high school just before HHH1/2 ants—also emphasizes that the policeman graduation to participate in the 1967 Six- (2015) 90 min. In French w/English subtitles. DVD killed in the shooting was Muslim, and it Day War, and he was part of a team that hit or Blu-ray: $200: public libraries & high schools; closes with a moving tribute to the victims back after a 1972 “Black September” plane $350: colleges & universities. DRA. Tugg. PPR. that includes samples of their work, home hijacking. Netanyahu’s brother Yoni suf- The January 7, 2015 assault by Islamic movies, and recollections from colleagues. fered a martyr’s death in the 1976 Entebbe extremists on the editorial offices of the Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek) hostage rescue. For a while, Netanyahu was French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, which left 11 staff members and a police- Letters to Max HHH1/2 but he became increasingly politicized man dead, along with several other staff (2013) 103 min. DVD: $69: public libraries & high following the 1990s Oslo Accords, which members wounded, led to an outpouring schools; $150: colleges & universities. The Cinema spurred right wing anger over dialogue of support for free expression throughout Guild. PPR. ISBN: 0-7815-1518-1. with the PLO. Numerous demonstrations the West and massive demonstrations in The eponymous Max is Maxim Gvinjia, turned violent, culminating in the assas- Paris. Daniel and Emmanuel Leconte’s doc- former Minister of Foreign Affairs for Ab- sination of Israeli prime minister Rabin. umentary is a follow-up of sorts to Daniel’s khazia. Those unfamiliar with Abkhazia Netanyahu feels he understands the “DNA previous film Tough Being Loved by Jerks are hardly alone: this tiny Black Sea entity of the Israeli public,” resolutely refusing to (VL-7/15), an examination of the 2007 trial seceded from the Republic of Georgia return the country to its pre-1967 borders, in which the magazine had been accused following a 1992-93 civil war, but is only give up Jerusalem, or limit settlements of violating laws against hate speech by recognized as an independent state by Rus- in Palestinian territory. Netanyahu views printing cartoons of Muhammad. Je Suis sia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Nauru. The Obama as hopelessly naïve, and as prime Charlie—titled after the signature phrase letters that Max received are from French minister he never hesitates to speak out, used by those who filled the streets in a filmmaker Eric Baudelaire, who uses the addressing in 2015 the U.S. Congress in show of solidarity following the massa- old-fashioned notion of postal correspon- his perfect English, where he slammed the cre—recounts the 2015 tragedy through dence as the foundation for his highly Iranian nuclear deal, while also warning of news footage, coupled with wrenching original film essay. The texts of Baudelaire’s the dangers of the “Arab Spring” movement. interviews of survivors, including Corrine letters—which ask questions about subjects An evenhanded and informative profile “Coco” , who was forced at gunpoint to including Gvinjia’s unlikely career as the that does not view Netanyahu through the open the door to the office. They express chief diplomat for a country with almost prism of right or wrong, but rather sees him thanks for the outpouring of support that no diplomatic relations, the Abkhazian war at the center of conflicting worldviews, this the public, intellectuals, and politicians of secession, and the nation’s shaky inde- is recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 60 JULY/AUGUST 2016 TRAVEL & GEOGRAPHY Murder of a President HHH1/2 (2016) 120 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.99 w/PPR). PBS Video. SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-62789-560-6. Although James Garfield’s tenure in office was tragically Discoveries…America National Parks: brief (about 200 days), many historians feel that his untime- Colorado’s Spectacular HHH ly assassination deprived the nation of a potentially great (2016) 53 min. DVD or Blu-ray: $24.95. DRA. Bennett-Watt HD Productions. PPR. ISBN: 978-1- president. Directed by Rob Rapley and narrated by Michael 60490-206-8 (dvd), 978-1-60490-229-7 (blu-ray). Murphy, this PBS-aired American Experience documentary Another winning entry from explores the forgotten presidency of Garfield. Young Garfield Discover- ies…America National Parks—the extensive grew up desperately poor, and his experience as an officer high-def-filmed armchair-travel series from in the Civil War gave him a lasting hatred of injustice and filmmakers Jim and Kelly Watt—Colorado’s slavery, as well as a foundation for a promising political career. Garfield had no Spectacular offers an overview of parks that intention of seeking the presidency in 1880, but his formidable speaking skills led showcase the state’s incredible array of geolog- Republicans to draft him after many ballots in their contested convention. His shy ical wonders and ancient history. Located just wife, Lucretia, reluctantly agreed to support his run, but after his victory Garfield’s west of the nation’s center, Colorado boasts life was made miserable by constant battles with Senator Roscoe Conkling, who an abundance of mountains, rivers, canyons, ran New York’s spoils system in the city’s custom house. The new president was and sand dunes, as well as fossils and dinosaur also besieged by an army of office seekers, who demanded payback for their help bones. Among the spectacular sites covered in the election. Among them was the delusional Charles Guiteau. Abused as a here is Rocky Mountain National Park— child, probably a paranoid schizophrenic, Guiteau—after being turned down for two hours from —which straddles a patronage position—became obsessed and convinced of the need to “remove” America’s Continental Divide, resulting in Garfield from office. Buying a fine pistol he hoped would eventually be displayed distinct climate differences found within the in a museum, Guiteau shot Garfield on July 2, 1881 in Washington’s train station, 358-square-mile area that includes a variety as the latter was headed to a summer vacation with his wife. Garfield could possi- of wildlife and plentiful campgrounds. The bly have survived his wounds, but his friend Dr. William Bliss assumed control of Great Sand Dunes National Park & Reserve is his care, spurned all offers of help from other doctors, and introduced germs and an eerie wonder: comprised of 100,000 acres infections during his repeated probes into Garfield’s body as he searched for the in Eastern Colorado, the park offers the tall- assassin’s bullet (Bliss did accept help from Alexander Graham Bell, who used a est sand dunes in North America (how these metal detector in a fruitless attempt to locate the bullet). The documentary offers dunes got here is a prehistoric mystery, but a poignant description of Garfield’s long “wearisome struggle,” which ended when their ever-shifting shapes and photogenic ap- he died that September, after being transported to the New Jersey shore. Based on peal draw many visitors). Dinosaur National Candice Millard’s 2011 book Destiny of the Republic, and featuring actors Shuler Monument (part of which is in Utah) features Hensley and Kathryn Erbe as Garfield and his First Lady, this is a fascinating bi- the bones of at least 500 creatures from the ographical portrait that also includes insights on civil rights, income inequality, lax Jurassic period. An enormous slice of petrified presidential security, and the 19th century’s sometimes primitive medical system. mud from a riverbed is on display at a visitor’s Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees) center, dotted with loose bones like candied fruit in a fruitcake. The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in southeastern Colo- rado offers evidence of an entirely different, Sweet Land of Liberty: Memorable 18th-century connection here is decidedly tenuous, as it is for the next two entries. temperate climate that existed there 55 mil- Moments in American History—The “The Lost Colony of Roanoke” tells the lion years ago, including a fossilized imprint 18th Century HHH familiar story of the 16th-century Virginia of a Tsetse fly (now only found in Africa) (2016) 40 min. DVD: $19.95 ($24.95 w/PPR). settlers left behind by their governor, who and stumps of redwood trees buried in mud Marshall Publishing. ISBN: 978-1-936134-18-2. traveled to England for supplies and came from volcanic eruptions. Serving up a lovely This title serves up six capsule histories back to find his people had vanished. overview of Colorado’s national parks, this is of various episodes in America’s past, with “The Salem Witch Trials” covers the grim recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh) the first three playing like tales from an 1692 history of hysteria when Puritans in historical X-Files, while the remaining trio Salem, MA—taking their lead from a 1689 Sites for Your Eyes: Stockholm HHH1/2 deal directly with the formation of the na- publication on witchcraft by Boston min- (2016) 30 min. DVD: $39.95. DRA. Film Ideas. tion. First up is “Cahokia,” focusing on the ister Cotton Mather—commenced trials of PPR. mysterious titular city that existed in what women and men charged with witchcraft, Part of the Sites for Your Eyes series aimed is now the center of the U.S. from the years resulting in 19 people being hanged and five at travelers (actual and armchair), this entry 700 to 1400. Cahokia was comprised of six others dying while in custody. “The Boston takes viewers into the network of 30,000 square miles of urban center surrounded by Tea Party” is the first of the no-mystery fragmented islands in Sweden known as the farmlands, and was architecturally noted segments, delivering an historical account Stockholm archipelago. While many islands for a number of mounds that were used for of the 1773 protest in Boston Harbor that are formed by volcanic activity, this archi- various purposes. Viewers will learn that was organized by the Sons of Liberty, which pelago came about after polar ice caps melted Cahokia featured a social class structure, led to England’s King George III punishing and Earth’s mantle released enough pressure was overseen by a ruler, and that it devel- the colonists, followed by the Revolutionary to allow the land to rise above the water, oped a calendar system using wooden posts War. Also featuring chapters on of creating a unique and jagged combination in a Stonehenge-like circular fashion. For Rights and the nation’s early capitals, this of mini-coasts and ecosystems. Charmingly, unknown reasons, the inhabitants of Ca- somewhat scattershot program is also full this travelogue focuses on the people who hokia disappeared, leading to speculation of copious detail that will interest history call these jigsaw-puzzle-styled islands home, about diseases and other disruptions. The buffs. Recommended. Aud: I, J, P. (T. Keogh) including schoolchildren who ride a small

JULY/AUGUST 2016 61 VIDEO LIBRARIAN work, and the featurette Chantal Discoveries…America National Parks: Railroads— Akerman, with behind-the-scenes footage of Akerman preparing her documentary South. Magic, Mystery & Mystique HHH1/2 Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek) (2016) 61 min. DVD or Blu-ray: $24.95. DRA. Bennett-Watt HD Productions. PPR. ISBN: 978-1-60490-205-1 (dvd), 978-1-60490-228-0 (blu-ray). Janis: Little Girl Blue HHH This special entry in Jim and Kelly Watt’s acclaimed Discover- (2015) 105 min. DVD: $19.95. MVD Entertainment Group (avail. from most ies…America National Parks series focuses on magnificent parks distributors). that also feature a train line. Here, viewers board vintage trains to Janis Joplin (1943-1970) narrates her life witness natural beauty, starting with the Grand Canyon Railway, which hosts a 265-mile trip to the southern rim of Grand Canyon story through the voice of Chan Marshall National Park in Arizona (every day except Christmas). An old (aka singer Cat Power) in this affectionate but diesel engine does the job, but from April through September a steam engine—one of clear-eyed documentary from director Amy only 200 left from the original 100,000 built in the U.S.—will get passengers there. Berg, which aired on PBS’s American Masters The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado travels an old route once series. Marshall reads from letters that Joplin used to transport metal ores mined in Silverton and brought to Durango. Gorgeous long wrote to her parents, chronicling her rise shots of the train, with its steam engine and bumblebee-yellow cars moving through from outcast to rock star. Joplin’s siblings, a spectacular valley, are accompanied by footage of an annual event in which people Laura and Michael, remember Janis as being dress up in historic Western outfits amidst lots of hoopla and music. The Golden Spike self-conscious about her looks, but eager to National Historic Site in Utah is where the Transcontinental Railroad—joining eastward make a mark. Her friend, Karleen Bennett, and westward tracks—was completed in 1869, an occasion that was marked with an recalls that she couldn’t wait to escape Port honorary golden spike (now on display at ). Re-enactments of the Arthur, TX, where high school classmates project’s completion can be seen most days of the year, and the park features a natural bullied her for supporting integration (Aus- memorial to the many Chinese laborers who did so much of the construction. Also tin college students also voted her “ugliest covered here is the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which originally carried coal man”). After singing bluegrass in Texas, Jop- and passengers across the Tuscarawas River Valley to Akron and Cleveland (one can lin moved to where she joined travel that route now as a tourist and stop along the way to shop or ride bikes). Farther Big Brother and the Holding Company, part northwest, the Denali National Park—with its six million acres and tallest mountain of the Haight Ashbury music scene that also in North America (Mount Denali)—is crossed daily by the Alaska Railroad, which has included the Grateful Dead, which led to a been traveling from Fairbanks to Anchorage since 1923, offering plenty to see in the relationship with founder Pigpen. Clive Da- way of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife. Sure to appeal to train buffs and armchair vis of Columbia Records cites the Monterey travelers, this is highly recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh) Pop Festival as a turning point for the band, since their well-received act led to a record deal—and their 1968 debut, Cheap Thrills, ferry to classes each day (with an enviable which consists primarily of recollections by went gold. Documentarian D.A. Pennebaker student-teacher ratio) and a farmer who Akerman (sometimes joined by her longtime and talk show host here recall shuttles herself and livestock from island to collaborator, editor Claire Atherton). Added Joplin with fondness. But as her star rose, island, rotating the fields where her herds to the mix are excerpts of interviews with she and the Holding Company grew further eat—as well as delivering produce by boat and admirers such as director , apart, so she eventually left and formed the four-wheeler to local markets. Swedish law who expresses particular enthusiasm for Kozmic Blues Band. On her own, however, allows visitors to enjoy the islands—kind of her straightforward scene composition, and Joplin’s drug use increased, although she was like camping on public lands in the U.S.—and actress Aurore Clément, who talks about the heading towards sobriety when she formed here viewers will see a small group of tourists sense of female solidarity she felt with Aker- the Full Tilt Boogie Band and recorded Kris lounging in bathing suits on portable chairs, man. A number of themes emerge, beginning Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee.” This enjoying the sun and breezes of summer. with the fact that Akerman led a nomadic would become her biggest hit—months after Other titles in the series pay visits to hidden existence—she was Belgian-born, but came the accidental drug overdose that claimed parts of France, Baja California, Italy, Spain, to New York in the 1970s and delighted in her life. Berg effectively captures Joplin’s Canada, Senegal, and Western Scotland. working in unfamiliar locales, whether it highs and lows, as well as the some of the Highly recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block) was the American South, post-communist impassioned performances that made her Eastern Europe, or Tel Aviv. Another is her reputation. Extras include deleted and ex- strong connection with her mother, a Holo- tended scenes. Recommended. Aud: C, P. BIOGRAPHY caust survivor from whose letters she quotes (K. Fennessy) and who was the subject of her final film, No Home Movie. A third is her attitude toward cin- Knox HHH I Don’t Belong Anywhere HHH ematic tempo: she wanted viewers to deeply (2016) 77 min. DVD: $19.99. Trinity Digital (dist. by Vision Video). (2015) 67 min. DVD: $24.98 ($348 w/PPR from feel the passage of time. This last observation www.icarusfilms.com). Icarus Films Home Video is one reason why her films are challenging, The bloody and complicated history (available from most distributors). PPR. Closed sometimes forbiddingly so (Akerman’s best- of John Knox (1513-1572), a leader in the captioned. known film, 1975’s Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Protestant Reformation and founder of the A valedictory tone is pervasive through- Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, is a three-hour-plus Presbyterian denomination in Scotland, is out Marianne Lambert’s documentary on study of a single mother and sex worker who examined in this fast-paced documentary feminist experimental filmmaker Chantal repetitively goes about her daily chores). But featuring numerous experts. Knox received Akerman, who committed suicide at the age Akerman was unquestionably a singular art- a 16th-century education at the University of of 65 in 2015. Although Akerman was prolific, ist, making this posthumous tribute a most St. Andrews in Scotland and was influenced her films—both fiction and non-fiction—are welcome one. Extras include an interview by Catholic Church reformers, notably still relatively obscure. Lambert includes with Lynne Cooke of the National Gallery George Wishart, who was martyred for his clips from Akerman’s oeuvre in this profile, of Art on Akerman’s museum installation efforts, setting off an angry revolt. Knox’s

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 62 JULY/AUGUST 2016 Bannister: Everest on the Track HHH1/2 (2016) 70 min. DVD: $19.99. Virgil Films (avail. from most distributors). Closed captioned. Filmmakers Tom Ratcliffe and Jeremy Mosher’s thrilling doc- umentary recounts the long drama that played out during the 20th century to fi nd an athlete who could achieve or break the four-minute mile. In the end, it was English runner Roger Bannis- ter who shattered what many perceived as a psychological and/ Item #300055 Price: $79.95 Grade 6 - Adult or physical barrier to how fast a human could run. Fortunately, Bannister, now 87, is a participant here, with clear memories of “...-based Chef Marshall the experience. The fi rst half ofBannister looks at the conditions O’Brien offers a succinct primer on using of life in Britain from the Blitz years (featuring nightly bombings of the country by knives for culinary purposes in this Nazi Germany) through the lengthy, dreary post-war period of nationwide privation program aimed at both service and rationing. In the war, Bannister—like many other children—was sent from his city-dwelling family to live in rural locations less likely to be attacked by the enemy. It workers and at-home cooks who was during this time that Bannister began challenging himself physically, running for want to hone their skills. The bulk miles and riding his bike astonishing lengths to visit faraway friends. While at Oxford, of knife skills looks at cutting methods, the 17-year-old Bannister discovered that excelling at track was a way to distinguish while also detailing the proper ways to himself from older returning veterans who were grabbing up educational and career carve meat.”  opportunities. Meanwhile, as time passed, the quest to achieve the four-minute-mile – Video Librarian, 2015 became an international obsession. Bannister and others also note that by 1954—the Recommended. year of Bannister’s historic race—England was entering a new golden period with – Midwest Book Review, March 2015 the recent crowning of a new queen and Edmund Hillary’s conquest of Mt. Everest. 27 Minutes, Closed Captioned Suddenly, possibility was in the air, and Bannister became a part of the upbeat new UPC #846742005558 narrative. Telling the story of the run-up and the race itself in an edge-of-your-seat manner, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh) subsequent involvement in political events in 1957. After failed attempts in the 1970s and 1.888.455.7003 would lead to his arrest and exile to England, 1990s to stir interest in Wilkinson, Anderson learningzonexpress.com where he would participate in the Church of makes one more push, enlisting family mem- England and rise to the rank of chaplain to bers, her spouse Tess, and an army of art histo- King Edward VI. But the ascension of Mary rians and Provincetown collectors and gallery Tudor to the throne and her re-establishment owners to help uncover the truth about a of Catholicism resulted in Knox fl eeing to great talent. Various revelations—Wilkinson’s Geneva and Frankfurt, where his thinking art was shown around the U.S. prior to her was further refi ned by the ideas of Protestant institutionalization; her plans to paint in theologian John Calvin. Knox would eventu- Paris were cut short by her attorney; and she ally spearhead the Protestant Reformation in apparently invented a printing technique that Scotland that was at odds with the doomed was later credited to a male artist—are all part Tudor queen. Offering an absorbing mix of of a stunning discovery process. The slightly Reformation history and royal intrigue, this impish Anderson and the stalwart Tess are biographical portrait of a seminal religious warm explorers and guides, while several fi gure is recommended. Aud: C, P. T.( Keogh) allies prove to be colorful and entertaining eccentrics. Highly recommended. Aud: C, Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith P. (T. Keogh) Lake Wilkinson HHH1/2 (2016) 78 min. DVD: $24.95. Wolfe Video (avail. Pearl S. Buck: A Life, a Legacy HHH from most distributors). Closed captioned. ISBN: (2015) 45 min. DVD: $19.99 ($199.99 w/PPR). 978-1-942584-16-2. Dreamscape Media. Filmmaker Michelle Boyaner’s stirring doc- Director Robert Child presents a compre- umentary Packed in a Trunk tells a compelling hensive profi le of bestselling and award-win- story about the vindication of a signifi cant ning author Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973), who artist who was victimized and cheated out grew up in China with her missionary par- of her rightful place in history. Co-writer ents. During the Boxer Rebellion, the family and executive producer Jane Anderson spent returned to America, where Pearl attended decades trying to uncover the mystery of college, but according to Hilary Spurling what happened to her great-aunt Edith Lake (Pearl Buck in China: Journey to the Good Earth), Wilkinson, a prolifi c painter who was part of Pearl never felt at home, so she returned to a sizable art colony that gathered in Provinc- China. In 1917, she married John Buck, a etown, MA, every year during the early 20th Presbyterian missionary like her father, and century. A middle-aged Wilkinson was forced the couple had one child, Carol, whose de- into a mental asylum in 1924 (an attorney had velopmental disabilities placed her in special her committed and then stole her money), schools and institutes. Although the Bucks separated from her partner, and kept survived the siege of Nanking, they lost captive in a squalid hospital until her death everything, including Pearl’s fi rst novel. But

JULY/AUGUST 2016 63 VIDEO LIBRARIAN Jackie Robinson HHH1/2 Series Update (2016) 2 discs. 240 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.99 w/PPR), Blu-ray: $29.99 ($54.99 w/PPR). PBS Video (avail. from most distributors). SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-62789-618-4 (dvd), 978-1-62789-619-1 (blu-ray). The following titles are new additions to series that were previously recom- Ken Burns applied his documentary skill to the subject of mended. Titles are available from most in his highly regarded 1994 miniseries Baseball (VL-7/94). distributors unless otherwise noted. Here, he focuses on one of the most significant events in the history of the game: the signing of Jackie Robinson by General The latest addition Manager Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, which to the American Girl broke the racial barrier in the major leagues. Although the story franchise, Universal was dramatized in the 2013 movie 42, this four-hour treatment Pictures Home En- offers considerably more detail, while also covering Robinson’s post-baseball career as tertainment’s Lea to an activist. As usual, Burns’s approach is both conventional and signature, combining the Rescue (98 min., a mass of archival film footage and stills, sober narration (read by Keith David, with DVD: $19.98, Blu-ray/ Robinson’s own words spoken by ), and interviews offering context and DVD Combo: $26.98) interpretation. But it’s a technique that perceptively situates Robinson’s accomplish- follows young protagonist Lea Clark in ments within the realities of his time, explaining his connections with important an animal-poaching-themed story to figures of the 1960s—including politicians like Richard Nixon and John Kennedy, and save her brother in the South Amer- civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. Among the talking ican rainforest. See review of Felicity: heads appearing here, the most important is certainly Robinson’s widow Rachel, who An American Girl Adventure in VL On- shares candid, loving recollections of her husband. Extras include a behind-the-scenes line-2/11. featurette, outtakes, and a short showcasing a teen team, the Anderson Monarchs, inspired by Robinson. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek) Animal-loving fashionista Blythe and her pet pals are back in Shout! Kids her second, The Good Earth, would win the Four Days in Chicago (2013), centering on and Hasbro Studios’ recent addition to 1932 Pulitzer Prize. President Nixon would the Occupy movement’s protests against the the computer-animated series, Littlest later credit her for opening a door between 2012 NATO summit. Serious attention is also Pet Shop: Making Friends (110 min., America and China. Pearl’s marriage to John, paid to the making of the landmark Medium DVD: $14.95). See review of Littlest Pet unfortunately, was unhappy and did not last. Cool (1969), an ultra-realistic “hybrid” film Shop: Petacular Escapades in VL-11/13. Following a divorce, she married her editor, about a detached cameraman that Wexler Richard Walsh, with whom she lived in Bucks shot (and directed) against the backdrop of Also newly available from Shout! County, PA, not far from Carol. According the actual violence occurring at the 1968 Factory is Power Rangers Ninja Storm: to Dr. Peter Conn (Pearl S. Buck: A Cultural Democratic National Convention. Discus- The Complete Series (750 min., DVD: Biography), her humanist tendencies led Buck sion of these and Wexler’s other activist 5 discs, $22.98), the 2003 11th season to become a civil rights activist. Concerned works are part of a lengthy interview that of the Fox Kids-aired live-action martial about the low adoption rate for mixed-race Yates conducts with nonagenarian Wexler, arts series, which follows a trio of teens children, she also founded an adoption who argues vigorously that his criticisms of who double as students at a clandestine agency, and took on seven children herself. the U.S. government represent a truly patri- ninja school. See review of Power Rangers Despite her good works, the FBI branded her otic stance. Wexler also voices anger over the Zeo, Volume One in VL-1/14. a Communist sympathizer, although she fact that ISIS’s 2014 beheading of journalist denied the claim. All the while, Buck never James Foley, whom Wexler had met while Bubble Guppies: Fun on the Farm stopped writing, producing 80 books before filmingFour Days in Chicago, was being used (120 min., DVD: $15.99) is the most her death in 1973. A solid biography, this is as justification for increased military action recent title in Paramount Home Media recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Fennessy) in the Middle East—a disservice, he says, to and Nickelodeon’s animated preschool the dead man’s memory. Serving up a worthy series following the underwater-dwell- Rebel Citizen HHH tribute to a talented artist who had strong ing Bubble Guppies as they enjoy (2015) 76 min. DVD: $29.95: individuals; $395 w/ political beliefs that drove a significant farm-friendly escapades. See review of PPR: institutions. DRA. Skylight Pictures. amount of his work, this is recommended. Bubble Guppies in VL-7/12. The late Haskell Wexler (1922-2015) was Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek) one of America’s great cinematographers, an Hosted by Harvard Oscar winner for 1966’s Who’s Afraid of Vir- scholar Henry Lou- ginia Woolf? who went on to lens films such is Gates, Jr., PBS Dis- as In the Heat of the Night, American Graffiti, tribution’s Finding One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Days of Your Roots with Hen- Heaven. Filmmaker Pamela Yates’s profile Visit Video Librarian Online (www. ry Louis Gates, Jr.: mentions Wexler’s mainstream movies, videolibrarian.com) for more reviews Season 3 (600 min., but the focus is on the politically-charged during July and August, including: DVD: 3 discs, $39.99) documentaries that Wexler made over the Bonnie & Clyde, College: The Other Costs, explores the family trees of Gloria years, including: The Bus (1965), shot while Earth’s Natural Wonders, Good Conversa- Steinem, Bill O’Reilly, Shonda Rhimes, Wexler accompanied civil rights activists to tion! A Talk with Clare Vanderpool, Life Norman Lear, Neil Patrick Harris, San- the March on Washington where Martin Lu- Is Sacred, The Mine Wars, Robert Bly: A dra Cisneros, and Senator John McCain, ther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” Thousand Years of Joy, Terror in Little among others. See review of Finding Your speech; Underground (1976), featuring secret- Saigon, The Thread, Valley of the Heroes, Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in VL ly-filmed interviews with fugitive members and much more! Online-11/12. of the radical Weather Underground; and

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 64 JULY/AUGUST 2016 Japanese Anime Akame Ga Kill!: brutalization by gangsters. Kazami’s trouble- ego, girls’ manga creator Yumeno Sakiko. shooting interaction with his classmates (as Sakura has joined a small club of Nozaki’s Collection 2 HHH1/2 (2014) 300 min. DVD: 3 a kind of action-hero therapist) gradually assistants, the team responsible for the pop- discs, $59.98; Blu-ray: 2 discs, uncovers everyone’s back stories. Through- ular monthly Let’s Fall in Love. That group $69.98. out, the tone shifts from harem-comedy to includes fellow assistant Mikoshiba, a boy (avail. from most distributors). thriller-drama to fan-service cheesecake with who blusters confidently to his admirers Aired on TVs / casual nudity and panty flashes. But none of only to blush privately in embarrassment , this is the final this ever amounts to a very coherent whole, moments later (and this boy is who Nozaki entry for this superior “sentai” action series despite some subplots that are lyrical and bases his manga’s heroine on), and Seo, a centered on a team of super-powered heroes deeply moving. Compiling all 13 episodes girl with a golden voice, who fills the typical and heroines. In a corrupted Empire that from 2014 in separate DVD and Blu-ray edi- brash and clueless loudmouth role com- is simultaneously feudal and futuristic, the tions, rated TV-MA, and presented in Japanese monly carried by a rakish boy (of course, Night Raid freedom-fighters are dissident with English subtitles, this is an optional Nozaki bases a male character on her). As ex-military members and royal assassins who purchase. (C. Cassady) Sakura continues to fall even harder for are now determined to end the depraved lead- Nozaki, she learns that the tall, dreamy, ership. Often GMO’ed or -enhanced Gugure! -san: and deep-voiced object of her affection is with near-mystical weaponry, the team are Complete Collection actually rather clueless, although supremely practically a mirror image of their oppo- HHH serious about his chosen profession and genre. Each character is great fun sepa- nents, the “Jaegers” (the Empire’s most elite (2014) 300 min. In Japanese defenders). In a seriocomic running plotline, w/English subtitles. DVD: 3 rately, but it’s their interactions that create boyish Night Raider Tatsumi is romantically discs, $49.98; Blu-ray: 2 discs, the real narrative magic here, and fans of pursued by the Empire’s dreaded enforcer, $59.98. Sentai Filmworks shojo manga will find no shortage of know- the bosomy Gen. Esdeath (your anime (avail. from most distributors). ing winks and outright laughs sprinkled word-of-the-day is “tsundere,” a fearsome An absurdist comedy-fantasy based on a throughout the episodes, which are full of alpha-female who nonetheless succumbs to a manga series by female artist-writer Midori lovingly rendered everyday circumstances. crush like a schoolgirl). While Akame Ga Kill!: Endo, Gugure! Kokkuri-san centers on noo- Presenting all 12 episodes from 2014 in Collection 1 (VL-5/16) introduced the colorful dle-obsessed loner schoolgirl Kohina, who separate dual-language DVD and Blu-ray ensemble of violent and sexy warriors, this is so alienated that she pretends to be an editions, rated TV-14, extras include bo- one focuses on duels in which they kill each emotionless doll (and the character is drawn nus shorts. Highly recommended. Aud: P. other off. Even though it is literally cartoon in super-cute “moe” style to match). Kohina (L. Martincik) violence, the gore and dismemberment on performs a folk-legend ceremony to summon display are graphic. Extras include a hand- a traditional Shinto fox spirit, and winds up —The Maxim: ful of comedy shorts with simplifiedSouth with Kokkuri, a mischievous entity who de- Collection 1 HHH1/2 Park-esque caricatures of slain characters who cides that odd misfit Kohina needs him as a (2014) 300 min. DVD: 3 complain that the script didn’t strictly follow heroic protector. Other supernatural beings discs, $59.98; Blu-ray: 2 discs, the source comic books. Presenting the last 12 materialize to compete for spooky Kohina’s $69.98. Sentai Filmworks episodes from 2014 in separate dual-language attention, including a jaded dog spirit, a “ta- (avail. from most distributors). DVD and Blu-ray editions, rated TV-MA, this nuki” or household ghost in the form of an Given that teen hero action-packed and beautifully drawn series is old vagrant, and even a classmate who seems Shinichi looks a bit like highly recommended. (C. Cassady) to be a stereotypical UFO alien. Spirits can Marvel’s Peter Parker, it’s fitting that a pop- arbitrarily change shape or gender (enabling ular manga comics series inspired this grue- The Fruit of Grisaia: mild fan service). Along the way, the material some anime entry sporting a mutation-ori- HH quotes from John Carpenter’s Halloween and ented vibe that is less akin to Lee than Compete Collection Steven Spielberg’s E.T. for yuks, while also to during his horror-hap- (2014) 325 min. In Japanese w/English subtitles. DVD: 3 serving up obscure Japanese references and piest phase. Schoolboy Shinichi is one of an discs, $49.98; Blu-ray: 2 discs, inside jokes. Compiling all 12 episodes from indeterminate number of Earthlings infil- $59.98. Sentai Filmworks 2014 in separate DVD and Blu-ray editions, trated by brain-eating parasitic worms. But (avail. from most distributors). rated TV-14, and presented in Japanese with thanks to a tourniquet, Shinichi is able to A narrative-oriented vid- English subtitles, this odd but thoroughly confine the bodily invader to his right arm. eo game inspired this rambling melodrama. amiable anime series is recommended. Calling itself “Migi” and claiming ignorance Yuji Kazami, a muscular teen with the bear- (C. Cassady) of its origins (alien? GMO bio-weapon?), ing and fighting moves of an elite assassin, the creature grudgingly coexists with the transfers to Mihama Academy to be just an Monthly Girls’ Nozaki- schoolboy, granting Shinichi shape-shifting “ordinary student,” but the place seems bereft kun, Complete Collection superpowers in savage death-battles against monstrous, fully-possessed victims of the of teachers or classes (actually not HHH1/2 unusual in anime). The only other students (2014) 300 min. DVD: 3 parasites, who are carefully camouflaged are a group of enticing girls, each of whom discs, $59.98; Blu-ray: 2 discs, in society. Although driven by instincts of seems to have foreknowledge of Kazami. Se- $69.98. Sentai Filmworks self-preservation, the parasites also claim cretive Yumiko slashes at those who displease (avail. from most distributors). moral superiority over people, on whom her with a box-cutter; she’s the unwilling In a flustered attempt they occasionally experiment with terrify- heiress of a railway magnate. Voluptuous, to declare her crush to fellow high school ing detachment. Meanwhile, the changes mercurial, mortality-obsessed Michiru may student Nozaki Umetaro, Sakura Chiyo that gradually come over Shinichi begin to suffer from a split personality, or possibly instead blurts that she is his fan. In return, call into question his own humanity and spirit possession. Sachi is servile to the point Nozaki signs an autograph and then asks to alliances. Sporting several Walking Dead- of endangering her own life, while childlike follow Sakura home. Before long, Sakura is style twists, Parasyte is an excellent and often Makina—adopting Kazami as a surrogate sitting in Nozaki’s apartment, inking the fascinating series. Presenting all 12 episodes father—is traumatized over her own parents’ unfinished manga sheets of Nozaki’s alter from 2014 in separate dual-language DVD

JULY/AUGUST 2016 65 VIDEO LIBRARIAN and Blu-ray editions, rated TV-MA, this is jo anime about doing shojo anime), whilst ity that seem like Tolkienesque magical highly recommended. [Note: Parasyte—The dreaming of their pet project: a blockbuster creatures—the story centers on amnesiac Maxim: Collection 2 is slated for release on July theatrical cartoon fantasy entitled Seven Lucky hero Hakuoro (affixed with a permanent 5.] (C. Cassady) Battle Gods. The behind-the-scenes ambiance, cosplay-type animal mask), who has become insider minutiae, and references work both a benevolent chieftain, protecting his realm Rail Wars! Complete for and against the material, as only hardcore with the aid of an array of warriors (mostly Collection HH anime fans will truly appreciate. Compiling pretty females) drawn from numerous races. (2014) 300 min. In Japanese w/ the first 12 episodes from 2014 in separate This trio of shorts essentially adds backstories English subtitles. DVD: 2 discs, DVD and Blu-ray editions, rated TV-PG, and to the canonical battle-narrative. Urutori, a $49.98; Blu-ray: $59.98. Sentai presented in Japanese with English subtitles, winged female “priestess” (who resembles Filmworks (avail. from most this is a strong optional purchase. [Note: a blonde angel), adopts a war-orphan baby distributors). : Collection 2 is also newly available.] (the women warriors engage in nude bath- Many anime series fea- (C. Cassady) ing-nursing scenes). A weird aristocrat tries ture abundant T&A, but in this occasionally to marry one of the nubile heroines, but only steamy set (based on a book series) the “T” Tonari No Seki- with the condition that she drink a youth po- also stands for “trains.” Teen protagonist Nao- tion that will make her even younger (ugh). to Takayama aspires to become an engineer Kun—The Master of And some peaceful R&R is interrupted by a with Japan’s giant (fictitious) government-run Killing Time: Complete monster-hunt ruckus. Presented in separate railroad system, but instead his entire class of Collection HHH1/2 dual-language DVD and Blu-ray editions, train-ees are conscripted into being appren- (2014) 168 min. DVD: 2 discs, rated TV-MA, extras include a series of related tice workers in the railway security forces. $39.98; Blu-ray: $49.98. Sentai “picture dramas” (mostly using still shots). Filmworks (avail. from most Likely to be of little import to anyone other Naoto’s schoolmates in the Japan National distributors). Railways student academy program unsur- than the most rabid followers of the origi- prisingly happen to be a squad of outrageous- Comprised of 21 episodes running a mere nal series, this is not a necessary purchase. ly curvy girls—most of whom are eventually eight minutes each, this sublimely simple (C. Cassady) attracted to Naoto, even though locomotive 2014 classroom comedy (adapted from com- technology/trivia/timetables are his primary ics, using rather simple animation) centers on Yamishibai—Japanese passion. The adventures have the characters Seki, a slacker student—(aka, an “at-his-own- pace-boy”) who amuses himself at his desk Ghost Stories: Complete dealing with bomb-extortion threats, a royal Collection, Seasons One kidnapping, and typical Japanese “harem during dull school lectures by concocting comedy” misunderstandings in which Naoto elaborate tabletop diversions using toys and & Two HHH (2014) 117 min. In Japanese w/ is accidentally caught in compromising posi- games that he has smuggled in or fabricated out of commonplace objects. Seki (who never English subtitles. DVD: 2 discs, tions with nude nubiles (at least the abundant $24.98; Blu-ray: $34.98. Sentai train imagery resists the suggestive cliché of speaks) outrages and fascinates Rumi, the Filmworks (avail. from most streamlined engines entering tunnels). Com- prim girl who sits next to him. But despite distributors). her disapproval as Seki’s little schemes unfold, piling all 12 episodes from 2014 in separate Rather than featuring super-powered Rumi is the one who usually gets in trouble DVD and Blu-ray editions, rated TV-MA, and schoolgirls kicking demon butt, Yam- with the teacher for inattention. The situation presented in Japanese with English subtitles, ishibai is closer in theme to the old-time Nip- this oddball series is an optional purchase, is almost as ritualized as Wile E. Coyote’s pon horror anthologies, such as the live-ac- at best. (C. Cassady) failures with the Road Runner, although tion Lafcadio Hearn-inspired Kwaidan. The over the course of the series a strange bond CGI-assisted animation here simulates develops between the two schoolmates. Gag traditional paper-doll puppet-show cutouts Shirobako: Collection 1 references to other anime series along with HH1/2 in a series of 26 macabre shorts that are other esoteric bits of Nippon culture don’t related by a masked storyteller after school (2014) 300 min. In Japanese w/ detract from this inoffensive farce that will English subtitles. DVD: 2 discs, in a gloomy mid-20th-century Japan. Most $49.98; Blu-ray: $59.98. Sentai strike a chord with anyone who has ever been are rudimentary vignettes rather than fully Filmworks (avail. from most painfully bored in the classroom. Presented plotted tales. A tired salary-man on a stalled distributors). in separate dual-language DVD and Blu-ray train is the only commuter to perceive a A rare example of an an- editions, rated TV-14, this is highly recom- gruesome creature. A school copier mal- ime TV series conceived as an original and mended. (C. Cassady) function reveals a traditional, long-haired later spun off into manga comics (instead ghost. A carefree village boy sees the bad of the other way around), Shirobako is a OVA: omen of an umbrella-carrying spirit and realistic comedy-drama set within the Jap- Complete Collection fails to observe safety precautions. A Shinto anese TV-animation industry. Musashino H1/2 priestess heals a little girl of a …almost. Animation is a once-mighty production (2009) 85 min. DVD: $29.98, A cop’s ventriloquist dummy inconvenient- house—now reduced to minor status—where Blu-ray: $39.98. Sentai ly comes to life during a safety presentation. the eccentric staff struggle to complete epi- Filmworks (avail. from most And so on. Exploiting viewer phobias and sodes of their heroine-oriented chase series distributors). urban-legend dread, the material is longer . Crises include the friction between This set of three 2009 on style than substance, but there is no fan a CGI specialist and a director who favors OVAs (original video animations) acts more service and the violence is mild, even with hand drawing, a procrastinating artist who like a set of footnotes to the anime series the intense creep-out ambiance. Compiling must be literally locked in a cell to complete adaptations of Utawarerumono, which is a all 26 episodes from the 2013-14 first and storyboards, final edits lost in hard drives, cross-media franchise based on a PlayStation second seasons in separate DVD and Blu- and lessons in voice-acting and sound/fx. The role-playing game (spun off into comics, ray editions, rated TV-14, and presented in chief characters are five former high-school cartoons, and radio dramas). A feudal fan- Japanese with English subtitles, this artful girlfriends paying their dues in entry-level tasy set in humanity’s post-apocalyptic far and atmosperic series is recommended. duties in the animation biz (making it a sho- future—with evolved branches of human- (C. Cassady)

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 66 JULY/AUGUST 2016 Music Dance Antibalas: Live from the recitative interrupted by demanding arias Gesualdo: Death for Five (either sprightly or morose as the moment House of Soul HH1/2 Voices HHH (2016) 36 min. DVD: $16.95. requires), and very few ensembles. Although (1995) 60 min. DVD or Blu- MVD Entertainment Group the acting is rudimentary, the vocalism is ray: $29.99. Arthaus Musik (avail. from most distributors). excellent, with Sonia Prina (Artabano), Ani- (dist. by Naxos of America). The 12-piece Afrobeat cio Zorzi Giustiniani (Artaserse), and Franco In both his fiction and collective Antibalas plays a Fagioli (Arbace) all exhibiting great coloratu- nonfiction films, director live set in Daptone Records’ ra dexterity, and Maria Grazia Schiavo and has often Brooklyn backyard in this entry from the Rosa Bove equally impressive as the female portrayed obsessively driven protagonists label’s concert series, interweaving black- love interests, while the modern-instrument who have dangerously destructive tendencies, and-white interview segments between the orchestra plays nimbly for Corrado Rovaris. so it is not surprising that he was drawn to full-color song performances. Director Philip The production is from the 2012 Valle d’Itria the simultaneously lurid and creative life of Di Fiori employs fancy camerawork, includ- Festival in the Apulian town of Martina Don Carlo Gesualdo, the Italian Renaissance ing sharply-angled shots, deeply saturated Franca, performed on a fairly bare outdoor composer whose madrigals—featuring a chro- color, and blurred-out backgrounds on the stage at the ducal palace. The images are matic language far ahead of its time—were four-song brass-and-organ-heavy set list, rather dark and the costumes—featuring written, at least in part, as penance for his featuring “Dirty Money,” “The Ratcatcher,” modern military uniforms—are not espe- 1590 murder of his wife, her lover, and the son “Him Belly No Go Sweet,” and “Såré Kon cially attractive. But an alternative recording he feared was not his. Gesualdo’s music, large- Kon.” Trumpet player McLean credits is unlikely, so this will appeal to anyone ly dismissed after his death, was rediscovered a party he attended in London for intro- interested in the historical development in the 20th century and embraced as the work ducing him to Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, of opera. Presented in PCM stereo, this is of a genius by modern giants including Stra- who was a primary influence on Antibalas’s recommended. (F. Swietek) vinsky. Herzog approaches Gesualdo’s story jazz- sound, in which call-and-response for this 1995 film in his usual idiosyncratic vocals play a secondary role to instrumental Enrique Bunbury: El way. On one hand, he offers performances of interplay. Other speakers include singer and Camino Más Largo the music, courtesy of Il Complesso Barocco percussionist Duke Amayo, saxophone player HHH and the Gesualdo Consort of London, along Martín Pena, and 21-year-old drummer Miles (2010) 122 min. DVD: $14.98. with learned commentary from their respec- Arntzen, who joined the band when he was Eagle Rock Entertainment tive leaders, Alan Curtis and Gerald Place. only 18 (although he could play in clubs while (avail. from most distributors). On the other, he stages sequences with both underage, he had to leave immediately after- Alexis Morante’s music Renaissance re-creators and actors (featuring wards). Because Di Fioro keeps his focus on tour documentary—El Camino Más Largo a woman who haunts Gesualdo’s dilapidated the band, it’s hard to tell whether an audience translates as The Longest Road—centers castle claiming to be the reincarnation of actually witnessed the set while it took place, on Spanish rocker Enrique Bunbury, who the composer’s dead wife, and a chef and his especially since the musicians mostly look at has been making music for 30 years. After wife who quarrel as he discusses the menu for their instruments or at each other. Unfortu- playing in notable bands, including Hèroes Gesualdo’s wedding feast). Also included is an nately, weighing in at a mere half-hour plus, del Silencio, Bunbury established himself interview with the aristocrat who now holds this feels more like an introduction to the as a solo artist, but one thing eluded him: Gesualdo’s title as Prince of Venosa. Through- group instead of a full-fledged documentary, American success. At first, Bunbury started out, Herzog narrates in his typically deadpan despite the band’s spirited playing. Presented slowly by playing five U.S. dates a year, but style, translating for viewers as needed. While in stereo, this is a strong optional purchase. for the 2010 tour covered here, he goes all this may not be one of the prolific director’s (K. Fennessy) out to play 26 dates in 15 cities over the best films, it’s an intriguingly weird entry that course of two months. Bunbury’s back- fits nicely into his overall oeuvre. Presented in Artaserse HHH ing band Los Santos Inocentes includes PCM stereo, this is recommended. (F. Swietek) (2012) 2 discs. 189 min. In a bassist, drummer, keyboard player, and Italian w/English subtitles. two guitarists (Bunbury also plays guitar). King Priam HHH1/2 DVD: $39.99. Dynamic (dist. Instead of a private jet, Bunbury travels in (1985) 138 min. Blu-ray: by Naxos of America). a tour bus with his photographer girlfriend $32.99. Arthaus Musik (dist. by This is the re- and their cat. Although he could attract a Naxos of America). cording of Johann Adolf wider audience by performing cover songs Homer’s The Iliad pro- Hasse’s Artaserse (Hasse is or singing in English, he sings exclusively in vides the source material credited with writing some 60 operas from Spanish, which brings in Spanish-speaking for Michael Tippett’s 1962 1721-71), one of the earliest works to be based fans wherever he goes, whether the venue second opera, but unlike on Pietro Metastasio’s 1730 libretto (employed holds a few hundred or a couple thousand. the famed Greek epic, King Priam is a com- by more than a hundred composers over the Nonetheless, there are setbacks along the paratively compact work, yet one that also years). A seminal opera seria, it is set at the way, as Bunbury’s cat falls ill, Bunbury carries considerable power, as is evident in Persian court, and focuses on the efforts of himself suffers throat problems, and a Salt this 1985 film featuring the Kent Opera. General Artabano to gain the throne, first Lake City gig turns away ticket holders due The composer’s libretto centers on the by assassinating the king and then by trying to improper ID (they are undocumented tension between predetermined fate and to poison the king’s son, Prince Artaserse. immigrants). While he doesn’t miss any free choice. The king of Troy is warned by Suspicion, however, falls on Artabano’s own shows, it’s hard to say whether Bunbury a soothsayer that his infant son Paris will son, Arbace, who is not only loyal to Artaserse will ever find a wide audience in America, be the cause of his death along with the but in love with the new king’s sister (in especially if he isn’t open to some degree city’s destruction, so he orders a soldier to complementary fashion, Artaserse pines for of compromise, such as collaboration with kill the child. But instead the man leaves Artabano’s daughter). All ends well, with the an English-speaking artist. Presented in the boy with a shepherd, and years later couples united and Artabano exiled rather Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo, extras include Priam brings him back to the palace. Scenes than executed by Artaserse. The long piece behind-the-scenes featurettes and deleted follow depicting Paris’s kidnapping of Helen resembles Handel’s operas, with reams of scenes. Recommended. (K. Fennessy) and the major episodes in the subsequent

JULY/AUGUST 2016 67 VIDEO LIBRARIAN siege of Troy—the killing of Patroclus by Mika: Sinfonia Pop more famous Carmen, but it compensates Hector, the death of Hector at Achilles’s HHH with considerable lyrical beauty, especially hand, Priam’s plea for the return of his son’s (2015) 109 min. DVD: $14.98, evident in the lovers’ arias and duets. Orig- body, and the deaths of both Achilles and Blu-ray: $19.98. Eagle Vision inally performed in 1863, the work has a Priam. Tippett’s music is mostly martial (avail. from most distributors). complicated textual history; this 2012 pro- and propulsive, with the orchestral sound Lebanese-born, Brit- duction hailing from the Teatro di San Carlo dominated by brass and percussion, but raised, falsetto-voiced pop in Naples follows the standard edition that there are also some soothing interludes, singer-songwriter Mika— was cobbled together by Bizet’s publisher fol- including an aria for Achilles with only who sounds like a cross between Freddie Mer- lowing Bizet’s death—which many scholars guitar accompaniment. This is not a filmed cury and Frankie Valli—channels his inner consider to be corrupt. For those willing to stage performance but rather a recreation opera star in this 20-song 2015 performance accept this, however, the performance is a for TV, shot close-up from various angles, in the elegant Teatro Sociale in Como, Italy, good one, with vibrantly opulent sets and with occasional flashbacks and other visual where he is accompanied by a full orchestra costumes, sensitive orchestral playing under inserts (as well as some theatrical gore). conducted by Simon Leclerc. Eyebrows might Gabriele Ferro, and several athletic dances It all works nicely, with the vocalism by understandably be raised at the idea of taking added by director Fabio Sparvoli. And the Rodney Macann (Priam), Howard Haskin a symphonic hammer to such lightweight vocalism—by Dmitry Korchak (Nadir), (Paris), Omar Ebrahim (Hector), and Neil pop confections as “Last Party” (“If it’s the Patrizia Ciofi (Léïla), and Dario Solari (Zur- Jenkins (Achilles) especially strong, while end of the world, let’s party”) and “Love You ga)—is excellent. Presented in DTS 5.1 and the company chorus and orchestra respond When I’m Drunk” (“I only love you when I’m PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and vigorously to Roger Norrington’s leadership. drunk”), but let’s give props where props are PCM stereo on Blu-ray, this colorful produc- Although the picture format is standard 4:3, due: Mika in fact has a strong enough voice tion is certainly engaging. Recommended. the digitally enhanced PCM soundtrack is to hold his own amongst the soaring strings (F. Swietek) excellent. Highly recommended. (F. Swietek) and English horns, while the orchestral arrangements often take a suitably playful La Reine Morte HHH Matthäus-Passion approach to the songs (on “Good Guys,” (2015) 110 min. DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: $39.99. Opus HH1/2 an orchestra member rhythmically beats a (dist. by Naxos of America). (2005) 211 min. DVD: 3 pair of split logs together). Drawing from his discs, $39.99; Blu-ray: 2 discs, four albums to date, Mika serves up plenty Those who regret that $39.99. Arthaus Musik (dist. by of hits here, including “,” “Happy Tchaikovsky only com- Naxos of America). Ending” (earning him a standing ovation), posed three ballets (much- While many ballets are “Relax (Take It Easy),” and “Love Today.” loved perennials Sleeping written to existing pieces While this is not a theatrical extravaganza Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker) should of music, Johann Sebastian Bach’s long, with costume changes, a light show, or special enjoy this “new” work, featuring a score contemplative Passion According to St. Mat- effects—like Mika: Life in Cartoon Motion (VL- cobbled together by choreographer Kader thew seems a curious choice, and—judging 3/08)—this should still appeal to most Mika Belarbi, artistic director of the Theâtre du from this performance recorded at the 2005 fans, and might even please lovers of light Capitole in Toulouse, from the composer’s Baden-Baden Festival—not a particularly opera. Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital various orchestral works—mostly the rarely wise one for John Neumeier, artistic director 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 performed Suites but also tone poems (Fran- of the Hamburg Ballet. The troupe, dancing and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include cesca da Rimini, Romeo and Juliet, , and to a rather lugubrious 1980 recording of interviews with Leclerc and Mika (who was the Capriccio Italien) and even some piano Bach’s score, certainly exhibits stamina in a West End production of Oliver! as a kid). pieces (The Seasons). The libretto, adapted and skill. Neumeier, then in his mid-60s, Recommended. (R. Pitman) from a play by Henry de Montherlant, centers takes the role of Jesus in what amounts to on Pedro, a 14th-century Portuguese prince an interpretative Passion Play surrounded Les Pêcheurs de Perles whose romance with Inés—one of his wife’s by the company’s intricately choreographed ladies-in-waiting—leads his father, King Fer- responses to a succession of ruminative arias HHH rante, to kill Inés, which causes the prince to and traditional chorales. While there are (2012) 118 min. In French w/ rebel and, after seizing the throne, viciously English subtitles, DVD: $24.99, impressive moments, as a whole the ballet is Blu-ray: $39.99. C Major/Unitel punish his lover’s murderers. The story allows an oddity: much of the movement consists Classica (dist. by Naxos of for a good deal of dancing by the ensemble of groups dressed in simple tunics walking America). in what amount to throne room sequences about the stage in regimented units, or The Pearl Fishers is known where jesters take conspicuous parts. The individuals stepping out to shake, twitch, as “the other opera” by Georges Bizet, being principals—Davit Galstyan (Pedro), Maria or keel over in contortions—in short, very the only stage work by the composer apart Gutierrez (Inés), and Artjom Maksakov (Fer- little traditional dance is on display here, from his mega-popular Carmen that has re- rante) are all excellent, as are the Capitole and the solos lack distinction. Still, some tained even a tenuous spot in the repertory. corps and orchestra, who play Tchaikovsky’s viewers might find this combination of Set in exotic Ceylon, the libretto essentially music with verve under the baton of Koen Bach’s majestic score and Neumeier’s obvi- revolves around a romantic triangle, in which Kessels. The sets are fairly plain, with some ously heartfelt response to it deeply moving. Zurga, just chosen as king of the fishermen, curious touches such as ladder-like thrones, Others, however, will remain unconvinced reconciles with his long-absent friend Nadir, but the costumes (especially for the women) that the Passion According to St. Matthew ben- with whom he had quarreled years earlier are flamboyantly distinctive and colorful. efits at all from the addition of dance. This over Léïla, a woman who now returns as a La Reine Morte is not likely to become a rep- release includes two complete versions of priestess sworn to chastity. But seeing Nadir ertory item internationally, but this 2015 the performance: the final version, edited to again, Léïla’s love for him is rekindled, and performance from Toulouse—exhibiting an include close-ups and various perspectives, when the pair are discovered, they are both interesting combination of traditional ballet and one from a single-camera view of the threatened with execution—until Zurga or- and modern dance—is bound to appeal to entire stage. Presented in PCM stereo, this chestrates their escape. Les Pêcheurs de Perles balletomanes. Presented in DTS 5.1 (DTS-HD is a strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek) lacks the melodramatic punch of the much 5.1 on the Blu-ray release) and LPCM stereo,

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 68 JULY/AUGUST 2016 extras include a cast gallery. Recommended. ing with fans, associates, and members of that garnered press attention in the U.K., (F. Swietek) the Cryptic Corporation, the organization and led to a record deal for their debut. Still, that oversees the band’s affairs. Hardy also for every step forward, there were two steps Still Life at the Penguin uncovers performance footage and excerpts back. The film ends with their signing to At- from their unfinished film Vileness Fats lantic—a less than ideal marriage, although Cafe HHH (mostly filmed between 1972-76). For those it did lead to 1984’s multiplatinum release (1989) 39 min. Blu-ray: $32.99. who know them best for their music, Theory Stay Hungry. Although their signature hit Arthaus Musik (dist. by Naxos of America). of Obscurity makes it clear that the group is “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (used by Donald equally invested in film and performance art Trump during his presidential campaign) is Amusingly whimsical (the has copies of all absent here, the abundance of rare footage but also featuring a strong of their releases). Collaborators Penn Jillette, and colorful fan recollections make this an environmental message, who narrated shows, and Gary Panter, who entertaining portrait. Presented in Dolby Dig- David Bintley’s ballet—set to music by Simon illustrated record jackets, talk about their ital 5.1 on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 on Blu-ray, Jeffes—is presented in a colorful, exuberant own participation, while recording artists extras include bonus footage, interviews, and performance by the Royal Ballet in this such as Mickey Melchiondo and Les Clay- performances. Recommended. (K. Fennessy) 1989 film made for Thames Television. In pool discuss how the band influenced their the mid-‘70s, guitarist Jeffes founded the careers (Melchiondo, for instance, prefers Penguin Cafe Orchestra, a small group of Zydeco Crossroads: A the pseudonym Gene Ween). The Residents, Tale of Two Cities HHH instrumentalists who became successful in however, never speak for themselves, not England playing music that combined clas- (2015) 87 min. Blu-ray: $19.95. even behind their famous eyeball-shaped MVD Entertainment Group sical and pop elements in a generally cheery head masks, although former Cryptic Cor- (avail. from most distributors). minimalist style. In 1988 he adapted eight poration president John Kennedy jokes that Robert Mugge’s follow-up of the band’s popular numbers for a ballet he could have been a member. Presented in by Bintley that offered a gentle but incisive to 1994’s The Kingdom of 5.1 surround sound and Dolby Digital stereo Zydeco (also newly available) takes its name commentary on man’s harmful impact on on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and Dolby Digital the environment and the animal kingdom. from a yearlong Creole music/interviews 5.1 on Blu-ray, extras include the Residents’ series (which also covered dance and cuisine) Introduced here by in a record- first live performance, Residents short films, that was sponsored by Philadelphia radio sta- ed message about the recent extinction of and an excerpt from Vileness Fats (exclusive to tion WXPN. The first performer, C.J. Chenier, the great auk, the piece launches into an eve- the Blu-ray release are extended interviews). talks to host David Dye about his days playing ning at the eponymous cafe, where penguin Recommended. (K. Fennessy) saxophone and keyboards in funk bands be- waiters serve a crowd of well-attired humans fore following in the footsteps of his father, who engage in dance with the auk and—in We Are Twisted F***ing Clifton Chenier. Mugge and Dye also travel succeeding scenes—a variety of other en- to Lafayette, LA, to catch up with Chubby dangered species, including a , rat, flea, Sister! HHH Carrier, Major Handy, Lil’ Nathan Williams, zebra, and monkey, as well as an indigenous (2016) 134 min. DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: $34.99. Music Box Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr., and Buckwheat Zydeco. family from the South American rainforest, Films (avail. from most Vasti Jackson, a Mississippi artist, joins in before Noah’s Ark makes an appearance. distributors). to add his talent on guitar. All told, there’s a Each sequence benefits from Jeffes’s catchy Andrew Horn’s documen- mix of races, genders, generations, and even upbeat music, Bintley’s imaginative choreog- tary isn’t the usual rags-to- genres, since some of the younger performers raphy, and highly amusing costumes, which riches portrait of a rock band, but rather customize their repertoire with pop, reggae, include elaborate masks and animal outfits. a rigorous examination of a regional phe- and hip-hop elements. As accordion player All the roles are nicely danced, while the nomenon. If New York glam-metal quintet Sean Ardoin of Creole United puts it, he aims company orchestra—under Isaiah Jackson— Twisted Sister had emerged 10 years earlier or to “do new stuff in an old way.” The 19-song handles the pop idiom without missing a later, they might have had an easier road to set list here encompasses originals and covers, beat. Presented in the standard 4:3 picture success, but the group developed their sound like Soul Creole’s swinging version of Bob format, backed by a PCM soundtrack, extras just as glam was starting to fade away and Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier,” while the lyrics include a documentary on the Penguin Cafe before hair-metal came into fashion. Twisted toggle between English and French (in the Orchestra. Recommended. (F. Swietek) Sister originally started as a cover band with a case of the latter, Mugge provides onscreen preference for the works of David Bowie and summaries rather than lyric translations). Theory of Obscurity: A the New York Dolls. In his accompanying Comments from author Michael Tisserand Film About the Residents audio commentary, filmmaker Horn recalls (Kingdom of Zydeco) and KRVS disc jockey HHH attending the same shows as band founder Herman Fuselier add context to the music. (2015) 87 min. DVD: Jay Jay French, although they wouldn’t meet Also included is the documentary Rosie’s $24.95, Blu-ray: $34.95. Film until decades later. After Dee Snider joined in the House Tonight, an hour-shy profile of Movement (avail. from most the group, Twisted Sister became a more the- musician and band leader Rosie Ledet, who distributors). atrical act, but tension ensued when Snider notes that female accordion players are still Don Hardy’s intentional- criticized French’s songs. Guitarist French a rarity, even though Queen Ida is every bit ly opaque documentary presents the history responded by challenging the singer to write as famous as male accordionists from the of the mysterious band The Residents, but his own, and Snider surprised him, becom- Chenier and Ardoin families. Presented in never unmasks the players. Consequently, ing a self-described “maniacal, malicious” LPCM stereo, this is recommended. [Note: there’s no way to know if the same indi- songwriter, after which the band developed also newly available on Blu-ray is filmmaker viduals comprise the Bay Area avant-pop a wider following and they consistently sold Robert Mugge’s music documentary Pride outfit or whether replacements have stepped out venues throughout the tri-state area. and Joy: The Story of Alligator Records (1992), in over the years. As Simpsons creator Matt Through merchandising and ticket sales, they featuring performances by Koko Taylor & Her Groening puts it, “There is no true story of made a living, but record companies weren’t Blues Machine, Lonnie Brooks Blues Band, The Residents,” so Hardy keeps biographical interested, so they pressed their own singles Elvin Bishop, Katie Webster, and Lil ‘Ed & the information to a minimum, instead speak- and produced their own radio spots—a tactic Blues Imperials, among others.] (K. Fennessy)

JULY/AUGUST 2016 69 VIDEO LIBRARIAN Distributor Addresses

Contact information for distribu- First Run Features TMW Media Group tors of titles reviewed in this issue 630 Ninth Ave., Ste. 1213 2321 Abbot Kinney Blvd. New York, NY 10036 Venice, CA 90291 are listed below. Some titles must Tel: (800) 229-8575 Tel: (800) 262-8862 be ordered direct, while others are Web: firstrunfeatures.com Web: tmwmedia.com available from a wide variety of Green Planet Films Tugg distributors. P.O. Box 247 4210 Spicewood Springs Rd. Corte Madera, CA 94976 Austin, TX 78759 Tel: (415) 377-5471 Tel: (855) 321-8844 Web: greenplanetfilms.org Web: edu.tugg.com

Alexander Street Press Human Relations Media The Video Project 3212 Duke St. 41 Kensico Dr. 145 Ninth St., Ste. 102 Alexandria, VA 22314 Mt. Kisco, NY 10549 San Francisco, CA 94103 Tel: (800) 889-5937 Tel: (800) 431-2050 Tel: (800) 475-2638 Web: academicvideostore.com Web: hrmvideo.com Web: videoproject.com

The AV Cafe Icarus Films Vision Video 6201 S. 58th St., Ste. A 32 Court St., 21st Fl. P.O. Box 540 Lincoln, NE 68516 Brooklyn, NY 11201 Worcester, PA 19490 Tel: (877) 228-2233 Tel: (800) 876-1710 Tel: (800) 523-0226 Web: theavcafe.com Web: icarusfilms.com Web: visionvideo.com

Bennett-Watt HD Productions LINX Educational Publishing Women Make Movies 13021 244th Ave. SE 4311 Salisbury Rd. 115 West 29th St., Ste. 1200 Issaquah, WA 98027 Jacksonville, FL 32216 New York, NY 10001 Tel: (800) 327-2893 Tel: (800) 717-5469 Tel: (212) 925-0606 Web: bennett-watt.com Web: linxedu.com Web: wmm.com

Broadbandaid Films Marshall Publishing 2510 Taft Dr., Ste. 314 1075 Bradford Ct. Boulder, CO 80302 Elgin, IL 60120 Tel: (646) 872-3645 Tel: (888) 300-3455 Web: intheshadowsthemovie.com Web: marshallpub.com

The Cinema Guild Mazzarella Media 115 W. 30th St., Ste. 800 90 Applegate, Unit 11 New York, NY 10001 Southington, CT 06489 Tel: (800) 723-5522 Tel: (800) 583-1988 Web: cinemaguild.com Web: mazz.com

Collective Eye Music Box Films 2305 SE Yamhill St., Ste. 101 173 N. Morgan St. Portland, OR 97214 Chicago, IL 60607 Tel: (503) 232-5345 Tel: (312) 241-1320 Web: collectiveeye.org Web: musicboxfilms.com

ConnectedEarth Naxos of America 80 McCallum Dr., Unit 27 1810 Columbia Ave., Ste. 28 Richmond Hill, , CANADA L4C 9X5 Franklin, TN 37064 Tel: (416) 602-4241 Tel: (615) 771-9393 Web: hijabdocumentary.com Web: naxos.com

Documentary Educational Resources PBS Video 101 Morse St. 2100 Crystal Dr. Watertown, MA 02472 Arlington, VA 22202 Tel: (800) 569-6621 Tel: (800) 344-3337 Web: der.org Web: .org

Dreamscape Media Professor Child 1417 Timberwolf Dr. 2671 Rainbow Ridge Dr. Holland, OH 43528 Bend, OR 97701 Tel: (877) 983-7326 Tel: (541) 598-4077 Web: dreamscapeab.com Web: professorchild.com

Educational Video Center Skylight Pictures 16 Clarkson St., Ste. 401 33 Flatbush Ave., 4th Fl. New York, NY 10014 Brooklyn, NY 11217 Tel: (212) 465-9366 Tel: (718) 797-3125 Web: evc.org Web: skylight.is

Film Ideas Stenhouse Publishers 308 N. Wolf Rd. P.O. Box 11020 Wheeling, IL 60090 Portland, ME 04104 Tel: (800) 475-3456 Tel: (800) 988-9812 Web: filmideas.com Web: stenhouse.com

Film Movement Third World Newsreel 109 West 27th St., Ste. 9B 545 Eighth Ave., 5th Fl., Ste. 550 New York, NY 10001 New York, NY 10018 Tel: (866) 937-3456 Tel: (212) 947-9277 Web: filmmovement.com Web: twn.org

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 70 JULY/AUGUST 2016 The National Media MARKET & CONFERENCE Join us for the 38th National Media Market. This is the premier annual event where film producers and distributors connect with librarians, media selectors and other media professionals.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND OCTOBER 23-27, 2016

Plan to attend this unique and fun-filled 5 day event!

Registration includes: Professional development includes: - On-site previews of thousands of films - Keynote: Eric Schwartz - 3 lunches and 2 receptions - Filmmakers & Exhibitors Panel - Preferred Market prices from our exhibitors - Lightning rounds - Unique professional development - Digital Video Summit 3.0 - Film Pricing and Purchasing - Laura Jenemann - VHS Preservation - Chris Lewis and Deg Farrelly The conference is made possible by our - Copyright, Fair Use and Film - Jonathan Band Exhibiting Partners including:

For more info: www.nmm.net | [email protected] | 972.330.6516 Title Index

10 Cloverfield Lane ...... 16 Doctor Who: Complete Ninth Series ...... 43 Mika: Sinfonia Pop ...... 68 About Executing Eichmann ...... 59 Dog Named Gucci, A ...... 20 Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir ...... 48 Abundance on a Dry Land ...... 49 Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors ...... 20 Misconduct ...... 26 Aferim! ...... 16 Ecocide ...... 49 Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, Complete Akame Ga Kill!: Collection 2 ...... 65 Elvis & Nixon ...... 20 Collection ...... 65 Albert: Up, Up and Away! ...... 46 Enrique Bunbury: El Camino Más Largo ...... 67 Moose: Life of a Twig Eater ...... 54 Ambrosia ...... 16 Episodes: Fourth Season ...... 43 Moving Up to Middle School ...... 53 Angie Tribeca: Complete First Season ...... 42 Expanse: Season One ...... 43 Mr. Right ...... 26 Antibalas: Live from the House of Soul ...... 67 Eye in the Sky ...... 20 Multiplicity of Us, The ...... 51 Antonia’s Line ...... 30 Farmer and the Chef, The ...... 56 Murder of a President ...... 61 Archer: Complete Season 6 ...... 42 Father of the Bride ...... 34 Mustang ...... 28 Art House ...... 58 Feminism Inshallah: A History of Arab Mystery Beneath the Ice ...... 54 Artaserse ...... 67 Feminism ...... 49 Nefertiti’s Daughters ...... 51 Autism in America ...... 56 Fidelio: Alice’s Odyssey ...... 20 Netanyahu at War ...... 60 Bannister: Everest on the Track ...... 63 Films of Maurice Pialat, Volume 1 ...... 34 Night Has Settled ...... 28 Barcelona ...... 32 Fool, The ...... 20 Normal Is Over: The Movie ...... 51 Between Allah and Me (and Everyone Else) ...... 48 Forbidden Hollywood: Volume 10 ...... 34 Odd Couple: Season One ...... 44 Beverly Hillbillies: Official First Season ...... 42 Fruit of Grisaia: Compete Collection ...... 65 On the Bride’s Side ...... 51 Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops ...... 42 Gesualdo: Death for Five Voices ...... 67 Only Angels Have Wings ...... 36 Bold Ones—The New Doctors ...... 42 Getting Into Grammar ...... 53 Orange Is the New Black: Season Three ...... 45 Boom Bust Boom ...... 57 Glassland ...... 22 Outlaw Gangster VIP: The Complete Boss, The ...... 16 Gong Show Movie, The ...... 34 Collection ...... 36 Brighter Summer Day, A ...... 32 Grace and Frankie: Season One ...... 43 Packed in a Trunk ...... 63 Brother Hugo and the Bear ...... 46 Grantchester: Complete Second Season ...... 44 Parasyte—The Maxim: Collection 1 ...... 65 Brotherly Love ...... 32 Great Alone, The ...... 22 Pearl S. Buck: A Life, a Legacy ...... 63 Brothers Grimsby, The ...... 16 Green Room ...... 22 Place in Heaven, A ...... 28 Building England ...... 58 Gugure! Kokkuri-san: Complete Collection ...... 65 Power to the Pedals ...... 52 By the Sea ...... 18 Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party ...... 22 Providence ...... 28 Candy ...... 32 Heritage of Chinese Culture and Dance, The ...... 58 Rail Wars! Complete Collection ...... 66 Casual: Season One ...... 43 Heroes: Saving Jewish Lives from the Nazis ...... 60 Rebel Citizen ...... 64 Cemetery of Splendor ...... 18 Heroes Reborn: Event Series ...... 44 Resumes, Cover Letters & Portfolios for Chantal Akerman: Four Films ...... 58 House of Lies: Fourth Season ...... 44 Ex-Offenders ...... 57 Club, The ...... 18 How to Become the President of the Road Trilogy, The ...... 37 Confession of a Child of the Century ...... 18 United States ...... 46 Roots ...... 45 Crush the Skull ...... 18 How to End Unhealthy Relationships ...... 52 School Violence: You Can Help Prevent It! ...... 53 Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street ...... 32 I Don’t Belong Anywhere ...... 62 Sex Murder Art ...... 37 Death Walks Twice ...... 34 I Know a Woman Like That ...... 22 Sex Temple, The ...... 28 Discoveries…America National Parks: Colorado’s I’m a Big Girl ...... 46 Sex Trade, The ...... 52 Spectacular ...... 61 Identicals ...... 24 Shirobako: Collection 1 ...... 66 Discoveries…America National Parks: Railroads— In the Shadows ...... 49 Sicilian, The ...... 40 Magic, Mystery & Mystique ...... 62 Invisible Scars ...... 50 Sites for Your Eyes: Stockholm ...... 61 Ip Man 3 ...... 24 Stand Clear of the Closing Doors ...... 29 Jack of the Red Hearts ...... 24 Still Life at the Penguin Cafe ...... 69 Jackie Robinson ...... 64 Strange & Familiar: Architecture on Fogo Jane Got a Gun ...... 24 Island ...... 57 Advertiser Directory Janis: Little Girl Blue ...... 62 Stranger: Immigrants, Scripture and the Action! Library Media Service ...... 37 Je Suis Charlie (L’humor a mort) ...... 60 American Dream ...... 48 Anchor Media Group ...... 29 Journey to Space ...... 54 Baker & Taylor Entertainment ...... 2 Kate & Mim-Mim: Flight of the Flowers ...... 46 Super Sentai—Ninja Sentai Kakuranger ...... 48 BayView Entertainment ...... 4 Kids and Prayer ...... 49 Suspicion ...... 40 Bennett-Watt HD Productions ...... 63 King Priam ...... 67 Sweet Land of Liberty ...... 61 Big World Pictures ...... 37 Theeb ...... 29 BOND/360 ...... 74 Knox ...... 62 Kung Fu Panda 3 ...... 24 Theory of Obscurity ...... 69 Caravan USA ...... 6 Thule Tuvalu ...... 52 Criterion ...... 41 La Reine Morte ...... 68 Tonari No Seki-Kun—The Master of Killing Dark Hollow Films ...... 57 Land Grabbing ...... 50 Dreamscape ...... 5 Latke, the Lucky Dog ...... 46 Time ...... 66 Entertainment One ...... 25, 35, 38, 39 Les Pêcheurs de Perles ...... 68 Too Late for Tears ...... 40 Film Movement ...... 19, 21, 23 Letters to Max ...... 60 Troublemakers: The Story of Land Art ...... 29 Films Media Group ...... 59 Life Story ...... 55 Up the Wrong Tree ...... 30 First Run Features ...... 9 Life’s Rocky Start ...... 54 Utawarerumono OVA: Complete Collection ...... 66 Green Planet Films ...... 53 Lobster, The ...... 24 Veep: Complete Fourth Season ...... 45 Icarus ...... 31 Von Trapp Family: A Life of Music ...... 30 Janson Media ...... 13 Losing Ground ...... 36 Kino Lorber Education ...... 11 Lou Grant: Complete First Season ...... 44 War, A ...... 30 Learning ZoneXpress ...... 63 Love Is a Verb ...... 50 War & Peace: Complete Miniseries ...... 45 Midwest Tape ...... 76 Magical Girl ...... 26 Way We Talk, The ...... 52 Music Box Films ...... 27 Manson’s Lost Girls ...... 26 We Are Twisted F***ing Sister! ...... 69 National Media Market (NMM) ...... 71 Marguerite ...... 3 What Is Buddhism? ...... 48 NCircle Entertainment ...... 7, 47 Married Woman, A ...... 36 What’s Your Beautiful? ...... 52 Oscilloscope Pictures ...... 17 Matthäus-Passion ...... 68 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot ...... 30 PBS Video ...... 73 Who’s Afraid of ? ...... 40 Shout! Factory ...... 55 Mediterranea ...... 26 Strand Releasing ...... 33 Meet the Hitlers ...... 50 Why Help? The Story of the Babblers ...... 56 Vision Films ...... 75 Megafalls of Iguacu, The ...... 54 Winter: The Dolphin That Can ...... 56 Vision Video ...... 15 Men with Beards ...... 51 Yamishibai—Japanese Ghost Stories ...... 66 Merchant of Venice, The ...... 58 Zydeco Crossroads: A Tale of Two Cities ...... 69

VIDEO LIBRARIAN 72 JULY/AUGUST 2016 Science. Mystery. The Drama of It All!

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“For Ms. Taymor, the sky is not the limit. It’s “Deep Web provides myriad topics for classroom a supple canvas to be stretched and bent to the discussion. Highly Recommended. “ – EMRO whims of the imagination.” – The New York Times The inside story of one of the most important From the mind of award-winning director Julie and riveting digital crime sagas of the century – Taymor (The Lion King on Broadway, Frida, Ti- the arrest of Ross William Ulbricht, the 30-year- tus) comes a Shakespeare adaptation like none old entrepreneur convicted of being ‘Dread other, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. Rich Pirate Roberts,’ creator and operator of online with Taymor’s trademark creativity, this im- black market Silk Road. As the only film with ex- mersive and darkly poetic cinematic experi- clusive access to the Ulbricht family, Deep Web ence brings the play’s iconic fairies, spells and explores how the brightest minds and thought hallucinatory lovers to life. Filmed at her sold- leaders behind the Deep Web and Bitcoin are out stage production with cinematography by now caught in the crosshairs of the battle for Rodrigo Prieto (Argo, Frida) and music by Acad- control of a future inextricably linked to technol- emy Award-winning composer Elliot Goldenthal, ogy, with our digital rights hanging in the balance. the feats of visual imagination are ingenious and plentiful, but beating at the center of the film is an Public Library $149. Directed by Alex Winter. Documentary, Public Library $149. emotionally moving take on the deeper human Criminology, Cybersecurity, Human Rights PPR $350. aspects of Shakespeare’s beloved tale. PPR $350. DSL $499. DSL $499. Directed by Julie Taymor. Art, Theatre

“Every once in awhile, in our ongoing pursuit When Jack Tramiel invented Commodore in of strange and amazing places, people and the 1970’s, he envisioned computing for the stories, we come across something that truly masses and not just the upper classes. Spear- inspires us. One such find is a film entitled To- heading the personal technology revolution morrow We Disappear.” — Indiewire and combatting giants like Apple and IBM, Commodore became a household name by The film chronicles the last days of Kathputli, changing the way in which we interact, create the mysterious hand-built artist colony first dis- and play with computers. From the advent of covered in Salman Rushdie’s iconic Midnight’s the groundbreaking Atari and Tetris games to Children. Hidden in the alleyways of New Delhi, the evolution of contemporary technological a community of magicians, acrobats and puppe- design, 8 Bit Generation dives into the home teers approac h their looming eviction to make computer explosion and explores Commo- way for a modern skyscraper. Bound together by dore’s key role in shaping the future in which tradition and impending gentrification, this cap- we now live. tivating film allows us to experience a culture’s magic and wonder before it’s gone. Directed By Tomaso Walliser Public Library $149. Documentary, Tech Public Library $149. PPR $350. Directed by Adam Weber and Jimmy Goldblum. PPR $350. DSL $499. Documentary, Art, Human Rights, South Asia DSL $499.

“Young people need to see the film as well as old, “Both entertaining and illuminating” – Slate for we all see ourselves and our future in these audacious women who dare to be seen. Highly Meet the artists who are redefining the tradi- Recommended.” – EMRO tion of knit and crochet, bringing yarn out of the house and into the world. Reinventing our Based on the his popular blog and book, street relationship with this colorful tradition, YARN photographer Ari and director Lina weaves together wool graffiti artists, circus per- Plioplyte dive into the personal lives of New York formers, and structural designers into a visually- City’s most fashionable seniors. In an industry striking look at the women who are making a obsessed with youth, these older women dispel creative stance while building one of modern conventional ideas about beauty and aging and art’s hottest trends. prove that with age comes grace and confidence. Directed by Una Lorenzen Directed by Lina Plioplyte Documentary, Art, Women’s Studies Documentary, Fashion, Women’s Studies

Public Library $149. Public Library $149. PPR $350. Please visit bondeducator.com for additional titles or contact PPR $350. DSL $499. [email protected]. for additional information. All titles available DSL $499. with or without PPR and DSL. Inquire about hosting options. A worldwide distributor of compelling star-hosted Documentaries on subjects that inspire and make a difference; timely biographical specials on famous pop-culture icons; and feature films of all genres (animation, action, family).

NATURE / SPORTS / BIOLOGY HISTORICAL / CINEMA / POP CULTURE

ON A LONG BREATH THE MAN WHO SIX OCEANS, SIX MINUTES, SAVED BEN HUR FREE DIVING AT ALL COSTS Follow one man's quest to learn more about OXYGEN IS OVERRATED his 89-year-old cousin, Johnny Alarimo, only to discover that Johnny spent a dazzling career Imagine six minutes without breath, slipping below behind the scenes in Hollywood's Golden Age the ocean’s surface with world champion free-diver of Film as an assistant director on Ben Hur Pierre Frolla as he interacts with sperm whales, (1959). Alarimo shows us his private collection swims with a giant moray eel and meets a tiger of set photographs, recounts the time he went to shark face to face. Over 51 days, Frolla explores the Isle of Capri with Rock Hudson, and shares the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, and the fascinating stories and anecdotes about his close Mediterranean Sea, offering a firsthand glimpse friends and confidantes Elizabeth Taylor and into Earth’s underwater mysteries. . STARRING: Pierre Frolla (World Champion STARRING: John Alarimo, Joe Forte, Rock Free-diver) Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, Sandra Dee. DIRECTED BY: Philippe Gerard WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY: Joe Forte VF-1041 UPC# 881394123229 VF-1043 UPC# 881394123724 SRP: $19.95, PPR: $149.00, 52 Min SRP: $19.95, PPR: $149.00, 60 Min STREET DATE: 6/7/16 STREET DATE: 7/26/2016

MEDICAL STUDY / TOURETTE’S MUSICAL / COMING OF AGE

HELLO, MY NAME LAST NIGHT A DJ IS FRANK SAVED MY LIFE A cross-generational coming-of-age narrative David Hasselhoff is Ibiza’s top 80’s DJ, clueless of three teenage girls and a socially awkward to the fact that a new decade has dawned. His man with Tourette’s disorder who bond over a life is thrown into a comical tale-spin when his cross-country road trip. Along the way, they each estranged daughter Penny moves in. Now the learn to stop using his illness as an excuse to hide cad must become the dad...but how will a badly from life, and that love and family can be found in behaved parent still stuck in the 80’s keep his unexpected places. modern, free-spirited daughter in line? This hit musical contains many 80s and 90s hits such as STARRING Garrett M. Brown (Kick-Ass, Uncle “Papa Don’t Preach”, “Girls Just Want to Have Buck), Rachel DiPillo (Chicago Med, Jane the Fun” and “Never Going to Give You Up”. Virgin), Hayley Kiyoko (CSI: Cyber, Insidious 3, Jem and the Holograms), Mary Kate Wiles STARRING: David Hasselhoff (Baywatch, (Lizzie Bennet Diaries), Travis Caldwell Knight Rider), Shane Richie Jr. (Loose Women), (Criminal Minds) Kim Tiddy (The Bill, Hollyoaks), Stephanie Webber (The Voice) VF-1045 UPC# 881394124028 SRP: $14.95, PPR: $249.00, 109 Min VF-1044 UPC# 881394123823 STREET DATE: 8/16/16 SRP: $14.95, PPR: $149.00, 94 Min STREET DATE: 8/2/16

SCIENCE / CONSPIRACY SEX EDUCATION / SOCIAL SCIENCES

THE UFO CONCLUSION STICKY: A (SELF) LOVE STORY What is the alien agenda? And why has the government gone to such great lengths to stifle It’s a sticky subject. Delve deep into this candid the overwhelming evidence that otherworldly portrayal of an activity we all take part in, but creatures exist? Some of our greatest minds unveil don’t discuss. When confusion about sexuality the truth behind this massive cover-up…and why remains at the root of so many societal problems we can’t afford to ignore the extraterrestrial signs – rape, sexual abuse, and the threat of sexually any longer. transmitted diseases, STICKY pulls no punches in exploring a subject that touches us all. INTERVIEWS WITH: Stanton Friedman (world- renowned nuclear physicist), Kathleen Marden INTERVIEWS WITH: Janeane Garofalo (Wet (leading UFO researcher), Jim Marrs (NYT Hot American Summer), Nina Hartley (Boogie Bestselling Author), Patty Greer (Crop Nights), (adult industry mogul), Circle Expert) Keith Morris (Black Flag), Dr. Joycelyn Elders (US Surgeon General) – and over 60 VF-1046 UPC# 881934123922 sexologists, authors, religious figures, porn stars SRP: $14.95, PPR: $149.00, 47 Min and entertainers. STREET DATE: 8/16/2016 DVD VF-1032 UPC# 881394122321 SRP: $19.95, PPR: $249.00, 70 Min STREET DATE: 2/2/16

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