Documentary of the Week
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Technology has made non-fiction film easier to make, more available and more popular than ever before. Here, WNYC selects the best documentaries as they come to screens of any size. Every week, WNYC tells you about the best documentaries as they become available on screens of any size. Our hosts are Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen, co-founders of the Pure Nonfiction podcast and the DOC NYC..
Documentary of the Week
1w ago
The ESPN series 'The Luckiest Guy in the World' profiles basketball great Bill Walton who passed away last month. Filmmaker Steve James ('Hoop Dreams') examines the hurdles that Walton had to overcome - including injuries and a speech impediment - on his way to winning championships and acclaim as a TV commentator.
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Documentary of the Week
2w ago
Filmmaker Chris Wilcha tells a personal story of reckoning with youthful dreams in middle age as he tries to save an old record store in 'Flipside.' The film weaves together the perspectives of many others including Ira Glass, Judd Apatow and Starlee Kine.
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Documentary of the Week
3w ago
'Queen of the Deuce' profiles Chelly Wilson, a Greek Jewish immigrant grandmother who ran multiple adult film theaters around New York City's 42nd Street. Filmmaker Valerie Kontakos evokes the 1970s era when adult film was on an upswing with Wilson at the center.
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Documentary of the Week
1M ago
'A Time to Stir' is a 10-part oral history film focusing on the Columbia University student strike of 1968. Filmmaker Paul Cronin interviewed hundreds of participants to bring multiple fresh perspectives that still resonate today. Hear the director interviewed on Pure Nonfiction ..read more
Documentary of the Week
1M ago
'The Contestant' explores the early days of reality TV in Japan when a man named Nasubi lived naked in isolation living off prizes from magazine sweepstakes for over a year while 30 million viewers tuned in to watch. Filmmaker Clair Titley interviews all the main players in the story and explores what happened to Nasubi after he became famous.
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Documentary of the Week
1M ago
'Uncropped' profiles the the photographer James Hamilton who has an eclectic career spanning street scenes, celebrity portraits, war coverage and more. Filmmaker D.W. Young crafts the documentary as a love letter to a bygone era of New York journalism.
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Documentary of the Week
2M ago
'Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story' profiles the New York photographer who dedicated himself to covering the Asian American community for five decades. Filmmaker Jennifer Takaki chronicles the emergence of Asian American activism through the lens of Lee.
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Documentary of the Week
2M ago
Filmmakers Ashley Sabin and David Redmon explore the mystery of what happened to the famous collection of VHS tapes and DVDs from New York's beloved rental store Kim's Video that closed in 2008. The documentary is made with the same outlaw spirit as the original store known for its bootleg editions.
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Documentary of the Week
2M ago
'In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon' explores six decades of the musician's career while following him in the studio for the making of his recent album, 'Seven Psalms.' Filmmaker Alex Gibney delivers a wealth of insight into a monumental career.
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Documentary of the Week
3M ago
'Carol Doda Topless at the Condor' profiles the San Francisco dancer who broke taboos with nude performances starting in 1964. In this documentary from filmmakers Marlo McKenzie and Jonathan Parker, feminist scholars unpack questions of empowerment and exploitation.
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