1990s Documentary Movies

An exemplary reconstruction of a historical turning point. Time and again, the images and the remembered stories.

From both a scientific and an artistic point of view, the film seeks to answer the question, 'what is light?'.

The makeup, stunts, special effects, and production design of 'Blade' (1998) are discussed.

The carnage in Sarajevo provides the focus of this French documentary which seeks to call attention to the terrible conflict in the hopes of finally ending it. The film is divided into five parts. Each part covers a time frame ranging from April 4, 1992, the beginning of the war, to the present. The major issues that occur are three-fold. It depicts the systematic genocide of Bosnians, the silence of Western countries, and the determination of the Bosnians to resist. They refuse to be seen as victims, even though the filmmakers portray them so. Also included are the origins and political aspects of the war. It offers interviews with participants. It also reveals how the U.S. State Department censored reports about Serbian death camps.

Through dramatization and interviews with her colleagues, this film captures the life and work of famed Puerto Rican poet Mercedes Negrón Muñoz (also known as Clara Lair).

A documentary comprised of concert footage and interviews focused on the infamous metal group Rockbitch. The band, comprised of mainly female members, became well known, and banned across Europe due to their over-the-top stage performances, including nudity, sex, simulated violence, and rituals, all often involving members of the audience.

A portrait of Swedish troubadour Cornelis Vreeswijk.

A paralysingly beautiful documentary with a global vision—an odyssey through landscape and time—that attempts to capture the essence of life.

A lyrical and nostalgic analysis of how Casablanca, the mythical film directed by Michael Curtiz in 1942, has influenced both film history and pop culture.

From the rains of Japan, through threats of arrest for 'public indecency' in Canada, and a birthday tribute to her father in Detroit, this documentary follows Madonna on her 1990 'Blond Ambition' concert tour. Filmed in black and white, with the concert pieces in glittering MTV color, it is an intimate look at the work of the icon, from a prayer circle before each performance to bed games with the dance troupe afterwards.

For this documentary, the renowned Spanish filmmaker Carlos Saura created a structure as unconventional as the Gaudí buildings that adorn the host city of Barcelona. Coverage of the men's marathon appears at intervals throughout the narrative, highlighting the Games' most iconic event. While charismatic winners—from 400m champion Michael Johnson to weightlifter Ivan Ivanov—take center stage, Saura observes rigorous training sessions with as much passion as the finals themselves. Composers such as Ryuichi Sakamoto, Mikis Theodorakis, and Angelo Badalamenti contribute to the shifting atmosphere of this excellent film.

A full length documentary on sexy Chinese movies (including sizzling scenes from EROTIC GHOST STORY, SEX AND ZEN, CONFESSIONS OF A CONCUBINE, SEX AND THE EMPEROR and many more.

Faced with his imminent death from AIDS, Colombian artist Lorenzo Jaramillo looks back on his life and work through the five senses.

This short super 8 experimental film is composed of three elements: footage taken by LaBruce in a mosh pit at a Toronto hardcore punk show featuring the bands Scream, The Mr. T. Experience, and MDC; found footage of porn star Al Parker having penetrative anal sex; and a soundtrack by The Carpenters.

No overview available

Pepe Mujica, now a member of the Uruguayan parliament, and others of the Tupamaros recount the history of this urban guerrilla group: their use of armed intervention and illegal acts--even kidnapping and murder, their imprisonment and escapes, and their transition to a legal political party.

Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

Whoopi Goldberg hosts a stand-up comedy special and invites up-and-coming comedians to perform.

Pioneering trans writer Max Wolf Valerio talks about his life and experience of transition in this groundbreaking documentary short, one of the very first portraits of a trans man on film, directed and produced by noted filmmaker Monika Treut.

Seven kids locked up for armed robbery and murder learn to crew a race boat in less than two weeks and enter one of the largest regattas on the West Coast. They are from opposing gangs and have to work as a team in order to succeed, and survive.

Monster Mania traces the evolution of horror films, featuring footage from classic and contemporary favorites.

Documentary tribute to "The Quiet Man" by John Ford. A special tribute that, away from traditional documentary, traces the outline of a cinematographic work of other person and offers a portrait of a society that fascinates the director.

Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

A documentary about the islands in the Atlantic, about the islanders and their stories.

Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City's African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion "houses," from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza.

No overview available

In BLUE-EYED, we join a group of 40 teachers, police, school administrators and social workers in Kansas City - blacks, Hispanics, whites, women and men. The blue-eyed members are subjected to pseudo-scientific explanations of their inferiority, culturally biased IQ tests and blatant discrimination. In just a few hours under Ms. Elliott's withering regime, we watch grown professionals become despondent and distracted, stumbling over the simplest commands.

Explores the sensuous rhythms and movements of the dance style known as the rumba, as demonstrated by the celebrated Havana rumbero Papá Montero. Blending vintage documentary footage with meticulously staged recreations, the dancer's tragic assassination at Carnival is connected with the passing of a cultural era in Cuban life.

American Movie documents the story of filmmaker Mark Borchardt, his mission, and his dream. Spanning over two years of intense struggle with his film, his family, financial decline, and spiritual crisis, American Movie is a portrayal of ambition, obsession, excess, and one man's quest for the American Dream.

A documentary about French naturism with some perspectives from Germany. The film includes discussion on the history of French naturism; distinctions between naturism and nudism; nudism in various historical, social, cultural and political contexts; and personal shares from many individuals. Naturists from a wide age range, young children to adults in their 80s, speak to how naturism supports self-acceptance, acceptance of others, deep meaninful relationships, wellness and vitality.

“’Psych-Burn’ was what musicians call a ‘contract-breaker’. ABC had given us some coin to make a few short films for a TV Pilot. “Love-In Tonite” was to be a psychedelic rock variety show with live performances, skits, and whatnot to cash in on the emerging hippie demographic. Even pre-Disney, the network was riddled with a bunch of out-of-touch, pencil-pushing buffoons, so I quickly realized the show would be a disaster. Imagine if “Midnight Special” was produced by Aaron Spelling. Then cast Charles Nelson Reilly as emcee. That would have been a far more lively show than “Love-In Tonite”. So I decided to deliver the suits a farewell kick-in-the-butt called ‘Psych-Burn’. The best part was that they presented my film sight unseen at a board meeting about the new Fall Season. I heard some heads rolled over that one.” —JXW

A documentary on Leonardo Dicaprio.

In an experimentally compiled film review, Danielle Jaeggi, Paule Baillargeon and Claudia von Alemann reflect on their work as filmmakers and life as mothers. Just as the title is based on Michel Leiris' book of poems Bright Nights and Many a Dark Day, the film has its own poetry, which is also evident in shots of everyday activities, such as hands washing dishes. “Just the hair or the relationship of the hands to each other or gestures, and then words come in between and film clips that we talk about, and we were amazed to find that the women we portray in the films always have a lot of trouble with theirs Identity, their search for something, for lost people or lost things. “They are usually looking for something that has been lost, forgotten or gone,” said Claudia von Alemann in the 1992 interview conducted by Renate Fischetti, A Pioneer of Female Film Language. An essay about desire, doubt, contradictions. (fib)

Clarkson compares a number of sports and touring cars to find the best-handing car in the world. Jeremy tests a reviled Lada to destruction, a Toyota off-roader is matched head to head with the largest muckspreader Europe can offer and a whole lot more besides!

A film that describes the love-hate relationship between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski, the deep trust between the director and the actor, and their independently and simultaneously hatched plans to murder one another.

A brief account of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the end of the Spanish Empire in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

This documentary highlights the reunion of Bruce Springsteen with his E Street Band as they join forces to record several new tracks for Springsteen's GREATEST HITS album. Featured songs include longtime bootleg favorite "This Hard Land" and the brand-new songs "Secret Garden" and "Blood Brothers," as well as other previously unreleased tracks. The show aired originally on the Disney Channel. The documentary provides a thrilling behind-the-scenes look at Springsteen's creative process, which is famous for its attention to detail. Springsteen also constantly flips around music and lyrics among different songs until he nails it perfectly. The closeness of the band is evident at the outset in its ability to gel with Springsteen right off the bat even though they hadn't played together regularly since the late 1980s.

Filmmaker Victor Erice follows Spanish artist Antonio Lopez in his painstaking attempt to paint the image of a tree.

This aloha-filled portrait of Auntie Irmgard Farden Aluli, one of Hawaii's best loved composers, gently focuses on Hawai'ian women's contributions to the family structure, art, music and dance. An intimate glimpse into the real culture of the islands.

A chronicle of the production problems — including bad weather, actors' health, war near the filming locations, and more — which plagued the filming of Apocalypse Now, increasing costs and nearly destroying the life and career of Francis Ford Coppola.